The Eden Magazine

EDEN

T h e

November, 2018

©

Magazine

PETA

is Changing Minds, ChangingTimes with INGRID

NEWKIRK WHAT IS

LOVE

By Teal Swan

THE SCIENCE OF

PRECOGNITION

By Dr. Julia Mossbridge & Theresa Chung

MAKE YOUR MORNINGS

MAGICAL

By Ashley Ellington Brown

INTERVIEW WITH

PINA DE ROSE From Grief to Grace

Table of Contents 6

PETA

By Ingrid Newkirk

18

WHEN IMAGINATION MEETS AWARENESS

18

By Alexia Melocchi

20

WHAT IS LOVE

By Teal Swan

24

MAKE YOUR MORNINGS MAGICAL

By Ashley Ellington Brown

28

HAPPINESS IS IN NON-ATTACHMENT

28

By Jayita Bhattacharjee

32

AN INTERVIEW WITH PINA DE ROSA

36

MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL

By Joe Santos, Jr.

40

THE DIVINE TIMING IN HEALING

By Angela Dunning

48

42

AN INTERVIEW WITH SIXTUS Z. ATABONG

48

THE SCIENCE OF PRECOGNITION

By Dr. Julia Massbridge & Theresa Cheung

52

THE EMISSARY

By Tamara Veitch & Rene Defezio

58

PETA

58

CRUMBS & WISKERS

Cover by PETA

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DINA MORRONE

Maryam Morrison

GLORIA KISEL-HOLLIS

JAN DIANA

MICHAEL WHITE RYAN

SASHA GARY

ANGELA DUNNING

KATE YOUNGER

TARA-JENELLE WALSCH

MIRIAM BERTKE

SAMANTHA GORDON

MARIA ELENA INFANTINO

EDWARD HAKOPIAN

BRENDA SAINT HILAIRE

SHERI DETERMAN

ALEXIA MELOCCHI

JOE SANTOS, JR.

STEPHANIE MASON

JAYITA BHATTACHARJEE

MEET OUR TEAM

Photo by Artin Mardirosian

Spreading Compassion to all Sentient Beings and Living in healing and peaceful world

EDEN

T H E

MAGAZINE Since 2010

The Eden Magazine is a free Online magazine focuses on spreading compassion to all sentient beings Living in a healing and peaceful world FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MARYAM MORRISON CONTRIBUTING EDITOR DINA MORRONE BRAND AMBASSADOR MARIA ELENA INFANTINO SOCIALITE DIRECTOR GLORIA KISEL-HOLLIS CONTRIBUTING WRITERS JAN DIANA JOE SANTOS, JR. ALEXIA MELOCCHI

ANGELA DUNNING SASHA GARY MIRIAM BERTKE STEPHANIE MASON SAMANTHA GORDON MICHAEL WHITE RYAN JAYITA BHATTACHARJEE TARA-JENELLE WALSCH CONTRIBUTING STYLISTS + MAKEUP ARTIST EDWARD HAKOPIAN GRAPHICS & PHOTOGRAPHY KATE YOUNGER BRENDA SAINT HILAIRE PHOTOGRAPHY EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY SHERI DETERMAN WEBSITE www.theedenmagazine.com 325 N. Maple Dr. Po Box 5132 Beverly Hills, CA 90209 To read this issue online www.issuupublishing.com To purchase a copy visit us in www.magcloud.com Eden Magazine is an non-profit & independent monthly online magazine.

Our aim is to create a better environment where we live among other living being in peace and harmony. We support artists that their work match our criteria. If you would like to submit your artwork, article or/and your Photography For our future issues please contact Maryam Morrison at; maryammorrison@theedenmagazine.com 5 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e November 2018

PETA

is Changing Minds, Changing Times

By Ingrid Newkirk

Nearly 40 years ago, when some friends and I started People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), no one had heard of "animal rights," and we didn't have a campaign strategy. We just knew that we wanted to make a difference for animals exploited in laboratories, for food, on fur farms, and in circuses.

We didn't dawdle—we just jumped right in.

PETA's first eyewitness investigation—the precedent-setting 1981 Silver Spring monkeys case— led to many other firsts: the first search-and-seizure warrant served on a U.S. laboratory, the first arrest and criminal conviction of an animal experimenter in the U.S. on charges of cruelty to animals, the first confiscation of animals abused in a laboratory, and the first U.S. Supreme Court victory for animals in laboratories. And we haven't stopped fighting—and winning—in our efforts for animals since.

PETA's principles are simple: Animals are not ours to experiment on, eat, wear, use for entertainment, or abuse in any other way.

Photos courtesy by Emile Hallez 6 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e November 2018

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Animals Used in Experiments It all started with Billy. When PETA discovered him, the gentle little monkey was trying desperately to eat food pellets thrown into his filthy cage before they fell through the wire flooring. This was a matter of survival because nerves in his spine had been cut, paralyzing his arms. He had to push himself on his elbows and try to grab the pellets with his teeth before they were lost forever. Billy was one of 17 monkeys abused in cruel experiments and kept in the nightmarish Institute for Behavioral Research, a federally funded laboratory in Silver Spring, Maryland.

As PETA's iconic poster of a screaming, terrified monkey strapped into a crude restraint chair at that very lab proclaimed, "This Is Vivisection. Don't Let Anyone Tell You Different." The revelations shocked people around the world and ignited a movement. PETA shut that laboratory down, and since then, we have exposed cruelty in many other laboratories, sparked the development of the now-thriving global industry of non-animal research methods, persuaded governments and corporations around the world to end various animal testing requirements, closed laboratories, and held experimenters accountable. This has spared tens of millions of animals horrific suffering.

Photos courtesy by PETA

The cosmetics industry once insisted that animal tests were indispensable. Today, more than 3,500 companies refuse to test their products on animals, and many forward-thinking scientists are using only sophisticated non-animal methods to study diseases and develop lifesaving techniques.

Mice, rabbits, monkeys, pigs, horses, and other animals aren't inanimate tools to be manipulated. In laboratories, they have no control over any aspect of their existence— they live in fear and are denied everything that could bring them joy or comfort. Studies show that even hearing the knob on the laboratory door turn makes their hearts race and their blood pressure rise. Animals are individuals. They have the right to live their own lives.

Photos courtesy by PETA Asia 8 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e November 2018

Photos courtesy by PETA

Photos courtesy by PETA

Photos courtesy by PETA

Photos courtesy by PETA

Photos courtesy by PETA 9 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e November 2018

Animals Killed for Food PETA's first vegan action was a 1980 protest outside Arrow Live Poultry, the last slaughterhouse in Washington, D.C. Customers could pick out live chickens from cages, and the terrified birds' necks would be cut right in front of them. No one had protested in behalf of chickens before, so the demonstration garnered massive media attention—a signature PETA strategy in the years to come. It also prompted an investigation by the health department, which revealed numerous violations. The facility shut down.

PETA's food-industry investigations have netted many firsts: the first police raid on a U.S. farm, specifically one producing foie gras; the first cruelty charges against a farmer, after thousands of chickens starved to death; the first felony indictments of farmworkers over horrific conditions at a pig-breeding facility in North Carolina; and the first felony charges—and the first convictions for factory-farm workers—for abusing farmed turkeys.

We work to raise awareness of the plight of fish and other sea animals. As long as chefs hack apart octopuses while they're still alive, as long as parents take their children fishing for "fun," and as long as humans kill so many fish each year that, as one scientist put it, "[l]ined up end to end, they would reach the sun," PETA will keep at it.

