The Eden Magazine December 2025

De León PATRICIA

A VISION OF STRENGTH, BEAUTY & PURPOSE

SOUND HEALING VIBRATIONS FOR WELLNESS

by Dulce Garcia -Morman

IMMUNE SYSTEM An article by Wouter Brijdendijk & Chef

Joris Bijdendijk

MEET OUR TEAM

Maryam Morrison

Dina Morrone

Brad wallace

Lisa Joy Walton

JSquared Photography @j2pix

Nikki Pattillo Artin Mardirosian

Sheri Determan

Dulce Garcia-Morman

Greg Doherty

Ben Rollins

Joe Santos, Jr.

Philip Smith

Edward Hakopian

Susanna Schroadter

Emilie Macas

Polly Wirum

Benjamin D.Buren

Dr. Rob Moir

EDEN

Since 2010

The Eden Magazine is a free online publication is your guide to healthy living, spiritual awareness, compassion and love for all living beings, holistic lifestyle, mindfulness, organic living, positive thinking, sustainability, and personal development

Founder & Editor-in-Chief

Maryam Morrison

Executive Editor/Contributing Writer

Dina Morrone

Contributing Writers

Sadhguru, Isha Foundation

Dulce Garcia-Morman

Susanna Schroadter

Dr. Rob Moir

Emilie Macas

Nikki Pattillo

Polly Wirum

Joe Santos, Jr.

Guest Writer

Philip Smith

Contributing Stylists + Makeup Artist

Edward Hakopian

Lisa Joy Walton

Graphics & Photography

JSquared Photography @j2pix (Los Angeles)

Artin Mardirosian (Nexision) (Los Angeles)

Benjamin D. Buren – AliveStudios.Com (Denver, SanFrancisco, Boston)

Sheri Determan (Los Angeles)

Greg Doherty (Los Vegas) Ben Rollins (Atlanta)

Web developer Brad wallace https://bradwallacedesign.com/

325 N. Maple Dr. Po Box 5132 Beverly Hills, CA 90209

56 THE COMPLEXITIES OF PAIN AND SUFFERING by Polly Wirum

ADULTING:A BRIEF GUIDE TO SURVIVING YOUR OWN LIFE by Joe Santos, Jr. 62 SOUND HEALING VIBRATIONS FOR WELLNESS by Dulce Garcia-Morman

INVITATION by Fer Broca

Regina Leffers, ph.D.

Veisluis

Cover by: Dimitri Loiseau

OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

By Wouter Bijdendijk & Chef Joris Bijdendijk

People are living longer and longer, so we might expect them to be healthier. And yet the opposite is true.

A critical component of good health is our immune system, which is made up of an acquired and an innate part and is present throughout our body. Relatively simple measures can help strengthen our immune system, such as getting enough exercise, quitting smoking, maintaining a good sleep schedule, getting sufficient rest, and eating a balanced diet.

It is preferable to consume at least 25 different types of plant-based foods a week, including organic fruits and vegetables, herbs, nuts, seeds, and mushrooms; there are even studies showing that you should aim for a minimum of 30 different plant foods per week. A diet lacking in variety weakens the immune system.

The environment in which you live, your genetic predisposition, lifestyle, and diet play an important role in your health. It is essential to know that these different factors interact and that you can view your health holistically.

Our immune system is one of the fundamental pillars of our health. It is not only important for keeping harmful bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms at bay but also for our overall health. Immunologist Jenna Macciochi's idea is that we should view the immune system as a sense that can be trained, fine-tuned, and boosted, just like our other senses. If you want to stay healthy, try to support it throughout your life.

As mentioned, exercise, good sleep, plenty of fresh air, a varied diet of organic foods (including 300 grams/10.5 ounces of fresh plantbased foods each day, such as vegetables and fruits), and the use of beneficial plants and mushrooms are a good first step in boosting your immune system. Taking a cold shower has also been proven to improve our resistance.3 In Europe's earliest hospitals, often in

monasteries, the (monastery) garden was considered an essential part of the healing process.

Consuming a sufficient amount of omega-3 fatty acids (such as those found in walnuts) and specific plant compounds, including polyphenols, has a positive impact on our immune system. Polyphenols have an anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic impact and protect the body’s cells against free radicals. Well-known examples are anthocyanins from wild blueberries, blackcurrants, and raspberries; sulforaphane from broccoli; resveratrol from grapes; ECGC (Epigallocatechin gallate) from green tea and matcha; vitamins A, C, and E; fiber; and probiotics.

Fiber nourishes the beneficial bacteria in your intestines and is essential for maintaining healthy gut flora. There may be a relationship between imbalanced gut flora and obesity, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, and allergies. Most of your immune system is in your gut. As Swiss physician Alfred Vogel put it, “Death sits in the intestines."

Gut Flora

Photo by

Picture Leaf

Indeed, diseases often enter our bodies through the intestines, so it is extremely important to maintain good gut flora. Being conscious of what you put in your body, what you eat and drink, and the effects of diet on your health and resistance is essential. Billions of bacteria and viruses reside in our intestines, most of which are essential and beneficial. A well-functioning immune system recognizes the good microbes and leaves them alone, while malicious intruders are blocked or dealt with. In fact, our immune system attacks anything that looks genetically different from us and, moreover, it has a “memory.” If we experience a great deal of stress, take certain medications, and consume excess alcohol, a pathogen is more likely to be able to penetrate the intestinal mucosa. Our bodies also perceive extreme sport as stress, which means that insufficient energy goes to the core of resistance, our intestines.

The good bacteria even pass on information to our immune system about new, still unknown microbes. Our brains and intestines are strongly connected. For example, 95 percent of the "happiness hormone" serotonin is produced in the intestines. It is also essential to train your immune system and not spend all your time in a sterile environment. This works in the same way as vaccines, which are designed to trigger an immune response, thus protecting us against future exposure to certain diseases.

Inflammation

Many diseases are caused by inflammation. When your immune system is functioning well, it detects inflammation and clears it. Inflammation is an immune response that is crucial for our health, but it is primarily intended as an acute, shortterm defense. If your immune system is not functioning correctly, inflammation can become chronic, severe, and cause diseases.

One of the causes of inflammation is bacteria. Many people are frightened by the word bacteria, yet we live symbiotically with many bacteria that help us. In our intestines, especially, there are billions of bacteria that we should see as allies; our body is essentially an ecosystem with many different inhabitants. Ninety-nine percent of the bacteria that surround us at any given moment do not cause disease.

Most people who are given antibiotics for a urinary tract infection, for example, do not realize that these will also kill the good bacteria in their gut. Although antibiotics are fantastic medicines that have saved millions of lives, you must be careful with them. Using them too often weakens your overall immune system (especially in your intestines), making you much more susceptible to a flu virus, for example.

Wouter Bijdendijk is an anthropologist specializing in ethnobotany and pharmacognosy with a degree from Amsterdam University.

Over 20 years of touring the world, he has studied herbal medicine in different traditions. He lives in the Netherlands. wouterbijdendijk.org

Chef Joris Bijdendijk achieved 3 Michelin stars within 8 years of starting his career. He is the chef of the restaurant RIJKS® at the Rijksmuseum and, in 2019, opened the restaurant Wils in Amsterdam. The author of several food books, he lives in the Netherlands. jorisbijdendijk.nl

One of the disadvantages of many chemical antibiotics is the long-term side effects. They also disrupt the natural balance in our intestines by killing both good and bad bacteria, thereby weakening our resistance in the process. This is something we have only lately come to realize, as the long-term dangers were not previously known. Suppose it is medically necessary to go on a course of antibiotics. In that case, it is vital to simultaneously supplement with high-quality probiotics and prebiotics to replace any beneficial bacteria that are lost.

Your immune system uses shortlived but influential inflammation to eliminate pathogens. It is used for defense; however, under certain circumstances, temporary inflammation can become chronic and weaken your immune system. On the other hand, you can also overstrain your immune system, allowing an allergy or autoimmune disease to develop, essentially an overreaction. Many people experience chronic inflammation that may not be evident but causes damage. You can do a great deal to prevent and counteract chronic inflammation, starting with adjusting your diet to include more antioxidants from fruits and vegetables.

Many people are deficient in nutrients because their diet is too limited and thus lacks trace elements, minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and other beneficial plant compounds, as well as good fats and enough healthy protein. As you probably already know, eating junk food, such as industrially processed and refined products, is the first thing that destroys our immune defenses. The "Standard American Diet” (SAD) is considered one of the unhealthiest diets in the world by physician and researcher Kris Verburgh, and many agree with this assessment.

Verburgh believes that the body's

own antioxidants, which are thousands of times better at neutralizing free radicals than antioxidant supplements, need the mineral selenium in order to function properly, as is the case with many of the immune system’s proteins. Most Europeans and Americans do not get enough selenium, as the soil in Europe and many parts of the United States of America is depleted of this mineral. Seafood, such as oysters, is high in selenium, as are some types of nuts and seeds.

One of the richest natural sources of selenium is Brazil nuts, with each nut containing 60–90 micrograms of selenium. Although it is essential, consuming too much selenium is unhealthy, so avoid eating Brazil nuts every day; instead, limit your intake to no more than a few a week. Nettles and spirulina also contain selenium.

When it comes down to it, you do not have to get too worked up about taking extra nutritional supplements if you eat a diet containing a variety of organic foods. However, since many people lack minerals, it may be a good idea to take an all-natural mineral supplement. One special mineral source is shilajit, also known as the "sweat or tears of the Himalaya." It originates from prehistoric plant material released from the rocks of the Himalayan Mountains by pressure and the sun's heat. It's also found in other places like the Altai mountains and sometimes called mumijo in its purest form. Akin to ancient tar, it is a natural extract from the primeval forest that existed here millions of years ago. Shilajit is a complex natural mix of at least 85 minerals, five of which do not occur in natural form in any other substance on Earth. In Indian Ayurvedic medicine, shilajit is considered a rasayana ("path of essence" in Pali or Sanskrit), a substance that helps boost our strength, immunity, and vitality. Sanskrit scriptures that are 3,000 years old already mention shilajit as a "destroyer of weakness."

Mindful Methods to Break the Cycle of Stress

Simple Steps for Emotional Wellness in Troubled Times

By Julie Potiker

DDo you ever have moments when you feel triggered by your emotions? Most of us do.

With the constant drumbeat of conflict, negativity, and depressing stories that dominate our news and social media, it’s no surprise we often feel overcome by uncomfortable feelings such as fear, frustration, anger, and worry.

One reason we have survived on this planet for so long is that our brains have adapted to constantly consider “what if” scenarios. Ages ago, being prepared to fight (or more likely flee) large carnivores had real benefits for our survival. But today, constantly ruminating on things over which we have little control creates chronic stress that can harm our health and suck the joy out of life.

According to the Mayo Clinic, common effects of prolonged stress include physical symptoms (such as headache, fatigue,

stomach upset, and sleep problems) as well as anxiety, depression, lack of motivation, trouble focusing, and feeling overwhelmed. And that’s just a partial list!

Fortunately, there’s a simple tool we can use to break the cycle of stress and refocus our attention on what’s important to us: mindfulness.

Any time we pay attention to what we are thinking, feeling, and doing in the moment, we are practicing mindfulness. As we practice being present, observing, and accepting our thoughts and feelings without judgment, we give our overworked nervous systems a break. This calms the amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for processing fearful or threatening stimuli. By reducing the flow of stress hormones in our bodies, mindfulness also helps reduce inflammation and even boosts the immune system, research shows.

As a certified Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) instructor, I developed the acronym SNAP to give people an easy-to-remember tool to snap out of stress and into awareness of what they need in the present moment. Here’s a recap:

Soothing Touch: Research shows that placing our hands over our hearts, or wherever it feels comforting, reduces the stress hormone cortisol that our bodies produce when we feel threatened. It also prompts our body to release feel-good hormones like oxytocin and endorphins to begin helping us calm down. Start by placing your hands where you find it most soothing — your heart, cradling your face, giving your upper arms a hug, hands on your belly, or hand in hand.

Name: Label the emotion, such as "I am feeling worry" or "I am having anger." Locate where you feel it in your body. The mere act of naming the emotion helps you to step back from it and gain a sense of perspective that

you wouldn’t otherwise have in the heat of the moment.

Act: First, ask yourself what you need to hear right now — then tell it to yourself! You might send calming thoughts to yourself, such as “You’ll get through this” or “It’s tough to feel this way, but you are not alone.” Second, ask yourself what you can do in the moment to help calm your nervous system — and do it. You could start with a breathing exercise, breathing in for a count of four and out for a count of six, doing this for three to five breath cycles. After that, your body will be in a calmer state for you to choose more mindful tools (see some suggestions below). Make a list of activities that bring you joy, and choose one or two any time you need to give yourself some love.

Praise: Give yourself a pat on the back for managing the situation with aplomb! Recognizing and celebrating even small wins reinforces resilience and trains the brain toward optimism.

