The Eden Magazine by Maryam Morrison

July 2020

EDEN T h e

Magazine

THE RISE OF THE GODDESS by Sasha Gary

EVERYDAY MIRACLES

Susan L.

Taylor

Founder & CEO, National CARES Mentoring Movement, and Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, Essence Magazine

PETA Field Team makes a world of difference by Emily Allen

BEING STRONG

FOREVER by Sibyl Badugu

CAPTURING SENTIENT BEINGS IN THE KINGDOM OF BHUTAN

An interview with Laurie Chambers

Table of Contents The Rise of Goddess

SUSAN L. TAYLOR

THE RISE OF THE GODDESS By Sasha Gary

CELTIC WISDOM AS A WAY OF HEALING By Jayita Bhattacharjee

WHAT MATTERS By Joey Santos Jr.

THE STRADDLES By Anne Jirsch

EVERY DAY MIRACLES PETA FILED TEAM MAKES A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE FOR ANIMALS IN NEED By Emily Allen

20 32

Celtic Wisdom As a Way of Healing

BEING STRONG FOREVER TAKING THE SHAME OUT OF EMOTIONS By Sibyl Badugu

LEARNING HOW TO CONTROL YOUR MIND By John A. Chuback M.D.

LAURIE CHAMBERS CAPTURING SENTIENT BEINGS IN THE KINGDOM OF BHUTON

Cover Photo by Regina Fleming Photography

10th Anniversary 50

THE SMILE BEHIND THE MASK By Nancy E. Yearout

ATTITUDE

By Sherry Rhodes

HOW TO BRING MORE OF NATURE'S HEALING EFFECTS INTO YOUR LIFE By Ian Hart

GIOVANNI & THE CAMINO OF ST. FRANCES By James Twyman

THE 5 POWERS QUALITIES THAT TRANSFORM OUR LIFE & OUR WORLD By Dr. Stephen Fulder

THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A SKIN CARE ROUTIN WITH STYAING AT HOME By Margaret Tomaszewic

58 64

DOLPHIN STUDY SHOWS FEMALE FAMILY GROUPS BEST FOR CALVES

Giovanni & The Camino of St. Frances

84 94

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EDEN T

MAGAZINE

Since 2010

The Eden Magazine is a free online publication that focuses on spreading compassion to all Sentient Beings living in a healing and peaceful world FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MARYAM MORRISON EXECUTIVE EDITOR/ CONTRIBUTING WRITER DINA MORRONE COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR/ CONTRIBUTING WRITER ALEXIA MELOCCHI BRAND AMBASSADOR MARIA ELENA INFANTINO CONTRIBUTING WRITERS SASHA GARY PHYLLIS KING JOE SANTOS, JR. ANGELA DUNNING NANCY E. YEAROUT MICHAEL WHITE RYAN MARCO NUNZIO ALATI JAYITA BHATTACHARJEE TARA-JENELLE WALSCH MARGARET TOMASZEWIC CONTRIBUTING STYLISTS + MAKEUP ARTIST EDWARD HAKOPIAN GRAPHICS & PHOTOGRAPHY GREG DOHERTY ISABELLE RUEN SHERI DETERMAN ARTIN MARDIROSIAN WEBSITE

www.theedenmagazine.com 325 N. Maple Dr. Po Box 5132 Beverly Hills, CA 90209 To purchase a copy visit us in www.theedenmagazine.com Eden Magazine is a non-profit monthly online magazine. We aim to create a better environment where we live among other living beings in peace and harmony. We support artists that their work matches our criteria. If you would like to submit your artwork, article or/and your photography for our future issues please contact Maryam Morrison at; maryammorrison@theedenmagazine.com 4 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e July 2020

Please leave wool out of your wardrobe.

Photo: Michael Muller â&#x20AC;¢ Grooming: Saisha Beecham, with Cloutier Remix

Joaquin Phoenix

F OR

VEGAN WOOL SUIT BY BRAVE GENTLEMAN

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DINA MORRONE

Maryam Morrison

EDWARD HAKOPIAN

GREG DOHERTY

MARGARET TOMASZEWIC

MARIA ELENA INFANTINO

ALEXIA MELOCCHI

TARA-JENELLE WALSCH

ARTIN MARDIROSIAN

NANCY E. YEAROUT

SHERI DETERMAN

MICHAEL WHITE RYAN

ANGELA DUNNING

JAYITA BHATTACHARJEE

JOE SANTOS, JR.

SASHA GARY

MARCO NUNZIO ALATI

ISABELLE RUEN 6 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e February 2020

PHYLLIS KING

MEET OUR TEAM

Photo by ISABELLE RUEN

Discover the path to a peaceful life among other living beings. We are all made of vibration and light in the universe to manifest our energy around all livingness.

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Susan

L.Taylor Founder & CEO, National CARES Mentoring Movement, and Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, Essence Magazine

By Dina Morrone

t's an incredible honor for the entire The Eden Magazine team to have Susan L. Taylor grace the cover and answer some questions for us in this extraordinary July issue. She is a woman who exemplifies what it means to have class and grace, and who is Beautiful, with a capital B. Taylor is a woman who's actions speak loudly. And whose dedication to causes that are dear to her heart keep her focused on the big picture of making a significant difference in people's lives. She holds a dozen honorary degrees from numerous universities and colleges, and she is a supporter of a host of organizations dedicated to moving the black community forward.

Taylor is the former Editor-in-Chief of Essence Magazine, a philanthropist, bestselling author, journalist, mother, fourthgeneration entrepreneur, and founder of The National CARES Mentoring Movement, an organization that helps young African American children through mentorship and inspiration. She is the first African American woman to receive The Henry Johnson Fisher Award from the Magazine Publishers of America. The NAACP has acknowledged Taylor with its President's Award, and American Libraries referred to her as the "the most influential black woman in journalism today."

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Photo by Regina Fleming Photography

Ms. Taylor, thank you for your time and for sharing your story with our readers around the world. American Libraries’ referred to you as “the most influential black woman in journalism.” That’s quite an impressive recognition. Congratulations! Who has been the most significant influence in your life? And who inspired you to become the successful woman you are today? Magazine making as with building any business is a collaborative effort. I am proud that I was able to build a dedicated high-performance team at Essence, and ensure that each person was in the right seat on the bus. I bring to my work the high standards exemplified by my parents and an entrepreneurial family. I observed them building their businesses in the Harlem community of my youth. My father, Lawrence Taylor, opened his women's boutique, Larry's Specialty Shop, each morning promptly at 10:00, six days a week, and he didn't close in the evenings until there were no more customers to serve. You are the founder & CEO of the National CARES Mentoring Movement. Please tell us about National CARES, and what moved you to start this organization? National CARES was founded in 2005, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, as Essence CARES. The hurricane devastated New Orleans, the home of the Essence Festival, and impoverished Black people were trapped and dying. The world could see that the city’s poor families were defenseless, and the children were traumatized and in desperate need of more support. Speaking about the tragedy throughout the nation and reporting on it in the magazine, appealing to able men and women in the community to assume our moral responsibility, as our fore-parents had done for us, this restorative movement for children was born.

over the magazine? And what was your parting wish for the magazine when you left? My goal was to bring our readers' deepest truths alive on the pages of the magazine—our triumphs, tribulations, our aspirations, the secret places where we hide our hurts, our pain, and wounds that need healing. From its beginning, Essence was required to give more to our readers than many other women's magazines. That's because Essence was the only publication dedicated to Black women. The one place where cover to cover our lives were delineated. And our beauty, which had historically been defiled, was celebrated. Self-love was a huge driver for me, our learning to love how God made us, have great reverence for our Blackness and moving us away from colorism. Displaying the breadth of Black beauty was primary. Many of the women we brought to the pages I found in restaurants, on busses and trains, and along the streets because only a narrow representation of our beauty was available through modeling agencies. I made a promise to God to stop traffic if need be and find everyday women with deep, dark skin, women of every shade with Nubian features, and women with full, lush bodies. The goal was to present to our women and the world every manifestation of Black beauty. When I left Essence to devote my full time to building National CARES, my wish was that the editors I handed the reins to would continue building strong. That they would keep an ear tuned to the hearts of Black women, understand their various needs, and try to serve them. This is what I tried to do in building upon the foundation created by my brilliant predecessor, Marcia Ann Gillespie.

In your twenties, you started your first company, “Nequai Cosmetics.” What inspired you to enter the world of cosmetics? Nequai Cosmetics was created to fulfill the need for shades of makeup that were unavailable to Black women at that time. Often we had to purchase several shades and mix them to create colors that matched our skin tone. I engaged local chemists who were excited about the new venture and eagerly created the pigments I would custom-blend in my Bronx, New York salon, The Face Place. It caught on quickly, came to the attention of the Essence editors, and I joined the beauty team in 1970, the year the magazine was founded. It's hard to believe, that was 50 years ago! You went on to become Editor-in-Chief of one of the most successful magazines, Essence Magazine. What was your primary goal when you first took 10 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e July 2020

(Standing) Susan Taylor, her brother, Larry (Seated, left) her daughter, Shana; mother; and sister, Lillian

What was the most challenging aspect of being Editor-in-Chief at Essence Magazine and why? Though I was married for three years before my daughter, Shana, was born, that first marriage ended when she was six weeks old. My greatest challenge throughout my career at the magazine—as beauty editor, then fashion and beauty editor and surely as editor-in-chief—was balancing my giving. Somehow it all worked out. I laugh with my Shana today that “We survived me!” but I do have my regrets. Shana sacrificed so much, more than anyone else, for the success of Essence. She sacrificed having me be more present, and she felt it. So much of my focus was on the magazine and its mission. In retrospect, and as I now know, I could have worked more strategically, focusing on the most important aspects of the work, delegated more, brought more work home, and attended to it with Shana by my side, doing her homework.

So many places around the world are facing poverty. What can we, as individuals, do to help this ever-growing problem? The coronavirus pandemic that Americans are struggling through is not all doom and gloom, not all loss, stress, and anxiety. It is also an awakening calling us to live differently and with more respect for the gift of this amazing planet and life itself. We human beings are a marvel of creation! We can—with understanding and compassion—push toward a creative model of capitalism that does not demand year-over-year increased profits forevermore as today’s capitalism mandates and which is not sustainable. Today’s model pushes leaders to make immoral choices that destroy the earth, small businesses, family incomes, healthcare systems, and more, expanding the ranks of the poor and causing mil-

lions such pain and depression. We human beings are a marvel of creation. Each of us is a miracle. We have the ability to create a better way of living that does not lock people out. We can fix our broken education and healthcare systems. They are among the many entities that have been corrupted by the demand to wring out more and more profit. As costly as healthcare is, Americans rank 27th in the world in health outcomes. We are called to a moral revolution of values that repair the many imbalances.

Susan L. Taylor and Oprah Winfrey at a Charity Event

"My goal was to bring our readers' deepest truths alive on the pages of the magazine—our triumphs, tribulations, our aspirations, the secret places where we hide our hurts, our pain and wounds that need healing."

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Among many Ethnic groups, children are the ones who struggle the most with their daily lives—for example, bullying, poverty, and abuse. We can push television producers and filmmakers to rethink how they entertain children and adults. Though fear of violence is primary in society, we are a society addicted to violence as entertainment. And that addiction is exploited. Children and grownups are mirroring the meanness, bullying, and carnage that’s often in cartoons, animated films, video games, definitely in network series, and central to blockbuster films. We sit before the TV, watch a bloodbath, then a cheery commercial, back to the bloodbath, and then the heinous violence that leads local news. We are inured to violence and require it for entertainment. Our education system should teach children to think critically and creatively, not just to remember facts to pass the test. Thinking critically, children won't just follow the leader and mirror what they see around them. They will question, correct, don't just follow the hell-raising leader.

Susan Taylor and Maxwell 12 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e July 2020

What needs to be done to ensure that all children are well educated and safe? Of the many inequities exposed by Covid-19, none have been more seismic in shattering Black economic stability and progress than the disparities in our education system. Black children are at the bottom of all academic measures. This horrifying pandemic is creating a willingness among some leaders to understand the root cause of Black generational impoverishment. Poverty in schools held fast by centuries of false beliefs about Black intelligence, and disparities in our education system that relegate poor African Americans to illiteracy, unemployment, and over-incarceration. Unlike their middle-class cohorts, poor Black—and Brown—children have little access to quality schools, well-trained teachers, subject-matter experts, exciting curricula, and other academic and social enrichments that instill confidence and prepare young people for self-sufficiency. We created this short video, https://vimeo.com/275132299, to destigmatize and explain the systemic grip of Black poverty and what National is doing to put children and families on pathways to economic stability.

Please share with our readers your beauty and self-help tips for both body and mind? We can recover our joy if it’s missing from our life. We have to stop thinking about what others did or didn't do for us, and what we did to ourselves. The only way to peace is being at peace with what is. Judgment separates us from the love in us, makes us cranky and hostile, impacting our total wellbeing, our health, posture, skin, hair, everything. Mind, body, spirit—they’re all connected. Particularly important to us, women, is learning to love what God made. Realizing that each of us is a divine original, we will come to appreciate our uniqueness and make peace with our looks and the bodily and hormonal changes that are natural to aging. There is so much judgment of women's looks, and it can be punishing to us when we compare ourselves to models and actor’s retouched photos. And when we focus on what’s sagging, bulging, and that we may be well overweight. The power to choose is our superpower. I try to choose self-care each day. It’s not easy, and I don’t always succeed, but it’s critical to give ourselves to ourselves before we give ourselves away. If I could sit and eat whatever and as much as I want, I’d eat cashews all day and never move a muscle. When I do, my belly grows bigger than my butt. I don’t curse myself, understanding the miracle of our body and mind. I engage my will. I toss the cashews, replace them with low-calorie sunflower and pumpkin seeds, drink lots of water, and walk the city for hours while returning calls. What I cherish is that’s it’s never too late to begin again. You have written several books based on Self-Empowerment. What is the very first step one needs to take to move towards achieving Self-Empowerment? I’ve learned that quiet time is the most important time we must take. Quiet time to listen in so we can discern what that “still small voice” is whispering to us. It’s mysterious, miraculous, and impossible to discern in the everyday rush of life. But we more easily connect with our innate spiritual wisdom during this coronavirus pandemic, which has caused many to slow down, get anchored, and still. Quiet time is absolutely critical for overwhelmed essential workers. It's restorative. Just sitting quietly. No special prayers, mantras, rosary beads, or statues needed. Just being present to our breath, it is revealed over time how everything—even what is painful and shameful—works together for the good. How the Holy Spirit, our Creator, is our back and is always moving us toward new possibilities. There is always a challenge around the bend, never for our punishment, always for our learning and development. These blessings may show up in packages that are different from

what we wanted or expected. No matter what life sends our way, we must try to remain mindful that we are all stepping toward the Creator, toward goodness, toward God. In our lifetime, if we live long, everything will fall away from us, but nothing is truly lost. It’s just life!

"The only way to peace is being at peace with what is. Judgment separates us from the love in us, makes us cranky and hostile, impacting our total wellbeing, our health, posture, skin, hair, everything. Mind, body, spirit they’re all connected." The death of George Floyd, and the outpouring of emotions, peaceful protests, and riots, that followed, has shown the world that Racism is alive and has never really been effectively addressed. It keeps getting kicked down the road and swept under the rug as if it doesn't exist. How do we take advantage of this epic moment to keep the conversation alive, and the people engaged, as they are doing now so that real change can finally occur? And so that this doesn't just become another incident, another lost opportunity, or another senseless death of an African American? There is the need for a moral and spiritual awakening that can only be realized with the courage to tell the truth about the heinous acts of violence that established the nation. These are very hard truths to acknowledge, hard to teach the children, hard to admit that American history has been rewritten to make heroes of people who slaughtered the indigenous peoples, took their land, stole the wealth of the African continent, not just its mineral wealth but also its people, particularly its young people, walked them hundreds of miles shackled and chained, entombed and transported them in the holes of ships across the seas for more than 250 years. To justify such brutality in a Bible-believing land, lies had to be told about us—that we were subhuman, bestial, cannibals that needed to be beaten, tamed, subdued. There is a belief in superiority, in the right to conquer and murder and call it heroism.

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Susan L. Taylor and her husband Khephra Burns Photo by Regina Fleming Photography

"Our education system should teach children to think critically and creatively, not just to remember facts to pass the test. Thinking critically, children won't just follow the leader and mirror what they see around them. They will question, correct and not just follow the hell-raising leader." All that is punishing to Black and Brown people today rests on these beliefs, which are deeply embedded—even when unconsciously—in the psyches of many non-colored Americans and all the systems that govern our lives—education, healthcare, housing, employment, policing. Hearts will change with an understanding of these hard truths. More than anything, police officers, all need education, truth, to understand what Black people here have withstood over the past 400 years. They need to read Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States and The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism by Edward Baptist; The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson and Tears We Cannot Stop, by Michael Eric Dyson. Books, documentaries, films, historical newspaper articles, stories about lynchings that were White family gathering events, For which they dressed up, brought their children, and served food. Visits to museums, recounts of the Underground Railroad with Black and White folks working together to ensure enslaved Black people’s safe passage to freedom, would be enlightening. These things hold many of the little-know truths of our nation’s history. Would you like to share a personal story about your own experience in the past when race affected you, your personal

life, or your professional life? In the 1980s there was a fragrance popular among Black women, and while ads appeared in many women’s magazines, it wasn’t advertised in Essence. Our publisher scheduled a meeting with the CEO of the company to make him aware that he was losing a very fertile market and being redundant by duplicating audiences in the home and style magazines targeting White women. The CEO told our publisher that he believed Black women aspired to have things beyond their immediate reach and to advertise in Essence would cause the brand to lose its allure, and that, further, it would lose its currency among White women, which he would not risk. It took another 15 years before that big-brand beauty company would advertise any of its products in Essence Magazine. That signaled for me that racism can override the need for profit. Special Thanks to: Susan L. Taylor Dina Morrone Regina Fleming Photography LeVon Leak with ONYXART Debra Parker

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The Rise of the

Goddess A

By Sasha Gary

s we are now in this transitional place in the universe during this global pandemic, I can’t help but wonder what the world would be like if women ruled the world. What would that look like? Would more love and compassion be ruling the planet and taking care of one another? Would there be as much fighting, protests, riots, looting happening in the streets? Would there be more love, compassion in helping one another, serving one another, instead of hurting one another and killing one another? You see women ruled countries like Germany, Taiwan, New Zealand, Iceland, Finland, Norway, Denmark, and how the outcomes of these particular countries were completely different. Straight into action, empathy, compassion, and bold leadership. The perspective of not just coming from a political stance but coming from an abundant, loving, prosperous union of humanity. Many of these same countries gave out the same advice on staying home, social distancing, and these countries were quite successful in the success of viral containment. To pose the question of would we have a more tolerable society? I am willing to make a bet we would be living in a more peaceful world, with negotiations and aiding to one another as a collective consciousness in raising the vibration of humanity and the planet. Would it be all women, of all races coming together to help raise our future children, future leaders to change the trajectory of where we currently headed? I’ve seen so many opportunities changing in my life for women, and I love it. The home-based business opportunities for women is stronger than ever, and it provides a balance of work home lifestyle. There is a new resurrection of the rise of the goddess movement happening amongst women, who are openly talking about how to care for their bodies, tackling PCOS, com-

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muning with one another on spiritual sabbaticals from the Western world to spiritual countries like Peru, Bali, Costa Rica and filling themselves up with bold, feminine, divine energy. Openly sharing stories of menstruation, birth, seasons of life, not living in period shame, honoring the beautiful bodies, and the miracles it performs. After months of unknowing, uncertainty, and feeling the vulnerability of being a woman in a locked-down society even for the greater good of mankind, health, and society, it raises the concern for many women of their safety too, how to protect themselves when they are by themselves. Feelings of aloneness, grappling who they are, what are they doing? Making new strides into what their future self needs, wants, desires to be the best version of themselves. It is a shift for women all around the world to keep expanding and making this planet a better place to be. The healing of our planet and our world in service of love, divine feminine energy, resilient, beautiful goddess energy is what our world so desperately needs. We are not separate from one another. We are one. We are love. Shanti Shanti.