In addition to informing people about abject cruelty in the meat, fishing, egg, and dairy industries, PETA's mission has always been to make it easy to switch to vegan eating, including by offering shopping tips, nutrition information, and recipes. PETA was the first animal rights group to embrace lab-grown meat, offering $1 million a decade ago for the first commercially viable in vitro chicken, funding biologists to conduct cultured-meat research, and providing clean-meat producer Memphis Meats with its first patent.

Fifteen years ago, PETA's Veg Advantage program laid the groundwork for restaurateurs, chefs, and other food-service pros to embrace vegan options by providing them with information on the best places to find products and recipes.

Nearly four decades after PETA saved those chickens, we are entering a new and exciting era of food—and it's vegan.

Animals Killed for Clothing When PETA was founded back in 1980, fur industry ads were trumpeting that animal fur was "what becomes a legend most." Today, after decades of campaigning, eyewitness investigations, and celebrity involvement, most consumers

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Photos courtesy by PETA

would agree with PETA's cheeky parody ad featuring Amy Sedaris: Fur is what becomes a loser most. Most millennials and members of Generation Z won't touch the stuff—and consumers who care about animals and the environment are also turning their backs on leather, down, wool, and other animal-derived materials as they learn more about the fashion industry's huge contribution to climate change.

For the animals involved, leather production is just as violent, painful, and deadly as the fur trade. Buying leather also supports the meat industry. Wearing a fur collar or leather shoes means that a living, feeling animal experienced a miserable life and an often painful death.

PETA Asia's investigation of the Chinese dog-leather trade revealed that workers bludgeoned and slaughtered up to 200 dogs every day so that their skin could be made into leather gloves, belts, and other accessories. These dogs were no different from the ones we share our homes with—and none of them wanted to die.

Australia produces about a quarter of all wool used worldwide. Within weeks of birth, lambs' ears are hole-punched, their tails are chopped off, and the males are castrated without pain relief. PETA's international exposé of shearing sheds in the U.S. and Australia led to charges against six shearers for at least 70 counts of cruelty to animals—the first to be brought against wool industry workers for abusing sheep anywhere in the world. All six pleaded guilty.

Major designers are dropping fur in record numbers, fashion houses are partnering with tech companies to develop lab-grown leather and silk, and up-and-coming labels are embracing soy-based "vegetable cashmere," "fleece" made from recycled plastic bottles, "wool" crafted from seaweed, and more. The global fashion industry is entering a new and improved era.

As consumer demand for cruelty-free goods rises, the clothing, furniture, and automotive industries are quickly working to meet it. Leather is being made from mushrooms, kombucha tea, coconut water, and even pineapple leaves!

Already, Tesla uses exclusively vegan leather for its car interiors, and more and more fashion brands are replacing items made of animal skins with all-vegan collections.

Animals Exploited for Entertainment The decline of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus—which had been exploiting animals for 146 years— went into overdrive when PETA released chilling photographs showing baby elephants tied down by all four legs in violent "training" sessions. The public was horrified, and shortly thereafter, the circus shut down.

PETA's campaigns against SeaWorld, coupled with the release of the documentary Blackfish, have seen the marine abusement park's stock drop, longtime corporate partners abandon ship, more than 1,100 employees be let go, and upper management become a revolving door.

In addition to taking on circuses and marine parks, PETA tackles issues that no other group does, including goldfish-swallowing contests, "donkey basketball" games, and the use of animals in TV and film production. On any given day, we may be explaining why bears don't belong in pits, why penguins shouldn't be displayed at parties, why rabbits shouldn't be given away as prizes at carnivals, why opossums shouldn't be "dropped" like New Year's balls, and why tiger cubs shouldn't be dragged around the country for photo ops.

Photos courtesy by Sam Haddock

Photos courtesy by PETA

Photos courtesy by Sam Haddock 11 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e November 2018

Photo courtesy by Leigh Vogel & PETA 12 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e November 2018

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Animals Used in Other Ways PETA has become known around the world because we are not a one-issue organization—we are an equal opportunity critic when anyone or any industry is abusing animals anywhere. In the early years, we used snail mail and dial-up. More recently, our presence on social media has enjoyed rapid and significant growth, we developed the innovative "I, Orca" and "I, Chicken" wireless Google virtual reality experiences, and we've purchased stock in many of the companies that we're campaigning against so that we can submit shareholder proposals. We have affiliates in Asia, Australia, France, Germany, India, the Netherlands, and the U.K., extending our reach worldwide. The Latino community is driving many of our campaigns, and more than a half-million people view PETA Latino's Facebook page every month.

Our guiding philosophy is that silence is a social cause's worst enemy. And whatever we have to do to break that silence and bring animal rights into the arena of public discussion, we must try to do. Not everyone wants to hear about the misery of animals who are shocked, poisoned, burned, blinded, cut open, and mutilated in laboratories; kept in cages so tiny that they can't even turn around or stretch out a single wing on factory farms; scalded to death in slaughterhouses; electrocuted and skinned alive for their fur; and subjected to other horrors. We're here to make sure that animals' plight goes viral.

We make no apologies for being abolitionists: Animals must be left in peace to go about their lives. That's not to say that we won't accept intermediate steps when animals are suffering daily. It took two years of negotiations and more than 400 demonstrations against McDonald's, but the fast-food chain was the first to agree to make basic wel-

Photos courtesy by PETA 14 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e November 2018

fare improvements for farmed animals. Shortly thereafter, Burger King and Wendy's followed suit. Safeway, Kroger and Albertsons also agreed to adopt stricter guidelines in order to improve the lives of billions of animals who are slaughtered for their flesh.

After PETA informed Mobil, Texaco, Pennzoil, Shell, and other oil companies that millions of birds and bats were being burned alive after getting trapped in the shafts of their exhaust stacks, they all agreed to cover them. Following our campaign against General Motors' use of live pigs and ferrets in car-crash tests, all such gruesome and deadly experiments on animals stopped worldwide.

Where We're Going Our brothers and sisters of other species are being abused and exploited every second of every day. Let's put ourselves in their place: We would ache for someone to do everything possible to help us! If we care about animals, we must continually spread the message that all beings deserve to be left in peace and treated with respect. We must actively work toward a day when all animals are treated as the unique individuals that they are—not as research tools or toys, as food or fabric, or as props or protection. Circumstances for animals will change only if we create that change. So let's not waste our voices, our power, our consumer clout, or our lives. Until every cage is empty, every chain is broken, and every animal is treated with dignity, we must never be complacent and never be silent. Make the animal liberation movement a part of your life—living, feeling beings are counting on you.

Special Thanks to Ingrid Newkirk and all the Staff at PETA who helped us with this Edition.

All photos courtesy by PETA 15 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e November 2018

Photos courtesy by PETA

Have you seen Gretchen?!

Missing since 11/11/2016 Please contact us

info@theedenmagazine.com

17 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e November 2018

When Imagination meets Awareness

preserving Mother Earth

By Alexia Melocchi

When Danish poet Hans Christian Anderson published The Little Match Girl in 1845, little did he know that his sad short story about a dying child’s dreams and hope would make it to the big screen more than once. Since its first silent short movie adaptation in 1902, others followed, including a Disney animated short and a handful of features about the subject. This was a testimony of the ongoing desire of Hollywood to give through the visual image of film, and with simple stories appealing to people of all ages, an opportunity to reflect on issues that are part of our humanity and society, and to facilitate a soul awakening.

Much has been said about Hollywood movies becoming too political and negative when wanting to bring into focus the human condition and the future that lies ahead for future 18 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e November 2018

generations, but if we look at the most memorable films about Mother Earth, these films stay forged in our minds because of their “fairy tale” like qualities. Art, when highly entertaining, emits a very high and universal vibration, and can ignite within us one the most wonderful qualities of the human spirit, the capacity to feel and therefore to be more compelled to create inner and outer change. This incredible reaction is often triggered when what we look at with our human eyes elicits within us the most powerful emotion and vibration of them all- LOVE. Two films with a powerful environmental message and a tone that created a perfect alchemy of love and imagination are the fantasy film AVATAR, from Titanic director James Cameron and WALL- E, a delightful family film that made the animation studio PIXAR a household name.