Julie Potiker is a mindfulness expert with extensive certifications and teacher training in a variety of tools and methods, including Mindful Self-Compassion. Her latest book is SNAP! From Chaos to Calm. Through her Mindful Methods for Life program offerings, Julie helps others bring more peace and wellness into their lives. SNAP! as well as Julie's first book, Life Falls Apart, but You Don’t Have To: Mindful Methods for Staying Calm in the Midst of Chaos, are now available on audiobook. Look for her debut poetry collection, Gentle Currents: Poems of Pause & Peace, available anywhere books are sold on March 3, 2026. Learn more at MindfulMethodsForLife.com

Here are some additional practices you can try to help boost your emotional wellness and boost your mood:

1. Try a guided meditation. Visit Insight Timer [https://insighttimer.com] and pick one from among the more than 100,000 meditations on the site — all organized and searchable by length, topic, and author. Some of my favorites that I have on there include meditations on Giving and Receiving Compassion, Loving Kindness, and Letting Go. Try a few and pick the ones that speak to you and fit your schedule.

2. Get grounded. While sitting in a chair, place your feet flat on the floor and focus your attention on how they feel. Notice whether your feet are warm or cold, moist or dry, in a sock and shoe or bare. Move your ankles around to shift your weight to the sides, front, and back of your feet, and notice how your feet feel. It’s very relaxing.

3. Practice mindful eating. Put away your phone and other distractions, and slow down and really savor the flavors as you eat. You’ll find the food tastes much better when you pay attention to your taste buds.

4. Brush your teeth mindfully. Close your eyes and focus on the feeling of the brush on your teeth and gums, the taste of the toothpaste, and how your teeth feel when you are finished. Same thing with flossing: Take your time and focus on the sensations to give your brain a break.

5. Savor your senses. My favorite mindfulness activity outdoors is the sense-and-sa-

vor walk. Pay attention to your senses as you walk: Feel the earth under your feet, the air on your skin, the texture of rough tree bark or soft grass, and allow yourself to gently rest your awareness there. Notice whatever catches your eye and really listen to each sound. Notice any aromas in the air, including your sense of smell, into the symphony of senses. Being in nature in this way replenishes the spirit.

6. Take in the good. Based on the work of neuropsychologist Dr. Rick Hanson, this is a key practice to rewire your brain for happiness and resilience. Consciously look for and recognize happy moments, no matter how small. Instead of letting them pass you by, savor the feeling and let it sink in for 20 to 30 seconds. By holding the positive experience in your awareness, you allow it to become embedded in your neural pathways, making a lasting change in your brain.

7. Call yourself “sweetheart,” “dear,” or another term of endearment during tough moments, just as you might do to soothe a friend in distress. Rooted in Mindful Self-Compassion, this practice helps you shift out of self-criticism and into self-nurturing.

All of these practices are things you can do in the moment to shift out of stress and into calm. Think of them as tools in your mindfulness toolbox and add others that bring you joy. Through regular practice, you can begin to focus your awareness where you want it, and train your brain for more peace, happiness, and well-being.

VIBRATION Affects

Everything

By Susan Browne

Written by spiritual and wellness coach Susan Browne, Ask Your Angel Guides is a compelling guide that invites readers into a deeper relationship with their angelic and higherdimensional support. The subtitle How to Work with Celestial Energies to Create Abundance and Well-Being makes clear the two-fold intention of the book: inviting guidance from spiritual realms, and applying it practically in our everyday lives to manifest prosperity, health, clarity, and balance

Photo by Getty Image

We All Rise Together

Competition and one-upmanship are lower-dimensional mindsets. What you wish for yourself, wish also for others. The idea that there isn’t enough to go around is a myth. We can all rise together. This is how oneness works. Oneness sits in your navel chakra at the fifthdimensional frequency. Place your hands there now and breathe that in. "We are all one. We are all connected. What I wish for myself, I wish for everyone. Happiness, joy, peace, bliss, abundance, confidence, laughter, love, connection, and all good things."

A lovely exercise to strengthen oneness consciousness is to visualize strangers receiving blessings in your mind's eye. As you pass people on the street, have the thought, "Blessings of love and joy to you," or "Blessings of abundance coming your way today.” This is very uplifting, and, as if that weren't enough, what you

wish for others has a tendency to also come to you.

It's Easier to Do Things When Our Frequency Is High

When my vibration is high, I can accomplish tasks more efficiently and expend less energy. Like I am being carried by some sort of golden light stream that flows through my hands and body. As though it’s not just me doing it, but I've got help. My understanding of this is that, being in a high vibration, I open myself to the assistance of the light beings around me. To shed more light. I have felt that, while writing this book, it has sometimes written itself almost effortlessly. Most writers, without realizing they act as channels, put themselves out as a vessel for ideas to flow through. The angels tell me that is how this book has been so easy to write—because I have been working within this light stream.

Photo by Getty Image

Susan Browne is a spiritual and wellbeing coach, speaker, and author who helps people connect with angels and raise their vibration. A teacher with the Diana Cooper School of White Light and an Energist Trainer with the Guild of Energists, she developed her own intuitive style of angelic tapping and is the author of Angel EFT. Susan shares her work through talks, writing, and her YouTube channel. She lives in County Kerry, Ireland, and has a deep love of nature.

The food we eat has a frequency, and when we overeat, which is so common and encouraged in Western society, we feel slowed down and sluggish. Instead of seeking outside things like food to “fill us up,” we can learn to fill ourselves up with light and gratitude. And we will then naturally reach for lighter foods that are in alignment with our frequency. Imagine yourself, if you aren't already, at 10 (the highest point) on the vibrational scale. How might you walk differently and talk differently? What might your day look like? Try to imagine yourself, for now, in your current life and location, rather than conjuring up images of yourself in far-flung places or with a very different lifestyle. As the saying goes, "wherever you go, there you are." So imagine yourself at 10, just where you are now. In this body, these clothes, this place, this situation.

If we place conditions on our happiness (I'll feel great when . . . ), then we move the higher ends of the scale out of reach. More about this later.

Thoughts and Focus Are Everything.

Our thoughts and the things we say influence our experience. There are many spiritual laws, and the law of attraction— which says we create everything with our thoughts—is just one of them. So, it's essential to remember that when something happens, it's not always the case that you attracted it with your thoughts. That is one possibility, but there are others—our ancestral lineage and family patterns, and our soul's journey, to name just two. The law of attraction is hugely useful, though in reminding us of the things we can influence. If our thoughts are creating our reality, with or without other

influences, then cleaning up our thoughts has to be a good idea. Archangel Jophiel assists us in elevating our thoughts. Try asking: Archangel Jophiel, what can I do to raise my thoughts right now?

Throughout my book, I will revisit this point about thoughts and encourage you to become an attentive listener to your thoughts and language.

To do this creates mastery. To become a master of your thoughts is to unlock the full potential of your mind. I often ask the angels: Angels, how can I help raise my vibration today?

Answers I typically receive are things like this:

• Make a list of things you want to get done today so you can focus

• Exercise

• Do that thing you've been putting off so that it stops pulling your energy

• Get out in nature

• Have a break from your phone

• Eat wisely

• Drink water

• Angel EFT tapping

• Connect with a friend

• Make a gratitude list

• Listen to an uplifting audiobook

• Clean something

• Come back to your goals and intention

• Meditate

• Spend 25 minutes decluttering

• Swim (wild swimming is best of all, but pools are also good)

• Practice pranayama (yogic breathing), mindful breathing, or any breathing technique you are familiar with that you like

• Engage your sense of smell with some aromatherapy oils or a room spray

What answers did you get? Write them down.

THE HOLIDAY SEASON INVITES US TO PAUSE, APPRECIATE THE MOMENTS THAT ENRICH OUR LIVES, AND SHARE KINDNESS WITH THOSE WHO JOURNEY BESIDE US.

Photo by Laura Beth Snipes

Patricia

De León

Patricia De León joins this month’s issue of The Eden Magazine with a presence that is both radiant and deeply grounded.

Known for her captivating work as an actress, host, and passionate advocate for animal rights and women’s empowerment, Patricia brings a rare blend of beauty, strength, and authenticity to everything she does. In our conversation, she opens her heart about her journey, the causes that move her, and the purpose that continues to guide her life and career.

We are pleased to share her story, filled with courage, compassion, and unwavering dedication.

“ My heritage is my heartbeat. It's who I am. I carry Panama with me in everything I do, in every character I play, in every project I take on.

YYour career spans acting, modeling, and hosting. Looking back, what moment has felt the most defining in your journey so far?

Every chapter of my career has shaped the next. I started modeling at a very young age, then moved into beauty pageants, which opened the door to television. My first experience on TV was presenting the weather, then anchoring the news. Later, I wrote my first pilot for a tourism show in Panama. That's where I fell in love with storytelling.

When I came to the U.S., I started hosting court, music, and magazine shows. Then came my first film role, a true turning point that marked my transition from TV personality to full-fledged actress. Looking back, I can't single out one defining moment, because each step led me here. Every experience has been just as important as the next.

Representation in Hollywood is evolving. What do you feel still needs to change, and

what role do you see yourself playing in that transformation?

Hollywood is going through a challenging period, but I'm hopeful. New platforms and verticals are emerging, and they'll bring more opportunities for everyone, especially for diverse voices that haven't always been heard. My role is to continue showing up authentically as a Latina woman, to create space for others, and to tell stories that reflect the world we actually live in.

As someone who has worked internationally, how has your Panamanian heritage influenced your creative choices and personal outlook?

My heritage is my heartbeat. It's who I am. I carry Panama with me in everything I do, in every character I play, in every project I take on. There's a fire, a perseverance, a boldness that defines us as Latinos, and that's something I bring to my work with pride. It's not just about representation; it's about identity, passion, and purpose.

December is often a time of reflection and renewal. What lessons from this past year have been most meaningful for you?

The past two and a half years have been incredibly special because I became a mom to a healthy boy at my age. It's something I've always dreamed of, and it's been the most beautiful, yet humbling experience of my life. Balancing motherhood, my acting career, and my beauty brand, PDL Cosmetics, has been both challenging and deeply fulfilling. I've learned to give myself grace, to slow down when needed, and to appreciate every moment. Even the messy ones. It hasn't been easy, but I'm still working on giving the dedication, time, and mostly love to every aspect of my life right now, especially to my son.

You've used your platform not only as an actress and model but also as an activist. What drives that passion?

I've always felt a deep responsibility to use my voice for those who can't speak for themselves. Especially animals. I've been working with PETA and Mercy for Animals for years because their lives deserve the same respect and compassion as ours. Animals experience pain, joy, and fear, just like humans do. I

want to remind people that they were given to us not to exploit, but to love, protect, and respect.

You've been a strong supporter of LGBTQ+ rights. Why is this fight so important to you personally, and how do you see the arts contributing to greater equality and acceptance? Because love is love, it's that simple. No one should ever be judged or diminished for who they love, for their skin color, or for their faith. The arts have a unique power to open hearts and create understanding. Through storytelling, we can inspire empathy, and empathy always leads to change. I want to live in and help build a world that chooses love over hate.

For people who admire your activism but feel overwhelmed about where to start, what practical steps do you recommend?

Start small. Find a cause that speaks to your heart, and take the first step: volunteer, donate, share a message, or start a conversation. There are so many wonderful organizations that need support. When we come together, even in small ways, our voices become powerful. Compassion is contagious.

When you think about legacy, both personally and professionally, what message do you hope to leave for the next generation of artists and activists?

Professionally, I want people to know that hard work and perseverance pay off. Don't take "no" for an answer, and never let doubt silence your dreams. Surround yourself with people who share your passion and values. That energy will keep you going.

On a personal level, I want to remind people that values and kindness never go out of style. Technology is terrific, but it has made the world more disconnected. Let's bring humanity back. Let's check in on your loved ones, be present, and choose empathy. We're not here alone.

Many admire your strength and authenticity. How do you stay grounded and balanced in such a demanding industry? I'm a woman of faith. Faith keeps me grounded. My family and friends are my foundation. I've learned to celebrate other people's success as much as my own. My only competition is myself, because there's room for everyone willing to work hard and stay true to who they are.

Looking ahead to 2026, what projects or personal dreams excite you the most, and how can your fans support you along the way?

I'm thrilled about a project I wrote during the COVID-19

pandemic that I'll be directing and producing. It's a story close to my heart, and stepping behind the camera is something I've always aspired to do. I've also been cast in a new film, "You Know I Love YOU", as one of the leads. And of course, I'm continuing to grow PDL Cosmetics, which represents my love for beauty, self-expression, and empowerment.

Fans can follow Patricia on Instagram and TikTok @patriciadeleonb.

Special thanks to:

Our heartfelt gratitude to Dimitri Loiseau for the photography and artistic direction, and for styling the fashion featured throughout this editorial.

PDL Cosmetic photo provided by The Brand

Cover photo dress by Fouy Chov Couture, ring by J. Sheffner

Wardrobe Credits for Additional looks

Brown dress page 30 & 31 by LA Peoney, Ring J. Sheffner

Blue dress page 34 by Fouy Chov Couture

Editing by Dina Morrone

Academy Award® and two-time Golden Globe® winner Jon Landau produced three of the five highest-grossing films of all time—Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water, and Titanic. Known for his exceptional storytelling instincts and ability to bring groundbreaking projects to life, Jon became one of Hollywood’s most influential producers.

Born in New York City to independent film producers Ely and Edie Landau, Jon studied Film at USC before beginning his career as a production assistant. His early credits included Manhunter, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, and Dick Tracy. At just 29, he became Senior Vice President of Physical Production at 20th Century Fox, overseeing major films such as Die Hard, Mrs. Doubtfire, The Last of the Mohicans, and True Lies, where he first collaborated with James Cameron.