Sasha Gary is Gratitude Life Coach. actress, writer, and Transformation Life Coach at www.balancedbellasonline.com is a 16 week online health program for women that shows you how to implement small sustainable changes one by one to help you with whole food nutrition, self-love and a conscious movement. Sasha is a yogi of 25 years, a crystal healer, and an avid sound bowl meditation participant and lives in Venice California!

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CELTIC WISDOM AS A WAY OF HEALING By Jayita Bhattacharjee

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eltic therapy is a type of holistic therapy that assists us in connecting to the natural world. It evokes the feelings that we would have while strolling through a forest, sauntering up to the woods, or ambling along the riverbanks.

inside us. We feel empowered. The frame of reference undergoes through a transition from this industrialized life to more natural life. There is a panoramic alteration within us, and the inner landscape goes through a transformation. The healing begins. We are no longer fearful, rather we become assertive of our inner voice.

Celtic Reiki healing is attuned to the Earth Reiki energy. The 'Ki' that rises from the earth is powerful, conquering, and grounding. Attunement with this grounding force enables physical and emotional well-being. Being physically connected to the environment, we attain the desired security. Through the earth's energy connection, we develop centralization and perseverance. The warbling mind is stabilized. As we develop the earth's Ki connection, fear and uncertainty are dissolved. We rise as transformed beings.

The Celtic Reiki Master brings a translocation in the viewpoints using’ essence’. Tree, mineral, stellar and other forms of essence are used. These treatments realign us with the earth to create a natural healing process engaging in the body’s mechanism. The extension of the process is to calibrate others to a Reiki perspective. As we awaken our inner senses, we become more closely attuned to the indigenous cultures of the world, e.g. Celts of Western Europe. From a modern perspective, we come to learn about this ancient historical belief that helps us conquer the challenges of modern life. Celtic Reiki emphasizes working with the verdant nature and its singular vibration. It engages the ancient Druid alphabet symbols and its individuality is attuned to the frequency of several trees and plants. This attunement is in concord with our physical and emotional wellbeing. It understands the silent wants and needs of our body, mind, and spirit. This ancient conception of a series of Druid alphabet symbols in accordance with the frequency of nature is attuned to the divine harmony. This consonance evokes an essential tunefulness. Such a Celtic Reiki attunement is in accordance with the Celtic wisdom. It brings into unison the healing energy of Reiki with the ancient wisdom of the Celts which is then channeled for healing purposes. The Celtic Reiki becomes purposive in a curative manner.

Celtic Reiki philosophy gives recognition to reconnecting with the Earth, so we can achieve physical and emotional wellbeing. Life in fast track cities can induce a disconnection from nature. We feel isolated from the world, and this isolation gradually wears our emotional health. The sensory and perceptive skills we possess, are eroded, as we become disrespectful of our home, this Mother Earth. In the process, we lose the connection with air and water, sky, and land. This loss then manifests itself upon us as the gradual wear and tear of our mental sanity. Along the way, we begin to lose ourselves. In essence, Celtic Reiki is vibrational. The philosophy underlying Celtic Reiki is that all things are built and percolated by a universal force. This is perceived as energy in quantum philosophy, that interacts as particles. Whereas the universe itself interacts with our very being. In ancient times, it was viewed as an allencompassing life force that was given many names and philosophies. This life force is all encircling. Shinto and Taoist denoted this by ‘Ki’. Its existence is in varied types, e.g. Shinki, Jiki, or Reiki. By translocating our perspectives to the natural world, we feel the extraordinary power of this life force. Our awareness expands as we shift towards the earth and its natural bounties. A Celtic Reiki Master assists in inducing a shift. As the perspective shifts to developing a kinship with this earth, we feel a subtle sensation

Celtic Reiki channels the energy transmitted from the trees and other plants for the creation of an environment that is healing and manifesting. It begins with 18 essences of trees, and over the years the Celtic Reiki system has expanded to incorporate the trees that are perceived as sacred to many people inhabiting this world. The trees become revelatory in the sense that it helps us to maintain balance within and ultimately takes us along the path of healing. Thus, we travel along the personal and spiritual path for our selfgrowth, and development. This traveling is possible through our connection to the energy and wisdom of the Celts. The pathways are cleared to new beginnings.

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Celtic wisdom is essentially the wisdom of the ancient world. How connecting to the earth and stones and poetry gives us back what we lost living in an era of mechanization, computerization, and industrialization. It transforms the mechanical person into one of a seeker, a dreamer, a lover, and a visionary's life. Somewhere along the way, the healing begins and we return to reunite with ourselves again. The energetic feel is similar, to the walk among the wilds of the woods. As we listen to the songs of nature, we exhale stress and tension. Celtic Reiki channels effectively from the Earth. From the earth, we heal, as we listen to the heartbeat of it. Celtic Reiki is a variation of Usui Reiki. It engages the vibrations of the earth and the diverse trees and shrubs for the creation of a revelatory environment where we can let go of the old patterns and have new visions. The Reiki energy imitates the vibrational frequency of certain trees and plants to work in attunement with the Celtic wisdom. From this perspective, Celtic Reiki depends on Earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Reiki Energy as it ascends from the root chakra. It flows upward and not downward from the top 9 as in (Usui Reiki). In the process, the mind is silenced, the worries are quietened and wisdom reveals. Celtic wisdom is essentially the wisdom of the ancient world. How connecting to the earth and stones and poetry gives us back what we lost living in an era of mechanization, computerization, and industrialization. It transforms the mechanical person into one of a seeker, a dreamer, a lover, and a visionary's life. Somewhere along the way, the healing begins and we return to reunite with ourselves again. Celtic is used to denote people of the Celtic nation, the Irish, Scots, Welsh. Celtic wisdom is ancient wisdom. In which world did the Celts live? They lived in a world where the celebration of nature was held from their spirit. The power of their lives sprang from the color and forms of nature. From there arose the intensity of feeling, the passion of living. They recognized the winds and their playful caresses of the cheeks. They celebrated the festival of flowers on the meadows. The teachings of life came to them through the whisper of winds, the wisdom of trees, the sky, and its delightful outburst of color at sunrise and sunset. They saw 22 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e July 2020

the face of God in them. To tread among the forests is to reconnect with the forest, listen to what the towering trees have to say, the faint murmur of the leaves and to reclaim the forgotten connection with our ancestral roots. To see through the spiraling Redwoods is to live in contemplation, and to contemplate is to essentially see through oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own soul. This, in turn, induces an inward journey, the pathway of transformation and healing. To gaze at the trees like Sycamore is to be immersed in their color feast. The eyes witness the continually changing canvas of an artist. From such a witnessing, a new heart is born with a new vision. In the process, we become dreamers, lovers, and visionaries. How do the trees clear our gripping worries? They transport us to another world where we are appeased and filled with serenity. On this earth, they become our elders from whom we can learn something, how to disconnect from our fear and despair. Consequently, we learn how to reconnect with life again. Essentially, walking among the woodlands is purifying our minds. Such a deep cleansing of our wearied spirits persuades us to fall in love with life again. The forest and groves embody wisdom that will replenish us if we reach out to them. As we seek them, they seek us in a mutual connection. The soothing gently fall son the soul. Morning comes so softly just when we feel the night has blackened us out. The towering trees with their dense foliage have an active role to play in the stress management as they absorb it and the loudness of the environment which we live in, is subdued. With this stress alleviation, we filter out the unwelcome, raucous environment and begin to hear the voice of our souls, the voice of our spirits. The forests inhale the pain and exhale serenity. The lofty trees transmute the negative energy into positive ones. Through such a transmutation, we are transformed. It is our rebirth as we walk among the ancient pines. They breathe in discord and breathe out concord. The noise transforms into silence and in stillness, we rediscover ourselves. The cacophony is absorbed by the dense forests to be transformed to euphony. Ever seen how the wind playfully dances on the leaves, how the leaves are dappled with the sunlight, and observing them, the light of life dapples our souls. There begins the movement of light on the leaves and finally onto our hearts. It becomes a cyclical pattern. The Celts also have a strong belief in the power of stones. They have used as standing stones and megaliths, the looming mound, for demarcation of territories, honoring the graveyards. For centuries, they have been revered as touchstones and played a significant role in the formation of altars. They are viewed as powerful tools in a spiritual quest. Living in the faster lanes

of life, we have lost sight of the ancient ways of living that invoke the connection to this earth. The stones bring the ancient Irish and Scottish poetry to present a new way to speak to our souls and we learn to integrate Celtic wisdom into our daily lives. We connect with the spirit of nature, honor our ancestors, and cherish this earth to whom we belong. With all that, we unlearn the superficiality of life and relearn the profundity and the truth. We get grounded, rooted in the soil of this Mother Earth as we further the connection. We begin to journey through the realms of the sacred land, the fathomless sea, and the unending sky. Through this truth of nature, our limited knowledge is transformed into limitless wisdom. The Celts were immersed in poetry. They were poets and storytellers, and through a weaving of the poetic verses and stories, they kept the flames of life burning inside. Through poetry the Celts created the magic, they brought back the history, genealogy, and admiration and reverence as they looked back at their ancestors. They kept their memories alive. For the Celts, nature is a shrine and all things are connected to one another through the poetic threads. In the modern-day civilization, the more life got mechanical, the more we lost the connection with this earth and the finer feelings of life. Essentially, we lost the tunes of living. Our connection with the shrine has been uprooted and we became wanderers, aimless and homeless, some nomadic in search of a possible home. We no longer seek the bird song that fills the sky. Through the process of automation, we are immersed in another world, a world of machines. We no longer search for the truth that transcends materialism. Earth, the rivers and streams, the hills and fields, poetry, and prose are desacralized. The Celts celebrated the turning of seasons to mark the phases of human life. The celebration was held for the waxing and waning of the moon. We hear the call of the soul to commune with the energy of the moon and walk down a sacred pathway to contribute to the rising of the divine feminine. The ancient moon circles have inspired us, our passion is ignited which awakens the wisdom slumbering inside our hearts into everyday life. Celtic wisdom grew out of the religious belief system and identified powerful sources and the ways to harness it for healing. The ancient Celts inhabited an entirely different world, unlike the modern-day world. They resided in rural communities and developed a kinship with land, sea, and sky. The Celts had a reverence for natural phenomena. They had a soulful relationship with the denizens of the spiritual world, including the ancestors and an oral system of passing down knowledge. In their be-

liefs, there was an immense power of language. Hence came the poetry and prose. Before the dawning of the written word, the spoken word particularly poetry was perceived as possessing creative and supernatural power. It led to the magical transformation of the hearts. Celtic words for upliftment were breath and wind. This creative power of poetry was harnessed for healing. The wounded people received healing through the magical power of incantation. Incantation is characterized by a certain spell that entails chanting or singing. Incantation gets built by the repetition of words, phrases, sounds, and cadences to produce a magical effect. It creates a hypnotic pull. The person reciting as well as the person listening are transported into an altered state of consciousness, making them more receptive to new ideas. They become open-minded and welcoming of suggestions. When healing incantations are used, they are combined with a ritual to stimulate the healing of the sufferer, or with a healing herb drink. In most cases, it had a positive and powerful effect. The search was there to reconnect with our ancestors, to seek and share the experience of the sacred through acknowledging the movement of time in a cyclical pattern. Deep inside, we felt the poetic connection with nature. The Celts remembered the power of poetry to turn to when they needed to calm their turbulent minds. The stones taught them how to connect with the land, sea, and sky. In this fastpaced life, if we slow down and pause and return to the stones for the forgotten connection, then we can reclaim what we lost, the wisdom of earth which will carry us eventually to the wisdom of the soul.

Jayita Bhattacharjee was born in Calcutta, India and later on pursued education from University of Houston in Economics, she had chosen her career as a trustee and teacher. Her Indian residence is in the vicinity of the famous Belurmath. Currently, she is settled in Tampa, Florida. Her love for writing on a journey of heart and soul was hidden all within. Looking at the moments captured in love and pain, joy and grief, the hidden tragedies of life...it was a calling of her soul to write. Her books "The Ecstatic Dance of Life', " Sacred Sanctuary", " Light of Consciousness", "Dewdrops of Compassion" are meant to shed light on what guides a person to respond to the mystical voice hidden inside, to soar in a boundless expansion with the limitless freedom of spirit."It is in the deepest joy that I write with every breath of mine." 23 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e July 2020

Photo byToa Hefiba

THE WAY I SEE IT By Joe Santos, Jr.

WHAT

M A T T E R S

n the past four months, while being quarantined, sheltered in place, socially distanced, eating too much, sleeping too little, wearing a face mask, wearing gloves, disinfecting my home, my car, my hands, my life, I've managed to sort through more than a few fears and anxieties and learn some valuable lessons. The earth and our world as we know it, is going through some major changes. It has been for quite some time now. If it's for the good or the bad, that is not for us left to decide. It is left for us to prepare for. Gone are the days of nonchalance, of “que’ sera, sera” (what will be, will be), complacency, and whatever blame or responsibility we can skirt. If we aren't finding our clarity in these times, we never will. That "fact" is a fact. A harsh, cold, hard, undeniable fact! I've written over 50 articles for The Eden Magazine to date, always focusing on a positive spin to every situation. Finding words, hoping to direct thoughts and concerns toward something greater, a voice louder, a light brighter, showing us through a door closer in the hope of leading us to a place safer. I've always been the optimist, even while growing up. As fortunate as I was to have a close, loving family, there were still disappointments, tragedies, and lessons to learn and grow from. I trust they are what helps us through these unpredictable and challenging times we are experiencing now. We have to find a way to look back in History and relive, rethink its' and our own past. We must accept responsibilities for thoughts, actions, and behaviors. By doing so, we sharpen the tools we need now in order to escape it and or reassemble it in our minds to remain healthy. Asking questions of ourselves is essential. This alone/together time we are spending should be exactly that. To be together with our soul. Alone in our thoughts and affirmations. Retreat to our quiet to hear the answers to our prayers. Reacquaint ourselves. Find what we love about ourselves, then fix, adjust, and eliminate what we don't love, by replacing it with something of value and valor. And if there was ever a time, we needed valor, it is now. Courage, a strength to look people in their eyes and see them for who they are and embrace them for what matters. It's not the time to fight a battle for others (that's been done). It is a time to listen to the pain and struggle of others (that has yet to be done). It's that blindness that has foolishly and selfishly led us here to this place of uncertainty, to divide without conquering, to pray without faith, to hope without purpose. Or has it? For many, I suppose yes, sadly, it has. For those more enlightened, it is the beginning of a revelation of so much more. Truth. Compassion. Empathy. Peace and

forgiveness to start. "It's been a long time comin’, but I know a change is gonna come. Yes, it will." My optimism is about finding a way. Whether it be up, over, around, above, or under. A way to communicate, listen, sort, support, encourage. It's also about taking responsibility. Even for the things, we feel we are not responsible for. Here is the hard part. We are all responsible at times for "the good, the bad, and the ugly." All of us. So, in recognizing and accepting that, the time has come to finally put down our weapons and march. March for ourselves. March for each other. March for our planet. March for our past, our present, and our future. March for the change we want to see. That change that feels good to feel. That change our hearts beat for—that change we need for our minds to be free. Free to make better decisions and choices for the better of all Gods’ Blessings. I humbly believe we are all Gods' Blessings. Not his creatures. And, I also believe this is what matters. We really are, all in this together.