This incredibly imaginative movie appealed to everyone, as adults get the deep spiritual message of Avatar, while children are being entertained by their flying blue people and the fairy tale creatures of Pandora. To educate the children on how to recycle, just a year earlier, a little known animation company called Pixar, made a movie about an adorable robot, whose name was WALL- E, living in an utopian spaceship while Earth down below was being cleaned up by the garbage and landfill that covered up its surface. Even though the message is that human dependence to technology could have disastrous consequences and that much like in Avatar, our planet’s demise is created by humans, strangely enough it is this adorable piece of technology, a Robot with a childlike innocence and sense of wonder that saves the day. WALL- E has discovered a tiny sprout of a plant while cleaning up Earth’s garbage and decides to preserve and protect it by taking it back to the spaceship and nurse it with a little TLC and some water, to keep it alive so that it can be replanted and a new cycle on Earth can begin and everyone can return home.

Once again, the imagination of a group of humans from Hollywood, created a little animated piece of metal, made of nuts and bolts, so lovable and full of love, that was

given the task of shaping our kids, with a movie that stirs in kids and adult alike a sense of wonder, ingenuity and innovation.

Our imagination are the most important thing we have.

And LOVE is the fuel that feeds that fire. As another well -loved children’s movie character once said based upon Dr. Seuss classic book THE LORAX”: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.”

Seems that Hollywood has gotten it right a few times and since the sad ending of The Little Match Girl where everyone turned a blind eye on what was obvious in front of them, more inspiring films followed. And when these timeless movies come around, they continue to press on us that this fragile and beautiful planet that we all live in, can be saved, with the power of Love and every little gesture that shows we “get it”. I hope you will go outside after reading this, and relish on the beauty of Nature.

When you truly love what you see with all your senses, you will want to do your share to keep it alive.

? ?

AVATAR is set in a distant future in the lush planet of PANDORA, where humans are entering it as winged blue color Avatars to exploit and to destroy its natural green resources. Sounds familiar? It is easy to identify Pandora as an imaginative depiction of Earth’s Amazon rainforest and its rapid deforestation, which is depleting our planet of precious oxygen. But truly the entryway to awareness is the main story about the discovery of a greater purpose through the transformational power of love. Our hero falls for a Pandora native woman, and seeing her world through her pure eyes, realizes that these “primitive “natives, with their deep connection to their Planet, and appreciation of its gifts, are more spiritually evolved than his technologically dependent race. Therefore Jake, our hero, by becoming present to the beauty that surrounds him, connects with his heart and decides to protect this fragile planet and the woman he loves, using his newfound voice to convince the greedy corporations that hired him, to stop destroying the trees, even if that meant risking the lives of his friends and his own. The movie’s theme song is appropriately called I SEE YOU- because if we truly see the inner light in one another, we will NATURALLY, pardon the pun, want to preserve everything that allows us to be alive and to stay alive, and all that is contained in all of Nature. The film earned 2.8 Billion Dollars to date and the sequels Avatar 2 and 3 are in production and will be released in the coming years.

Alexia Melocchi is an accomplished film producer and worldwide distribution executive and the partner of Beverly Hills based LITTLE STUDIO FILMS. Alexia Melocchi has an experience of more than twenty years in in Hollywood and has produced 11 award wining movies and 3 documentaries that were shot by emerging film makers that she has personally discovered and mentored.

She also acquires on behalf of her international distributor clients films and television shows from all over the world for release in the Middle East, Italy, Greece, Spain, Canada, South America and Germany. She attends all major film festivals in the USA and abroad and has been often invited as an expert panelist on the Film Business for high profile film and television conventions.

Alexia is fluent in five languages and is the proud mama to 3 rescue cats. She supports environmental and animal causes , meditates daily, and is an avid reader of spiritual and self helps books.

IG @lexybella @LttleStudioFlms 19 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e November 2018

What is Love?

By Teal Swan

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The one thing that most of us want to identify with and draw to ourselves is love. But what is love? We often mistake love for the feeling of approval. Approval is a very close brother to love because when we approve of something, we pull it close to ourselves and can accept it as part of ourselves. By approving of something, we are, in essence, not rejecting it.

But at the most fundamental level, to love something is to take it as part of yourself. It’s an experience more than it could ever be a concept. Love is inclusive. It’s the energetic movement towards oneness. When you love something, you energetically pull it toward you and include it as you.

The exact opposite vibration of love is fear. To fear is to separate something from yourself. Fear is exclusive. It’s the energetic movement towards individualization. When you fear something, you push it away and dis-include it from you. Love allows you to access one of the most fundamental realities in this universe which is oneness. We may perceive there to be separate things in the world, but of course this perception is an illusion. We are all comprised of the same energy that is merely expressing itself as different things.

Think about the movement of energy when a person thinks “I hate” or “I don’t want” or “I don’t like” or makes negative judgments, it’s the energy of pushing things away. It is separation by its very nature. And wherever you have separation, you have a state of loneliness.

There is only one type of pain in this universe and that pain is separation. There is only one kind of happiness in this universe and that happiness is unity. Any time you feel pain of any kind it means that you feel separate from something and any time you feel happiness of any kind, it means that you feel united with something.

In order to live fully, the new question toward the things you fear and hate needs to be, “How can I love this thing?” Ultimately, the answer is, “How can I not?”

Even if you currently hate it, it’s part of you whether you like it or not. It is part of the oneness that is the most fundamental truth of this universe. Even if you push it away, it’s still part of this universe, which is one.

So it’s still part of you.

For thousands of years, duality within the universe has been like a war between good versus evil and both sides steadfastly unwilling to see itself in the other. For thousands of years, we have been trying to become divine so as to get away from our humanity. We have been trying to become good so we could eradicate evil. But the universal teachers saw this all quite differently. When people were able to integrate their humanity and divinity (people such as The Buddha and Christ), they came to humanity and did not teach about good and evil. Instead what they taught was love. And they did not teach to love selectively. Jesus, famous for lovingly caretaking the lepers in society, taught his followers to love all things because all things are a part of you. He taught to love what you currently push away from yourself. He taught to love unconditionally. He did not say that there were any exceptions, because there are no exceptions.

The Buddha recognized his adversary Mara as himself.

He saw Mara as being equally responsible for his own enlightenment. And he did not teach to cast Mara out or defeat him so as to separate from him. Instead he taught his disciples to metaphorically invite their own Mara in for tea. You will find this same truth about love in all the major religious and spiritual leaders at their core.

The universe wants us to actualize oneness once more.

It’s calling us home. It has been calling us home for centuries upon centuries upon centuries. And listeners distort that call. They warp it to fit in with their own culturally ingrained resistance. The universe is a mirror of us. We are a microcosm in the bigger macrocosm. We are a fractal of God. For the universe to become one, we must become one. We will do that by integrating, which

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means we must love the aspects of us that we do not currently love. To love something in this way, you must take it as a valid part of yourself regardless of whether you feel positive towards it or not. We need to pull close and see ourselves in the aspects of us that we want to push away. The time has come for love to be unconditional.

This has been extracted from Teal Swan’s Anatomy of Loneliness priced £12.99 out on October 18th.

2 Teal Swan is an internationally recognized spiritual leader and powerful voice in the field of Metaphysics. As a renowned author, speaker and social media star, she travels the world teaching self development and spiritual growth.