Jon and James Cameron went on to produce Titanic (1997), which won 11 Oscars®, including Best Picture, and later partnered on Avatar (2009) and Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), both global box office milestones. Jon was also a driving force behind the marketing, licensing, and technological innovation that helped define these films’ worldwide impact.

Jon Landau passed away on July 5, 2024. At the time, he was producing the next installments of the Avatar franchise, including Avatar: Fire and Ash, set for release on December 19, 2025.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

My Blockbuster Life & Lessons Learned Along the Way.

With a Foreword by James Cameron

It is an honor for The Eden Magazine to feature Jon Landau’s book in our December issue. Jon was a rare and unforgettable human being, and I had the privilege of meeting him and his wife, Julie, in March 2020. We are especially moved to highlight his work now, as his final film, AVATAR: FIRE & ASH, arrives this December. The AVATAR films are not only visually breathtaking but carry a message deeply aligned with our mission: that our planet and all living beings deserve respect, protection, and love.

Featuring Jon’s book is more than a tribute—it is a continuation of the values he championed through his work and his life. An Academy Award–winning producer behind Titanic, Avatar, Battle Angel, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, and Dick Tracy, Jon had a remarkable gift for storytelling and solving the impossible. When life handed him his own impossible challenge, he met it with the same determination, ensuring that what he learned behind the camera would outlast him.

In his memoir, Jon reflects on the extraordinary films he helped create and the lessons he gained in an industry that can easily consume you. At its core, the book returns to what mattered most to him: family, friendship, and the collaborators he deeply respected. The Bigger Picture is a heartfelt memoir—full of compassion, humanity, and humor—that celebrates a life lived with passion and purpose.

His stories and lessons will continue to inspire readers for years to come.

To purchase at Disney books: https://books.disney.com/ book/the-bigger-picture/

JON LANDAU

1960 - 2024

FORM OF THE FUTURE

A Visionary Fusion of Art, Science, and Human Expression

Dr. Simon Ourian

Photography by Lizeth Ramirez

On November 8, 2025, in the prestigious enclave of Beverly Park, Beverly Hills, an extraordinary evening unfolded as art and science met in perfect harmony. Form of the Future — The Art of Dr. Simon Ourian, presented by the distinguished Bella Haykoff of Haykoff Gallery, offered guests a rare glimpse into the visionary aesthetic world of one of Beverly Hills' most celebrated innovators. Hosted at Dr. Ourian's own private estate, the event was a transcendent experience that reflected his lifelong devotion to beauty, symmetry, and the limitless possibilities of form.

Dr. Simon Ourian, a globally renowned expert in aesthetic medicine, has long blurred the lines between clinical precision and artistic mastery. With Form of the Future, he revealed a profoundly personal side of his creative identity — one that speaks to the evolving relationship between art, innovation, and the human spirit. The exhibition featured a breathtaking array of illuminated sculptural works, culminating

in the surprise unveiling of his newest series, The Faces of the Future — a collection that captures the diversity, resilience, and transcendent beauty of human expression in the modern age.

Curated with elegance and depth by Bella Haykoff, founder of Haykoff Gallery https://www.haykoff.gallery/ and Dr. Ourian's exclusive representative, the exhibition invited guests into an immersive environment where light, texture, and emotion intertwined seamlessly. As attendees moved through the estate's manicured spaces, they encountered art not merely as an object of admiration but as an evolving dialogue — one that challenges the viewer to consider how technology, artistry, and nature can coexist in perfect form.

The evening was guided by a series of live presentations from Dr. Ourian and the distinguished auctioneer Leif Rydfors, who offered intimate insights into the inspiration and creative philosophy behind each piece. Their discussions illuminated the meticulous craftsmanship and emotional resonance at the heart of Dr. Ourian's work, blending technical precision with a profound appreciation for human beauty.

The guest list reflected Beverly Hills' most notable figures in art, entertainment, and culture, including Lisa Vanderpump and Ken Todd, actor Billy Worth, Kevin Lee, and numerous influential collectors and art patrons. Each attendee shared in the sense of awe and inspiration

that radiated throughout the night, underscoring the universal appeal of Dr. Ourian's artistry. As guests mingled under the glow of sculptural lights and moonlit skies, they were treated to Veuve Clicquot champagne, fine wines from Dr. Ourian's family vineyard, and an exquisite selection of hors d'oeuvres and caviar—a feast befitting the evening's refined spirit.

Form of the Future stands as more than an exhibition; it is a meditation on transformation — of material, of self, and of perception. Dr. Simon Ourian's ability to bridge the scientific and the sublime is a testament to his enduring influence as both an artist and a visionary.

FFew artists possess the ability to transport listeners beyond time and place quite like Azam Ali. With a voice that seems to echo from the depths of ancient memory, Azam weaves together the threads of culture, emotion, and spirit into an otherworldly musical tapestry.

As a singer, composer, and visionary, her work bridges the mystical and the modern, inviting us to explore the shared soul of humanity through sound.

From the ethereal soundscapes of Portals of Grace to the haunting depth of Elysium for the Brave, Azam has continually redefined the boundaries of world and electronic music. Each project reveals a new layer of the artistic evolution, rich in emotion, steeped in

spirituality, and fearless in experimentation.

Her latest album, Synesthesia, marks yet another powerful transformation. Unlike her earlier works that embraced ancient melodies and meditative tones, Synesthesia immerses listeners in a vibrant fusion of sound and color, where motion takes on texture and rhythm becomes a language of its own. It is an experience that transcends listening, an invitation to feel music with every sense.

In this exclusive interview with The Eden Magazine, Azam opens up about her creative journey, the inspiration behind her hauntingly beautiful music, and the power of art to heal and unite a divided world.

Azam, your music transcends borders and languages, blending ancient mysticism with modern soundscapes. How did your early life in Iran and India shape the artist you are today?

I was deeply shaped by the cultures of both Iran and India. Their ancient mysticism, folk traditions, and poetry became the foundation of my inner landscape. When I later moved to America, these influences didn't remain separate; they wove themselves together, evolving into the fabric of my artistic expression. My music transcends borders and languages because it speaks to something far more elemental than words; it speaks to the soul. Music is the one true universal language, capable of dissolving boundaries and revealing our shared human essence. In that sense, my work is both a reflection and an offering, my autobiography told through sound and emotion.

You've explored so many dimensions through your projects — from Vas to Niyaz and your solo work. How do you decide which creative path to follow at a particular moment in your life?

My creative path has never been an intellectual choice; it’s always been a deeply personal exploration. Each project represents a stage in my own evolution, a way to go inward and uncover another layer of truth. Whether with Vas, Niyaz, or my solo work, I follow an inner calling rather than a concept. I create as an act of self-healing, a way to transmute pain into beauty, and in that alchemy, I've discovered that others, too, find resonance and healing within my music. My aim is always to refine my craft so I can express with greater clarity and eloquence the ineffable: the mysteries of the human spirit, the longing for connection, and the sacred pulse that runs through all life. For me, music is not a career; it's a journey toward ever-deeper understanding.

Your voice carries a profound emotional resonance that resonates with the spirit. When you create, do you approach music as a spiritual practice, a form of storytelling, or something in between?

For me, creating music is an intimate convergence of the spiritual, the emotional, and the deeply personal. It is a form of

prayer and self-healing, a way to return to truth through sound. Each song is a meditation, a sacred act of transforming emotion into vibration, sorrow into beauty, silence into meaning, and vulnerability into strength. In that space, I am both storyteller and seeker, revealing what words alone cannot hold. Without that transparency,  that willingness to be completely honest and vulnerable, I don't believe my music would resonate with others. It is through complete surrender that the sacred finds its voice, and where my healing becomes intertwined with the healing of those who listen.

Through this music, I hope to carry the listener into the vastness of the ethereal, a space where freedom breathes and every note reveals our intimate connection to a greater design.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiR94FZDKe4&list=RDZiR94FZDKe4&start_ radio=1

Many of your songs draw from Persian poetry and Sufi philosophy. What draws you most to these ancient writings, and how do you translate their essence for a modern audience?

What draws me most to Persian poetry and Sufi philosophy is their timelessness, their ability to speak to the human condition beyond creed, culture, or era.

These traditions have ancient roots that reach deep into the collective soul, yet they remain vibrantly alive because they transcend all forms of religious dogma. At their heart lies a boundless love, for the Divine, for creation, and for the journey of the soul toward enlightenment and unity. The metaphors of Rumi, Hafez, and Attar are as relevant today as they were centuries ago, because they speak to that eternal longing within us all: the desire to return home to ourselves, to the Beloved that lives within every human heart.

Over the years, you've collaborated with incredible musicians across cultures. What has been the most transformative collaboration or moment in your career so far?

I have been deeply honored to collaborate with some of the most astounding composers and musicians, and from each, I have learned, grown, and expanded my own artistic vision. Yet, if I were to name a moment that stands above all others, it would be a few years ago when I had the profound privilege of performing two works by one of Iran's greatest composers, Ahmad Pejman, with the Pacific Symphony Orchestra. To sing his music in his presence and witness the joy it brought him was an experience that moved me at the deepest level. It was a moment of profound connection between composer, performer, and music that I will carry with me always. This memory is made all the more poignant by his passing this year, leaving behind one of the most extraordinary legacies in Iranian contemporary classical music. That encounter, that shared celebration of

art, remains for me a pinnacle in a lifelong journey of musical discovery.

You performed "Persia After Hours" at the Getty Villa on May 14, 2022, which was the first-ever concert at the venue. Tell us how this collaboration shaped?

Performing Persia After Hours at the Getty Villa remains one of my most cherished memories on stage. The concert, presented in collaboration with Farhang Foundation, with whom I have had the honor of working many times over the years, felt like stepping into a living fairy tale. That night, under a full moon that rose perfectly center stage, the projections of ancient Persia came alive around us, enveloping the audience in a tapestry of history, mysticism, and light. The alignment of music, visuals, and celestial timing created a truly magical and transformative experience, one that felt both intimate and timeless, as if the past and present were converging in a single moment of shared wonder.

You've spoken before about the healing power of sound. How has music helped you navigate your own personal journey, both as an artist and as a woman?

As a child, I first discovered the healing power of music when I would be swept away by melodies into other worlds, forgetting my body and my surroundings. Music became a sanctuary, a space where I could dissolve into something larger than myself. As a teenager, when I was struggling with deep depression, I began creating music as a way to heal, to navigate the shadows of my own mind and spirit. Over time, I realized that the music I was making wasn’t only helping me; it was touching others, resonating with their own experiences, and offering them solace. That realization transformed my art into a form of service, a bridge between souls. Creating music became both a personal journey of healing and a sacred act of connection, reminding me, and those who listen, that even in our darkest moments, there is light that can be found and shared.

The world continues to face so much division and uncertainty. What role do you believe music and art can play in uniting people and elevating human consciousness today?

Throughout history, music and art have been inseparable from the great social and political transformations of humanity. They awaken conscience, ignite empathy, and remind us of our shared essence when words and ideologies divide us. Artists, in their truth-telling, carry a sacred responsibility: to give voice to those who have been silenced, to translate collective pain into beauty, and to champion human rights and dignity for all. Music, in particular, is both a balm and a beacon, a conduit for healing and a rallying cry for unity. It moves through barriers that language cannot cross, touching what is most primal and divine within us. In a time of such fragmentation and uncertainty, the role of the artist is more vital than ever: to keep the flame of empathy alive, to defend the rights of the oppressed, and to remind the world that despite our many differences, we are all part of one great, pulsing rhythm of existence.

Can you share with us a glimpse into your upcoming album — the inspiration behind it, and what listeners can expect emotionally and sonically?

My album, Synesthesia, is conceived as an invitation, an entry point into a world beyond the ordinary confines of time, place, and the fragile vessel of flesh. Through this music, I hope to carry the listener into the vastness of the ethereal, a space where freedom breathes and every note reveals our intimate connection to a greater design. It is a journey of transcendence: we

are no longer solitary beings, but shining stars drawn together into galaxies, each tone a reminder that we are participants in a cosmic symphony far larger than ourselves. It is music that seeks to dissolve the barriers between the listener and the sound, between the self and the cosmos, leaving behind only wonder, resonance, and a profound sense of belonging.

What message or feeling do you hope your listeners carry with them after experiencing your music?

Ultimately, I hope my music reminds listeners that we are far more than mere beings of flesh and bone; we are intrinsically part of the cosmos itself,  composed of stardust and intimately woven together into the vast rhythms of existence. Music, perhaps more than any other art form, has the power to evoke this awareness because it is so intangible, so esoteric, and so closely aligned with the subtle harmonies of the universe.

There is an ancient philosophical concept, originating with the Pythagoreans, called Musica Universalis, or the "music of the spheres." It proposes that the movements of planets and stars follow mathematical principles that produce harmonies too subtle, too constant, to be perceived by the human ear, a kind of higher order of music that governs the cosmos itself. I have always been fascinated by this philosophy, so my hope is that through listening, people feel a glimpse of this cosmic resonance within themselves; that they recognize their part in a greater, boundless symphony, and carry with them a renewed sense of wonder, connection, and unity with all that is.