Joey Santos Jr. was raised in NYC, Malibu, and West Hollywood Hills. He is son to Film & Television Actor Joe Santos. His Mother, Mary, was a former Showgirl who became a "stay at home Mom," and a wonderful cook who loved hosting lavish parties in their homes. Joey's Grandfather is World-Renowned Latin Singer Daniel Santos, and his Grandmother Rose was a Business Woman who owned Nightclubs in NYC, Havana, Miami, and LA. She also started a Record Label and a Film Studio. Early on, Joey worked as an actor. He had a recurring role in NYPD Blue's, as Officer Aiello, and also performed on stage doing live theater. He then embarked on a singing career, recorded a couple of CDs, and performed in various venues throughout the US. His ultimate passion, however, was the result of following in both his Grandmother's and Mother's footsteps. He became a Restauranteur - (Co-owned the El Mocambo in LA, Owner and Chef of JoJo's Americana Supper-club in Saugatuck, and JoJo's Juke Joint in West Hollywood). This experience would lead Joey to embark on his own very successful private business of catering/hosting events for the Hollywood elite. For the past four years, he as been Private Chef to Brad Pitt. Since 2016, Joey writes a monthly column, "The Way I See It " for The Eden Magazine. He is teaming up with life-long friend ( Literary Agent ) Alan Nevins, to develop a PodCast called, "Two Guys From Hollywood" where they will talk about everything you always "didn't want to know!" 25 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e July 2020

The Straddlers By Anne Jirsch

n her new book, Future Vision Your Working Life: 10 Strategies To Help You Get Ahead (Watkins $16.95) Anne Jirsch looks at the issue many of us face â&#x20AC;&#x201C; finding our true purpose. Here she discusses the notion of Straddlers, how to work out if you are one, and what to do about it. The Straddlers

Photo by Tess

We are in a transition phase. The world is changing at a rate never before witnessed, and this can unsettle people. Some are even terrified. Does that sound extreme? I promise you I regularly meet people who are full of doom and terror. This transition phase means that all aspects of our lives will change. But not all change is bad, and not all change is going to happen overnight. To take one example, we all agree we need clean energy, but expecting that we should immediately stop flying by aeroplane isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t realistic. Neither are we going to suddenly start growing bean sprouts for food and all become vegans, or ride horses and donkeys instead of driving cars? Some want immediate change, while others want no change. Neither will get their 26 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e June 2020

way. Positive change will happen over time, and to ease us from the old way to the new way we need people who bridge both worlds. We need Straddlers. What we are concerned about is how the change will affect our world of work. We have already seen how our world of work is changing fast, and it will change faster in the future. Some jobs will fade into obscurity. Many self-employed fields will become so overcrowded that people will be left twiddling their thumbs. This is starting to happen already, but through these turbulent times, the Straddlers will be our guides. They will guide us through transition phases and help us to find a positive way forward. Do not underestimate the power of the Straddlers. They are the people who will lead us from the past to a better future. I can often spot a Straddler. They are the people asking the right questions. They are problem solvers, and although many of them do not see themselves this way, they lead people to a better future. When I work with Straddlers I take them into the future to find out what part they have to play. For the Straddlers, that is their purpose.

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Photo by Angelo Moleee

Are You a Straddler?

Being a Straddler is a calling. It’s knowing that there is something more than you are meant to be doing. Often the Straddler has no idea what it is. The calling can be scary. It can be triggered by upheaval or a sudden change of direction. A Straddler can see their old industry fading and know something new is emerging. They don’t always know what is coming next, and that breeds fear. The difference is they go in search of answers. They step into the unknown, looking for a better way. At first, they don’t always get it right, which makes them doubt themselves. But they can see their industry fading and they know something new is emerging.

How to Tell If You Are a Straddler

You get the sense you are meant to be doing something. The old way of working doesn’t seem quite right anymore. You feel there is more to your life. You are searching for answers. You instinctively know the future will be amazing. You are noticing changes going on around you when others don’t. You are not sure where things are heading, but you somehow know you have a part to play. CASE STUDY Giulia is a classic Straddler. This is Giulia’s story: “In 2010, I resigned from my well-paid job with one of the oil and gas supermajors. This made no sense, as my employer and the fi-

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nancial rewards they offered were excellent. But I had a strong feeling that traveling through the corporate ranks wasn’t what I wanted from life. Sure, I had everything I needed from a material perspective, but I felt empty. I felt there must be more to my life. I was missing my purpose. Fast forward two years. I was working as a consultant in the energy industry and I was asked to provide advisory to the oil and gas industry in Yemen. What many people don’t always understand about the industry is that profits are shared between the big oil companies and the country where the oil is discovered. When the right performance frameworks are in place, it has the potential to provide revenue that can be channeled into employment and training for the local population. Yemen has been in conflict and is extremely unstable. During one of our journeys, our armored convoy came to a stop and this beautiful little boy ran across to our vehicle and knocked on my window. The extremely over-diligent security guards, who were usually very jumpy if anyone came close to us, appeared not to notice his loud knocking on the window. I saw his tearful face smile at me and something in me changed. I had this deep feeling that I could put my skills to use and work at a much higher level than my corporate background had allowed. My vision was to help with bridging the skills gap and create employment and small business enterprises that could help people to have a better quality of life.

The timing was wrong for Yemen with the conflict worsening. I decided to turn my attention to Africa. I began speaking at conferences and working with government representatives to see how we could implement better measures, manage supply chains, and find employability solutions. This felt good and the work is ongoing, but I wasn’t quite yet hit the sweet spot. Finding your purpose is a never-ending journey of discovery. Back in the UK, I called Anne Jirsch and we did a session to gain more information. It showed me that timing is everything. I had become interested in advanced technology and how it will affect jobs, society, ethics, and education for the better. My goal was to set up some innovation hubs to help businesses with the large-scale transition – green energy is one of the transitional industries that will be making an impact. During the FLP session, we saw I had written a book. I was speaking and interacting globally with big businesses and governments. But more importantly, we saw a happy, calm world that had utilized this knowledge for the good of humanity. My role was to bridge the gap, help people learn how to transition, and help transform education and training models so that people were employed for jobs that don’t yet exist. The method for helping was by creating innovation centers or hubs where we can co-create and bridge these gaps. These innovation hubs would also help with my vision and concept for Africa too. The frustration and stress I was feeling because of not knowing my purpose just lifted in this session. The confidence to move forward and show me to the world is running right through to my bone marrow. I had found my purpose.” Anne Jirsch is an international trainer and speaker, but she is best known as an intuitive, leading world pioneer of Future Life Progression (FLP). This technique uses a blend of clinical hypnosis and visualization to guide clients into their own future to discover their best options regarding life choices. Anne’s FLP training company is now in 20 countries and she is regularly consulted by business leaders, Hollywood directors, and politicians for advice. Anne has appeared on numerous radio shows, having regular slots on Star FM and BBC Radio. She has also appeared on Kuwait morning television, Estonian television, and BBC morning news and more recently 'This Morning' where she hypnotized celebrity Natalie Cassidy and took her into her future life. Visit Anne’s website to learn more www.annejirsch.com 29 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e July 2020

Everyday Miracles PETA's Field Team Makes a World of Difference for Animals in Need By Emily Allen

hen PETA's fieldworkers first met Capone, he was languishing outdoors in a rusty, makeshift wire cage that wasn't much bigger than his own body. Even though Capone was visibly depressed, his owner insisted that he "likes it in there." But PETA's fieldworkers didn’t give up. For years, they worked to improve Capone's living conditions and finally persuaded his owner to let him out of that miserable little cage. Still, Capone's life didn't improve much: He was kept tethered to a deck surrounded by his own waste, with only filthy water to drink and a flimsy plastic carrier covered with a tarp as "protection" from the rain, snow, and freezing cold. But one day, everything changed. Capone's owner was admitted into hospice care, and his family asked PETA to take the long-neglected dog. A PETA staffer and her partner fell under the little charmer's spell, and soon, Capone was off to sunny Florida to start the life he'd always deserved. Now, Capone finally gets to enjoy being a dog: He goes for evening walks with his family and spends his days running around in the yard, trading tackles with his canine big sister, Luna, and learning how to play ball and Frisbee. "He is so affectionate and just has the biggest heart," his new guardian says. "He's going to live his best life from here on out." Capone is one of thousands of animals whose lives have changed for the better because of PETA's Community Animal Project (CAP). PETA's dedicated CAP fieldworkers go on daily missions to deliver doghouses, straw bedding, food, toys, flea and heartworm medication, much-needed love and attention, and more to neglected animals in impoverished areas surrounding PETA's Norfolk, Virginia, headquarters. 30 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e July 2020

Lifesaving Shelter for Neglected Dogs

Countless dogs are kept outdoors 24/7, like lawn ornaments—tethered by heavy chains or locked in filthy, muddy pens. PETA's fieldworkers have found dogs shivering during snowstorms, with only a piece of plywood propped against a fence, a card table, an overturned barrel, or a shell of an air-conditioning unit to protect them from the elements. These dogs are at high risk of hypothermia, frostbite, and dehydration when their water bowls freeze. During the summer, the flies who are attracted to the dogs' waste bite their ears bloody, and when temperatures soar, a lack of access to water or shade can be fatal. Some dogs—like Duke, a long-legged Chihuahua-pug mix found tied up at an abandoned home in subfreezing temperatures—have no shelter whatsoever. Duke likely wouldn't have survived much longer, if a PETA fieldworker hadn't miraculously spotted him amid a cluster of garbage bins, piles of drink cans, and an abandoned car. PETA enlisted help from

the local sheriff's department to confiscate the tiny dog, and now Duke is living the warm, cozy indoor life he deserves. PETA's fieldworkers politely try to explain to people about their animals' needs and urge them to let their dogs and cats live indoors with the rest of the family. But not everyone is willing to do that, and in those situations, PETA's fieldworkers do everything they can to make "outdoor" animals' lives more bearable.

No Working From Home for These Miracle Workers

Animals' needs don't take a break on weekends or holidays or even during a pandemic—and neither does CAP. While COVID-19 brought many services to a screeching halt, and some shelters couldn't—or wouldn't—accept animals from people who could no longer care for them, PETA's "miracle worker" field team kept right on doing what they do every day now: Don face masks, wash their hands, roll up their sleeves, and get to work improving animals' lives.

Last year alone, PETA helped more than 3,000 struggling families keep animals they would have otherwise had to give up, by providing free food and veterinary care, counseling people on ways to handle their animals' behavioral quirks and housetraining difficulties, grooming cats and dogs whose fur was completely matted, showing people how to trim overgrown nails, and much more. When a dog named Luna returned indoors one day from a "bathroom break," her guardian noticed that her face was wounded and had become swollen and infected. Painful conditions like this often go untreated when people can't afford veterinary care, but Luna was in luck. Her guardian contacted PETA seeking help. Shortly thereafter, Luna was transported to one of our clinics, where staffers disinfected and treated her wounds and spayed her, too. Now, she's on the mend and back home with her grateful guardian—and best of all, she won't be having any "oops" litters.

The Doctor Is In Helping animals like Luna is all in a day's work for PETA's mobile spay/neuter clinics, which have "snipped" more than 175,000 animals since 2001—including 12,561 in 2019 alone— all at little to no cost to their guardians. These lifesaving surgeries have prevented hundreds of thousands of unwanted kittens and puppies from being born and ending up homeless, neglected, or abused. PETA strives to eliminate every barrier that prevents people from doing the right thing for their animals. That's why the clinics travel to low-income communities and even give free rides to and from the surgeries to animals whose families lack transportation. One of these animals was Hazal, who was suffering from pyometra, a potentially fatal uterine infection. A spay surgery involving this condition would cost between $1,200 and $1,500 at a private veterinary clinic—and significantly more on an emergency basis—but we performed it free of charge, likely saving her life and preventing her from bringing countless more puppies into a world that's already short on good homes. Every dog and cat who gets "snipped" at PETA's clinics is one less animal who will contribute to the overpopulation crisis: Spaying just one female dog can prevent the births of 67,000 puppies in six years, and "fixing" a female cat can prevent a whopping 370,000 kittens from being born over the course of seven years. PETA also offers end-of-life services, free of charge, for suffering animals whose guardians are desperate to relieve their beloved companions' misery.

Rocky, an elderly golden retriever whose family called PETA for help after their city shelter stopped providing the public with euthanasia services, appeared to be in heart failure and had become immobile in addition to suffering from persistent seizures. PETA euthanized Rocky free of charge, just as we have done for hundreds of other families who couldn’t afford this vital service at a private veterinary clinic. A small dog named Missy who was dying of endstage liver failure was rushed to PETA. She was emaciated, vomiting blood, severely dehydrated and jaundiced, and barely able to breathe.

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Her elderly owner had sought help from several veterinary clinics and shelters but was unable to find any amid the COVID-19 shutdowns. Someone referred her to PETA, and Missy is now at peace.

Happily Ever After

While PETA's fieldworkers witness much sadness and suffering, they also experience the joy of helping many lucky animals escape inadequate homes and find their "happily ever after" with a loving family. Delilah was rescued from a neglectful situation after her previous owner was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Fieldworkers found the house littered with waste and filth. The furniture was soaked with urine, and the sharp ammonia fumes made it hard to breathe and caused their eyes to water. We paired shy Delilah with the perfect foster family, who helped her build up her self-confidence and learn to enjoy life and then decided to adopt her. A sweet cat named Egypt showed up one day at someone's home in a rural area and began rummaging through trash cans, begging for handouts, and sleeping under the porch. She started following PETA fieldworkers around the neighborhood as they cared for other animals in need. After they spoke with the kind person who had been feeding her, the woman agreed that it was best to give her to us. We found her a loving, indoor-only home, where she'll never go hungry again. As long as there are animals like Capone, Duke, Delilah, and Egypt out there, CAP will be out there, tooâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;doing everything possible to make their lives happier and more comfortable and creating a brighter future for all animals.

Emily Allen is the senior director of the Community Animal Project for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA.org). She leads a team of dedicated workers who come to the rescue of neglected dogs, cats, and other animals by providing them with food, water, shelter, veterinary care, and affection. She also helps build and testifies in court cases to ensure that the people who neglect, starve, beat, or otherwise abuse animals are brought to justice.

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Photo by Adam sabljiak 34 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e July 2020

Being Strong

Forever Taking the Shame Out of Emotions By Sibyl Badugu,

Founder and CEO of Zen Health Technologies

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This time in our history is undoubtedly something that none of us could have prepared for. I know for me something as small as how I acknowledge people that I pass on the street is different from before the pandemic.

I remember when I first started to become aware of my emotions. When someone would ask “how are you?”, my reply would either be “I’m good!” or “I’m not so good”. I wasn’t aware that there were alternatives to these replies based on the variety of emotions that I may be feeling. It took me a while to be able to identify which feeling I was experiencing at any given moment, and even longer for me to understand that I could be feeling more than one emotion at a time. Identifying my emotions was not something anyone had ever explained or tried to teach me. But I have learned that when we take the time to understand our own emotions and patterns, we can be in control of those feelings rather than having them control us. I’m sure we have all been told at one point or another to “stop being so emotional”. Whether at work or in our personal lives, we are expected to maintain a certain level of “control” over how we are feeling. However, there is a major problem with that thought process. How are we supposed to “control” our emotions if we are not able to actively identify them? Emotions rule all of our decisions. Everything from what we choose to buy to who we interact with are decisions that are made based on how we are feeling. These emotions are always changing and have varying intensities that can make it difficult to understand them or look at them objectively. But every emotion is valuable because it contributes to how we make decisions, so being able to identify them is crucial. Which is exactly why we created EverStrong. EverStrong is an app designed to strengthen your emotions through emotional fitness tasks, in just 30 seconds. By combining clinical and philosophical approaches to emotional intelligence, EverStrong develops and strengthens your mind to improve decision-making and problem-solving abilities. It is designed to take the shame and heaviness out of emotions and provide you with easy tasks to help you begin developing the skills that increase your emotional intelligence. By randomly providing quick, 30 second, light men-

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tal exercises you can slow down spinning minds and focus thinking for short periods of time throughout the day. Just being able to understand an emotion, like being overwhelmed, is enough to help us feel grounded. That understanding helps us to do something about that feeling, leading to improved mental health and stability. I started Zen Health Technologies to create technology applications that address the human experience. We are all so busy and caught up in day-to-day living that it can be difficult to take the time necessary for our mental health. However, since we typically have our smart phones with us, this seemed the best tool to continuously provide new mental exercises and quick reminders for keeping our minds in shape. Using a smartphone to continually stay aware and develop these skills is the key to developing new thinking habits. Recognizing one’s own emotions as well as the emotions of others and navigating them effectively takes awareness, skill, and repetition. When we begin to become aware of our emotions, we can start noticing how we make decisions. This is the first step in strengthening our emotions and developing emotional intelligence, which is 1 “the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one's emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically.” Emotional intelligence is the key to both personal and professional success. For me setting aside time to pay attention to my emotions and doing quick mental exercises has given me the awareness and ability to take a step back and look at situations and conversations more objectively, both personally and professionally. In doing this regularly, Ihave created structure around my emotions and noticed patterns that I have missed in the past. For example, I have noticed that I tend to hold my breath when I’m focused in thought, which leads to tension in my neck and shoulders. Now that I am aware of this, I pay special attention to those areas when stretching or exercising to maintain my physical health.