Teal was born with a range of extrasensory abilities, including clairvoyance, clairsentience, and clairaudience. She is a survivor of severe childhood abuse. Today she uses her extrasensory gifts as well as her own harrowing life experience to inspire millions of people towards authenticity, freedom and joy. Her worldwide success has earned her the nickname “The Spiritual Catalyst.”

In conjunction with her vision of creating positive world change, Teal Swan founded HEADWAY FOUNDATION, a nonprofit company that enables ideas, goals and ventures that are aimed at positive world change to become actualized. In the years to come, Headway Foundation will encompass programs, centers, companies and products in the areas of justice reform, education, end of life care, self help, healing, parenting, integrative medicine, food industry reform and spirituality. Headway Foundation seeks to create the changes within our society that will create a better life for all beings who call this earth their home.

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Make Your Mornings Magical

By Ashley Ellington Brown You already have a morning routine, whether you’ve intentionally created it or not. The question is, does it feed you or drain you? As Master Healer Sonia Sommer says, “If you wake up stressed, make coffee, and gulp it down while you check emails, that can be lifeless. It doesn’t feed your soul. Remember the grace, beauty, and magic that live in you. It’s like your radio, where you have preset stations: set yourself on the highest possible frequency for the day.”

Creating a morning ritual is about taking charge of your day from the very beginning, gently, with purpose. It helps you start the day mindfully so you are calm and centered throughout the rest of the day.

Here are several characteristics of a beneficial morning ritual: • You choose it just for you.

• It makes you feel good and benefits you in some way—makes you calmer, energizes you, gets you focused, brings you joy.

• It lifts you up rather than weighing you down. It doesn’t feel like an obligation, but rather something you can’t wait to do each day.

A morning ritual can help you transform your life. We spend much of our lives on autopilot and can end up in a life we didn’t consciously create. Taking a moment through a morning ritual to pay attention can produce incredible results. Self-awareness helps us see what’s working in our lives and what’s not. Being still opens the lines of communication to our inner selves and clears the way for insights. These insights

guide us toward our true selves and what will fulfill us.

And taking time for yourself doesn’t just benefit you, it benefits others. A morning ritual empowers you to be your best self. Life coach Carla Robertson says that her morning ritual helps her be more compassionate. She says, “For example, when I’m crossing the street, rather than seeing the traffic, I’ll look at each person driving and think, ‘Oh, I hope you have a nice morning.’”

When your energy is calm, you emanate peace, and that affects those around you. As you go about your day you can spread positive energy, uplifting family, friends, coworkers—even strangers.

When you do a morning ritual, says painter and creativity coach Tracy Verdugo, “The day flows more easily. It doesn’t avalanche from bad mood to argument to mishap. You know how that can happen—something goes wrong first thing and it seems like bad stuff just keeps happening. If you have a centering ritual in the morning, especially if it’s around gratitude or self-acceptance, your day can switch right there. It will then unfold in a different, better way. You’ll attract positive rather than negative things.”

You don’t have to wake up early to find time for a restorative ritual each day. You can probably find a pocket of time in your existing morning routine that you can use for something uplifting. For example, do you check your phone?

Instead of that, read something inspirational or meditate for a few minutes.

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Or, you can repurpose something you already do. Being mindful during daily activities can have the same restorative effect as a morning ritual. Here are some specific ideas: • Before you get out of bed, take five slow, deep breaths. Mentally repeat a calming word like “peace.”

• While you’re getting ready or commuting to work, say a lovingkindness meditation in your head: “May I be well. May I be happy.

May I be filled with peace.” Or, count your blessings. Make a mental list of everything that you’re grateful for.

• Make your shower a retreat. Take deep breaths and try a meditation that Reiki Master Tanja Richter does. She says, “I pay attention to the water hitting my head and streaming downward, and picture it washing all the negative stuff out of me and down the drain. I imagine the fresh water replenishing me with new blessings for the day. It’s short but very powerful.”

As you consider what to do in your morning ritual, choose what makes you happy, what sparks you, what feels right for you. The result is what counts, not the method. Decide how you want to feel, then pick a method that delivers that feeling for you. If you want to be calmer and meditation makes you calm, meditate. If meditation stresses you out, it’s not the right method for you.

Also, start small. Keep it simple and achievable. What tiny tweaks to your existing routine could you implement tomorrow? Life coach Anna Kunnecke recommends, “Start with just one thirty-second or sixty-second action. Doing a sixty-second ritual every day will give you a lot more 26 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e November 2018

bang for your buck than doing a three-hour ritual once or twice. Then, as you implement that and do it for about three months, you’ll feel the results of the habit, and it will be easier to add more if you want to.”

Add a little magic to your day with a morning ritual, and watch how your life transforms!

1 Ashley Brown is an awardwinning author who grew up in New Orleans and graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in Foreign Affairs (which she did not use, although she had a lot of fun getting it).

She worked as an advertising copywriter and account executive, book editor, and employee communications manager for the world’s third-largest death care firm before becoming a freelance writer in 2000. She also authors the blog, Joy Detectives. Her writing has appeared on The Daily Positive and in the anthology Song of Ourself: Voices in Unison. Brown’s own morning ritual inspired her to write A Beautiful Morning in order to share this powerful tool with others. She lives in Florida with her husband, son, and their rescued beagle, Snoopy.

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Happiness is in

non-attachment

By Jayita Bhattacharjee

Life is a flow and flows it best while we learn to flow in a non-attached way. Learning to live life in that manner, so the coming and going leaves us untouched, unaffected, is the art of finding happiness as we dance with the wilder waves of life. This is the dance that brings our body, mind and soul in alignment, in harmony, in peace without any conflict. While we all live in an ecstasy of life, yet the ultimate ecstasy is with the divine. As all else comes and goes, but the one that always lives with us, within us, is the divine ecstasy. If ever you forget to get in touch with the ecstatic divine, that is already seeded in you from birth, then make peace with silence. It is in this silence, that you will find yourself again, the lost you, the wanderer you, the homeless you-- will find the home again.

In this discovery, do we learn and relearn, how to still dance to every beat of life, yet never get attached to anything that comes or goes in this voyage of life. It is in detachment, that you will learn to dance fully with the waves of the sea, come as they may, as the light of non-attached living will show you how to plunge deep, and how to rise again, in the sudden splashing of waves. We replay every moment, that we could ever remember. Life comes with all times, invited or uninvited, welcome or unwelcome. But still we feel the need for intimacy, the need for security, while encountering the phases of life. Yet we feel the silent fear grabbing us, grasping us as insecurity sits on our minds.

How do you give in to the call of life, while you yourself are living in a shell of fear? Don’t you think, its time you release that which holds you back? In this releasing lies your freedom, in this releasing, can you find the breath of life again. As one thing departs in life, it will be time for something else to arrive, as in this departing and arriving, does life flow at its very best. Getting stuck on the sandy shores, keeps your feet from moving. There lies the sea, in front of you, dancing in its most natural flow, calling you, enticing you, inviting you to join the waves one more time. Too often, we get entangled in the web of attachment, that we seem to lose control of ourselves.

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We lose our foresight, our hindsight in the pull of attachment. Living life richly can only happen by loving everything, loving every view that you see of life in the light of this awakening, an awakening that will guide you to see life in a whole new way. This awakening has been the call of life that you so needed. The awakening helps you to be fully alive emotionally yet guides you to be present in every moment, in a very unattached manner.

The coming and the leaving, the arriving and departing is never going to take you away from the peace of your mind. It is then, that you see the glimmer of joy in living life to the fullest. Joy can brim with hope, as you now see things in a new light. Pain comes in our lives, but our attachment to pain, and our resistance to a new beginning, can be the standing block on our ways. We become so used to living in the grip of pain, that it becomes our shell. The very shell that we make our home, the home of suffering for what happened and did not happen in the past. By being non-attached to the rushing and receding of the waves of life, do we learn how to truly take their coming and going. This is the heart of understanding life, as it comes. Such is the pearl of wisdom, the priceless pearl that gives the light that lives forever, the light of eternity.