Welcome to Our Contributor Writers’ Neighborhood

TEENAGERS AND PARENTS

Questioner: Sadhguru, how should one deal with teenagers?

Sadhguru: Every age seems to be a problem for people: Stone Age, Iron Age, Bronze Age, Middle Age, Computer Age! Teenage – another problem! I hope you, too, were born normally as an infant and slowly grew up, passing the ages of 13, 14, and 15, which you refer to as your teenage years. Like infancy, childhood, adulthood, middle age, and old age, adolescence or teenage is just a certain developmental stage. We are trying to segment it, but essentially, this is the journey of a body. Instead of calling it different facets of life, you call it different problems. Some are suffering infancy problems, some are suffering toddler problems, some are suffering childhood problems, some are suffering teenage problems, some are going through middle age problems, some are going through old age problems. Looking at it from this perspective, every phase of life seems to be a problem.

If you consider every aspect of life as a problem, you will see death as the only solution. Unconsciously, you start seeking death for yourself and for those around you. You may not be aware of it, but you create an atmosphere in your mind where the only solution is to become free from life. You came here to experience life, not become free of life.

There are various types of situations in your life, and that is all they are – situations. Some of them you can handle; some of them you cannot. Whatever you cannot handle, you call a problem, rather than seeing it as only a situation and trying to equip yourself to handle it. The moment you call it a problem, unpleasantness is a natural consequence.

Photo by Leire Cavia

Your children are growing up and becoming teenagers – that should be a joyful event. But you are distressed about them growing up. Unfortunately, we have eulogized infancy and childhood, which are helpless stages of life. Even socalled spiritual teachers say, "I am still a child." Why would an adult choose to be a child? This is another way of saying "I am retarded."

If you eulogize childhood, this helpless phase in life where we cannot exist without someone else's support, you will remain helpless forever. And that is what happens.... "I cannot live without you" – do not mistake this for love. This is of little value. It is just like saying, "I cannot walk without a crutch." "I'm fine the way I am, but still, I am willing to include you and involve myself with you" – this is of great value. "I can live without anyone's attention, and I am willing to get absolutely involved with whoever is here right now" – this is of value.

Since you got used to your children being helpless creatures, when they reach the so-called teenage years and start standing on their own feet, you do not like it. You want to keep them small. What you need is a toy or a doll to play with, or maybe a dog.

This happened. A couple was struggling with the decision whether to have children or not. The husband wanted to have children. The wife said it is not necessary – one can get a dog instead. Because they could not settle the debate, they went to a marriage counselor. They said, "We are not able to make up our mind whether to have children or to get a dog. What should we do?"

The marriage counselor said, "This is very simple. Do you want to ruin your carpets or your life? You must decide."

If, like a little child, you say, "his

is how I am, you have become like a concrete block. Based on a certain amount of information that has come your way, you have defined how you are. Once you have formed a concrete block kind of definition of who you are, and you meet another concrete block, you know what happens... When two people come together with great passion and your boundaries are loose, a wonderful union may happen. When two concrete blocks come together with great passion, friction, or the breaking of one or both of the concrete blocks will happen.

Once you become like a concrete block, you should not beget more concrete blocks. When you have defined your boundaries absolutely, you are incapable of including another life as a part of yourself. If you ask me, you should not even get married in that case, because two concrete blocks living together may make a house, but it will not make a home.

When children are small, they are helpless and look to you for everything. So, you think your children are magical. Suppose the baby popped out of you, stood up, and said, "Hey, who the hell are you?" You would not like this baby. But they take 14, 15 years to ask that question. In fact, that is all a teenager is asking: "Okay, who the hell are you?"

If you want to be someone significant in that fresh life, you must not have defined boundaries of who you are. Like when the child was an infant and they crawled, you crawled with them. Now, when the teenager wants to swing, you must be able to swing with them. If you still want to crawl with them, they are not interested. In the eyes of young and energetic adolescents, parents who think they still need to be crawling around look ridiculous.

Photo by Eyes for Ebony

Photo by Getty Image

Infrastructures to Raise  Human Consciousness

Experience Yoga in its classical form at Isha Yoga Center Los Angeles and Isha Institute of Inner-sciences. Established by Sadhguru, the centers serve as powerful spaces for inner transformation and raising human consciousness. Located  in northern Los Angeles County and Tennessee, the centers offer an array of yoga and meditation programs in a vibrant and conducive ambience.

You are invited to Free Yoga Day, a monthly open-door event a t the center. On this day, we offer a variety of free sessions dedicated to educating and empowering individuals to take charge of their well-being through simple but powerful practices sourced from the Yogic tradition.

Learn more at ishausa.org/la

Every day, life is changing within them because they are growing rapidly, and the fools around them are not able to grasp that. Usually, grandparents become a little more endearing than parents, because they look at things from a little distance. Teens mean you are slowly getting poisoned by your hormones. Old age means you are being released from that, so they kind of understand. Those of you who are middle-aged have no clue. Even historically, the “Middle Agers” represent a confused state of mind.

Do not deal with your teenagers – make yourself available for them. Make them responsible for everything. One month, have the courage to hand over your monthly income to them and give them the responsibility to manage the house. You will see, things will change dramatically.

There is a certain intelligence in every child. However, most people never give children the opportunity to develop their intelligence. If you really want to do something with your children, you must allow them to expand, because that is all they are trying to do. Not only is their body growing, the potential of the human being is also growing. You must allow them to expand, rather than seeing how to restrict them. If you try to restrict them, you will have huge problems. If you have boys, you will have one kind of problem. If you have girls, you will have another kind of problem.

Do not think restriction is a good way of controlling life. Responsibility will put them on track. As I said, hand over your money to them and tell them to handle it this month. If you are afraid that they will go and blow it up, of course, you can keep some reserve. If they do, what happens to you will happen to them, too. Let them go through it for a month. Let them understand that if they blow up the money, there will be no breakfast tomorrow morning. It is better to learn in a protected, caring atmosphere than out on the street.

Above all, drop this idea that your

child belongs to you. If you think these children belong to you, coming into their teens, they will tell you in their own way, "Goddammit, I don't belong to you." That is all they are trying to tell you, which you are not able to digest. Another life does not belong to you. If another life has chosen to be with you, please cherish that. It is a tremendous thing. Whether it is your husband, your wife, or your children, value the fact that another life has chosen to come through you or be with you. You do not own them in any sense. If you do not get it now, you will get it when you die or they die. You do not own them, but definitely, you should include them.

There are many aspects to being a teenager – one thing is, your intelligence is being hijacked by your hormones. Suddenly, the whole world looks different. What used to just be people are suddenly becoming males and females. Suddenly, you are only interested in one half of humanity. It is a huge change. You must understand it is new to them, and they are trying to come to terms with it.

If you were a good friend and they had problems, they would talk to you. Because most parents are lousy friends, they make other friends, and those friends give their own whacky advice, since they are also in the same state. It would be best if your children have a problem, they come to you. But they will not come to you if you think you are the boss. They will not come to you if you think you have ownership over their life. They will not come to you if you are "that horrible father or mother."

They will come to you if you are a good friend, because when they have problems, it is natural for them to seek a friend. So make sure from an early age that you are their best friend until they reach the age of 18 or 20. You have to earn it. It will not happen because you delivered them. Because you delivered them, you get the title of mother and father – you will not get the title of a friend. This has to be earned by you behaving responsibly every day.

By Polly Wirum

THE COMPLEXITIES OF PAIN AND SUFFERING

Photos by Lachlan Thompson and Valeriia Miller

How often are you touched by pain or suffering? Does all pain lead to suffering? Does each of us have the capacity to manage how we experience pain and suffering? This blog is written to shine light on the complexities of pain and suffering found in our human experience, without offering medical advice.

The Birthplace of This Blog

I was lying face down on a treatment table, feeling the tiny needles poke through my skin. As he worked, the acupuncturist shared his observation of how many people experience chronic pain on a regular basis. He also mentioned the flip side: people who have occasional twinges of pain and seek instant relief.

Should we expect to live pain-free, or should we anticipate the eventual experience of pain and suffering? Is there an amount of pain that falls into the normal range of a healthy, balanced life?

It's important to broaden our query to include both physical and emotional pain. When the mind is suffering, it certainly impacts the physical body. Many people believe that the root of most physical illnesses can be traced back to a disturbance or suffering in the mind.

Worry and anxiety increase stress hormones that cause inflammation and can eventually lead to diseases, such as high blood pressure, joint pain, digestive issues, and much more. We also know that chronic physical pain can bring emotional suffering.

So, the question is, which came first, the mental distractions, suffering, or physical pain? Is my torn rotator cuff a product of my mental upset? Of course, I have a story that makes me think about the link between my mental upset and physical pain.

The night before my last birthday, I got into a heated discussion with my newish partner. It was connected to an irrational fear I have in our relationship. This unease lurks in the shadows of our conversations when I am tired or feeling out of sorts.

On my birthday, we went camping at a lake. It was a fun weekend, but at one point, I slipped hard on a rocky ledge that was covered with mud and moss. My shoulder took most of the impact.

For eight weeks, I pretty much lived my life and kept thinking my shoulder would get better, ignoring the pain, until it was keeping me awake at night. An MRI showed I had a big, fat tear in my rotator cuff.

How many of us choose not to explore the source of our pain? Are we afraid of the changes we need to make? Perhaps we don't want to explore the deeper reason behind our stubborn pain.

Currently, I am doing many things to avoid surgery, like acupuncture, PT, and occasional massages.

Here is where my injury presents an interesting connection to the question of whether physical or mental pain comes first. I was getting an intuitive massage; when the therapist got to my shoulder, she asked, "What man really pissed you off?" The funny thing is, the weekend of my birthday and rotator cuff injury, I had been upset with my partner. Coincidence, maybe, probably, but I believe there is a thread of Universal energy linking everything together.

What if I had fully let go of my disappointment and anger before we began our weekend getaway? Would this action have prevented my shoulder injury? It certainly makes me want to pause more and look at what feelings, emotions, fears, and beliefs I need to let go of.

PAIN BECOMES SUFFERING WHEN IT ENTERS YOUR MIND AND BEGINS TO DISRUPT YOUR THOUGHTS.

Photo by A. C.

ONE WAY

I MANAGE STRESS IN MY LIFE IS BY BEING OUTDOORS; MOST DAYS, I HAVE SEVERAL HOURS OF HIKING ON TRAILS.

What Is Pain?

Pain is an unpleasant sensation; it can be physical or mental, ranging from a slight discomfort to an extreme, unforgiving sensation that becomes unbearable to experience.

Pain can be positive. When you touch something hot, you remove your hand to decrease the damage to your skin. Another example is pushing your body so hard that there is physical discomfort. This can bring you the reward of overcoming a challenge or obstacle.

When Does Pain Become Suffering?

Pain becomes suffering when it enters your mind and begins to disrupt your thoughts. When we cut our finger, we feel the pain, wash the injury, and cover it with a Band-Aid. This Band-Aid is not just covering the problem. This BandAid is protecting the wound, so you can get on with your day, knowing a healing is occurring. You might not know how your body closes and nurtures the wound, leaving a scar, but you trust the process. You have experienced it many times.

Our mind has a plan of action to remedy the situation. This is calming and reassuring.

use casually. Suffering is a pain that reaches into every moment of your day and night. Suffering can lead to despair, where it is difficult to imagine a way out of intense torment.

Most of us have experienced this anguish at some point in our lives; often, it is connected to a loss, a loved one, or anything that is being removed from our world. One of my greatest moments of suffering was experiencing a miscarriage and not having anywhere to turn for support.

Suffering can also begin with a physical pain that eats away at your freedom to move your body without pain.

I believe experiences that bring true suffering into our world are always impactful, but can also lead to an expanded life view and a beautiful healing.

Healing Options of Both Pain and Potential Suffering

The first step of experiencing pain is assessing the damage done. Decide if this is an emergency. That includes both physical and mental crises. If it's an emergency, seek appropriate help.

Consider more significant types of pain that take over your thinking, because there is seemingly no solution. Your stress level goes up; you can’t see a way out; this can lead to suffering.

What Is Suffering?

Suffering is when our thoughts circle around the pain in our lives, making it feel impossible to find relief from what's bothering us.

The word "suffering” holds an incredible amount of powerful energy. It is not an expression that I

Most of us see medical treatment as a viable part of healing. They provide answers and usually a step-bystep plan to follow. This can be enhanced by other forms of self-care.

Resting, providing time and space for healing, can be very positive. Self-care during painful times can help decrease stress levels.

Having a regular meditation practice is a great thing to turn to in times of pain and stress. It will take you to a place of calm and break the cycle of stressful thoughts circling your mind.

Polly Wirum is a psychic, life coach, and writer. Years ago, she experienced a health crisis that led to a complete spiritual and life transformation. When she thought her life was crumbling, the universe was easing her grip on everything, distracting her from the truth. The healing helped her discover the beauty of a joyful and uncomplicated life.It is here that she connects with wisdom and magic. She shares this with her clients through life’s coaching psychic readings and spiritual retreats. visit Pollywirum.com

Visualizing your injury being healed is a proven way to bring positive results. If you can imagine what your pain looks like, see it becoming smaller and being replaced by healthy tissue or thoughts. Some people give their pain a certain color and see another color as healing. Spend as much time as you can visualizing the pain growing smaller and eventually disappearing.