Understanding your body’s natural language keeps you in control of your emotions, so when you feel something strongly you are able to work through those feelings, not against them. It also helps you to be more understanding of others who may be feeling strong emotions, making you better able to support them without getting sucked into any negativity and/ or becoming reactive. This time in our history is undoubtedly something that none of us could have prepared for. I know for me something as small as how I acknowledge people that I pass on the street is different from before the pandemic. For example, I used to make eye contact with people and smile. Now I don’t as I sense that people are a little more guarded and I don’t want to make them uncomfortable. As we emerge back into the world from being sheltered in place, we have a chance to evaluate how we approach existing situations in a new way – a way that is purposeful, thoughtful and expresses our true intentions. We can pay attention to our body, notice our emotions and how we express them. Shifting mental energy can help concentrate thinking and start building awareness. There are many facets to mastering emotions such as building self-confidence, improving relationships, and staying focused. These are some of the longterm goals that our clinical team has curated by blending and presenting proven modern, clinical, and ancient techniques that are fun and easyto-do. Soon, Zen Health Technologies will focus on bringing EverStrong technology into the workplace. Anytime people are interacting with each other, emotional strength and intelligence skills are beneficial to everyone involved for peaceful co-existence, successful collaboration, and even a competitive advantage when morally and ethically well-intentioned. My work has always included understanding what people struggle with and how to create products to help ease the struggle. I have designed and improved products for decades based on input from customers. In the case of EverStrong, we looked at the human tendency to get lost in our thoughts. Being able to feel gratitude and peace is a real struggle with our minds often getting in the way. I have found that strong emotions come out of having to reconcile what we know to be right and our ability to express it safely and gently in situations in our immediate envi-

ronments. When we are not able to express ourselves calmly, our emotions get too intense and prevent others and ourselves from receiving the information. Often, we have to soften and/or focus our attention differently to feel what is right in our hearts. It is this discrepancy that causes our inner conflict and struggles, which constantly keep our minds busy and engaged in potentially unproductive or destructive patterns that keep us from spending time and effort in gratitude and abundance. Keeping our attention, even in small amounts, towards being thankful for the things we take for granted allows more ease into our lives, leaving less time to focus on our inner struggles. As we get used to feeling more and more at ease, we make more room for an abundance of positive feelings. With frequent practice and repetition, this type of thinking can become a habit that you feel more comfortable with over time. We say, “stay emotional.” Let your intuition and sensibility guide you in expressing yourself as you truly are while keeping other people’s intentions and sensibilities in mind. Your emotional strength and intelligence can guide all your relationships in a way that is right for you – including the relationship you have with yourself. We need to tend to ourselves most of all so that we can give our best selves to those we love and care for. The EverStrong app is simply – yet significantly – another way to embody this for ourselves and others. 1 Dictionary.com; https://www.dictionary.com/browse/emotional-intelligence?s=t

Founded in 2015, Zen Health Technologies provides mobile apps, websites, and other technology to help individuals build emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and empowerment. Its flagship product is EverStrong, an app that strengthens emotional intelligence and improves mindfulness. The company continues to develop new, advanced solutions to relieve stress, prevent burnout, and bring balance to people's lives. For more, please visit: https://zenhealthtech.com

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High Road to Humanity By Nancy Yearout

Photo by Sam Manns

The Smile

Behind the Mask 38 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e July 2020

efore we go out in public today, we carefully place on our mask to cover the lower portion of our face. This reminded to us all that there is a pandemic occurring in our world. This is a new way of life for us. We are not used to covering up part of our face with a mask, not to mention they are uncomfortable to wear. Some people even feel claustrophobic when they have to place their mask on to go out in public, but one of the toughest realities about covering our mouths is the difficulty to understand the words a person is speaking behind their mask, or to see the expression on their face. There are a variety of masks available, some people wear a medical-grade mask and others a simple bandanna that they have created to protect themselves. There are funny masks that make you laugh when you see them covering the lower portion of a person’s face. It almost feels like a new fad to see the colorful and often humorous masks that people have chosen to wear. All of our masks are different but behind the masks, we are all the same. This is what many people do not realize. We are all woven from the same thread and connected to each other by design. It does not matter what nationality you are or what color your skin may be, behind those masks we are all human beings. With all of the unrest that is occurring across the world today, we need to realize the connection we all have with each other more than ever! We are all the same in core. We have the same feelings of love, compassion, fear, desire, unrest, sadness, and hope. If we can begin to realize that we are all connected, maybe the mindset will adjust to a feeling of love and compassion for our fellow man. There is a sense of respect and kindness that seems to be lacking in our society that needs to be changed.! We are the only ones who can change the energy to happiness, kindness, peace, and love. We all can make a difference with our words and our actions. As you go out into the world, each person may have a mask on but when you look into their eyes you can see their true feelings. The eyes, it is said are the windows to the soul. This is very true as your eyes tell your story. Even though you may be wearing a mask it is clear what you are feeling behind it. It’s amazing to see the number of people who seem fearful and sad behind their masks, but what surprises me the most is when a person smiles behind their mask! You know it is a smile as their facial expression changes and their eyes become bright and you can see the light that shines within them. As the sun rises each day, we are offered an opportunity to start over, to choose a day of heaven on earth, or to get sucked into the fear and hatred. What is your choice? I choose to smile behind my mask.

"We are all woven from the same thread and connected to each other by design. It does not matter what nationality you are or what color your skin may be, behind those masks we are all human beings." Nancy Yearout is an Psychic Reader, Intuitive Life Coach, Author and Inspirational Speaker. Her religious and spiritual work has enabled her to help many people to live the life they desire! Nancy feels inspired to share the wisdom and the messages she receives with others. Her real-life experiences are shared each week on her Radio Show/Podcast, High Road to Humanity where insightful, spiritual guests share their story. This is Nancy’s way of each sharing new insight about raising the vibration and consciousness for all of us to create a healthy, Loving and kinder people as well as a safe harmonious place to live. My Credentials: Sales Coordinator for General Motors Corporation, Sales Manager for multiple, Owner and Qualifying Broker of The Harville Estates Real Estate & Development LLC, Owner of Energy Girl Publishing LLC., Author of, Wake Up! The Universe Is Speaking to You, Author of Monthly Contributor to Eden Magazine, Motivational/Inspirational Speaker, Intuitive Personal Coach Intuitive card reader, Energy Healer, Radio Host/Podcast High Road to Humanity. Today she is happily married to the love of her life. Nancy Yearout Hosts a Radio Show/ Podcast every week on Toginet radio and iTunes called High Road to Humanity. Visit her website www.NancyYearout.com or her Podcast www.Highroadtohumanity.com

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Learning How to Control Your Mind

Photo by ahmed zid

By: Dr. John Chuback

he human mind is the greatest and most powerful resource in the known universe - and you have been blessed with one. And please understand this essential distinction - your mind is not your brain. Your brain is a 3-pound organ which sits in your skull, just as your heart and lungs sit in your chest and your liver and spleen sit in your abdomen. Your mind on the other hand is not an organ. Your mind is an activity, and you are not your mind. Rather, you are in possession of your mind, just as you are in possession of your arm or your hand. And just as you can command your hand to open and close, you can take control of your mind in exactly the same way. The real you, in my personal opinion, is a spiritual being, living in a physical body, in possession of a mind, and interact-

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ing with a material world. And how you use your mind makes all the difference in how well you will function when times get tough. The beauty of this model of who and what you are is that it gives you unlimited control of how you think and how you feel. It gives you immense power over your thoughts, emotions, and beliefs. This rubric gives you the extraordinary ability to choose. You can choose what you think. You can choose how you feel. You can choose how you behave. You can choose what you wish to believe. You can do all of this once you understand how your mind is structured and how to take command of it. The easiest way to think of the mind is as 2 distinct parts. Remember, this is not the brain we are talking about, this is the mind.

Your mind is comprised of the conscious mind and the subconscious mind. These are also called the thinking mind and the emotional mind, respectively. The conscious mind has the extraordinary ability to choose. Being able to make choices makes us different from all other living things. As one of my mentors used to say, “You are not like a goose who has to fly south in the winter. You can go north or east or west. You’re a human being. You’re not a goose.” This may seem like a silly comparison at first, but I can assure you it’s very powerful when you fully grasp its true meaning. This is perhaps the most valuable realization one can ever experience. You have the extraordinary ability to choose what you think about. And perhaps the most incredible revelation regarding human potential which has been discovered is that you become what you think about. The thinking mind is heavily influenced by our five senses: sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell. Of these, what we see and hear have the greatest impact on what we think about most of the time. And, when we think repeatedly about certain things or in a certain way, those thoughts eventually percolate down through the psychic barrier and take root in the subconscious. This is where our thoughts become our beliefs. These beliefs almost exclusively shape and define our self-concept or self-image. These beliefs not only determine how we see ourselves fitting in in the world, but also strongly dictate our habitual behavior. Finally, our behavior (actions) determines our results. Therefore, what we watch on TV and online, what we read on the internet, in books and in magazines, what we listen to on podcasts and on the radio, heavily influence what we think about most of the time. This, in turn, programs or subconscious belief systems. Understanding this process is essential to taking control of your thoughts, beliefs, state of mind, feelings, emotions, attitudes, and outcomes. My sincere advice here: vigilantly stand guard at the “door” to your precious mind. Don’t allow large volumes of negativity to enter those hallowed grounds. Your mind is a place to treat with great respect and love. Like your body, exercise it wisely and don’t feed it junk. At a time like this, many of us are home much more than usual and have unprecedented amounts of time on our hands. This is a great gift if you use it wisely. This free time gives us the opportunity to expose our minds to vast quantities of information from an unending variety of sources. Please be cautious here. My advice is that you remain informed, but don’t allow yourself to become inundated with media regarding the pandemic. It is too easy to become mentally and emotionally overwhelmed right now through a torrent of data, statistics, predictions, opinions, potential treatments, arguments, visual images, etc. This kind of over-exposure can be extremely damaging to the psyche.

Make it your business to take control of your mind. Foster positive thinking by exposing your mind to positive messaging. Be conscientious of your conscious mind. Read uplifting material. Watch optimistic, light-hearted, movies and TV shows. Strictly limit your exposure to the “bad news.” Make a schedule of 10 to 20 minutes per day to stay abreast of developments but don’t poison yourself with toxic quantities of “breaking news.” Follow all of the good health instructions given by recognized medical experts. Feel empowered knowing that you are doing all you possibly can to protect yourself, your family, your friends, your co-workers, and your community. That’s a really good thing. That should make you feel safer and more in control. Also, make a concerted effort to take excellent care of yourself during this difficult period of time. Eat nutritious whole foods which are high in vitamins, minerals, macronutrients, micronutrients and trace elements. This will help to support your body’s natural immune system and innate defenses. Exercise regularly to stay as fit and strong as possible. Doing these things will better your odds of doing well should you be exposed to any infectious disease. This again is empowerment. Keep your mind trained on taking good care of yourself and your loved ones. Focus only on what you can do to tip the scales in favor of your well-being. Spend quality time with those you are isolating with. Play games, listen to good music, cook meals together, eat at the dinner table together, tell stories of happier times and laugh out loud. Finally, use this time to plan for new and exciting adventures in the future. Remind yourself that this chapter, like every other chapter in history, will pass. Use your magnificent mind to think about all the wonderful things you have to look forward to in the future.

John A. Chuback, M.D., is Board Certified in General Surgery and Cardiovascular Surgery. He received his MD from Rutgers University and has been in private practice in Paramus, New Jersey, for 16 years. Dr. Chuback is also a successful entrepreneur: he is the founder and Chief Medical Officer at Chuback Medical Group, founder and managing member of Elant Hill, LLC, and the nutraceutical company BiosupportMD. He is the recipient of the Patient’s Choice Award and Compassionate Doctor Recognition amongst many other honors. Dr. Chuback founded Chuback Education, LLC, which offers audio programs on subjects like weight management, smoking cessation, personal development, and academic achievement, and he is the author of Make Your Own Damn Cheese: Understanding, Navigating, and Mastering the 3 Mazes of Success and Kaboing! 50 Ideas That Will Springboard You To Academic Greatness.

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WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT

Laurie Chambers

Author and Photographer Laurie S. Chambers Depicts the Beauty of Living in Harmony

Capturing Sentient Beings in the Kingdom of Bhutan

Laurie Chambers is a certified Reiki Master Teacher/Practitioner, of several lineages and styles, from the most well-known teachers. She is also a labor and delivery nurse and uses her Reiki techniques in the delivery room. She has traveled and lived all over the world, at one point getting rid of most of her possessions to roam and observe life, while capturing it on her camera. She is a music lover, how has photographed bands on tours, as well as her journeys and the people she meets. To learn more about the author and her book, please visit: www.balboapress.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/796221-sentientbeings-in-the-kingdom-of-bhutan.

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The Kingdom of Bhutan has become the premier model for the humane management of large dog populations, living freely. Bhutan’s wild dogs are an important part of the area’s ecosystem and live in harmony with the human residents. In “Sentient Beings in the Kingdom of Bhutan” Laurie S. Chambers provides an inspirational book of photographs and stimulating words, capturing the four-legged and two-legged sentient beings caring for one another in the Kingdom of Bhutan. Chambers’ book depicts the spirit and essence of the area, its inhabitants, and the teachings of Buddha, while perfectly demonstrating the symbiotic relationship between the various forms of life and their value. “Stray dogs peacefully co-exist in the kingdom alongside humans and other animals,” Chambers said, “because its residents abide by the wisdom of the Buddha, who expounded that sentient beings currently living in the animal realm have been our family and friends in past incarnations.” After traveling in Bhutan, Chambers reflected on the photographs she captured and the messages she felt in the eyes of the dogs she encountered. None showed fear or despair. Rather, Chambers felt inspirational words coming to her through them. She referred to “Kotodama,” the Japanese belief that supernatural power dwells in words, as they came alive to her in each image. Through these images and their inspired words, Chambers provides hope and positivity to share with others. “Hope and love are all around us and come in many forms,” Chambers said. “The respect for life, in all its forms, is something sacred. We are all interconnected and serve purpose, and help is always available and constant.” Dr. Chambers, please tell us about your book “ Sentient Beings in the Kingdom of Bhutan. It is a message of love and respect, inspired by something I kept seeing in the eyes of the dogs while trekking in Bhutan. A belief expressed in words of comfort, bold quotes and lyrics that came to me in the dark of night woven together with beautiful images and original artwork all meant to uplift human spirit. My highest intention for this simple little book was to help raise the awareness of dogs as sentient beings, provoke thought of something greater than ourselves and instill confidence that in all things, anything is possible. The Kingdom of Bhutan has become the premier model for the humane management of large dog population, living free, please tell us more about it. In 2008, the coronation of the current King, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck was approaching and the government wanted to clean up the streets for the celebration.

They tried by rounding up the dogs and impounding them which resulted in thousands of dogs dying. All creatures in Bhutan are seen as part of the divines creation and the people strongly believe that it is wrong to kill or take the life of any living animal. Bhutanese will not officially kill or butcher animals, it is against the law there. The government then reached out to Human Society International (H.S.I) for help. H.S.I suggested the Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release method where dogs are captured, treated and released later the same day in the same location where they are found. With full support of the government, a complete program was launched which included the training of a Bhutanese team of veterinarians, vet techs, and dog catchers trained in special techniques. Door-to-door mass education and programs for the public where initiated emphasizing the importance of health care for all dogs and enabled the people to bring in their dogs for free vaccinations and sterilizations. Responsible pet ownership for all was promoted and the people responded. As of 2018, approximately 85,000 dogs have been sterilized and vaccinated stabilizing the population. While there will always be a community of dogs, in time, the population will naturally diminish. 43 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e July 2020

In your opinion how people in Bhutan can manage the relationship that exists among the sentient beings of the region in harmony with every inhabitant of the land, and yet many countries still struggling to come to this peaceful living? I am not so sure this can be replicated in the same profound way in other countries as it is in Bhutan. Nearly all the people, just under 750,000, who for centuries have practiced living lives according to principles of Mahayana Buddhism. A philosophy which calls for people to respect and cherish life, that there are consequences to all actions. The purpose of Mahayana Buddhism is to spread happiness and compassion to everyone in the world and by awakening to the Ultimate Truth, one obtains greater clarity and insight about the true nature of the universe leading to internal peace and happiness. A stronger vibration or energy is undeniably perceivable in Bhutan, not another place on earth have I felt a comparable strength and I can’t help but feel that because of their beliefs, a higher vibration is maintained and that is what makes the difference for peaceful living.

As stated in your book stray-dogs peacefully co-exist in the kingdom of Bhutan, is there a chance for the rest of the world to manage this lifestyle? If you mean can people and dogs co-exist in other countries as they do in Bhutan, maybe. But not without work and support of governments and a raising of awareness for the people as did Bhutan Many organizations around the world work tirelessly, dependent on donations and volunteers to do what they can to bring about change, helping one soul, one creature at a time with amazing results. They would benefit greatly with support from governments. So often the mistreatment of dogs goes without consequence, there simply isn’t governmental support for their rights. We all know the world isn’t a perfect place…so much suffering and not just 44 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e July 2020

for creatures, but humans as well. We can choose to overlook it or we can all do our best, one action at a time. The Bhutanese have a clear understanding of the Ultimate Truth and I like very much that the government thinks in terms- “for the greater good of all”. The concept of Gross National Happiness (G.N.H) developed by the fourth king of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, has been the guide for the government when Bhutan opened up to globalization to help them make wise decisions for a better future. GNH is a global indicator of progress measuring both sustainable economy and social development, while protecting the environment and culture. Time will tell if this is a model way to manage life in this world.

You also a photographer, please share a moment that captured your heart. I have many favorite images but the one that fills me with joy at its glance is of a little black Scotty dog on the bow of a boat wearing a red life jacket. A few years ago, I was sailing the Greek Islands with friends. We were waiting to dock and another sailboat pulled in next to usand a young man jumped to shore to tie off. I noticed the little black dog pacing about on the bow and when he finally got the attention of his “companion,” both man and dog knelt down and without hesitation, that little dog took the giant leap of faith across 3 feet of water into his owners arms. Somehow I managed to capture the moment in a sequence of 3 images. The shared look of love and trust in their eyes, nose to nose, man and sentient being… is priceless.

“Hope and love are all around us and come in many forms, The respect for life, in all its forms, is something sacred. We are all interconnected and serve purpose, and help is always available and constant.”

I can only attribute to the energy which is from the Divine and just a thought or moment away. From all the place you traveled, where you felt that you belong to that place? I feel most at home or belonging to a place ANYwhere in the world when I travel with my family-parents, siblings, my children … good friends. Nothing feels as good and the memories are sweeter. I think when your with those you love you will feel like you belong, no matter where you are. But I would have to confess that when I come home and open the door to my tiny apartment on the corner of what once was a strawberry field in Camarillo California my heart feels a sense of peace and Im grateful to have a place in the world. Where our readers can purchase your book. The book is available now online at Balboa Press, Amazon and Barnes and Noble. I also believe it is now featured on the Hay House website. Please tell us about your work as a Reiki Master Teacher/Practitioner. I started to study Reiki energy work about 8 years ago after going to a practitioner for some help on a personal level. Life had changed profoundly as it does with everyone at some point and I just wanted to feel good and whole again. Within 2 sessions I could feel a significant difference within my being so I kept going. One day while driving to a session, I was having a conversation with myself where I was thinking how amazing Reiki was, that I was feeling the best ever in my life and that how great would it be to learn how to do it . I quickly countered myself with, “it’s a skill I could never begin to learn.” When I went in for my session, my practitioner met me at the door and said, “ Im going to teach a class and I think that you should come and learn how to do Reiki.” I took it as a sign and without question, I said yes. From that first teaching and attunement, I started to study the techniques and practiced, paying attention to the energy, asking a lot of questions and continued moving thru the levels required to become Master Teacher. I discovered my gifts along the way and found myself asking questions no-one could answer. This led me to seek more understanding, to be able to define it more clearly.

Which charity is close to your heart and why? I feel strongly appreciative and very grateful for the work that Human Society International (H.S.I.) has put forth for the dogs around the world who need a helping hand. I want to thank them for bringing world wide awareness of the cruelties imposed on these endearing creatures and for coming up with viable kind solutions for problems. The dogs come to earth life with unconditional love for humans, serve purpose and contributes in their own special way. Having the ability to experience positive emotions like love and attachment, feel pain and suffering - that defines them as sentient being. An awareness and movement of this thought is slowly coming about in the thoughts, words and deeds or humanity.