Out of the need for attachment, comes the need for security, the need for belonging somewhere. Be in this world to live life as it comes, but never let the world live inside of you. Whether something is beautiful or not, to feel that, we need to live in that very moment, so we can feel alive in its beauty, when and as it comes. Instead the thought that consumes our minds, is-- will that last forever? Life has its peaks and bottoms. Bottoms that can leave us in endless despair. There is always a shifting landscape in our souls. Living in the present can lead you to delving in whatever that moment holds. It is in that living, do you find your place of eternity. We humans are innately afraid of loss. It is out of this fear, that we run away from our very own selves. It is this fear that keeps us away from living in the moment.

We fear, what if we get attached, and what if, someone someday, walks out of our lives? What then? Its our own neediness that we are afraid to face. So, we run far away from facing our own fears, as in this running, do we find a comfort, knowing we will not feel attached, will never cling to anybody or anything. In the process, we are not running away from others, we are running away from our selves. Such is the madness of our own souls.

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We explore ourselves, we go wild, we go frantic, in search of security, in search of feeling needed for a lifetime, only to find nothing can give us the peace of mind.

We drift from one thing to another in search of what stands in front of us, that peace, comes from within.

Our inner sanctuary can give us the peace that we so seek. What we seek is what we are seeded with. When we see the light of that realization, we no longer feel the desire, the yearning to be needed. As whom we need is ourselves, the unconditional acceptance of ourselves to us.

t Jayita Bhattacharjee was born in Calcutta, India and later on pursued education from University of Houston in Economics, she had chosen her career as a trustee and teacher.

Her Indian residence is in the vicinity of the famous Belurmath. Currently, she is settled in Tampa, Florida.

Her love for writing on a journey of heart and soul was hidden all within. Looking at the moments captured in love and pain, joy and grief, the hidden tragedies of life...it was a calling of her soul to write with the ink that kept flowing from her heart. This is what gave her the fulfillment, the richness in her soul.

Her books "The Ecstatic Dance of Life', " Sacred Sanctuary", " Light of Consciousness", "Dewdrops of Compassion" are meant to shed light on what guides a person to respond to the mystical voice hidden inside, to soar in a boundless expansion with the limitless freedom of spirit.

"It is in the deepest joy that I write with every breath of mine."

WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT Interview with Pina De Rosa

From Grief to Grace As a Mindset Effectiveness Expert and two-time TEDxSpeaker, Pina De Rosa has been delivering engaging keynotes for businesses and schools for 15+ years. She has been nominated for the L.A. Business Journal Woman Making A Difference 8 years in a row, speaks 5 languages, and holds 4 passports.
She is a certified pet grief counselor. Her passion project is #MissionWellington and his www.TreatsForPups.com philanthropic legacy, brining pet food blankets & supplies to the homeless pups living out in the streets. She is the president of www.GratitudeInternational.com. Through her book "Fit From The Inside Out" and her www.CollegeSpeakingWithPina.com, her commitment is to create a new legacy by ending sexual assault on college campuses around America.

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You moved here from Italy on your own at 18, learned English, started a great career, bought your own home, and fell in love with California…what was that like?

I was young and fearless and it was an amazing experience.

More importantly, I was following an inner dream....and actually living the dream. Though I was born and raised in Italy, I felt like I was in my element when I arrived in California. Los Angeles has always felt like home to me.

Why did you move here?

Because I wanted to tell stories to make people laugh, make people cry, think and take inspired-action.

Do you feel you have accomplished that?

I’d say yes and no as it’s an ongoing process, a never-ending

You are known as a Mindset Effectiveness Expert, and that's the basis for your TEDxTalk on the power of choice. What *is* a Mindset Effectiveness expert?

Most of us know that Einstein said 'Insanity" is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results”. In my practice, I work with people who are tired of doing the same thing over and over, and getting the same thoughts, actions, habits, results. I work with people who don't know how to stop, who want to end that internal battle, who want to get consistency in their results and get access to being in control once and for all.

What's a simple way to start - can you give us an actionable step / one thing that could impact the effectiveness of our reader? What are 3 powerful ways people can

project. I had the good fortune to be invited to speak on the TEDx stages in 2012 and in 2016. The first TEDx I did was on a trauma I experienced during my first year of college.

That talk was an opportunity to “pay it forward”, addressing how we can help turn a negative experience into a positive.

And most importantly, how do we get to be of service? I was raped during my first year on campus, and after addressing it in that TEDx, I created CollegeSpeakingWithPina.com .

Unfortunately, sexual assault is THE most under reported crime on college campuses, and we have an opportunity to end that by learning how to prevent it and creating a new legacy together! My mission of speaking on sexual assault prevention on college campuses around the country won’t stop until not another student, male or female, no one has to endure what I went through.

overcome fear that’s holding them back?

First recognize that there is something at play. The second step is to reach out to an expert who can effectively support you in getting past that blind spot, and the last one is to be willing to do something different about it - recognize you’ve taken it as far as you can on your own. The guidance, the support and perspective from someone else may be exactly what you need to get you to the other side.

What steps did you take to get to where you are?

For me, the steps have always been to “follow the YESes”.

Every time there’s a no, I have to remind myself it’s a yes to something else. It may take a while to find it, so after the initial resistance, simply remembering that I am being nudged in the right direction…and trusting it.

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I know you have a favorite charity -- a 'passion project.'

Can you tell us about it?

I recently went through the deepest of heartbreaks. My Golden Doodle Wellington had been given a 2-6 months prognosis with a rare cancer lodged inside his heart. Only 14 days after his diagnosis, he suddenly died while he was in treatment. I never got to say goodbye to him… the deepest heartbreak I have ever felt. I couldn’t function for a long time, and it hurt to even breathe. I was so gutted by how suddenly it all unfolded, that while I was tending to my own healing, I started wondering how many people are walking around with that same bullet in their hearts? And, most importantly, what support is available to them? After a lot of research, I applied for an intensive pet grief counseling training certification. With the blessing of the Association of Pet Loss and Bereavement & the American Association of Veterinary State Boards I became certified as a pet bereavement counselor and I find it very rewarding to see clients who are experiencing this loss and being able to support them through it. My PetBereavementCounseling.com is live, and linked to Yelp reviews.

You might wonder how does this relate to my “passion project” and favorite charity? When Wellington was alive, he & I used to drive around town during Thanksgiving and Christmas giving out doggie food and blankets to the pups living in the streets with their homeless owners (less than 5% of shelters take people with a doggie, which is why very often homeless people stay in the streets to not give up their dog).

One of the things that grew even more after Wellington’s heart suddenly stopped is his #MissionWellington philanthropic project: www.TreatsForPups.com.

Though my boy is no longer here, his legacy keeps expanding, and every week now I get to provide doggie food, blankets and supplies to the homeless pups living in the streets!

As of December our local Petco in North Hollywood, CA, is our newest drop off location. Aside from our neighborhood Petco, there are other shops, businesses and even offices that have come on board as drop-off locations throughout Los Angeles, Portland, Philadelphia as well as additional cities coming soon (all listed on TreatsForPups.com. Seeing such expansion heals my soul every time my heart misses him (lots of instastories & videos on his Instagram). If you want to take a peek how it’s all been unfolding, please visit www.Instagram.com/ LifeAccordingToWellington.

After Welly’s heart stopped, I really thought his #Mission Wellington would too. His legacy expanded, his www.Instagram.com/LifeAccordingToWellingto grew five fold, and now every week we get to give out his #MissionWellington “doggie bags”.