A practice of deep breathing focused on slow inhales and longer exhales can decrease your stress level and thus decrease your pain. Deep breathing has been shown to help regulate your central nervous system.

Spirituality and faith can be a huge factor in decreasing stress and pain. This can be traditional religion or metaphysical practices of asking your angels for healing. It's all good:)

There are many traditional and nontraditional practices to help decrease pain and suffering. You get to decide what works best for you.

Just like we get regular preventative care, check in with your body and mind, and see if you need to release any behaviors, thoughts, or beliefs that aren't serving you.

Practices To Decrease the Experience of Potential Suffering

Self-awareness is a huge asset in managing pain. Being aware and even comfortable with our feelings and emotions helps us have more control and understanding of our reactions when a painful situation occurs. Each time we navigate something that is uncomfortable, we get better at handling pain. Every experience is an opportunity for us to become more adept at coping. Of course, this doesn't mean we want to experience pain all the time, but our ability to cope with

discomfort can help us feel more empowered and less fearful.

Our ability to manage pain decreases the potential of suffering.

Recognizing that we all feel and experience pain and even suffering differently is important. What worked for your friend or sister may or may not work for you. Be compassionate with yourself and know that you can't always choose the way pain or suffering comes into your life, but you have some control over how it touches you.

Moving Through Life and Finding Balance

What practices can you shift to decrease your physical and emotional pain? One way I manage stress in my life is by being outdoors; most days, I have several hours of hiking on trails. It is easy for me to slip out of balance and do too much, which leads to joint pain. I’m aware of this, so I’m practicing yoga and doing fewer miles on the trails.

I also know we all have a streak of what other people would consider crazy, but it is who we are. So, where are you experiencing pain, and or suffering, and is it time to alleviate the discomfort? Can you shift the energy by simply bringing balance into your life, or do you need help from an outside source?

Next time you are feeling out of sorts, I encourage you to explore some of the many different options available for managing stress, pain, and suffering. Think of it as bolstering your aptitude for wellness.

Lastly, live your life, do what brings you joy, and periodically check in and see if you can release any stressful thoughts or actions.

The Way I See It

By Joey Santos

A BRIEF GUIDE TO SURVIVING YOUR OWN LIFE ADULTING:

"Adulthood isn't a destination — it's a series of mildly confusing errands."

Ah, adulting — that magical, mildly tragic word that describes the daily act of pretending to have your life together while secretly Googling “how often should I wash my sheets?” or searching for the world's most foolproof recipe for Marry Me Chicken.

Joey

Joey was raised in NYC, Malibu, and West Hollywood. He is the son of Film and Television

Actor Joe Santos, and his Grandfather is World-Renowned Latin Singer Daniel Santos

To follow Joey on IG: @jojoboy13

To contact Joey visit whynotjoe@gmail.com

It's the modern badge of honor for doing wildly unglamorous things: paying bills, cleaning out the fridge, booking your own dentist appointment (and, miracle of miracles, actually showing up). It's also the quiet panic that sets in when the Wi-Fi crashes and you realize — horrifyingly — that you are the adult expected to fix it.

Once upon a time, we thought adulthood meant freedom. In reality, it's a long series of small, exhausting responsibilities sandwiched between coffee refills. But here's the secret: every generation before us was winging it, too. They didn't have Instagram to confess it.

Adulting is equal parts chaos and triumph. One moment you're cooking a balanced meal and feeling unstoppable; the next, you're eating cereal

for dinner at 10 p.m. because life happened. Sometimes you pay the bills early and feel like a legend. At other times, you realize "autopay" was never actually on.

Still, there's something oddly satisfying about the little victories:

• The laundry's folded.

• The taxes got filed.

• The plant is still alive (barely).

• And when it’s not, well — there's always TikTok to the rescue.

Maybe these are our participation trophies in the marathon of modern life.

If you ever feel like you're failing at adulthood, take comfort: no one's mastered it. We're all just improvising — fueled by caffeine, good intentions, and a fragile sense of optimism.

In the end, adulting isn't about perfection. It's about showing up, figuring it out, and occasionally buying yourself flowers, chocolate, or a good bottle of wine because, honestly, you've earned it.

After all, you're an adult now. Sort of.

Santos is a Celebrity Chef, Life Stylist and Co-Host of The Two Guys From Hollywood Podcast on Spotify. A Columnist for The Eden Magazine since 2016.

By Dulce Garcia Morman, Ph.D.

Vibrations for Wellness SOUND HEALING

FFor thousands of years, societies have recognized the healing power of sound. From ancient Egypt to India, Greece, and modern times, mantras, incantations, and sound instruments have been used to promote harmony between the mind, body, and spirit, and to induce altered states of consciousness that can lead to spiritual transformation. Today, we tend to think of sound more as entertainment, in the realm of music, but sound healing is seeing a resurgence as both an ancient art and a modern wellness practice, attracting everyone from yogis to neuroscientists. But what is sound healing, and how does it work.

What Is Sound Healing?

Sound healing is a therapeutic practice that uses different aspects of sound—such as music, voice, or specific frequencies—to improve physical and emotional well-being. Instruments commonly used include singing bowls, tuning forks, gongs, drums, and even the human voice. During a sound healing session, these instruments are played around or sometimes directly on the body to create vibrations that are believed to restore balance and harmony.

These sounds can operate at a deep cellular level on the physical plane and can also interact deeply within layers of the psyche. According to Hazrat Inayat Khan, “A person does not hear sound only through the ears; he hears sound through every pore of the body. It permeates the entire being, and according to its particular influence, either slows or quickens the rhythm of the blood circulation; it either awakens or soothes the nervous system” https:// oneyogahouse.com/exploring-the-history-of-sound-therapy/. For example, the sound vibrations created by Tibetan singing bowls can be quite soothing to the nervous system, while the rhythmic and loud beat of African drums can stir intense shaking movements or trance-like states in sessions meant to communicate with the spirit world.

Hailing from the island of Cuba, I have participated in various Afro-Cuban drum rituals, meant to call on different deities to come and join the participants in the physical plane, each deity responding to a specific drum beat pattern. All sessions have been invigorating beyond measure, and some have felt life-changing.

Sounds can operate at a deep cellular level on the physical plane and can also interact deeply within layers of the psyche.

Dulce Garcia-Morman, Ph.D, is the founder of Life-Is-Art Equine Assisted Learning and Coaching. She has facilitated learning and therapeutic experiences through the horsehuman connection for the past 17 years. Dulce's practice draws from different wisdom traditions and is strongly oriented toward a Jungian approach to the restoration of the authentic Self. For more information, visit https://life-is-art.us/

The Science Behind the Sound

While sound healing may seem mystical, there is growing scientific interest in its potential benefits. Every cell in the body vibrates at a specific frequency; when these frequencies are disrupted by stress, illness, or trauma, imbalance can occur. Sound healing aims to recalibrate these vibrations.

Research suggests that certain sound frequencies can slow brainwave activity, leading to deep relaxation or even meditative states. For example, binaural beats—using two slightly different frequencies played in each ear—can promote relaxation, reduce anxiety, and improve sleep. Similarly, studies have found that music therapy can lower blood pressure, decrease anxiety, and enhance quality of life for patients with chronic illnesses. This seems to work for animals as well. I rescued a mare years ago with very painful injuries in the hooves. She was in extreme stress initially and very agitated. I decided to play classical music in her barn stall to see if it would help. Low and behold, she became more relaxed, was able to drop her head, and the agitation turned into a deep state of stillness by the end of the first day. I kept the music going for weeks, until her healing was complete.

Ancient Roots, Modern Applications

Ancient Egyptians used chanting and vowel sounds in their healing rituals. Indigenous cultures worldwide have long relied on drumming, singing, and other forms of sound to connect with nature and facilitate healing. Originating in India, Nada Yoga, or the Yoga of Sound, is used to this day to facilitate our relationship with Ultimate Reality. This is a view of sound as sacred and devotional, much in the same way that Gregorian chants were for the Christian mystics.

Today, sound healing is used in yoga studios, wellness centers, hospitals, and even corporate environments. Sound baths—a group experience where participants are enveloped in soothing sounds from various instruments—have become especially popular. These sessions are said to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and foster a sense of community. There is something especially powerful about sound healing in communion with others. Whether in the company of friends or strangers, there is a heightened vibe expanded by the collective experience of bodies and psyches simultaneously responding to sound.

What to Expect in a Sound Healing Session

A typical sound healing session lasts anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. Participants may lie down on mats or sit comfortably while a practitioner plays different instruments, allowing the sound waves to wash over them. Some sessions may incorporate guided meditation or vocal toning. There are also more interactive ways to participate, such as in the devotional singing of Indian/Sanskrit kirtan.

Most people describe the experience as deeply calming. Some report sensations of warmth or tingling, while others experience emotional release or vivid mental imagery.

Is Sound Healing Right for You?

Sound healing is generally considered safe for most people and can be a valuable complement to traditional medical care. If you are curious, try a session with a certified practitioner and see how your body and mind respond. Let go of any expectations and let the sound dance you as you surrender to something ancient and primal! In a world filled with noise and chaos, sound healing offers a chance to pause, listen, and restore inner harmony—one vibration at a time.

GO VEGAN

“Animals Have Souls Don’t Put Them in Your Bowl”

An

Invitation

In deep knowledge lies the key that opens the doors to total fulfillment.

By Fer Broca

MMy heart pounded, not with fear but with excitement for what was about to happen—the day had arrived.

A colorful walk awaited me as I slowly strolled over countless cobblestones steeped in history. "I'm here."

My mind couldn't settle down during my walk. Of course, it couldn't be otherwise, with the Seine's breeze caressing my face as if confirming that everything I was seeing was real. I was in Paris!

I felt so happy and grateful to the universe, for what I was experiencing was not a mirage. I reached a row of tourists and stood at the back, counting the steps left to enter. Finally, I had before me the majestic cathedral that I had contemplated so many times in photographs, and I was moments away from fulfilling one of the greatest dreams of my childhood—to see Notre Dame.

There I stood before that imposing structure—so sober, so beautiful, so mystical, so absurdly attractive. It had been inviting me for years to witness its power, materialized by subtle forces and ancestral wisdom. Its sculpted façade deserved to be contemplated for a long time. However, the queue moved forward and, in less time than expected, I had already crossed through one of the three magnificent entrance doors.

At that moment, I was fully aware of being in a space filled with hidden messages, revealed only to those who know how to perceive beyond the obvious. With my mind and soul ready to listen, my feet advanced over the flagstones of the temple, where time seemed to have stopped. My eyes were enthralled by the grandeur of more than a thousand stained-glass windows and woven domes that seemed to touch the sky.

I made the tour wrapped in the solemnity of sacred sound. I admired the colorful stained-glass windows, the small sculptures, the delicacy of the art. . . . Suddenly, I arrived at a small enclosure that made me shudder—a chapel dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe.

In the blink of an eye, the image of Mexico's great mother transported me back to my homeland, and I became once again the innocent neighborhood kid I once was—a seven-year-old boy sifting through magazines and calendars in search of treasures, my hand marking the course of the scissors, enjoying cutting out photographs of the most beautiful palaces and churches in the world. Back then, I delighted in traveling through my dreams, and to that end, I had become an explorer of images that captured my attention. There were many of them, but I primarily chose those for which I felt a special attraction or connection. Whenever I found one, I would carefully cut it out and reverently place it on the walls of my room. I didn't know it at the time, but that selection of images would mark the spiritual path of my life and would lead me to find myself in places and countries that at the time seemed unattainable to me.

My parents watched me with a mix of emotion and disbelief. To them, my dreams were just the fantasies of a young boy, innocent illusions that would inevitably crumble when confront-

ed with the harsh realities of life. This was their belief, instilled in them over the years. It seemed simply impossible that a child like me could achieve such distant dreams.

Many people believe that those of us from humble backgrounds, with limited financial resources, cannot achieve great things. But I thought differently. Something inside told me those places I had somehow chosen were waiting for me— among them, the legendary building I was currently exploring. I had envisioned it since childhood, and now, as an adult, that long-held dream was materializing before my eyes.

As I had eagerly read Victor Hugo's work, I hoped to encounter Quasimodo among the cathedral's gargoyles, just as vividly portrayed in his timeless novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

I recall my childhood as being marked by an insatiable curiosity and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. This is why I adored immersing myself in my grandfather's books. Expeditions to remote ruins, explorations of castles, enigmatic monuments, and ancient civilizations. I would close my eyes and imagine myself traversing these landscapes with utter delight. I could even smell them, feel the wind, envision the trees, and connect with the earth. “I will be there someday,” I would tell myself time and time again, savoring those moments.

Photo by

Andriej Lisakov

"That's a long way off," and "getting there costs a fortune,” they would say at home. I would listen in silence as the adults affirmed these things. According to them, we belonged to a world that prevented us from having such expectations. However, a voice within me, a deep-seated force, fought against this idea and opened me up to believing it was indeed possible.

The fact is, like many people, I grew up in a belief system where a great many things were labeled "impossible." Thus, as a child, I accepted as normal the idea that air travel and exploring castles were unattainable luxuries. We simply couldn't even afford to dream.