Over the years I have taken classes from some of the most well known Master/Teachers exploring the different styles and techniques until I found the one that fit perfect to me, felt most “right” and the path I am on. I am a Labor and Delivery nurse by profession and have been fortunate to discovered that it works profoundly in the art and skill of bringing into the world new souls as safe and swift as one can as a human. I have many stories of the miracles witnessed along the way with the mamas and their babies that

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Photo by Benjamin Patin

RECLAMING YOUR TRUE SELF By Angela Dunning

Seeking the Authentic

Self

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hich part of us speaks?

How can we discern which part of us is speaking at any one moment, when we have within us a multiplicity of personalities, parts, and voices, both known and unknown, some of which are innate to us; others deeply conditioned by the world around us? How can we go about discerning which one is truly our authentic voice? And maybe, arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t all of our voices in some way authentic, and yes, even the misguided and harmful onesâ&#x20AC;Ś? Marion Woodman cautions: "Don't talk about 'being true to myself' until you are sure to what voice you are being true".

During my original training in equine facilitated learning, I learned about the False Self and the Authentic Self, and for many years this model helped me start to unravel which part of me was speaking and what their distinguishing features were. This definitely moved me along considerably in my self-awareness and personal growth. Since then I have learned that this dual model is only helpful to a point, as within each of us resides many more voices and parts. The False Self, for example, can contain a whole range of different aspects that develop as a result of our formative years and particularly any negative or traumatic experiences we’ve had. It can also contain what Jung calls our shadow: all that we don’t let the world see via our public-facing persona and ego, as well as the negative voices of our parents and other authority figures. Sifting out the origins of each voice and how it particularly impacts us is vital.Working out just exactly where our authentic self is within all of this though, can be bewildering. My own experience shows me that one of the main portals to our authenticity is our body. When we focus on a part of our body which seems to want our attention and when we scan our body in a mindful way, often it communicates what we are really feeling and needing at that moment. This newly uncovered information is usually a surprise to our ego. And yet, also not, as deep down we do already know what we wanted to express and what we really want and need, it’s just that our rigid beliefs that we’ve absorbed from others and our society drown out our quiet authentic voice most of the time. I’ve noticed that when we hit upon a deep truth often we experience some form of physiological response. In particular, yawning occurs when we locate our true needs, desires, and capabilities. This is a great indicator that we’ve hit home, so to speak. Again, this need, feeling, or attitude might surprise us but it gives us now the signpost we were seeking as to what is the right direction for us. Usually, one feels calmer inside after this discovery as all the tussling back and forth between our different parts ceases, our inner war falls quietly into a truce, at least for now, and we can see more clearly just where we want to really go.

of our psyche. Our self-deluding attitudes, our fears, vulnerabilities, coping mechanisms, and inauthentic beliefs can all come to light while we sleep. Writing our dreams down each morning and spending even just a little time making associations to the images and situations that we dream of can bring to light a little more truth each time. Telling our dream to a trusted friend, a colleague or therapist can be really helpful as they will glimpse things we are still as yet blind to, and their feedback can liberate a whole new perspective that the dream is trying to reveal to us. Yet more truth is found. Other ways of locating our true voice include doing anything creative, where we use our right brain rather than our left brain and we freely allow anything that wants to come up and through us such as when painting, writing, creating music, sculpture, or craftwork. We are often astonished as to what we produce and don’t really know where it came from or even what it means a lot of the time. But its very existence can lead us to yet more clues as to what we are truly feeling and needing to voice. Our truest, most authentic voice can speak on the canvas or page more clearly than from our throat much of the time if we can let it. So yes, in a way, all of our voices are authentic as they are a part of us, and being authentic means acknowledging and honoring them for the unique role they each play in our lives. But some are more deeply and truly us. Those are our soul’s words. That part of us which remains untainted by the harsh modern world we have to contend with each day. That part of us that always knows what is really right and best for us, and which only ever seeks to guide us to our fullest-self no matter what life throws at us.

So, the body is definitely a very helpful, reliable guide and portal to our truth.

Angela Dunning is a regular contributor to The Eden Magazine. She is the author of The Horse Leads the Way: Honoring the True Role of the Horse in Equine Facilitated Practice. Angela writes regularly on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thehorsestruth/and Patreon: www.patreon.com/angeladunning

In addition, our dreams reveal our truth night after night. As we sleep and our ego’s defenses are down, much material can reach us from the darkest, depths

You can learn more about Angela and her work helping people and horses at: www.thehorsestruth.co.uk

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Using Imagination to Travel Beyond the Confines of Stay-at-Home Orders

Author Michele Foote Shows Parents How Families can Adventure in Their Own Homes Many parents and kids are struggling with their new normal of working and teaching from home. And, while children are at the lowest risk of exposure to COVID-19, they are most vulnerable to the emotional impact of this potentially traumatic experience. In “Playdate in Outer Space,” author Michele Foote illustrates the importance of play and using imagination to inspire creativity, passion, and to create meaningful connections and relationships with loved ones. “For children, play not only provides a creative outlet and inspires a growth mindset,” Foote said, “it teaches problem-solving skills and creates opportunities for connection with others.” This book is the third in a series of children’s picture books focusing on three key messages for families. Foote’s “What Should We Do Today, Mommy?” highlights the importance of mindfulness and being present, “Love You to Pieces” demonstrates the power of unconditional love and the magic of ordinary moments, and “Playdate in Outer Space” illustrates the importance of play for social-emo-

tional skills and the foundation of learning for the whole child. “Each of us are on the planet for a unique purpose,” Foote said. “Awaken yourself in play, and the universe will help you find your passions and the light of happiness inside of you!” Motherhood has been one of the most rewarding experiences of Michele Foote’s life. After her children were born, she began a daily journal, recording the simple moments and adventures she shared with them. That journal inspired her picture books “What Should We Do Today, Mommy?,” and “Love You to Pieces,” which remind us of the joy of being in the moment (mindfulness) and the power of unconditional love. Michele’s third book, “Playdate in Outer Space,” celebrates the importance of PLAY! With a little imagination, there’s no telling where you can go in life! Michele cherishes warm memories of growing up in Grand Blanc, MI. She now lives with her family in a northern suburb of Chicago. To learn more about the author or her books, visit: www.michelefoote.com.

"Each of us are on the planet for a unique purpose. Awaken yourself in play and the universe will help you find your passions and the light of happiness deep inside of you." 48 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e July 2020

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Rescued pet of the month

MOLLY FROM LOST SOUL TO FINDING LOVE

Thank you to Craig Wymer for rescuing Molly in 2011. This photo is of a 10-year-old German Shepherd named Molly. Max's Pet Rescue rescued Molly in 2010. There are thousands of purebred dogs who end up in shelters and rescues every year. The Humane Society estimates that 25% of the 6-8 million animals ar shelters are purebred. While many of these animals are not purebred, they make excellent pets. I encourage you to check your local shelters and breed-specific rescues before seeking your new pet. It was a two-hour drive for Craig and Jon to pick up Molly; "she was worth it". Say, Craig. Molly has had hip surgery and a stage two tumor removed over the past year. She still has lots of energy and love to give and is doing great! Molly lives in Colorado with Craig and his husband Jon. Adopt your future pet today from the shelter.

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Abundance Corner By Phyllis King

Photo by Elijah O'Donnell

Are You Reading Your Life Signs?

Learn the Red LightGreen Light Method

I have been an abundance expert for over a decade and a student of abundance for three decades. I have searched the globe to mentor with the best minds on this subject. Although I have accumulated many practices and ideas on the subject, this sharing addresses the importance of simplicity, which is vastly underrated in the abundance community. It is easy to get busy doing vision boards, making lists, meditating, and taking extensive courses to learn how to attract what we want in our life. It makes us feel we are â&#x20AC;&#x153;doingâ&#x20AC;? something productive to achieve our end. Those tasks can be meaningful and helpful under certain circumstances. What I have discovered in learning how to create abundance involves a lot of unlearning. To that point what is fascinating is that cultivating abundance is more about letting go of what does not fit us than it is about learning how to attract. It is about recognizing the baggage and false beliefs we hold. We often do so with pride, defiance, and self-righteous-ness.

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We simply know we are right when we are actually very wrong. In the act of letting go, we release what does not serve us or fit us. We release energy that is not in alignment with our being. When we align with energy that does not fit, the behaves like resistance to abundance. It slows us down and lowers our frequency. So many times, I hear people who are frustrated complaining about how hard they try to no end. They are trying the wrong things. Their attention is in the wrong direction. They are holding onto things that do not fit, and they refuse to let go of those things. Those things might be people, beliefs, ideas, or behaviors. At the root of that refusal is usually some type of fear. They fear they will lose something more than understanding they will gain something superior. In that fear of loss, they become trapped in a small world that becomes their reality. To learn how to identify what we need to release in our life I suggest using the amazingly simple Red LightGreen Light tool. Think about driving in traffic. We follow the signs. We look for markers that point us in the direction of our destination. We adhere to red, yellow, and green lights. When we do that, we maintain a flow in traffic. In life, to be successful in any form we must become adept at reading lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s road signs, and signals. We need to recognize when the red lights are flashing and when the green lights are flashing. Then we must honor what we see. We do this by paying attention to how we feel. Too often we simply push over our feelings because we want. We refuse to accept the truth that presents itself in the present moment. As with traffic when a light is red, we cannot go, energy does not flow. If we persist in running a red light, we may get a ticket or cause an accident or irritate another driver. In our life when we push energy and try to force it to flow, we go against the current in our own lives and the expansive design the divine has in place for us. When we are at a green light, we are invited to move forward. Energy is flowing and we follow that flow of energy. That is the type of flow we need to create in all areas of our life and our thinking. If it does not feel like green light energy, it is the wrong direction, the wrong person, the wrong job, the wrong city, the wrong choice. What many of us do is decide on a course of action. We

think, and then decide that we must do, go, achieve, or make something happen. It is perfectly fine to try a direction and test it out. When we begin a course of action and all we get are red lights, feelings of stuckness, or difficulty achieving that end, we must stop following or feeding that flow of energy. We must turn another direction. The poor energy is a signal. It is a sign from life itself that the path we are going down is not for us. We may not like the sign because we have our hearts and mindset on a certain path. It is in our ability to honor the signals and signs that life gives us that we find our most abundant and happy life. It is human nature to want what we want. We may feel ill-equipped to handle the truth. Until we learn the art of surrender to the present moment, we will find ourselves at cross purposes with life itself. We are unintentionally resisting our abundance. For many, there is a tearing down process that occurs as we elevate our frequencies. We have all built structures over time that are based on untruths. Our life has been built upon these substandard structures. When we intentionally try to expand ourselves, we hit head-on into our false structures until we dissipate them. Try the red light-green light method. It is easy to remember. The sooner you begin to flow with your life rather than against it, the sooner you will attract everything and more your heart desires.

Known as the Common Sense Psychic (tm), Phyllis King has worked with tens of thousands of people in 25 countries. She is known for her practical and down to earth approach. She has been featured on, ABC, CBS and NBC TV, radio programs across the country, and has been published in over 70 print and online publications. She has four books, including Bouncing Back, Thriving in Changing Times, with Dr. Wayne Dyer. Her latest book The Energy of Abundance is available in bookstores now. Phyllis holds a B.A. in Sociology. www.phyllisking.com

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ATTITUDE By Sherry Rhodes

positive attitude will get each of us through hard times, make our life easier, and will make the lives of those around us more pleasant.

You Can Choose Your Attitude

I once asked our boys what they considered the most important life lessons we’d taught them, and each of them put “choosing your attitude” in the top three. We can’t necessarily control how we feel about a given situation. Coworkers make us angry occasionally; family members make us feel frustrated. When we suffer disappointment, we’re sad for a while. While we can’t always control our feelings, we can decide how we react to those feelings. We can choose our attitude. I discovered this one day when my boys and I were clearing the yard before planting grass. We were removing rocks from the top layer of dirt, and there were millions of rocks. As an incentive, I paid each kid a penny for each one they put in their bucket, but one of my cherubs still had an attitude problem. Every stone that went into the wheelbarrow had a complaint that went with it. “I HATE this. This is STUPID! WHY do we have to do this? I DON’T want to do this!” The whining got old after about three rocks.

Photo by Frank Busch

We had a little talk about attitude adjustment. He could either complain the whole time (to himself ) and get angrier with every rock or start thinking about what he wanted to buy with the money he was earning. As with any new skill, it took practice, but he caught on quickly. In fact, one day I was in a snit about something, and my formerly whiny son reminded me that I could choose my attitude. He was right. I was reluctant to give up my rant but knew I had to set a good example, so I gritted my teeth and quit complaining. 1. Examples: • If the hose breaks and soaks you from head to toe, you can use every swear word you ever learned, or you can laugh about how funny it probably looked. • If some inconsiderate driver cuts you off in traffic, you can yell and shake your fist and be angry for hours, or you can say a prayer that he doesn’t hurt anyone and give thanks he didn’t injure you. • If your youngster wants something they can’t have—a toy, a boyfriend, a new car—they can pout for days, or they can say, “Oh well,” and move on. • If your best friend moves away, or the dog dies, naturally you’ll grieve; but ask yourself how long you’ll allow yourself to suffer before getting on with life. Then stick to that time frame. • If you have a flat tire on the way to work and are now twenty minutes late, you can fume, or you can breathe deeply and remind yourself that “it is what it is.” Raising your blood pressure won’t get you to work any faster. • If your husband forgets to pick up milk on his way home from work, you can yell at him about how inconvenienced you are, or you can remind your self that the kids will be fine if they drink water tonight. • If your daughter has been having a great time at a friend’s house but is throwing a tantrum now that it’s time to go, try telling her something like this: “I’m glad you had so much fun, but we need to go home and have dinner. You can cry and make a lot of noise so that these folks will be glad you’re leaving, or you can thank them for inviting you.” I used to have our boys figure out the solution to this question: “If you cry and scream when it’s time

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to leave your friend’s house, guess what happens?” Even the youngest one knew the answer: you don’t get invited back. Kids are surprisingly good at connecting cause and effect. Five-Year Rule We have a “five-year rule” at our house: will whatever we’re upset about matter in a few years? Will we even remember why we were mad years from now? Usually, the answer is no. If it won’t matter five years from now, it’s probably not worth ruining your day over (or anyone else’s day for that matter). Of course, for preschool- age children, you’ll have to use a time frame they can relate to. Will it matter tomorrow or next week? One day I was substituting in a high school history class. One of the students had been teasing another from the moment they both walked into the room. Before I had a chance to separate them, George jumped out of his chair and took a swing at his tormenter. I took him aside and asked, “Do you like that guy? Is he your friend?” “Of course not!” was the quick reply. “Then don’t let someone you don’t like ruin your day. There are hundreds of students in this school. Find some who have the same interests as you, and ignore the ignoramuses who are looking for entertainment at your expense. You’re smarter than they are.” I could see the light bulb come on over George’s head. He spent the rest of the hour cheerfully ignoring the other student. I would see him from time to time after that, and he looked much happier. We’ve all known people who seem to be perpetually angry. Every perceived slight sets off a tirade, and they lash out at whoever is around. Wouldn’t it be nice if they used all that negative energy for something more positive? Think of all the good they could do instead of dragging down the rest of us. Some people say they’re afraid of acting like a phony, pretending to be cheerful. Wouldn’t you prefer to spend time with someone pretending to be happy than someone who is genuinely angry? An Attitude of Gratitude We all do things for our children because we love them, and that’s the way it should be. We must be careful, however, not to let it get one-sided. When adults do all the giving, it means the kids do all the taking. That’s fine for newborns, not teenagers. Children gradually need to learn to be loving, giving adults. You provide food, shelter, clothing, and transportation; toys and spending money are privileges. Kids need to acknowledge what’s done for them and give back without complaining. Each family member

is part of the team. The answer to “Why do I have to do this chore?” is “Because you’re a member of this family, and we all need to work together as a team.” Gratitude is more than just returning favors, however. It’s giving heartfelt thanks for everything you have. There are millions of people in the world who are grateful to get a piece of bread for lunch. Surely our kids can be thankful for their cell phones, computers,cars, and TVs. I personally am especially grateful for my car. I’m so happy to know that if I need to run to the store, I don’t have to spend an hour hitching horses to a wagon first. A friend of mine is a social worker, married to a very successful accountant. Their children rarely went without anything they wanted, and Maggie made sure they stayed aware of how fortunate they were. Every now and then, when the “gimmies” got out of hand, she piled them in the car, and they spent the day volunteering at a homeless shelter. The first time they went, her children were shocked to learn there were people in their own community without a place to live, without anywhere to put their belongings, and without any belongings, for that matter. The kids immediately realized how much they had to be thankful for—especially when Maggie threatened to donate all nonessential stuff to the thrift store. One way to foster gratitude is to make a habit of counting your blessings. Some people do this every Thanksgiving, but families with thankful hearts do it weekly or even daily. One family I know started a list of all their blessings, beginning with the names of their children. They put it up in the den and go over it regularly. Every family member is encouraged to add to it, and visitors enjoy reading it as well. They joke about it being their favorite wallpaper. Another step in the process is to thank people whenever you can, especially strangers. It makes people feel appreciated and makes the world a happier place. Thank the person who cleans the restrooms where you work or shop. When you get a traffic ticket, thank the officer for making your city safer. When you see a celebrity, instead of asking for an autograph, tell them how much you enjoy their work. Most importantly, thank your family whenever you can.

Gratitude is more than just returning favors, however. It’s giving heartfelt thanks for everything you have.

Sherry Rhodes is the author of The Parent's Complete Guide: What to Teach, How and When to Teach It. She graduated from California State University, Northridge, with a bachelor's degree in mathematics, and from Minot State University, with bachelor's degrees in both computer science and secondary education. Sherry started teaching when she was twelve, assisting her father with swimming lessons each summer. She later enjoyed teaching wherever she and her husband were stationed, across the country and in Department of Defense schools around the world, including Okinawa, Japan; RAF Lakenheath, England; RAF Alconbury, England; and Ramstein AB, Germany. For 25 years she taught both middle school and high school, as a substitute teacher when her children were young and as a full-time teacher when they got older. She later built and maintained a computer lab for a nonprofit organization in Colorado Springs where she taught a variety of classes to low-income women. She has been featured on various radio programs and taught parenting classes at her local church. For more information about Rhodes, visit www.SherryRhodes.com.

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The following is adapted from Healing Hacks

H ow to

Bring More of N atureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s H ealing Effects into Your L ife By Ian Hart

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Photo by Guillaume de Germain

But we are meant to connect with nature as much as possible. It brings us joy, peace, and happiness, and the more we are in that state, the faster we heal and recharge our batteries.