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I am beyond grateful to my sweet boy for teaching me all this goodness. People now keep our #MissionWellington “doggie bag” on the front seat of their car, and when they see a homeless person with a four-legged companion at the end of an offramp or somewhere around town, they gift it on to them. We are also beta testing new cities, so if Wellington’s legacy resonates with you, we have a very simple way to expand in your area and we invite you to check out the FAQ section of www.

TreatsForPups.com so you can see how you can get involved.

What’s your most recent lesson?

That are are many ways to turn private pain into public service. On April 26, 2018 I adopted a 14 year old yellow lab with bone cancer. He had been left in a building when his owners moved. He didn’t have a name, I named him “Handsome”. His prognosis was 1-2 weeks, so I wanted to ensure he had care, dignity and that he did not have a loveless exit. Handsome was the bravest soul I ever met, and I was fortunate he was with me 20 ½ weeks. Project Charity Pants did a beautiful 2 min video in honor of his “it’s-never-too-late-to-adopt” legacy, and it is linked on my www.PetBereavementCounseling.com website.

Our hope is this will help so many animals abandoned like Handsome find love even at the end of their lives. Loving him was a gift & being of service to him was my honor.

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THE WAY I SEE IT

By Joe Santos, Jr.

Photographer Monique

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Mirror, mirror on the wall If it were only that simple and if it were, would we accept its answer? Have we forgotten what we look like? Do we really know? Is it only the physical aspect that inspires us, excites us, threatens us, confuses us, or is it something more? Something deeper that we can only find in our silence and in our ability to trust what’s behind our eyes in order to see a part of our soul. For some, it’s all too frightening. For others, all too familiar. We are all “afraid" of something in ourselves. But what are we replacing our fears with? For some, it’s subtle changes, minor adjustments. A new attitude, a broader outlook on life, self expression, a change in dress, hair color or style, a change of career and home. For others, it’s more drastic. Extreme cosmetic surgery, excessive tattoos and piercings, dramatic weight loss, weight gain, fanaticism in religion, alcoholism, drug abuse, or sex addiction, erratic behavior. Things that take us farther away from our true reflection and eventually to a place that we may never be able to find our way back from. We see it every day. We judge others because they remind us of our fears. It’s easier to refer to them negatively than to take and apply the reminder to ourselves and repair our hurt, our pain, our egos. Instead, we mock, criticize and ridicule those who intimidate us simply by being themselves. It’s nothing new. It’s called insecurity.

But in order to change this, we must first see all of our good, bad and indifference, acknowledge it, accept it, embrace it or fix it. Easier said, than done for most of us. But there is hope. There is evolution and within that evolution there is growth and change. There is also bravery and triumph.

A little boy looks in a mirror one day and sees himself as a little girl. A little girl sees herself as a little boy, a black person may see him or herself as white, an Asian sees a different eye shape, a size 4 woman sees herself too fat, a buff, fit man sees himself as scrawny, another hears a different accent before speaking, someone else sees them-

selves as rich or regal, others broken and poor, some as happy when sad or visa-versa, and on and on. We live in a world and time where we can become our reflection but, can only be successful at it if we listen closely to our inner truth and make the commitment to become the very best of what we believe we see. In other words, if one sees oneself as The Queen of England, and for all intent and purposes we know damn well she is not, then her only hope for true happiness is that she at least behave and conduct her life as such! It’s complicated at best, simple at a cost. The cost being the loss of those who can’t or won’t look beyond the mirror and seek their authenticity, and search for their happiness. We can find our personal best if we keep it real. Keep it true. Make it our own. Reveal it, express it, and be proud of it. Trust it. Be kind to it, stay humble and honor ourselves, and at all times remember to be patient with those who may not have accepted their own reflection quite yet.

And if all else fails… there is therapy.

2 Joe Santos, Jr. is a Celebrity Chef and Life-Stylist.

He joins The Eden Magazine as a writer sharing his unique view on life, death, love, and the avoidance of mediocrity.

Follow Joey on Instagram @jojoboy13

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Arpa IFF 2018 to Showcase Inspiring Lineup of Films from Around the World

HOLLYWOOD—The 21st Annual Arpa International Film Festival (Arpa IFF), being held at Hollywood’s historic Egyptian Theatre from November 2 to 4, has announced the lineup of 46 films from 17 countries being screened this year. Arpa IFF will once again highlight a diverse range of films that explore themes such as genocide, war, feminism, family dynamics, environmentalism, music, art, adoption, intersectional identities, and LGBTQ issues.

Honorees this year include: Edward James Olmos - Lifetime Achievement Award Academy Ed Asner – Icon Award Natalie Qasabian - Rising Star Award Sveva Alviti - Career Achievement Award For tickets (Individual Screenings, All-Access Passes, Day Passes) and a full schedule of this year’s film screenings, please visit www.arpafilmfestival.com Arpa Foundation for Film, Music and Art (AFFMA) is a non-profit 501 (3) (c) organization. To date, AFFMA has awarded over 150 individuals with grants in support of their creative endeavors. Through its Arpa International Film Festival, AFFMA has recognized industry legends, with Lifetime Achievement, Career Achievement, Humanitarian and Breakthrough Artist Awards. Arpa International Film Festival takes great pride in working toward recognizing the diverse tapestry of international talent and presenting it to an appreciative audience. We place a strong emphasis on filmmakers’ unique artistic vision, cultural diversity and social understanding.

Edward James Olmos, Sveva Alviti, Ed Asner, Natalie Qasabian,

Reclaming Your True Self

By Angela Dunning

The Divine Timing in Healing

There are many layers, levels and stages that we go through in our healing process. Yet in my experience, whatever we are ready for and able to endure will begin to unfold in our lives. I have found that healing can never be forced.

In addition, it is very helpful to avoid viewing healing as insufficient in any way, because the truth is we will only ever be able to deal with what is happening right now, rather than some unrealistic version of what we want to experience or see change in our life.

As reliable as the pace of change in nature, so too does change happen for us at exactly the right pace. We can only descend to the depths which we are able to endure at that moment. Like nature, our psyche, or soul, will make us face that which it knows we can cope with, nothing more; nothing less.

We know this to be true because when we look back and review what we have been through in our lives; what we have endured and come out of the other side, we can see that what we were facing at that point in our life was exactly what was needed for our healing.

Furthermore, undertaking such a ‘life review’ enables us to see with a new-found level of confidence that we can endure so much more now as a result of our enlarged capacity. A capacity which has been deepened and widened by all the additional experiences we have been through; by all the additional losses, achievements, relationships and misfortunes. As a result, we are more resilient now too.

This also helps us to greatly deepen our capacity for self-compassion. We find that we can now look back on ourselves with so much more love and compassion, as we understand more clearly, that back then, we could only cope with that which was right for us at that precise time.

In addition, we can see just how much further we have come, which is also a very empowering experience.

Recently, during such a review of my life I was able to see very clearly how timing was the essential aspect in determining what took place and what didn’t. While taking in this understanding of the centrality of timing, I felt waves of deep self-love and compassion wash over me as I honored the unseen forces guiding and protecting me through this lifetime.

Throughout my life I have witnessed a similar divine timing in the healing of my closest animal companions too. My beloved horse, North Star showed me this during

the last year of his life with me. It was clear that he was now ready and able to go much deeper. Whereas before, he wouldn’t have been able to cope with such depths, it was too soon and too much for him then; more time was needed to pass in order to bring him to a place where he was ready to try to let go of his trauma and pain.

Witnessing the vastly different healing experiences he underwent with the intervening period of five years reaffirmed for me again the key role that timing plays in healing.