"Don't get your hopes up, Fer. That's for others." But I didn't stop hoping for the opposite. I had a tremendous curiosity to discover what lay beyond what could be seen. And that drive increased when I started experiencing visions and premonitions.

Discovering this gift in myself was a complex process because I had no way of discussing it

or developing it without being questioned and judged.

I was raised in a Catholic Christian family, with conservative, very provincial customs, and that environment made it difficult for me to understand and live with my "special" abilities. I received many warnings and scoldings for expressing my perceptions in a way that was unconventional. Despite everything, I kept my particular perception of the world.

For me, it was common to feel that when something happened, there were hidden threads moving to make it happen. That hunch pushed me to explore, to investigate, to read even more.

From an early age, I walked around with a book or a Selecciones magazine (the Mexican version of Reader's Digest) under my arm. As a teenager, I began to delve into more advanced spiritual topics. My grandfather, being the Mason that he was, had a library with very old tomes related to the esoteric and the mystical. I was captivated by it.

Fer Broca is a spiritual teacher, shaman, speaker, and author of numerous books. His mission is to share practical spirituality to help people activate transformative processes.

He furthers this mission through workshops, seminars, and conferences that he's facilitated around the world for over twenty-five years. Fer works and lives in Mexico City.

8 Universal Laws by Fer Broca published by Inner Traditions International and Bear & Company, © 2025. All rights reserved.

At the age of twelve, I ended up reading a book complex for my age: Reincarnation, by Papus. Upon reaching the last page of this book, my life changed. I understood that behind my apparent social limitations and economic restrictions lay a universe of possibilities that could break through any barrier, no matter how impenetrable it seemed.

At the age of thirteen, I began to perform my first conscious visualizations and to formulate decrees, which I now recognize were quite poorly done. My methods were simple, as I was just a beginner, a high-school boy. Fortunately, an unforgettable teacher crossed my path, who would mark a true turning point in my life. It was my Spanish teacher who introduced me to readings that untied the knots of my thinking in relation to chakras, meditation, and mantras.

This teacher, with marked spiritual inclinations, spoke to me about the practice of meditation and the functioning of the universe's energies. Conversing with him was a tremendous revelation that propelled me and gave me the encouragement to delve deeper into these and other topics related to the forces of the universe. He allowed me to understand that what I sensed indeed existed, and that, in addition, these phenomena had been studied since ancient times.

It was a great relief to know that at least one respectable adult (not a charlatan) was interested in the matters that captivated me. During that period, I began to discover that there are invisible links between the world we see and the world of energies, and that those energies intervene in everything we do.

As I grew older, it became more

difficult for me to coexist with the limiting ideas that had been instilled in me since I was a child. These heavy paradigms suffocated me like a straitjacket and obstructed my personal growth. I realized many approaches were negatively conditioning my thinking and my way of acting, and I wanted to get rid of that. My search led me to discover that the universe was expanding infinitely, far beyond what I had been taught.

Driven by an insatiable curiosity that has remained with me to this day, I embarked on a serious exploration of various topics, including alternative healing techniques, the power of meditation, the power of the mind, and the practice of Reiki.

I dedicated myself wholeheartedly, made many sacrifices, and disciplined myself to achieve my goals. I even saved up for months to take classes on universal energy and learn about the chakras. It was all worth it, as I found complete fulfillment and happiness by pursuing this path of knowledge.

Upon turning eighteen, I was summoned by a great spiritual master who invited me to Chiapas to continue my training under his guidance. It was a true honor to become a disciple of this remarkable being, from whom I learned so much and whom I still call Master with respect and admiration to this day.

Around that same time, I decided to embark on a teaching journey, realizing it was time to share my learnings with others who shared the same desire to grow and improve their lives. I started with a small group that eventually grew into a larger one. Today, we are thousands walking this path together.

Helen Ye Plehn

www.helencreatesbeauty.com

Helen, your work beautifully intertwines beauty, energy, and the soul. What was the moment of inspiration that led to the creation of the Aura Color Wheel?

My entire life's work has been an exploration of light. As a professional artist, Feng Shui interior designer, energy healer, and daily meditator for more than a decade, I've always understood color as a living frequency. But everything shifted in 2018 during my first Kundalini awakening. It was as if a veil lifted. My intuitive senses expanded in a way I can only describe as stepping into a brighter dimension of myself.

Then, in 2022, a profound series of channeling experiences with my spirit team—whom I call the Dragon's Eye—delivered the blueprint for what would eventually become the Aura Color Wheel. Four major transmissions arrived with crystalline clarity.

The first came through a "remembering my soul gifts" meditation. Out of nowhere, a 19th–century English philosopher, Herbert Spencer, appeared as one of my spirit guides. He is known for pioneering Social Darwinism, applying evolutionary theory to society. Through a voice that felt both external and internal, he told me with absolute certainty that I was meant to write a book on soul evolution. That single message became the seed of everything that followed.

The second transmission arrived during a deep meditation in which I found myself transported to the ceilings of the Hathor Temple in Dendera, Egypt. I have never visited the temple physically, yet the vision was so detailed that I later confirmed what I saw through photographs. On the ceiling is the Dendera Zodiac—an ancient star map featuring 36 decans or celestial beings. In that moment, I understood that those 36 decans corresponded to 36 Soul Aura Color profiles. I was also urged to explore the spiritual significance of the number 36. I discovered its presence across many traditions: the 36 hours of primordial divine light in the Midrash, the 36 biblical instructions to care for the stranger, the 36 righteous souls in Jewish mysticism believed to sustain the world, and the 36 Hanukkah flames. The symbolism was too powerful to ignore.

Helen Ye Plehn, a wellness guide and author of The Aura Color Wheel. She shares her perspective on healing, energy, and how we can all create more balance in our daily lives.

The third channeling unfolded during a meditation on cosmic origins. A crab appeared, walking across a rocky, turquoise-lit planet. When I later sketched the vision and researched it, the Crab Nebula appeared on my screen—and I felt chills through my entire body. It felt like remembering. I realized that I had once lived as a Pleiadian star being who came to Earth after that cosmic explosion. The Pleiades are a school of spiritual learning—creativity, healing, and consciousness evolution. Suddenly, the trajectory of my entire life made sense: everything I had ever created was woven from that lineage of light.

Over the next four to six weeks, the system downloaded itself into my awareness. I began seeing holographic images in my third-eye vision—people surrounded by different auric colors around their heart, revealing their soul gifts, their primary wounds, and their soul lessons. Strong aura layers shimmered like prisms; wounded layers appeared dim or translucent. These visions crystallized into what is now the 12-color additive color wheel, each with two tints, forming 36 Soul Aura Colors that perfectly mirrored the Dendera Zodiac.

For nearly two weeks, I lived almost completely in a channeling state—meditating, praying, writing, and receiving streams of information even in dream-time. I ate very little yet felt deeply nourished by the experience. It was a full transmission of light.

The core teaching is simple yet profound: Your Soul Aura Color reflects the unique combination of your soul gifts, soul wounds, and soul lessons.

As we heal and embody our gifts, new layers of light appear in the aura, increasing our “light quotient”—the amount of divine light we can hold. When we fully integrate our lessons, the incarnation cycle ends. This is enlightenment. It is what masters like Buddha and Jesus achieved while still incarnated.

The concept of the Soul Aura Color is both mystical and deeply personal. How can someone discover their color, and what does it reveal about their life’s purpose?

The easiest way is through my free 20-question online quiz at helencreatesbeauty.com. The quiz itself was channeled—every question arrived through automatic writing. One question even came through as a long sequence of dates and times. I later realized my spirit team was gathering Chiron information—one's spiritual wound—for the quiz algorithm. You can also work with an aura reader or psychic, or, if your intuitive sight is active, you may see your soul aura around the heart chakra. But first, it's essential to understand the difference between the three aura layers:

1. Mood Aura

This layer shifts constantly with emotions and environment. It appears around the face and is the most temporary.

2. Personality Aura

Semi-permanent, this aura reflects the blend of gifts you were born with. It often changes during adolescence or major life transitions. Aura photography usually captures this layer.

3. Soul Aura Color (Deepest Layer)

The Soul Aura Color is the most profound and most permanent layout of your energy field. It radiates from the heart chakra and reflects your soul gifts, wounds, and lessons. This color shifts only after meaningful healing and growth have been integrated over time. While all three aura layers can overlap or match depending on your life path, the Soul Aura Color is the one that reveals your true purpose.

YOUR SOUL'S PURPOSE IS TO EVOLVE—TO USE YOUR GIFTS IN SERVICE, HEAL YOUR SOUL WOUNDS, AND LEARN THE LESSONS YOU CARRIED INTO THIS LIFETIME.

SO WHAT DOES YOUR SOUL AURA COLOR REVEAL?

While each person's path is unique, there is a universal truth:

At a soul level, our purpose is to evolve. This means:

• Using our gifts in service to ourselves and others

• Healing the soul wounds we carried into this lifetime

• Learning the lessons our soul chose before incarnating

Your Soul Aura Color points directly to all three. Through the quiz, you discover your Soul Gift Archetype, which acts like a compass showing:

• What your natural soul gifts are

• Where your primary soul wound lies

• What life lessons your soul is learning now

The level of self-knowledge helps you make aligned choices, dissolve imposter syndrome, and consciously navigate challenges before they become roadblocks. When you understand your Soul Aura Color, you understand your soul's blueprint— and you can begin living your life with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

As the founder of Helen Creates Beauty, you've built a brand that celebrates inner radiance as much as outer beauty. How

do you weave spiritual awareness into your approach to beauty and self-care?

True beauty is the radiance of the soul. The aura—a multi-layered electromagnetic field—holds our emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual experiences. When we nurture each layer, beauty becomes an expression of alignment rather than appearance.

Each aura layer corresponds to a fundamental aspect of our human experience:

• Red (Root Chakra): Vitality, safety, basic needs

• Orange (Sacral Chakra): Emotional flow, creativity

• Yellow (Solar Plexus): Thoughts, boundaries, personal power

• Green (Heart Chakra): Love, compassion, soul wisdom

• Upper layers: Intuition, divine connection, higher guidance

When you live your soul gifts and heal your wounds, the aura naturally expands. That expansion is the glow people notice.

This philosophy extends into my art, my Feng Shui practice, and the Soul Flower & Aura Color Portraits I create. When clients display their portraits in their Feng Shui lucky directions, the energy amplifies. Your home is an extension of your aura.

In The Aura Color Wheel book, I offer practical tools—crystals, herbs, yoga poses, flower essences, and Solfeggio frequencies—to harmonize each aura layer. I also teach rest as a spiritual practice. Naps are part of my daily routine. When we release the pressure to constantly produce, our intuition becomes louder.

Throughout history, beauty and spirituality were intertwined in feminine cultures. The feminine heals through embodiment, through radiance, through becoming her own living art. That is the guiding philosophy behind Helen Creates Beauty.

Many people today are searching for meaning, healing, and authenticity. How can understanding one's Aura Color become a compass for emotional, mental, and spiritual transformation? Each of us is composed of seven rays of light—seven layers of the auric field powered by the chakras. When we understand and master these layers, we unlock healing and manifestation on every level: emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual. The structure of the aura explains this beautifully.

Our physical body is held within our emotional body, which is held within our mental body, and all of these are held within the spiritual body connected to our higher chakras. This innermost-to-outermost design is why:

• The mind can heal emotional wounds.

• The emotional body can influence physical health.

• The spiritual body can catalyze healing across all layers.

This is why positive affirmations can shift mental patterns, uplift emotions, and even restore physical vitality, and why prayer, meditation, and spiritual connection can bring healing that feels miraculous, though these are simply natural functions of the auric field.

When you view the aura from the inside out, it becomes clear that all manifestation begins within. Before external results appear, there must be inner alignment:

• Clarity about who you truly are,

• Clarity about your soul’s purpose,

• Clarity about what you desire to co-create with the Universe.

Your Soul Aura Color becomes a compass for this inner work.

It reveals the unique blend of your soul gifts, soul wounds, and soul lessons. Once you understand this blueprint, you can begin embodying the emotions, mindset, and energy of the version of yourself who has already fulfilled your soulaligned desires. As you hold that vibration within, the outer layers of your auric field broadcast a clear, coherent signal to the Universe.

This is how co-creation happens—with far less resistance, effort, or struggle. It is the essence of what Taoist philosophy calls wu wei, or “doing by not doing”—the art of aligned action, effortless flow, and allowing life to meet you when you are energetically ready. When someone understands their Aura Color, they no longer navigate life blindly. They gain a spiritual compass that guides them toward authenticity, healing, purpose, and the highest expression of who they are meant to be.

Your work bridges spirituality, psychology, and aesthetics with such harmony. How do you envision these disciplines collaborating to help people reconnect with their essence?

To me, spirituality, psychology, and aesthetics are three expressions of the same truth: the soul longs to be seen.

• Spirituality reveals why we are here.

• Psychology teaches us how to heal the ego, the wounds,

and the subconscious patterns.

• Aesthetics expresses what our soul feels through beauty, color, and form.

When these work together, a person becomes whole.

Is there a story of transformation that stands out—someone who found healing or clarity through discovering their Soul Aura Color?