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Photo by Lukasz Szmigiel

hen I was 29, my health spiralized precipitously. Over the course of a few months, I went from an expert trainer who had appeared in Men’s Health magazine to a medical mystery whose diagnosis kept shifting. My doctor told me that I would never fully heal, so I decided to take matters into my own hands and find my own ways to heal my mind and body. In the eleven years that I’ve been on this healing journey, I’ve come to understand that the root cause of disease is our disconnection with ourselves and with nature. During my childhood, I’d spent hours playing outdoors in the woods, but somewhere along the way I had forgotten that part of myself. I got distracted by my dayto-day life in the concrete jungle of New York City. But we are meant to connect with nature as much as possible. It brings us joy, peace, and happiness, and the more we are in that state, the faster we heal and recharge our batteries. Studies have shown that spending time in parks and natural spaces in urban environments promotes better health overall, and another recent study showed that spending twenty minutes a day outdoors dramatically reduces stress levels. Here are some simple hacks to help you bring more of nature’s healing effects into your life.

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The Power of Sunlight

Sunlight is necessary: it not only provides fuel for plants through photosynthesis, but it also gives us specific types of energy that are vital for our health. Without the sun, we wouldn’t be alive. Sunlight is a wavelength of light and energy, and our bodies are tuned to its frequency. Through sun exposure on our skin, our bodies produce vital nutrients and hormones, including vitamin D, which is an important component of the immune system. Studies show that getting proper vitamin D from the sun is protective against respiratory infections, without the additional chemicals and toxins one would receive from a flu shot. In our modern lives, where we spend much of our time indoors, we miss out on the full spectrum of light that our bodies are meant to have. Imagine that for years you spend all day indoors exposed to unnatural light frequencies, such as LED light, which lacks frequencies of infrared light that we need, and generates an unnecessary amount of blue light. Too much blue light generates free radicals that are harmful to the eye and health. One of the simplest hacks to bring our bodies back to nature is to spend more time in the sun. But how much sunlight is needed? While sunlight is incredibly healing, it can also cause damage in the form of sunburns. Sunlight, like everything else, must be taken in moderation.

Get Grounded

Another simple and easy technique for stimulating the healing process and bringing the body back to nature is to connect with the earth beneath our feet. All of the atoms of our bodies carry an electrical charge that interacts with the environment around us. Our atoms are constantly exchanging electrons with everything we come into contact with. There are always ions in the atmosphere around us, and they can take electrons from us, or they can be electron donors. These ions are, on a basic level, exchanging energy with us. As environmental conditions change, they have an effect on us, including on our emotions. When it’s very windy, for example, we can tend to feel fatigued much faster because there are lower numbers of ions in the environment exchanging electrons with our bodies. Grounding—literally bringing our bodies in direct contact with the ground—is a great way to bring equilibrium back to this electron exchange and bring our bodies back into harmony and connection with the earth. We can do this simply by stepping on the earth in our bare feet. When we make direct contact with the ground, without the rubber soles of our shoes or concrete and asphalt to insulate us, we exchange electrons directly with the earth and get a donation of antioxidants.

Change Your Environment

We are all impacted by our environment. Often in modern life, the environments we choose to live in cause us to disconnect from nature. We spend our time walking on concrete instead of the ground, and we light our lives with lightbulbs instead of the sun. We trade the frequencies of the natural world for the frequency of wifi. In turn, these environmental factors influence our emotions, thoughts, and ultimately, our beliefs. When we remove ourselves from the environment we’re always in, we can show up differently. When I lead health retreats in Costa Rica, one of the biggest benefits is that the retreat setting takes people out of their normal environment. Often, people will arrive on day one with the stress and constricted beliefs and view of their old environment, but shortly into the retreat, they realize they have different thoughts, and feelings that produce different actions, interactions, and revelations. Such a huge transformation comes from a change in environment and a change in daily practices. Taking a trip

to any natural environment can help open you up to new experiences and perspectives. The beach is one of the best environments to relieve stress, research shows. The rhythmic sound of the waves can put us into a meditative state, while the light has a calming effect on the brain. Ocean air contains negative ions that have a positive effect on your mood, and walking barefoot in the sand grounds your body.

Get a Daily Dose of Nature

It was easy to see the positive effect of nature on my children when they were babies; if they got injured or upset, I would instantly pick them up and take them for a walk in the woods. They would quickly stop crying and become more relaxed. Connecting with the earth and natural environments fosters recovery and restoration. I now make a daily practice out of grounding with the earth. Everyday I try to go outside, lay on the grass, and get a little sun. Each time I do this simple practice, I instantly feel more relaxed, revitalized, and restored. When you provide for your body’s needs, connect with nature, and open your mind to new thoughts, transformation can occur. Pay attention to how your body feels in nature, and I bet you’ll be able to feel the difference— and you’ll feel better. For more advice on nature’s healing effects, you can find Healing Hacks on Amazon.

Ian Hart is a fitness expert who has dedicated his life and his career to helping others heal naturally. He’s the owner of Back Pain Relief4Life— the simplest and most effective way to eliminate back pain naturally and fast—and the co-founder of My Back Pain Coach. He also owns and operates EarthFIT, a top-rated group training facility with three locations. Ian’s work has been featured in Men’s Health Magazine and he’s appeared as a health expert on New York 1 News. In addition to his work, Ian also hosts regular wellness retreats at his treehouse in the Costa Rica in rainforest.

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Food-Styling 101: Photo by OhTilly

Pro Tips To Level-Up Your Lockdown Cooking

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Food photography is becoming increasingly popular amongst homecooks during lockdown, as the nation is re-inspired to practise their culinary skills and share their home-made creations with family and friends. In fact, a new study by recipe box company Gousto, reveals that 78% of Brits have shared photos of their meals as a way of bringing their friends and family together. But how can the newfound #foodiesofInstagram take a snap that’s going to get everyone double-tapping? Gousto’s top food stylist Jenny Brown has shared her food styling tricks to make your lockdown creations look extra delicious, ready for your video call close-up or Instagram snap!

Have a play around with angles. Achieve that dinner party shot by moving around the plate and taking a variety of different images - this way you can see which angle your dish looks the best from. Every dish will have a preferable angle.

Jenny’s Top Food Styling Tips Take your foodie photos in natural lighting. It's all about lighting when getting that perfect dinner shot - try placing your plate down next to a window, and never use your build in flash. Natural lighting shows all the delicious details and highlights the vibrant colours of your dish. Don't overcrowd your plate. Piling your plate up will look messy, keep it simple! Find a focus point on the plate and add ingredients around to complement. Looking a little basic? Have a change of scenery and introduce your dish to a jazzy table cloth or tea towel to balance the shot. Pick the perfect plate. From size to colour, your plate should complement your food - choose a high contrasting colour like white for your colourful dishes. And pick matte over glossy, we want to avoid a shiny surface. Experiment with layers and height. Transform a basic dish by introducing different levels and layout of food. Try stacking different elements of your dish, to create that wow factor! Surround your dish with complimentary props. If your dish is looking a little lonely, try placing related ingredients and cooking utensils around the plate such as herbs, jars, tins and cutlery. Reveal the tools and ingredients of your dish, to set the scene and reveal how you achieved your tasty meal.

Be prepared. Although you want to achieve that perfect shot, eating it is far more important - don't let your dinner go to waste, always have props, table setting and lighting set up in advance. Keep your herbs in cold water, to keep them fresh before the final shot! Don't forget the garnish. A sprinkle of chives or a pinch of parsley can add life to a dish. The finishing touches will transform your meal into a virtual dinner party-worthy plate. Make a little mess to show how raw and real your dish is! Presentation is key. Mop up any spillages with kitchen paper - just like restaurant chefs, wipe around the edge of your plate for final touch-ups. And finish off with a drizzle of olive oil to keep things looking glossy. All credits: https://www.gousto.co.uk/ 63 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e July 2020

Giovanni and the Camino of St. Francis by James Twyman

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et aside your computer for a moment and see if you can guess who wrote these words: "I made a mistake. Without doubt, an oppressed multitude had to be liberated, but our method only provoked further oppression and atrocious massacres. What was really needed...were ten Francis of Assisi's."

tween the very rich and the very poor was at an all-time high.

I love asking this question and I'm not surprised when people give credit to revolutionary characters like Gandhi or Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. When I tell them they're wrong their answers become even more interesting - Napoleon, George Washington, etc. "How about John Lennon?" someone recently asked.

Margaret Mead famously said: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Was Mead's thinking influenced by St. Francis when he wrote: "Pure, holy simplicity confounds all the wisdom of this world?"

"You're close," I said, "but only because their names sound similar. The answer is Lenin, not Lennon - the architect of the Russian Revolution, Vladimir Lenin."

When you examine the current direction of the world -- especially politically -- it's easy to agree that the current wisdom isn't so wise, so maybe thinking outside the box isn't such a bad idea.

Lenin? Is it possible that the communist leader who referred to religion as "medieval mildew" and called the clergy "gendarmes (French policemen) in cassocks" had fallen in love with a twelfth century Italian mystic who gave everything he owned to the poor in order to live the Gospel of Jesus as perfectly as he could? Clearly St. Francis has inspired millions of people for more than eight hundred years, to the point that statues of the saint occupy gardens everywhere you look today, but how did an atheist like Lenin become so enthralled? Maybe Lenin has something to teach all of us in this regard. The end of the quote is: "What was really needed in Russia were ten Francis of Assisi's," but we could just as easily substitute that in our own world today - and it would be just as true. Does it sound like a ridiculous dream in the world of bullying, fake news and racist attacks? When you know a little about the history of Europe, especially at the time of St. Francis, you realize things weren't that different - the pope was at odds with the Holy Roman Emperor, city states were constantly at war with other city states, and tension be-

Which leads to the question Vladimir Lenin seemed to be asking - Are we trying to solve the problems of the world with the same thinking that got us into trouble? If so, maybe ten radical people like St. Francis of Assisi are enough to turn things around.

Presidential candidate Marianne Williamson has taken considerable heat for challenging the status quo. She encourages us to "love with conviction" and "wage peace," the same ideas St. Francis would have expressed if he was alive today. But at least she is willing to stand for these ideas on a national stage, inching these concepts forward, planting seeds in the minds of people who may not have viewed the world from this perception. So I've decided to throw my hat into the ring, but not as a Presidential candidate. I want to take up the challenge issued by Lenin and become one of the ten St. Francis's needed to turn the world around. Here are a few things I'll need to do if I'm to accomplish my goal: Be willing to give everything for love; think less about my own comfort and more about the wellbeing of others; and finally, challenge my own limiting beliefs and be willing to see everyone through the eyes of love. If I can do that, even in some limited way, maybe others will make a similar decision and step forward in their own way. All I need are nine more. 65 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e July 2020

St. Francis's example directly challenged the powers that ruled Europe eight hundred years ago, and yet his vision is celebrated today. He lived at the end of what we now call the Dark Ages, but he was also one of the inspirations that initiated the Renaissance, an era of great light and creativity. Is it possible that hundreds of years from now people will look back at this time in a similar way, calling it another Dark Age? And if they do, will they also celebrate the few dedicated people who stepped forward just as St. Francis did? Are we on the cusp of a New Renaissance? A few days after she returned to Portland, Anna walked up Burnside, toward Powell’s Books with the Camino guidebook tucked under her arm. She had written a note on the inside cover, hoping that one day— weeks or even months from now—someone might pick it up and read her words. She didn’t try to conceal the book as she walked through Powell’s front entrance. She was there to replace it on the shelf where it had fallen off and struck her on the head months earlier. The idea had come to Anna on the flight back from Rome. The perfect ending to an amazing journey. She walked through the stacks and after a moment or two found the right section and shelf and slid the book neatly into place. Standing there looking at the spine, she felt a sense of relief. On the Road with St. Francis. She didn’t realize the title was meant to be taken literally! The thought made her smile, and images of Giovanni flashed through her mind. She remembered when he’d slid the note under her door, wishing her “buon cammino” when she was still at La Verna, and how good it felt to see him when she reached the Eremo di Cerbaiolo after spraining her wrist. Many other scenes came to her, but most of all she remembered his eyes, how they penetrated her heart and helped her learn the power of love and forgiveness. At first, she had wondered what she would do without Giovanni in her life, but she realized he would always be with her. And that, in truth, he always had been, even when she was a child. “Just one more look,” she thought, pulling the book back off the shelf. Whoever read her note might never know the details of her journey with Giovanni, but she hoped it would spark something in them. Perhaps her note might inspire the same passion to walk the Camino of St. Francis. Maybe they would feel inspired and go buy a pair of hiking shoes just as she did, fly to Italy, and make their way by train to La Verna. And maybe, just maybe, they would spot a young Italian man sitting in

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the refectory with a smile that lit up the whole room, and after a little hesitation, sit down with him and start a conversation. If they were lucky, he’d become their Camino companion and, by the time they got to Assisi, they would have experienced their own life-altering journey. There was no way Anna could know, but there was a chance. Knowing Giovanni, there was a good chance. She opened the cover and read: You may think this note was written for someone else, but it wasn’t. I’m writing it to you—whoever’s lucky enough to pull this book from the shelf and open its cover. It’s not by chance that you’re reading it now. I bought this very copy and walked the Camino of St. Francis, and I’ll never be the same. Maybe you’re feeling a flutter of anticipation deep inside you as you read this. If you are, I encourage you to read a page or two. Take a few moments and imagine how it might feel to walk along the paths and small roads St. Francis walked eight hundred years ago. And if you choose to accept the challenge and walk the 110-mile-long camino, I promise you won’t be sorry. And, by the way, if you meet a young man named Giovanni along the way, tell him the author of this note says hello. She closed the book, placed it back on the shelf, and walked away.

James Twyman is the author of sixteen books including the NY Times Bestseller The Moses Code. Known as the Peace Troubadour, James has been invited by world leaders and peace organizations to perform the Peace Concert in countries like Iraq, Croatia, Bosnia and South Africa, often while wars or conflicts raged around him. During many of these trips he drew millions of people together to pray for peace during worldwide peace meditations. James has produced and/or directed seven feature films including award winners Indigo and Redwood Highway, and has produced twelve music CD’s including the “I AM Wishes Fulfilled Meditation” (with Dr. Wayne Dyer) which was a Billboard Charts #1 bestseller. He also was the founder of The Seminary of Spiritual Peacemaking, which has ordained over 600 ministers from around the world. He currently lives in Ajijic, Mexico and is the director of the Namaste Lake Chapala spiritual community.

Photo by Alexander Krivitskly

Excerpt from Embracing the Magic Within

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How

to Live an Inspired Life

through

a Practice of Mindful Living By Shelly Wilson Life can be found only in the present moment. The past is gone, the future is not yet here, and if we do not go back to ourselves in the present moment, we cannot be in touch with life. ~Thich Nhat Hanh

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What is mindful living?

Subsequently, mindful living requires us to focus our energy right here, right now at this moment rather than dwelling in the past or focusing on the future. We must intentionally focus on living, being, and breathing at the moment.

Mindful living or mindfulness involves being aware of or bringing attention to this moment in time, deliberately and without judging the experience. Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh (Tik · N’yat · Hawn) is a spiritual leader, author, poet, and peace activist, who is respected throughout the world for his powerful teachings on mindfulness and peace. Among his many important teachings is that to heighten one’s awareness, it is essential to be mindful of all that is experienced in each and every moment. He teaches that incorporating enhanced awareness into our daily life will ultimately enrich our lives. He states, “Through mindfulness, we can learn to live happily in the present moment, which is the only way to truly develop peace, both in one’s self and in the world.” The Plum Village.org website talks about mindfulness as, “the energy of being aware and awake to the present moment. It is the continuous practice of touching life deeply in every moment of daily life. To be mindful is to be truly alive, present and at one with those around you and with what you are doing. We bring our body and mind into harmony while we wash the dishes, drive the car, or take our morning shower.” Mindfulness helps us to become really present, so we respond wisely to a challenge and experience it in each moment as it unfolds. This involves consciously becoming present and choosing to live in the present moment. The Universe operates on Divine time whereas humans function on the linear aspect of time with clocks and calendars. With this mindset, everything is happening accordingly and is as it should be in each and every moment. Subsequently, mindful living requires us to focus our energy right here, right now at this moment rather than dwelling in the past or focusing on the future. We must intentionally focus on living, being, and breathing at the moment. In addition, manifesting our heart’s desire and Spirit communication is easier when we are consciously living in the present.

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Activities to Assist with Practicing Mindful Living

Aspects of the art of mindful living include walking meditation, sitting meditation, eating meditation, total relaxation, working meditation and stopping, smiling, and breathing mindfully. Practicing mindfulness while folding clothes, washing dishes, mowing the yard, pulling weeds or any other task enables us to consciously be in the moment. Whatever we do as a daily practice, we can do mindfully. We can choose to experience simple, routine tasks as if for the first time, while savoring the sensations and absorbing the details of the task we are focusing on, such as brushing our teeth, getting dressed, listening and talking, eating and drinking as well as driving. We can also go for a mindful walk and notice every detail we encounter, such as the trees, flowers, people, cars, insects, birds, clouds, smells, and sounds, rather than pondering and creating to-do lists or revisiting the day’s events. As part of consistent practice, we can choose to focus our awareness on one particular item. For example, when outside, look at one leaf on a tree, one stone, or one flower. We may also focus on one piece of art or decoration within a room when we are indoors.

Intentional Exercises to Experience Inspired Living Breathe Breath is life-force energy. We are alive and breathe naturally and autonomously. When we restrict our breathing, we diminish our life energy. Deep breathing expands the lungs, which then sends a direct message to our heart, which, in turn, starts beating slower. One exercise involves focusing our awareness on our breath – each inhalation and exhalation. Then, become the observer of the breath. Is the breath shallow or deep, slow or fast, smooth or rough, regular, or irregular? Notice how we can breathe consciously and then shift the energy of how we feel and what we are experiencing.