Learning to honor the divine element of timing in healing as we are beginning another phase of growth or facing a significant life change, can be very reassuring for us personally or indeed in our role as care-giver to those we love. We can be comforted by this very grounding truth: That the timing is always right and perfect for where we are now and where we need to go next. In doing so, we can shed our resistances, unnecessary efforts to control the process, and instead, surrender to a higher force which is creating the optimum conditions for healing to occur.

Angela Dunning is the author of The Horse Leads the Way: Honoring the True Role of the Horse in Equine Facilitated Practice. You can learn more about Angela; her work helping people and horses reclaim their wildness, and read more of her articles at: www.thehorsestruth.co.uk You can also connect with Angela on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehorsestruth or www.thehorsestruth.co.uk

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An Interview with Sixtus Z. Atabong Author of My Father's Gift

Sixtus Z. Atabong, PA-C, President and Founder of Purpose Medical Mission (PMM) is a neurosurgery Physician Assistant. PMM is a nonprofit organization focusing on developing sustainable healthcare infrastructure and services in developing countries. It has helped build clinics and hospitals in Cameroon, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Nicaragua, and Guatemala. Sixtus believes in empowering communities with the knowledge and tools to address the global threat of health disparity and lack of basic education.

Sixtus is the recipient of numerous local and national awards for his leadership and humanitarian work, including the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Hall of Fame Award and the American Red Cross Humanitarian of Year Award. In 2013, he was awarded the PA Service to the Underserved Award by the American Academy of Physician Assistants.

Sixtus was born and raised in a small farming village in Muyuka Sub-division, Cameroon, West Africa. He migrated to the United States in 1995 where he faced many challenges, but eventually obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Clinical Laboratory Sciences and a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies. He uses his life experiences and voice to motivate individuals on attaining their God-given purpose. He speaks on issues such as, living a purposeful life, realizing your American dream, financial independence, and racial relations.

Sixtus’ goals in life have been achieved through faith and self-determination. He enjoys traveling the world with his family and learning about different cultures. He lives in Lubbock, Texas, with his wife, Kyu Mee, and their two sons.

You were born and raised in a small farming village in Muyuka Sub-division, Cameroon, West Africa. Tell us what brought you to America?

I came to America after my parents sold their biggest, most productive cocoa farm so that I could have access to an American education. Their dream was to help their children escape unbearable hardships sustained during their poverty-stricken lives in Cameroon. They believed that America offered the best opportunity for children like me. Children with very little resources, but with a determination to work hard if given the chance. I came to America in search of opportunity, hope, and freedom.

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Tell us about your childhood and how impact your life to be today.

I was raised by parents who had no formal education.

They never learned to read or write, and in fact have never been able to spell their names. I grew up in a village with no running water, electricity or access to a health clinic.

My parents were farmers who worked from dusk until dawn to provide for their families. Everything we ate was grown and harvested by us. Growing up in a small village allowed me to understand the importance of human connection. We needed each other to survive. Hard work led to success. We learned to respect the balance between humans and the environment around us. If you take care of your environment, it will take care of you.

Tell us about American Dream that you talked about it in your book. Why is different than other countries?

In my opinion, there is no country on this earth better than the United States for immigrants. It allows everyone, regardless of class or financial status, the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential. While there are circumstances that can prevent individuals from attaining success, in relative terms, and from my personal experience, most immigrants in today’s America can be successful—as long as they put in the effort to achieve success. In America, you have to be smart and work hard to succeed. There are scammers, just like in Third World nations. But what the American Dream delivers that other countries don’t is FREEDOM. It’s the reason most people migrate from other countries to the United States. Freedom of opportunity. Freedom to do the things that give value and bring joy to your life. Simply put, as mentioned in our Declaration of Independence, the freedom to pursue your happiness. So, my definition of the American Dream is not the money, the big house, or the fancy car. I have achieved the American Dream by freeing myself and my family from the bondage of financial debt and an obsession for material possessions. I am free to use my resources in a manner that allows me to live an intentional life.

Do you believe we are facing racial discrimination and why? How the world can fix this matter?

The way I view race has been crucial in defining who I am today. In my book, My Father’s Gift, I write about race relations in America to encourage, and hopefully to inspire, an honest conversation about this topic. I am an African who came to the United States by choice. My black American counterparts were brought here against their will.

What they know is that their ancestors didn’t freely come here like I did. On the other hand, my white American friends tell me that they feel they are being blamed for

the sins of their ancestors. Though I have been a victim of racial prejudice, I don’t pretend to understand the atrocities that have taken place in the past in the name of racism, nor would I ever undermine the struggle for equality.

Certainly, the result of that struggle is what has allowed me the freedom to speak today. The one thing I know is that everyone wants to move on and raise their children in a place that is peaceful, loving and free. However, we are being held back by our past and our unwillingness to have an honest and respectful conversation on how racism affects our society. We are held back by our preconceived notions. Through the years, I have truly been blessed with friends from all races. I now understand that part of this is because of my preconception—or lack of it—about race, and the other part is my basic belief about the need for us to get rid of our prejudices and respect each other as created equal. Nelson Mandela once said, “No one is born hating another person because of the color of their skin or his background or religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than the opposite.”

Before we can do this, we must accept the truth about racism in America, listen and understand how it affects a society, and open our hearts to reconciliation.

So, how do we start this dialogue? First, we have to accept the facts and realities of race discrimination in America: 1. Slavery and slave trading did exist where people were considered less than human and sold to the highest bidder.

2. If someone is discriminated against solely because of the color of his or her skin, they feel angry and usually don’t forget this event.

3. When anyone is accused of being racist towards an other race and that wasn’t their intention, they feel angry and usually don’t forget.

4. Most people who are discriminated against or accused of racism usually develop protective psycho logical barriers against the other race, especially if the accused is innocent.

Once we all agree on these facts, we must figure out how to reconcile. We must be open to listening to others about how racial acts threaten the dignity of other human beings. Then, we have to understand that everyone deserves the basic right to fulfill his or her best potential. Finally, we must be willing to forgive each other.

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Tell us more about your book “My Father’s Gift”.

My Father’s Gift is about my family’s journey from a poverty and disease-stricken part of West Africa. At the age of 13, my father left his family and migrated out of his ancestral village to a different part of the country in search of hope. He would face major challenges, including corruption, class discrimination, hopelessness, but he triumphed against all odds to give his children the best care and education available. Eventually, he sacrificed his most valuable possession—his son—to the United States with nothing but the lessons learned while working the farms with him. I would face cultural, economic and social challenges in my early years in America, but through these obstacles I found myself and my way of giving back to my village in Africa and around the world.

I hope that my journey, especially my challenges, will inspire readers to embrace their own stories, appreciate what America represents, and redefine their own American Dream. I hope to ignite a passion for serving others, and in the process, make our communities and our world a better place than how we found it.

What is Purposeful charity? What makes you qualified to talk or make recommendations on how charity should be done?

Any act that is intended to help another person is always good. Because I am someone who has been on the receiving end of charity, and now find myself mostly on the giving end, I consider this my attempt to influence how collectively we can use charity to foster human dignity.

So, what is charity? Many people will tell you that charity is voluntarily helping someone with nothing in return. I beg to differ. Let’s be honest; we get something in return.

Sometimes we get more than we give. When you offer to help someone, the fulfillment you get from doing the act can’t be measured. There is no way to put a value to it. And the more you give of yourself, the more fulfilled you are. No one knows how long that fulfillment lasts.

But what if you were to give something that truly keeps on giving? What if you gave something that continues to give long after you are gone, something that doesn’t stop in your absence and wait for your next visit? This is what I call purposeful charity. It’s giving with purpose to help you and others get to a destination. To help you find your own way of giving.