Yes. Jessica, one of my students, struggled with imposter syndrome for years. When she discovered her Soul Aura Color was Magenta, aligned with the Artist Archetype, her entire life shifted. She finally understood her artistic calling was not a hobby—it was her purpose. She worked through her solar plexus (yellow) wound and eventually became a professional painter and musician.

Another deeply personal story involves my mother. Three months ago, she was diagnosed with stage 1 liver cancer. But I sensed on a soul level that this illness reflected an unresolved yellow-layer wound: lifelong resentment toward her parents. The night before her radiation treatment, she forgave—completely. Her aura shifted instantly. The next day, after treatment, the cancer was gone. Healing at the soul level often creates healing at the physical level.

Your book, "The Aura Color Wheel,” feels like both a guide and a mirror. What message do you hope readers carry with them, and what creations are you dreaming into being next?

My deepest hope is that this book reminds readers of a

profound truth: You are a spiritual light being.

My deepest hope is that this book reminds readers of a profound truth: You are a spiritual light being.

Who am I?

You are a multidimensional being of light.

Why am I here?

Your soul's purpose is to evolve—to use your gifts in service, heal your soul wounds, and learn the lessons you carried into this lifetime. All of this is encoded in your Soul Aura Color, which evolves as you evolve, guiding you back toward the full spectrum of rainbow light.

How can I be happy?

Happiness arises when your thoughts, words, and actions align with your soul's truth. As Gandhi taught, harmony is happiness. The Aura Color Wheel is not a system of labels—it is a spiritual compass that helps you return to balance and authenticity as you move along your evolution path. Ultimately, we are meant to embody the entire spectrum of light—unity, wholeness, transcendence.

This year, I launched The Aura Evolution Sanctuary Membership, a sacred space for monthly spiritual practice. I'm also developing the Aura Color Wheel App, a daily guide for soul evolution. And I'm channeling a new oracle deck and soul journal, each card carrying color transmissions and crystalline frequencies.

Everything I create is meant to help people return to their true essence—radiant, whole, and full of light.

LA ART SHOW 2026

A Global Celebration of Art

LA Art Show—Los Angeles' largest and longest-running art fair—returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center's West Hall from January 7–11, 2026, for its 31st edition. Tickets are now on sale at laartshow. com, with 15% of all sales benefiting the American Heart Association's Life is Why™ campaign. One of the few major privately owned fairs of its scale, the LA Art Show offers an authentic reflection of the city's vibrant, multicultural art community.

Under the producer and directorship of Kassandra Voyagis, the fair continues to expand globally. "We're excited to bring once again other galleries, artists, a nd collectors from around the world to celebrate Los Angeles' cultural legacy," she says.

Marisa Caichiolo returns as curator of DIVERSEartLA and leads the new Latin American Pavilion, highlighting emerging voices from across the Americas. Centering themes of memory, migration, and identity, the pavilion invites audiences to reconsider provenance, belonging, and the evolving future of Latin American art. "These artists remain underrepresented at major fairs."Caichilo notes. "This platform aims to amplify their voices on the global stage."

More than 90 exhibitors will participate in LA Art Show 2026, including returning international and local galleries such as LICHT FELD Gallery (Switzerland), Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery (U.K.), Coral Contemporary Gallery (Miami), K+Y Contemporary Art (Paris), Arcadia Contemporary (New York), Fabrik Projects (Los Angeles), and Rehs Galleries (New York), which has shown at the fair since its inception.

Among 2026's notable highlights, Palm Beach–based Provident Fine Art will make its LA Art Show debut with a solo presentation of Sylvester Stallone's abstract paintings—his first major showcase in years. Stallone, represented exclusively by the gallery, has long turned to painting as a key mode of expression, with past exhibitions in St. Petersburg and Nice.

Switzerland's LICHT FELD Gal-

lery will present the first public showing in more than 40 years of Karl A. Meyer's woodcut prints, created during his transformative 1980s period on New York's Crosby Street among the era's most influential artists — work that fills a notable gap in the art history of that time.

New additions include the fair's first exhibitor from Ireland, Dublin-based Oliver Sears Gallery; London's John Martin Gallery and Quantum Contemporary Art; and London's Pontone Gallery, presenting surreal, celestial-inspired works by self-taught Manchester artist Chris Rivers. Other first-time participants include Gefen Gallery (San Francisco), Steidel Contemporary (Lake Worth), and Corridor Contemporary (Tel Aviv). The fair will also continue its strong South Korean presence with more than ten galleries participating.

Our Consciousness, Love and Fear

By Regina Leffers, Ph.D.

Regina Leffers, Ph.D., wrote This is Consciousness!  In response to the situation in which we currently find ourselves. People are not speaking civilly to each other at every level of society. Nothing works well when we can't sit down and talk through problems to find solutions. Each level of consciousness is developmentally essential in its own right. For us to be healthy human beings, each level is necessary for us to grow into,

learn to solve the problems we encounter there, and then grow through and into the next level. As we move through each level of consciousness, we develop problem-solving skills that we will draw on throughout our lives. If you're the kind of person who prefers to grow yourself on purpose, you will find practical information to help you navigate your way into and through more expanded facets of consciousness.

Photo by Jose A.Thompson

Human beings have an operating system, our consciousness, and while most of us know a little about what that is, we haven’t learned enough about it to be able to inhabit and navigate it fluidly. Consciousness is important enough that every single one of us must have access to this body of knowledge. It’s something we all develop into and through, and we need to know enough about it to be able to grow ourselves into more expansive ways of thinking and living.

One of the things that would be very helpful for us to understand is that any thought we have is representative of the facet of consciousness within which we’re living. If we grow ourselves into the next, more expanded facet of consciousness, that thought will change.

I wrote This Is Consciousness! in response to the situation in which we currently find ourselves. People are not speaking civilly to each other at every level of society. Nothing works well when we can’t sit down together and talk through problems to find solutions.

That problem might be able to be rectified if people were able to understand their own consciousness and how it functions. This information is basic to being human. We carry a toolbox around with us

inside of our own heads and hearts, and not only do we not know how to use the tools, but too many of us don’t even know the tools exist. We think that the thoughts we have are simply true.

Here is a quick overview of how thoughts and feelings of love and fear get expressed and/or felt from within each facet of consciousness. We move from the least expanded, in which we include just a small part of existence in our conception of who we are, to the most expanded, in which we include all of existence in our conception of who we are in every area of life.

• From within the Survive facet of consciousness, the life conditions presented require us to solve very basic problems: the need for food, shelter, clothing, safety, and security. Love is experienced as the feeling of having enough of what I need. Fear is of the unknown and feelings of scarcity in any area of basic need. Once we’ve experienced not having enough of something, fear is always present in the background. It is most often experienced as an unnamed feeling of anxiety in the gut. An example of a thought you might have that represents Survive is “if an immigrant has a job, that’s the reason I can’t get one.”

“

One of the things that would be very helpful for us to understand is that any thought we have is representative of the facet of consciousness within which we’re living.

• The life conditions presented from within the Belong facet of consciousness require us to develop feelings of belonging to a group/ family/religion/ culture. Love is experienced as feelings of belonging and loyalty. We also learn to see everyone who doesn’t belong as an outsider and as a potential threat. Fear is the possibility of being cast out or shunned by the group. Fear is present in the background of consciousness if we express disloyalty to the group, or if we observe another member of the group being cast out or shunned. An example of a thought representative of Belong is any “othering” thought we might have.

• The life conditions presented from within the Individuate facet of consciousness require us to do the work of individuating, most commonly from our parents or the people who have raised us. Love is the experience of feeling the freedom and independence we achieve by doing this individuation work. Fear is the experience of feeling dependent on and perhaps controlled by our parents. Fear is almost always present in the background, and it looks like bravado. Our thoughts tend to be self-absorbed from within Individuate.

• The life conditions presented from

within the Comply facet of consciousness require us to learn and adopt the rules of our family/culture/society/ religion/the road. The rules we adopt include the moral and ethical guidelines of our immediate culture for behavior. Love is the experience of loyalty and adapting ourselves to fit the rules of acceptable behavior we’ve learned— we want to be good. Fear is the experience of losing acceptance and connection to our family/group/ culture if we don’t comply with the rules. Our thoughts in Comply will often be opinions about what people should be doing (instead of what they are doing).

• The life conditions presented from within the Re-individuate & Risk facet of consciousness require us to think about the rules we adopted in the Comply facet, decide which of those rules no longer align with our core selves, and let go of them. If we’re living from within this facet, it means that we have become more self-referential in at least one area of life. Love is the experience of feeling increasingly empowered, creative, and willing to take risks. Fear is of the possibility that I’ll lose whatever is important to me because I’m stepping away from what is acceptable to my family/group/culture.

• Within the Care & Empathy facet

Regina Leffers, Ph.D.is the retired Director of the Center of Excellence for the Built Environment, and Professor of Sustainable Construction for the College of Engineering, Purdue University in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Her undergraduate degrees are in Psychology and Philosophy, and her doctoral degree is in Philosophy. She has also practiced meditation daily for the past 45 years.

Regina currently teaches classes on meditation and consciousness. Find a free, downloadable meditation at www.reginaleffers.com.

of consciousness, our core self expands in such a way that we come into a felt sense of relatedness to a larger community than we had previously identified as ours. We grow to care about all human beings as deeply as we care about those who belong to our family/group/etc. We grow to care about all biological creatures as deeply as we care about our own dogs or cats. And we grow to care about the living earth as deeply as we care about our own back yards. Love expands into the experience of care and empathy. Fear is the experience of feelings of being overwhelmed and inadequate.

And then, in some area of life, we move from Subsistence existence to Being. This move is from trying to be enough, have enough, care enough, work enough, to knowing that we are enough, that no matter how much we have, care, or work, it is enough. Being means that we have a relatively continuous felt sense of the connectivity of all that is, and stay conscious in the present moment, much more often than not. On the Being side of the bridge, we move quickly from empathy to compassion. Either/or (duality) comes from the intellect; both/ and (nonduality) comes from heartbrain coherence, where the intellect gets filtered through the wisdom of the heart. Through heart-brain coherence, we enter into the wholeness of human consciousness. We expand our ways of knowing beyond the capacity of the intellect alone and enter into whole human non-dual consciousness. We act from a ground of wisdom, love, and compassion as we see the interconnectedness of all life, enabling us to live into our full humanity towards the mutual flourishing of all life. We intentionally seek harmony and interdependence, as it holds the both/and of part and whole.

• When we’re functioning primarily from within the seventh facet of consciousness, Integrate & Be Authentic/ Our

Foundational Core Self, we have thought deeply about our own beliefs and values and have integrated and live from them. Living authentically, being true to our Core Self, is most important to us. Our values are derived from the realization and felt sense of the profound connectivity of all things— from the Wholeness of Life itself. We see Life and consciousness as an interconnected Whole and appreciate the strengths and skills we develop in every facet of consciousness. Love is the experience of connectivity and authenticity. We understand with the heart and work with purpose. We never take action out of fear. As soon as we recognize fear, we acknowledge it, thank it, and transmute it.

• From within Be Oneness, we experience ourselves together with all of life as Oneness-of-Being, and the actions we take, the choices we make, even the thoughts we think, take this underlying connectivity of All-That-Is into consideration. Love is the felt sense experience of Oneness of Being, including the seen and the unseen world. Fear is felt as any disruption of this experience of Oneness. As soon as it is recognized, it is transmuted.

• At the Be Creation facet of consciousness, we experience everything that is as Sacred. Everything. There is no difference between the seen and unseen world. Love and Fear are simply parts of the whole. Neither one is personal. They are part of creation and are not identified as separate.

Another way to think about love and fear as it gets experienced from within each facet of consciousness is to recognize that a choice from love will always enlarge our world. Love includes, expands, and allows. Fear excludes, shrinks, and tries to control.

Animal Tracks Wild Hearts Gala

A NIGHT OF COMPASSION, CELEBRATION, AND HOPE FOR WILDLIFE

Los Angeles, CA — On November 7th, 2025, the historic Ebell of Los Angeles came alive with compassion and purpose as Animal Tracks hosted its inaugural Wild Hearts Gala. The event united celebrities, advocates, and animal lovers in support of the Agua Dulce–based wildlife rescue and education sanctuary’s mission to protect and care for exotic animals while inspiring a deeper respect for all living beings. Hosted with warmth and charisma by Sharon Carpenter and produced by Annalisa Giolo Dunker of Better Earth Productions, the evening celebrated Animal Tracks’ commitment to rescuing animals in need and educating the public on the importance of conservation.

Notable guests included William McNamara, Mary-Margaret Humes, Josie Davis, Finola Hughes, Jake Hunter, Genesis Butler, Harley Quinn Smith, and Kevin Patel, among others, all lending their voices to amplify the organization's message of coexistence and compassion.

Three exceptional honorees were recognized for their contributions to wildlife advocacy: David Casselman received the Wild Heart Recognition Award, Shawn Sweeney was honored with the Community Hero Award, and Meena Amani received the Wild Hero Award for her unwavering dedication to protecting wildlife.