Being in the Now - Focus Energy in the Present Moment According to Nobel Prize-winning scientist Daniel Kahneman, we each experience 20,000 individual moments in a waking day. Each of these moments can last a few seconds. When considering any strong memory, what we perceive and label to be positive or negative, we’ll notice that the imagery in our mind is actually defined by our recollection of a precise point in time. In some cases, a single encounter can change our lives forever. Simply Be - Being Present Exercise This exercise encourages us to focus our energy on being present and in the NOW at this very moment. We become the observer and are aware of our surroundings, yet we allow ourselves to simply BE. Through the practice of silence and meditation, we can experience attaining peace and gaining clarity to the questions we are seeking guidance on.

fore. We can hold it in the palm of our hand and notice the size, color, form, weight, shape, and texture. In addition to making observations, we may be guided to smell and touch it as well. After taking note visually, we can then gently place the food in our mouth as we slowly chew it and really taste the food before swallowing it. In closing, these exercises are just a few suggestions to work with for us to lead a more conscious and mindful life. Please practice discernment and know that there are many other methods, tips, tools, and exercises available to assist with living an inspired life. The practice of mindful living and mindfulness provides us with an opportunity to shift our life exponentially from one of existence to living life more fully.

Keeping Energy Grounded and Cleared To live an intentional, mindful life, we must also consciously choose to ground, center, and protect our energy regularly. Grounding keeps us present, at the moment and completes the energy circuit. Visualizing our legs as tree roots and staying hydrated assists with grounding. Centering is finding that calm spot deep inside us that is eternal being-ness and taking some conscious breaths. The intention of visualizing a white light or a bubble surrounding us will protect our energy after grounding and centering. Each one of us is having our own human life experience, so becoming aware of our energy emission is essential. Clear and Balance our Chakras Within our physical body, we have an energetic body. These spinning wheels of light, known as chakras, act as energy transformers. Seven main chakras – Root/ Base, Sacral, Solar Plexus, Heart, Throat, Third Eye, and Crown – are within our energetic body. Clearing and balancing our chakras clear the energetic clutter and revitalizes our energy. To practice good energetic hygiene, we ought to clear the energetic field, known as the aura, surrounding our physical body as well. Mindful Eating - Food Exercise By noticing what we eat and drink, we can cultivate more gratitude for the food we ingest. This gives us a sense of well-being and peace so that we no longer need to use food to fix our problems. The mindful eating exercises involve focusing on one piece of food as we imagine that we have never seen anything like it be-

Shelly Wilson is an author, intuitive medium and conscious creator who is passionate about helping people wake up to their greatness. She supports others as they navigate their own journey into consciousness to experience aliveness. Shelly’s books, 28 Days to a New YOU, Connect to the YOU Within and Journey into Consciousness, are available in paperback and eBook. She is also the creator of Journey into Consciousness: Cards of Empowerment. Shelly’s newest book, Embracing the Magic Within, and accompanying Clarity Cards are now available. ShellyRWilson.com EmbracingTheMagicWithin.com

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GOOD GREEN CLEANER With entire families spending more time indoors during the pandemic, we’re witnessing just how dirty a house can get. Although it’s our first instinct to reach for those spray chemicals, it’s important to remember that most cleaners come with a risky compromise.

The Household Cleaner Getting Down and Dirty the Healthy and Sustainable Way

We often underestimate the toxins replacing that dirty, grimy surface. It’s why Good Green Cleaner is “cleaning up” harmful chemicals in addition to the mess with four bio-based formulas. They’re composed of renewable sources including plants and organisms found in nature, and pose no human health risks when in use. The brand not only makes it its mission to clean safely, but effectively.

According to an investigation performed by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), more than 2,000 cleaning supplies on the American market have been found to contain many substances linked to serious health problems. Their findings showed fumes from some cleaning products may induce asthma in otherwise healthy individuals as well as may trigger attacks in individuals previously diagnosed with asthma. The EWG also concluded that other products contain preservatives that release low levels of cancer-causing formaldehyde. Despite these health concerns, the organization believes cleaning product labels often do not give consumers enough ingredient information to allow for informed decisions. Good Green Cleaner is the made in the USA brand providing a cleaning solution for every room of your home. Products include the Odor Eliminator & All-Purpose Cleaner, Kitchen Cleaner & Degreaser, Glass & Multi-Surface Cleaner and Bathroom, Tile & Tub Cleaner. 72 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e July 2020

As you use these cleaners in and around your home, you might be surprised how well they clean in hard-to-clean places. Use the Odor Eliminator & All-Purpose Cleaner in the dishwasher between cycles, in drains and septic systems. The Kitchen Cleaner & Degreaser has a certified food contact safe formula that cleans beyond your stove and countertops. Follow up with the Glass & Multi-Surface Cleaner on all your stainless steel appliances and really see them shine.

Good Green Cleaners are not only safe, but better for the environment. First-time purchasers receive a reusable bottle set that ships empty, saving on energy and shipping costs. The bottle comes with a recyclable “pod” full of cleaning fluid. To use, fill the bottle with 32 ounces of tap water, screw on the pod until it clicks to release the cleaner. Once added, screw off the pod, toss in the recycle bin and then screw on the spray nozzle to begin cleaning. When you run out of cleaning solution, simply purchase more pods. Utilizing this sustainable packaging model is reducing the amount of plastics that end up in landfills. Even the bottles are 100 percent recyclable.

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LANGUAGE OF SPACE

Photo by Stephanie Nakagawa

By Michael White Ryan

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DATA

THE MAKING OF

OUR NEW WORLD

n the world of the past gone by, when belief became king, humans rejoiced in their progression. Mankind dreamed we were born to achieve again and again through beliefs positive implementation. In time we discovered many of those beliefs, held in high esteem as real truths, were falsely placed on positions high. Beliefs were nothing but data in bygone times and will forever remain nothing but bits of data in tomorrow’s new realms, our future existence? They come marching in this wave of new minds, free-thinking creatives, minus the flower-power. For some persons, it opened a mindset pathway to “everything is possible”. If I am not mistaken, this is nothing more than a new version of a well-repeated cycle. It’s the old guard being replaced by the new guard and giving it a new millennial name. All data being viewed, accepted in today’s world exists without knowing, the possibility also exists outside of a controlled mindset environment. Data wants to be acknowledged. We want data to be acknowledged, it offers up, gives one a feeling of safety, security correctness, and acceptability. Unfortunately, this ideology mindset thinking, resides within a well-placed, well-rehearsed selfdeceptive pattern, thus masking the allowance of all past mindset cycles to continue? Fancy that, as a universe, we have moved from data beliefs to data feeds, a source of safety and acceptance in this new progressive future, by WHO, and for WHAT reason without ever questioning motive? By authoritative powers that don’t know you and I exist, do not know we ever existed. It’s the repeating story “Little Red Riding Hood” dressed

up in new clothes. As a people, we have avoided coming to a realization, the term “we” have never contained “inclusive” within its definition, in the eyes and mind of those self-placed powerfully. Imagination remains a far greater asset than knowledge What is it that you expect from life? Is it to be seen as a successfully productive human being? As humans, we function from within an ever-expanding set of confined ideologies, rules, strategies, and facts, completely accepted by choice. All designed by a continued, ongoing lifetime gathering of knowledge defined within the confines of our needs wants and desires. To our detriment, in choosing knowledge, we place limits on one’s ability to ever know, of our choices confinement. It begs the question, how conscious are you? You know these words, and yet, do you ever quietly ask yourself, does my awareness acknowledge, that which exists outside of my self-indulgence? There will be times when you feel or think you are vulnerable and weak. These thoughts and feelings as a thinking-being, are natural to us, and as a spirit-being un-natural for us. We relate to false ideas by accepting social-conditioning as fact, and accepting/believing false feelings as proof. We are, you are a spatial-energy-being, confined at one level by a physical universe in our 3D world of circumstance. A world where various experiences can occur, do occur within/to your physical presence. Be mindful to maintain an awareness, your physicality is not YOUR IDENTITY? Vulnerability is nothing more than a natural function within this 3D world construct, it’s never a mental condition until we make the choice for it to be so. 75 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e July 2020

Self-talk is data trying to convince you, your thoughts are factual. It’s a logical mindset just wanting the facts, so the “I”, will be self-validated? Hence bypassing any concept of those thoughts being positive or negative. Never mindful of those thoughts being delivered from what state of beingness, emotional creation! Great data examples are ads, all TV commercials, all advertisements, all sale pitches. These are all data feeds to convince you, “these are the facts”, these facts are the proof? Data has become “the go-to”, feeding the needs and wants to look for personal verification. A connection rewarded in social acceptance before any decisions will be made. When data is correct, incorrect, who gets screwed?

false or corrupted

You, a balance of growth and change, are an expression from a foundational arena, which maintains your structure. You, by natural design, are constantly in a state of organic growth, as a creative expansive. You, your abilities are in a symbiotic relationship, have a constant connection with the movement of this natural material universe. You are a consenting creation, a physical expression of the laws of nature. You, on the flip side, have/are a spirit, that is you and only you. And if that’s not enough, you are much more. Now along comes a mindset, full of logic and the powers of choice, truth, and belief, not to mention those masquerading flying pink elephants with collars. There’s always someone telling you how it is, lecturing, the left foot goes here and if you follow, tomorrow you get to wear “the ooh la la it’s a beautiful day hat”, that is after your energy exchange gifting, of your moolah. “The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born – that there is a genetic factor to leadership. That’s nonsense, in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.” Warren Bennis, thanks to his efforts and the famous quote above, often referred to as the founder, made Leadership Training respectable. Back in that bygone era, this thinking appeared to be correct. If leaders can be “made” everyone is capable of being “made” into a leader? In 2020 we know leaders are both “made” and “born.” Trained-Leaders are made within a defined set of parameters, as is your computer. Wherein exists, the humanistic aspect? Notice how you feel knowing, today’s same practices continue into mankind’s future, that future is not looking so great. One thing is for sure certain, YOU no matter where you come from, who you are, or where you were born, you, always remain the leader of your universe. Never 76 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e July 2020

believe any data, no matter the source, that tells you differently. Everybody is free to choose from. Is it possible, considering we‘ve already pre-programmed ourselves a mindset-construct, directing the shortest safest path to an outcome? Now that we are safe in our doingness, what did we leave behind, unattended alive and kicking? The need to achieve appears to be part of our DNA structure, maybe yes, maybe no. Either way we proceed without question because data informs us this is the way of today’s world. Is it truth or is it a feeder-idea, we’ve sucked on for so long, we don’t know any different?

"You are a consenting

creation, a physical expression of the laws of nature. You, on the flip side, have/are a spirit, that is you and only you." One fear, as we progress forward. Will humans become, or have we already become addicted to data. If so, will humanity lose sight of our gifted instincts and abilities? Will we become followers unto data, travel blindly into a purposeful-assumption, an unknown future, our New Data World. Time, that which does not exist, will surely show/give us the answer! as One and All, know you are…

Michael White Ryan is a co-founder with his wife Pamela Edwards of Language of Space. They are leaders in sustainable business growth via Performance Design and Performance Code. Sustainable design encompasses both Western and Easternphilosophies including advanced Feng Shui principles, \Environmental Design, Buildings, Alternative Health, Business Advisory Consultants and 20 plus years as entrepreneurs. Recognized in the top 100 globally and are Americas Leading Feng Shui BusinessConsultants.They are on faculty at CEO Space International one of the oldest business organizations in America today, currently operate in 7 countries and reside in Australia. www.languageofspace.com

An Excerpt from The Five Powers

5 The

Powers

Qualities That Transform our Life and Our World

By Dr. Stephen Fulder

hese are times of change, risk and uncertainty. How can we rise above the challenges such as stress, anxiety, depression, frustration, and the myriad other conflicts and unhappiness that can assail us? Can we dance with changing circumstances? How do we perform a restart? Is it possible to radically transform our daily life? How do we emerge from this sense of endless struggle? How can we invite deeper meaning and more ease, steadiness, and freedom into our lives?

Putting down our burdens isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just a matter of wishing to drop them. We need some new capacities. Key tools are available in the Buddhist teaching of The Five Powers: highly developed, extraordinarily effective, sophisticated yet crystal clear. Here they are together with their Pali language terms.

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Photo by Drew Colins

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Trust is an attitude of mind and heart with which we get up in the morning and meet life. It includes positivity, acceptance, hope and optimism, but it is more than them, since they can be forced and dependent on things being better, which we cannot expect. Instead it is the sense that we allow things to be the way they are, even if difficult, and that becomes the basis of action rather than anxiety and concern.

The First Power: Trust, Faith, Confidence – Saddha

We don't need to work so hard to protect ourselves, to build and maintain our shields and defences, to try to predict what might go wrong. We can let go and let life carry us. We are on the train of life, so why do we need to keep lugging the heavy baggage of our concerns? Why don’t we put them down and let the train take us and our luggage? We can trust the world, because even though it will throw pleasant and unpleasant circumstances and surprises at us, it is not actually against us, nor for us: it is completely with us. The struggle to control things, the anxiety about what might happen at any moment, the fears for the future, is in the end a far more painful, costly, and disturbing way to live. Trust is an attitude of mind and heart with which we get up in the morning and meet life. It includes positivity, acceptance, hope and optimism, but it is more than them, since they can be forced and dependent on things being better, which we cannot expect. Instead it is the sense that we allow things to be the way they are, even if difficult, and that becomes the basis of action rather than anxiety and concern. We build trust by repeatedly opening the doors and welcoming what comes. We can do this as a meditative practice, in which we locate and recognise any experience. If it is unleasant like a physical pain, emotional difficulty, a disturbing noise, or failure, instead of labelling it as a problem, we see it as part of our life at this unique instant. Same with the pleasant. We listen to those voices like a mother listening to her child. Trust also allows us to go beyond the known. The unknown is the territory of liberation, the great wide-open spaces of the unexplored, yet we generally fill ourselves with the known, keeping the unknown at bay, for it is both compelling and frightening. Primal fear shuts the door to the divine. Primal trust and faith open it again to mystery and wonder.

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The Second Power : Energy, Aspiration, Determination - Viriya

When the time is right, the snake needs to shed its skin, just like us faced with going to the next stage in our life. This is natural, and yet needs a lot of wriggling. Both easy and difficult. Effort has many forms, and we can access more energy if we know the secrets of refining it. Sometimes the hawk needs to flap its wings and make an effort to fly up against the force of the wind, and sometimes it simply glides effortlessly, an occasional tweak of a few feathers enough to keep soaring through the heavens. A balanced energy is a soft effort that is kind to us and yet gets there in the end. For example, in yoga or exercise or any spiritual practice, it would mean arriving at and recognising an apparent limit, and just staying tenderly at the edge for a while without pushing, but noticing how the edge dissolves and moves. Supposing we are working on a psychological tendency such as anxiety, anger, or self-judgement, the right effort would be to meet the pattern tenderly again and again as it is expressed in mind and body, with soft interested attention. It yields to our embrace, rather than our dismay. Attacking it could create more self-judgement and a lot of troublesome measurement of success and failure. The realization of ‘not too tight, not too loose’ was the last key the Buddha needed to realize ultimate truth. It is an acknowledgement that beyond the dualities of being a hero or a zero, there is a vast territory of possibilities.

The Third Power : Mindfulness, Presence, Awareness - Sati

As we read this, do we know we exist? Do we know we have a body? Of course we know we exist! And obviously we know we have a body. But it’s a fair question to ask. When we walk to the car, to the shops, to a meeting - do we know we are walking? Or is our mind full of what we have to do, and what might or might not happen? We take thousands of breaths every single day; are we aware of any of them?

To experience life more fully, we need to practice Mindfulness. Mindfulness is being awake: aware, attentive, and alert to what is really happening at this very moment. Its opposite is non-mindfulness: being distracted, switching off, running on automatic, missing what is happening around us. Zooming in on ordinary experiences - the sensation of our feet on the earth as we walk, the touch of the wind on our cheeks - can illuminate them, making them special, almost magical. We see the tiny plants by the roadside, unnoticed for years. This is a welcome to hidden life! Focus on some clear aspect of bodily life: the touch of the hands or the experience of pressure on the buttocks or the general flow of bodily sensations in various part of the body. When a thought arises, you know that you are thinking and you know what kind of thought it is. You know when you are attracted or pulled towards something you like, or pushed away from something you don’t like. You know the arising of intentions and will, of moods and states of mind. You know the inner emotional climate, subtle or gross forms of anger, joy, love and every other feeling. We can take responsibility for our own minds by seeing what is there, letting go of what is unhelpful, and encouraging what is helpful and healthy. Slowly the cacophony in our minds is quietened and we find that it is actually our music.

The Fourth Power : Calm, Serenity, Concentration – Samadhi

If the whole world around is stampeding like a herd of bison, can we come to our senses, step aside and let the herd rush on without us? What can we let go of? Can we restrict the need to check messages, WhatsApps, and mails to certain times during the day only? Can we take mini breaks during the day to do a reset? We can zoom in on the engines that drive this ceaseless activity, such as the to-do lists in the mind. We will see the habits of restlessness and agitation, experience the discomfort that they bring, but nevertheless just stay with it. Mental habits are fully seen, and we can actively let them go, as if to say to them: “OK. I’ve seen you. I’ve got the point. Thank you and goodbye”. Inner quiet is always available, indeed it is the ground of our consciousness; we can learn on the one hand how to let go of the noise, and on the other hand to enjoy the silence, which also reveals those hidden voices that we usually cannot hear. What stops our mind in its tracks, shuts us up, and touches our heart with awe or sublime beauty? Is it the bright full moon emerging from behind the hills, or a breath-taking multi-layered crimson sunset, or a majestic tree in the park, or the sudden loving and deep look in the eyes of someone close to us?

The Fifth Power : Wisdom, Insight, Awakening - Pannya

What kind of understanding would we need to live more lightly, to take responsibility for our life and our minds, and help us to dance with the challenges and uncertainties of life? It would certainly be more immediate, more intuitive, more insightful and more spacious than regular thinking. It is the extraordinary in the heart of the ordinary. It tends to be non-conceptual, non-verbal, and has a quality of immediate clarity. It reads and senses the inter-relationships between us and the world. It is a deep listening to what our inner voices are telling us, and a sensing of what is happening at this moment. It is humble and quiet. It asks a question and lets go of expectations for an answer, but trusts the question to work in the background and bring what is needed in its wake. It reads the tweets sent by life. Wisdom is engaged with life, not hiding in some sacred closet. When we consider going out in the world and making change, we may often feel discouraged by issues that hold us back. We may feel that the task is beyond us, that we are helpless — just little me in a big hostile messy world — or that we are not ready. But wisdom would challenge all these stories by showing them to be constructions that are beliefs rather than the truth of things. And when we no longer invest in such disempowering narratives, our kind compassionate heart, our intentions to heal and reduce suffering in the world, and our life of goodness and harmony will naturally emerge unhindered, and we will find ourselves intending to make change and just going out and doing it.