Guests enjoyed an elegant plant-based dinner prepared by Gokoku Restaurant and delectable desserts by Giselle's Vegan Kitchen, complemented by a silent auction, red carpet, and soulful performances. The evening's artistic program featured live music by environmental artivist Inanna, a mesmerizing dance performance by Michela Melone, and a heartfelt poetry reading by Sean Hill "This gala was more than a fundraiser — it was a statement of hope for the animals," said Stacy Gunderson, Executive Director of Animal Tracks. “We are deeply moved by the community's support and already envisioning next year's celebration."

With support from the JHM Foundation, the Ebell of Los Angeles, 3G Productions, and numerous in-kind sponsors, the Wild Hearts Gala embodied a powerful message: together, compassion and community can create lasting change for wildlife.

Animal Tracks continues its mission to rescue, educate, and inspire. To learn more or contribute, visit www.animaltracksinc.org or follow @animaltracksinc on social media.

COMMUNITIES OF STONE AND LIGHT

By Arthur Versluis

Photo by Mihail Tregubov

TThe alchemical journey begins with our own development and awakening, but it does not end there. Like the Grail as Quest, it is an individual quest that is also about the community as a whole. There is a wounded king who suffers; society is fallen and in disarray; and the grail quest is about that larger restoration or renewal. It turns out to be not so much about me as it is about us. Realizing this is also turning the power toward Earth.

Ultimately, the alchemical process of working with light is not only individual; it does not take place in one’s own mind alone. Nor does it only involve a small group. The process is within us, but also beyond us as individuals. It is intimately personal, but it is also cosmological— that is, it engages the fundamental principles inherent in the cosmos. Regeneration, the restoration of the primordial, archaic state of purity, transmutes our fallen nature and also the fallen nature of the cosmos.

This was well understood by the ancients. Archaic Europe’s sacred places, standing stones, cairns, and dolmens each have their specific light alignments, marking the movement of the Sun, the Moon, or specific constellations and stars. The stones in all their configurations

mark the intersections of space and time by light. This light is eternal and temporal at once, both in time and beyond time, symbolized in the instantaneous bolt of lightning from above to below, in vertical standing stones, and later in stone columns.

The archaic European culture of stone and light was shared, first by the local community near the stones, second by those in the region, and third by the underlying broader culture across Europe and into Asia that is still visible wherever the stones are still standing. What was the purpose of this underlying archaic culture? To turn the power toward Earth, to align human, natural, and celestial with one another so that the human and natural worlds flourish.

Whenever you enter an area with megaliths, including cairns, you will often hear the folklore that says to take from the area of the stones or to damage the stones will bring about misfortune, bring upon you what we could call the curse of the stones. There is often a lingering fear of the archaic standing stones, a sense that they are a little other-worldly, numinous, and this protected them over the millennia. It also signals that there is more to the stones’ presence than meets the eye.

Arthur Versluis, Ph.D., is the founder and president of the Hieros Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring the sacred to modern life. Formerly Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at Michigan State University, he is the author of numerous acclaimed books, including Sacred Earth and The Secret History of Western Sexual Mysticism. Learn more at arthurversluis.com

What do the grail stone, the philosopher’s stone, and the megaliths have in common? The power to transmute, to regenerate. While it may take a long time to find the grail stone or the philosopher’s stone or the stone circle, their power of transmutation is itself immediate, like a lightning bolt flashing from sky to Earth. A fallen world and darkness and then—light!

Revelation of the archaic original and pure state, revelation of paradise, this is the hidden meaning of the sentinel stones like those that still keep watch over Britain, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, and that still work their magic. They stand guard now, as they have for millennia, integrating the moving patterns of cosmic light in nature with the human world. Their silent watch reminds us that a balanced, spiritual way of being beckons not only to us as individuals, but also to us as a nascent community, as a living culture.

SHARED TRANSFORMATION

Alchemical lightwork is not only about us as individuals. It is about archaic knowledge and about what is greater than ourselves, beyond us. It is also about harmony between the human, natural, and spiritual realms—and about this Earth in relation to paradisal Earth. There is a very archaic Central Asian tradition in which, when someone died, a shaman would, with a bird wing, waft the deceased’s soul into a stone, where it would remain until the deceased could be guided through a perilous passage to paradisal Earth, the Earth of celestial light.

Put another way, turning power toward Earth reveals power beyond Earth. Although we think that the otherworld and this physical world are completely distinct, that isn’t really true. It’s an illusion. As William Law* and Jacob Böhme made clear, after death the soul doesn’t “go” any-

where. Rather, its nature is revealed and experienced in whatever stage it finds itself. The otherworld is present now, but we aren’t able to see it as it actually is.

Turning power toward Earth isn’t necessarily something we do as an individual, but rather is a description of how, in the right conditions, flourishing is possible because inherent spiritual reality can manifest as it actually is. We forget that nature wants to flourish. People want to flourish. They yearn to do so. Turning power toward Earth means creating the conditions not only for us as individuals to flourish but for nature and community to do so as well.

One purpose of the standing stones and other megaliths, according to author John Michell, was to cast a spell of protection and prosperity over a region, marking with light the hidden pathways and dimensions of the spiritual landscape so that the people could flourish. This is also thought to be the purpose behind the ancient legendary island of Atlantis and of the mythical island kingdoms off the coast. Of course, Atlantis degenerated and collapsed, and perhaps things are not ideal in every way in the few remaining redoubts on Earth. Even in the kingdom of Bhutan, like anywhere else, people have conflicts, are fooled or are foolish, seek power, or are subject to whatever other human foibles any of us might be prey to or could imagine. And yet . . . they prove a different way of life is possible.

We do not have to live in a disenchanted, desolate world as atomized, nihilistic, cultureless individuals. We can engage in a quest. We can become better people. We can begin to explore and understand the mysteries of being human in a natural world full of mysteries. We can engage in the great adventure of our spiritual journey.

In a world where creativity meets cocktail culture, The Girl Walks into a Bar stands out as a refreshing blend of style, wit, and inspiration. Founded by sisters Jordan Catapano and Jocelyn Dunn, this dynamic duo transformed their passion for mixology and entertaining into a lifestyle brand that celebrates connection, craftsmanship, and the art of a well-made drink. From their bestselling cocktail books to their captivating social media presence, they've built a community that toasts to joy, authenticity, and everyday celebration.

In this interview, The Eden Magazine highlights the inspiring journey of the women behind This Girl Walks into a Bar, exploring how they've turned the simple act of pouring a drink into an expression of artistry and empowerment.

What inspired the creation of This Girl Walks Into a Bar, and how did your Southern California roots influence the vision behind your brand?

When I was bartending in Santa Monica in the early 2000s, women sitting at the bar would regularly tell me how fun it looked to be a bartender and ask how they could break into the field. The horror movie I had just written was passed on by every executive in Hollywood, and I realized that maybe I didn't have a future in entertainment after all. Instead, I decided to write a book about bartending for women. My sister is a graphic designer by trade, and we collaborated to create our first book, "This Girl Walks Into a Bar: A Woman's Guide to Professional Bartending and Home Mixology." That led to starting a blog and then, in 2016, to launching an all-female bartending company. In 2022, we introduced our first organic mixer, which was primarily sold to our bar clients. We now offer three mixer flavors, and they are available at all Total Wine & More locations in California.

As sisters and co-founders, how do you maintain harmony and creativity in your personal and professional relationships?

We like to tell people that we literally worked out all our problems in the sandbox decades ago. We never argue...anymore. Cut to our teenage years, and there was plenty of fighting - mostly centered around who was taking up more bathroom counter space. But while we were both away at college, we'd write letters to each other and became best friends. We share a similar work ethic and vision for the brand, but bring unique skill sets to the table.

Your brand stands out for celebrating women in the cocktail and barware industry. What does female empowerment mean to you in this space?

Over the past twenty years, we've seen a surge in the number of female bartenders. However, for a long time, bartending was considered a man's job, while waitressing and hosting were traditionally viewed as tasks for women. Now it's rare to walk into a bar and not see a woman slinging drinks. I think it's a reminder that women can do anything a man can do.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced as women entrepreneurs breaking into a traditionally male-dominated industry, and how did you overcome them?

The first challenge was convincing people that the world needed another Margarita Mix. There's quite a sea of them on the shelves, but little do people know how junky they all are. The most famous one doesn't even have any juice in it! But once people tasted our deliciously tart recipe, they also agreed that we'd capture market share.

The second challenge was securing funding so that we could squeeze our little sister-owned brand onto the shelves between the mega, legacy brands that have been around since I was in kindergarten (which was a long time ago). CPG is notoriously expensive. We didn't quit lucrative jobs on Wall Street to pursue this dream, we didn't have a celebrity backer, and we don't have a trust fund. We self-funded our first product through the success of our bartending company and then, with the help of some incredible friends and family members, raised enough money to expand our product line. Without the generosity of our investors, we would never have gotten this far. We also built this brand while raising children, which meant that work time often happened early in the morning and really late at night. It was and continues to be hard work.

The last challenge has been the Palisades Fire. I lost my home, and Jocelyn and I lost our bartending business. We lost a portion of our mixers that had just been produced a couple of weeks prior, along with most of

our business assets. Fortunately, the majority of our new mixers were safely stored in a warehouse 60 miles east of Los Angeles. It has been a rough start to 2025, but we are forging ahead, determined to see this dream through.

You've written books, designed barware, and created a lifestyle brand that feels both elevated and accessible. What core values guide all your creative endeavors?

You really understand our brand well! "Elevated and accessible" is the perfect description of what guides us. We want people to have a great-tasting product in a beautiful bottle, so they can make high-quality drinks at home with minimal fuss. You should be able to enjoy a great Margarita with friends without having to squeeze twenty-five limes. You should be able to serve up a batch of Bloody Marys that taste homemade and free from gums, dyes, and added sugars. As entrepreneurs and moms, we want to make our own lives easier and those of others, too, without sacrificing quality.

How do you stay creatively inspired, and what rituals or routines help you maintain balance while running a successful business?

Working with my sister keeps me creatively inspired. There are numerous exciting directions we can take with this brand! As far as maintaining balance, I don't do so well with that. It's either family time or work time. But I love it, so it doesn't feel draining in any way.

“Surround yourself with a strong network of women who will be your biggest supporters but who aren't afraid to tell you when you're wrong.

ORGANIC

There's a distinct Southern California aesthetic to your brand. In what ways do your surroundings and lifestyle influence your designs and storytelling?

You see everything! We grew up in La Mesa, a suburb of San Diego. Our backyard was filled with tangerine, orange, lemon, and fig trees, and our mom had a lovely garden. Jocelyn and I spent hours playing outside every weekend and snacking on all the fruit. Our parents would make fresh orange juice regularly, and we'd serve homemade lemonade whenever our friends came over. As adults, we wanted to create a brand with those same fresh, homemade-tasting flavors that defined our childhood. Of course, we now often add tequila or vodka as well!

This Girl Walks Into a Bar promotes connection and celebration. How do you see your brand contributing to a greater sense of community and conscious living?

Good things happen when people come together to share drinks, food, and conversation. Most of us spend our days in front of screens, often working from home offices alone. If we can be a small part of any occasion when people share time in real life, that makes us very happy.

What advice would you offer young women looking to turn their passion into a purpose-driven business?

My advice would be that you've got plenty of time to start your business. You can start at 40 or 50, and it won't be too late. Spend a year or more meeting with other female entrepreneurs and learning about their successes and failures. Keep your day job and earmark some of your earnings for an investment in your future business until you have at least a one-year runway to pay your own salary and fund your business. Once you decide to launch, dive in headfirst and don't look back. Never take "no" for an answer and keep pushing ahead, no matter what challenges you face.

As you look to the future, what are your hopes for your brand and the women inspired by your journey?

We will continue to expand our line of organic, non-alcoholic mixers as we explore other areas of the bar beverage market. It has been fifteen years of building this brand, so I think that one day we would probably like to sell it and turn our attention and time to investing in other women. Nothing would bring us greater joy than helping other women succeed.

What insights can you share with our readers who dream of being entrepreneurs?

Surround yourself with a strong network of women who will be your biggest supporters but who aren't afraid to tell you when you're wrong. Stay positive and focused on your "why." People will offer you a lot of advice, and much of it will be good. But always listen to your intuition, follow your gut, and believe wholeheartedly in what you can achieve. www.ThisGirlWalksIntoABar.com

ARPA

The 28th Arpa International Film Festival, held on November 6-9 at the iconic TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood. The festival, presented by the Arpa Foundation for Film, Music, and Art (AFFMA), brought together filmmakers, artists, and global storytellers who embody the spirit of culture connection and creative resilience.

Founder Sylvia Minassian and Festival Director Maral Kazazian spoke passionately about this year's diverse voices and the importance of storytelling that bridges cultures and ethos that aligns beautifully with The Eden Magazine's mission of compassion, artistry, and global awareness.

The inspiring evening celebrated distinguished honorees, including:

George Chakiris -Lifetime Achievement Award

Angela Sarafyan - Career Achievement Award

Mikael Sharafyan - Career Achievement Award in Costume Design

Robin Eeigert - Visionary Award

Ido Samuel - Breakthrough Artist Award

Anna Maxim - Rising Star Award

The festival opened with the gripping psychological thriller Deadly Vows, starring Shohreh Aghdashloo and Billy Zane, setting the tone for a week of meaningful cinema.

The Eden Magazine encourages creators to continue inspiring positivity and making a difference in our world.

www.arpafilmfestival.com

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