Dr. Stephen Fulder was born in London in 1946, has a doctorate in molecular biology and has published 15 books on spirituality and health. He is the founder and senior teacher of Tovana (the Israel Insight Society), the largest organisation in Israel that brings Buddhist-inspired practice and teachings to thousands of participants yearly. Stephen has been teaching for 25 years, mostly in Israel but also abroad, and teaches a large number of retreats, courses and classes annually. He has been deeply engaged in peace work in the Middle East. www.stephenfulder.com, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Fulder

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LOOKING GOOD & FEELING GREAT By Margaret Tomaszewicz

The Importance of Having a Skin Care Routine While Staying at Home

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Photo by Quentin Lagache

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When you're cooped up in the house for days on end, it's easy to fall into a rhythm that doesn'tmake room for self-care. Binge-watching television shows, eating junk food, and eliminating structure might feel nice at first, but they have some negative consequences. This is why it's good to maintain a routine that supports your optimal health. As you're building routines, remember to implement one for optimal skincare. Your skin is actually the largest organ of your body. It deserves as much care as you can give it. It can also be a signal of what's going on internally. Certain factors will showcase the internal problem through your skin, whether you're stressed, hormonal, or inflamed. Developing a routine will help you recognize and address the problems from a topical perspective. While you're at home, consider some of the most effective ways you can take good care of your skin.

1. Cleansing

Woda became PETA official business partner and will be donating portion of her WODA European Skin Care products to them.

Find a cleanser that removes all of the impurities without stripping your skin of its essential oils. Lately, many skin care professionals are raving about various aspects of Korean skincare rituals. This is especially true about the double-cleansing process. A double-cleansing process helps you increase the chances of removing any trace of dirt without damaging your skin. There are so many people who don't truly understand the importance of being gentle with your entire face. Yes, the eye area is delicate. However, you can't be rough with the rest of your skin, either. By using micellar water or an oil cleanser, you can loosen the dirt, makeup, and any other buildup from the day without dragging a makeup wipe across your delicate skin. Once you've rinsed the dirt and first cleaner off, you can use a facial cleanser that addresses the skin issues you have as it cleanses. For some people, a foaming cleanser that contains ingredients like salicylic acid will be perfect for addressing acne. Though the process might seem tedious, a double-cleansing the process can be extremely beneficial.

2. Toning

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There's an on-going debate surrounding the validity of toning the skin. Many people believe that toning isn't necessary. This is probably because they're using the wrong toner. In fact, toning can be incredibly effective for balancing the skin's texture and calming irritation. No one is perfect. Even though they might try to remove all makeup with the right cleanser, there are times when you'll miss a bit. If you pour a bit of toner to a cotton swab and gently brush it over the skin, you'll catch any of the missed debris, dirt and build-up that you might've missed when you initially washed it. A toner is such a beneficial product for those who struggle with large pores as it can minimize their appearance over time. Consider using a toner like the Clear Skin Toner because it containssoothing yet effective ingredients like witch hazel and lavender botanicals.

3. Moisturizer

When the skin is dry, it might be tempting to lather on the thickest cream one can possibly find. Instead, it's best to find the best formulation, apply in layers, and consider the underlying issue. Furthermore, moisturizer isn't just for people with dry skin. There's an unfortunate assumption that if your skin produces excess oil, you need to skip the moisturizing step. It doesn't matter if you have oily skin, rosacea, or eczema. Find the right moisturizer for your skincare needs. If you have oily skin and don't use a moisturizer, your skin will overproduce oil in order to compensate for what it's not getting. A lack of moisture can also arise because of factors like age and the environment. As you age, your skin will reflect this through the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. If you'd like to slow down the process, you can use the right moisturizer that contains ingredients such as hyaluronic acid. The Uplift Face & Neck Creme is a great combination of antiaging properties and moisture. Environmental factors can also impact the skin. If you're relocating to a part of the country where the air is dry, don't be surprised if your skin reacts. Thankfully, with the right treatments and adequate amounts of moisture, your skin can heal.

4. Serum

A serum is a potent dosage of a blend of ingredients that will help you achieve a specific skincare goal. Whether you'd like to slow down the aging process, increase the cell turnover rate or decrease the appearance of fine lines, you'll want to apply a serum on a consistent basis. Plus, as you continue to age, a good serum is a requirement for glowing, healthy skin.

your skin first. Steaming the skin leaves it more vulnerable and open to whatever products you choose to use to heal the skin. If you don't have a facial steamer, simply boil a pot of water. Place a towel over your head and lean over the hot water to allow the steam to penetrate. Don't stand too close as you don't want to break any capillaries

There are plenty of individuals who use a number of serums at the same time. The key is to make sure you're using serums at the right time of day as well. If you're using a serum that's specifically for decreasing acne scars' appearance, it's best to use it before you go to bed at night. Many night-time serums have acids and other ingredients that will react negatively when they come in contact with sunlight.

Since face masks are such a specialized treatment, it's best to find a mask that works for the skin issues you face. If you have oily skin, you'll want to use a claybased mask as clay is known to draw out impurities and excess oil. If you're struggling with acne scars and blemishes, use a mask that contains ingredients such as lactic acid and Vitamin C as they can help increase cell turnover time. The Clear Skin Anti-Blemish Mask is a great option to use for that reason.

One of the most popular serum types is eye serum. The skin surrounding the eye tends to be the most delicate. Therefore, it needs a specific ingredient mix in order to get the effects you desire. Look for an option like Nourish Peptides Eye Cream as it contains ingredients such as Vitamin C and aloe.

If you're not used to the process of maintaining healthy skin, it'll feel like a full-time job at first. However, when you're spending a lot of time at home, there's no better time to take care of your skin. You don't have to worry about rushing through the process to head out the door for a meeting, work, or another demand.

5. Sunscreen

Do your research to find products that work perfectly for your skin type. Invest time and energy into preserving the skin you have. As you tweak your process, you'll discover a routine that works perfectly for your individual needs. Lean into the process. Though it might take some time, it's time well spent. To Your Health!

Sunscreen is a non-negotiable for every single individual. While the sun is a glorious source of Vitamin D, you still have to protect your skin since exorbitant exposure can cause skin cancer. While you don't want to completely avoid the sun, you still want to remain vigilant about protecting your skin. Whether your desk is positioned near a sunny window for eight hours or you're taking a walk in the neighborhood, make sure you're wearing sunscreen. At the very least, it's best to wear an SPF 30 sunscreen. The more SPF you wear, the better off you'll be. Many people don't realize this, but it's incredibly beneficial to reapply your sunscreen throughout the day. One of the ways you can do this is through using a sunscreen spray. If you're wearing makeup, just reapply it. Though it might seem like an inconvenience, applying and reapplying sunscreen is one of the best ways to protect your skin. If you're taking a walk, wear a large-brimmed hat. You'll still get a healthy dose of Vitamin D without leaving your skin vulnerable to the sun's damaging UV rays.

6. Face Mask (1-2x a Week)

In order to make sure a face mask penetrates deeply, think about steaming your skin first. Upon visiting any esthetician for a skincare treatment, they'll steam

Margaret Tomaszewicz is a licensed esthetician with over 25 years of experience.She is the owner of European Skin and Massage Studio in Santa Monica, California and has developed the Organic WODA European Natural Skin Care Line. Her products are available on wodaskincare.com and on Amazon.com For every product sold WODA Skin Care plants a tree. Margaret can be reached at 424-279-9771 or europeanskinandmassagestudio@gmail.com wodaskincare.com

One Minute Meditation

Photo by Amand Khoury

Take this moment to close your eyes and consider the following possibility...

• TURN YOUR FOCUS FROM SOMETHING YOU DON’T WANT TO SOMETHING YOU DO WANT

• REMOVE SOMETHING FROM YOUR LIFE THAT DOESN’T SERVE YOU

• WHAT ARE THE "ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES" IN MY LIFE? • THINK OF HOW EVERYTHING CAN BE IMPROVED

89 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e May 2020

Photo by Alice Dietrich

Website Gives Art Lovers a Way to Connect with Fine Artists, for a Good Cause

he worldwide pandemic has changed our lives. “I felt badly for the many artists who abruptly lost their sales venues,” says business owner Robin Kocina, whose husband Lonny is an artist as well as her business partner. As a nonprofit board member, Kocina is also keenly aware that charitable organizations around the world are pleading for funds. Meanwhile, she observed that Americans have become more focused on home and making memories with family, a trend she wants to nurture and support. Giving back is in Kocina’s DNA. But these are three seemingly very divergent audiences affected by the pandemic. How could she possibly help? “I always loved Lonny’s idea of PostandPaint.com, a website to make custom fine art more accessible to homeowners. But we were so busy running our business that we didn’t have time to manage the site. Now that we’re in our 60s, we decided to resurrect the idea and donate the proceeds to nonprofits.”

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A simple idea process with a big potential impact are:

1. Consumers post a photo of something dear to them. The person will also designate the size, shape and preferred medium of the finished artwork, as well as their preferred price range. There is a $10 per photo donation to post a photo, which is the only time they are required to spend money at the site. “One hundred percent of these donations are given to a non profit organization. Currently it is Hands of Freedom, a group saving impoverished women and children in India,” says Kocina. Added Hands of Freedom deployed pastor Jon, “We are very excited about the Post and Paint partnership as this will enable us at Hands of Freedom to expand our outreach to impoverished families in India and help lead them towards a new God-given destiny out of poverty.” 2. Artists create a painting based on the photo. “ Artists peruse the uploaded photos and paint the ones that most interest them. They upload a photo of the finished art and set the price.” 3. Consumers can buy the painting. “If they like how it turned out, and they are good with the price, they can have a custom piece of artwork for their home that means something to them. If the consumer decides not to buy the finished artwork, the artist is free to sell it to another customer.”

Freedom Hands of & t in a P Postand

PostandPaint.com is a win for artists, homeowners and most importantly for those in need. The biggest challenge that Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s people face is extreme poverty. To help alleviate these challenges of physical poverties, Hands of Freedom has helped to launch multi-faceted kingdom solutions, which we believe will help us rescue vulnerable families and help sustain them. Current estimates reveal 40 to 44 million at-risk children living in India. Many of those go to sleep on the pavement each night, hungry and unprotected. We donate 100% of photo submission fees ($10 per photo submitted) to Hands of Freedom, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on helping the poor of India. A holistic, gospel-centered movement, Hands of Freedom is helping to transform the lives of people relegated to the bottom rung of society, including at-risk children, by providing spiritual, educational, and business mentoring and opportunities. Hands of Freedom is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization focused on helping the poor of India through micro-lending, fresh water projects, education and savings groups. We work with those relegated to the bottom rung of society to transform their lives, long-term. https://www.handsoffreedom.org/ Robin Kocina is co-founder, president and CFO of Media Relations Agency, a top performance-based PR agency. Under her leadership, she has grown the agency from its inception in 1987 to its current status as a successful integrated marketing agency with international clientele and multi-million dollar revenues. A highly regarded community leader, Kocina believes strongly in sharing her marketing and leadership skills through community service. Helping others is what drives Kocinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s involvement with PostandPaint.com. She currently serves on the board of Hands of Freedom. In this role, she provides marketing strategy and support. She previously served as chairman of the board and marketing strategist for Depart Smart, a non-profit credited with saving lives among youth traveling abroad. Kocina is the recipient of numerous honors for her leadership and community involvement 91 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e July 2020

Have you seen Gretchen?! Missing since 11/11/2016 Please contact us

info@theedenmagazine.com

Nature

Photo by Jonas Von Werne

The Lead South Australia

Dolphin Study Shows Female Family Groups Best for Calves Southern Australian Dolphins like to raise their young in the sisterhood, a new study shows

94 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e June 2020

Southern Australian dolphins like to raise their young in the sisterhood, a new study shows. Female southern Australian dolphins like to raise their young within the sisterhood as they hope strength in numbers boosts their babies’ chances of survival, according to researchers from Flinders University in South Australia. The latest findings show female bottlenose dolphins also group in similar reproductive condition with the research indicating it could help them find food along with male dolphins and fend off sharks. Flinders University marine biologist Dr Fernando Diaz-Aguirre, the lead author of the study, said researchers made 152 boat surveys over two years at Coffin Bay on the Eyre Peninsula, a popular holiday destination in the northwest of South Australia.

to be vital for them while raising young calves, or for those without calves who also combine due to similar biological requirements related to feeding and mating,” Dr Diaz-Aguirre said. “As well as key pointers on social evolution and behaviour in these highly complex marine mammals, our study also provides important information for the conservation of the Coffin Bay population.” The study, published in Scientific Reports, sheds new light on how dolphin societies are developed and maintained including special adaptations such as hunting skills and how social learning is passed on between generations.

The researchers from Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Lab at Flinders University, saw 967 dolphin groups in Coffin Bay and based their findings on more than 11 sightings of 55 females.

Flinders Associate Professor Luciana Moller, the senior author of the paper, said these studies were important in understanding the evolution of animal societies. Success in female reproduction in mammals is limited by lactation, gestation and caring for the young with ecological factors affecting the amount of food they can obtain and predation risk affecting the chances of their babies surviving.

They found female dolphins liked to stay close to other females in similar reproductive condition and it was likely their babies fared best by having their mothers forming these bonds.

“(This work is important) for providing information to conservation managers to secure the future survival of these unique dolphin populations,” Associate Professor Moller said.

They also found bottlenose dolphins then raise their calves in select female groups in local bays while maintaining loose social bonds with male dolphins.

“Small resident populations of dolphins, as the one in Coffin Bay, are particularly vulnerable to changes in the environment and represent sentinels of the health of coastal ecosystems.”

“These close social groups among related females appear

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f the symbol of the year 2020 was 2020 vision, I do not think it was in our wildest dreams that the VISION of a new world would have unfolded in such an abrupt way. Our way of life has been disrupted by a pandemic and social unrest, both occurring back to back, and it has become a fact this generation will remember this year as Pre- COVID and Post -COVID.

Photo by BP Miller

As a content creator and a small business owner, I, like many of you, have witnessed a major shift, internal and external, that has been both frightening and exhilarating.

THE UNITED COLORS OF HOLLYWOOD Navigating social change and a pandemic By Alexia Melocchi

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While in lockdown, I took many walks and witnessed the changes around my neighborhood of Beverly Hills that were a sign of the times. Rodeo Drive was no man's land. All stores and restaurants were closed. Each time I ventured out to remind myself that life does go on while appreciating nature all around me that was thriving because we humans had stopped polluting it, I would occasionally cross another soul, sporting a face mask. I would see their eyes look away from me, and their feet naturally lead them to a greater distance than the required 6 foot one. My only diversion, as I believe it was for many of us, was taking solace and entertainment through our Television screens, computers, Ipads. The word SHOW BINGING was foreign to me, even if I work in Hollywood, I never had the time to explore content unless it was for a business purpose. As Hollywood stopped working and all productions were shut down, a new appreciation for what was available emerged. As my grandfather used to say, during the Depression, two things will always survive

a crisis, dining, and entertainment. And in fact, that is what happened. Hollywood united us, giving us a much-needed distraction with a plethora of shows. It was able to think outside the box and shoot famous competition programming like American Idol or The Voice through zoom and iPhones. Because that is what humans do, they learn to adapt and overcome. It is not a coincidence that major spiritual shifts occur in a time of crisis when all looks darkest and bleakest. And that's exactly what happened as the stay at home orders were slowly loosened. Businesses were getting ready to reopen their doors, and people could not wait to see one another in 3D. Then the killing of George Floyd happened, and the massive unrest and protest began.

Sometimes things are swept under the rug for too long. And, when there is already an internal state of unrest, things that need to emerge for the clearing and the evolution to happen, explode in our faces like a bomb. It was like living in multiple realities and paradigms.

From one side was the despair of businesses and stores looted. They had to close their doors for safety right when they were finally able to get people back to work. On the other side, there were historic changes taking place. The Black Lives Matter movement became a force to be reckoned with. They gave a voice not just to the plight of so many African American citizens who are still being discriminated against, but also to the abuse of power happening in bodies of government whose job it is to defend and protect. And they also gave a voice to all who have been suppressed in recent years for skin color, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.

expand our minds, even though the isolation of the pandemic or the unity of social movement to fight for injustice and discrimination, we will see a better world and 2020 will be not just a number but a focus year.

Photo by Kevin Bhagat

Crisis equals opportunity. So many energetic shifts in our world and change are never easy. No matter the cause. As for Hollywood, though it has in recent years given a platform to diversity, with so many television shows and movies now starring African American talent, and acting as the catalyst for incredible storytelling, it too, will have to survive a crisis and make a shift.

Alexia Melocchi is an accomplished film producer and world wide distribution executive and the partner of Beverly Hills based LITTLE STUDIO FILMS. Groundbreaking content comes in many colors and many interpretations. And as long as it makes one break down the stereotypes and most of all listen and educate, it will be the shining light to help us navigate these strange yet electrifying times. We can see how an African American family lives through comedy, with shows like BLACK-ISH, we can understand how racial profiling takes the lives of the young and innocent ones like Ava Du Vernay's WHEN THEY SEE US, we can find out that being Asian is not owning a Chinese Restaurant, but it could be living in Tradition and Glamour like in CRAZY RICH ASIANS, or that Los Angeles is not all mansions and movie stars, it is the melting pot of so many races and cultures, often misunderstood and isolated like it was shown in the award-winning and prophetic film CRASH. Ultimately though, while BLACK LIVES MATTER is at the forefront, we all belong to one single race, the HUMAN RACE. As long as we raise our values and

Alexia Melocchi has an experience of more than twenty years in Hollywood and has produced 11 award wining movies and 3 documentaries that were shot by merging film makers that she has personally discovered and mentored. She also acquires on behalf of her international distributor clients films and television shows from all over the world for release in the Middle East, Italy, Greece, Spain, Canada, South America and Germany. She attends all major film festivals in the USA and abroad and has been often invited as an expert panelist on the Film Business for high profile film and television conventions.Alexia is fluent in five languages and is the proud mama to 3 rescue cats. She supports environmental and animal causes , meditates daily, and is an avid reader of spiritual and self helps books. IG @lexybella @LttleStudioFlms www.littlestudiofilms.com 97 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e July 2020