I found my way of giving through the people and organization that helped me along the way. This is what Purpose Medical Mission is all about. When we travel to some of the most remote places on earth, I am reminded of what purposeful charity means to us, as well as the people 44 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e November 2018

we try to help. This is the message I always leave behind: If our volunteers can care for these people without knowing them, then they can certainly care for each other.

Show love for each other. This form of charity is most beneficial when dealing with the health or education of a group or community, the two aspects of life that that every living person on earth deserves. Remember, don’t see the people as victims, see them as partners. We need them as much as they need us. This partnership begins from day one, when we ask them how we can help.

You had a very close relationship with your father. Do you feel it is any different than what we have in here and if yes why?

Yes, I enjoyed a very special relationship with my father.

Growing up, none of us children had any doubt how much our parents loved and cared about us. Our relationship was great because that was a father-son relationship at its best in that part of the world. It was never a friendship. The father talks, the child listens. My father was a tough guy to please, and because of that we worked extremely hard to impress him. Now, I have come full circle. My wife and I are raising two beautiful boys in a society that couldn’t be more different from where we were both born. However, we will face similar fears and challenges as we try to balance discipline and building a solid relationship for them. Contrary to my dad, I strive to build a friendly relationship with my boys to enable them to have an open communication with me. In a society where they will be faced with many options as they get older, I want to make sure that they feel confident in my ability to protect them, care for them, and provide for them just like I felt with my father. I can’t help, however, asking myself what my dad would say if he saw my kids wasting food, wanting something different than what is presented to them on the dinner table, or watching me negotiate and compromise with them. That was never the case with my father’s family.

It’s a different way of parenting, but in the end, like my parents, I believe that we are their initial window to the world. I must give them the tools to not only succeed in life but to find their purpose on this earth, and to seize every opportunity to help others find theirs.

You are the Founder of Purpose Medical Mission, what exactly does this foundation aim for?

I founded Purpose Medical Mission ten years ago as my way of giving back to my community in Cameroon. I wanted to use the skills as a Neurosurgery Physician Assistant to improve the lives of others with no access to health care around the world. Purpose Medical Mission is a nonprofit organization focusing on developing sustainable healthcare infrastructure and services in developing countries. It has helped build clinics and hospitals in Cameroon, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Nicaragua, and Guatemala. We strive to achieve long term and self-sustaining communities where extreme poverty and lack of health education is a problem. We believe that through spiritual healing and preventive care a healthy community can enable itself to withstand the challenges of tomorrow. We believe in empowering people by helping the people take care of themselves.

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What does it really mean to grow up in a third world country, and why do you think people want to live their homeland to start a new life in a different country?

I thoroughly enjoyed my childhood in my village in Cameroon. As children we had very little to worry about. We were cut out from the outside world as we had no television, phone, or access to the internet. Because everything we consumed came from our farms we truly believed that we were wealthy and blessed. Unfortunately, as we grew older we were faced with challenges of corruption, bribery, and lack of opportunities. As a result, there is a general feeling of hopelessness as parents are uncertain about the future of their children The most dreadful thing that one person can to do to another is to take away their hope, or intentionally prevent them from attaining their full potential.

This happens every day around the world, especially in third world nations like Cameroon, my birth country, where the only way to maintain power and control of the people or the country’s resources is to deprive people of their rights to control their own destiny. It stems from the highest levels of government where corrupt officials use public funds to enrich themselves and their friends at the expense of the civilians. Some civilians feel that they have to bribe healthcare professionals just to see a medical provider. There is complete lack of respect for free speech or human rights. The root cause of these problems is greed, power, and the absence of any moral conscience by these perpetrators. As I mentioned before, people migrate to the United States in search of hope and freedom from developing countries like Cameroon as they run away from tyranny and despair.

The first step to solving these problems is to start holding these corrupt governments responsible for fleecing their country’s resources. I am still hopeful that there will be a change of hearts on a larger scale, and that our children can one day visit and maybe live in a free and fair Cameroon where hard work and honesty will be respected, and people will have a government that truly cares for the well-being of its citizens.

How can your mission help children every year in their journeys?

Tomorrow’s success starts by recognizing our strengths and weaknesses today. It starts from a young age by promoting hard work, setting achievable goals, embracing our challenges, self-determination, and respecting others.

Giving up on our challenges could be an easy way out, but this is how we define ourselves. Helping our youth 46 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e November 2018

in developing countries and the United States find their unique abilities and purpose despite their challenges.

Building self-esteem by recognizing that we are a gift perfectly created for a purpose. Minimizing the entitlement mentality by teaching our kids that hard works leads to success, and if you want something bad enough, you must be willing to work for it. I am living proof that through hard work, self-determination, perseverance, and a belief in our purpose, you can achieve your potential in the United States.

How can we follow our Life’s Purposes with everything happening in our world around us?

For anyone struggling to find their purpose in life, you must realize that we are each other’s Passport to Purpose.

Every human interaction is an opportunity for us to help each other find our purpose. We can help each other search for our own “who, what, and why”—definine ourselves—venture outside our comfort zones and own our identity. Most often, that identity is found through serving others. We don't know God's plans for us tomorrow.

What we can control today is making ourselves physically and spiritually available to serve whenever needed and using our daily interactions to improve the lives of others.

Using our life experiences to inspire others.

What is your message to our readers, and how individual can help your foundation?

The American Dream is alive and well if you are willing to put in the work to achieve it. I hope to inspire my readers to make changes that would transform their lives, and in the process, have lasting positive impacts in their communities and the world around them. I hope to encourage them to live a purposeful life and be the voice of change that our world so desperately need at a time like this.

You can visit our organization website: www.purposemedicalmission.org to learn what we do, or www.sixtusatabong.com to learn more about me and my book My Father’s Gift.

My Father’s Gift is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

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The Science 48 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e November 2018

of Precognition

By Dr Julia Mossbridge & Theresa Cheung

Precognition is the scientific name for a group of abilities that have to do with knowing or using information about the future without drawing on information from the five senses, memory, or logic. Premonitions are one of those abilities – a premonition is a feeling or sense about a future event. But precognition includes premonition as well as other ways of knowing, so precognition is the umbrella term that includes premonitions. So what exactly is precognition, again?

Finally, it asked again, and I decided it was a good time for a break. I left my office, sweating like a dog, and walked to the compound to get the ice tea.

Then I headed back to the trailer. The trailer was in a security compound, and when I returned, it was all secured.

I wasn’t allowed in. I wondered why, and later found out that about a minute after I’d left, a 120mm rocket had impacted right next to the trailer; stuck like a dart into the ground. It would have killed anyone in the vicinity – but it If every Thursday you get a call from Aunt Millie, it’s not was not fused correctly. It could have killed me just by imprecognition to feel like she’ll call on a Thursday. If it’s pact, even if it didn’t explode.” What are the two corresponraining, it’s not precognition to bring an umbrella out so dences here? They are the feeling of urgency and Craig’s you don’t get wet. If a particular subject in school is diffi- leaving the trailer to go to the compound. If Craig had just cult for you and you haven’t studied for a test, a dream that felt that he wanted ice tea but not in an urgent way, the you might fail the test would not be considered precogni- story would not seem so precognitive – he would have tive, though it might be tragically accurate! In addition, been feeling he wanted ice tea when the rocket hit. Or if there’s always coincidence – which can Craig urgently felt he wanted something explain a lot. To be reasonably convinced A premonition is a feeling or to drink, but he just got some water that genuine precognition has occurred in sense about a future event. from the trailer, no impressive precogniyour daily life, you would need to meet But precognition includes tion. In order for us to call this experipremonition as well as other ence a genuinely precognitive one, Craig all of the following criteria: ways of knowing, so precog- had to decide he urgently wanted to do • Two or more correspondences between nition is the umbrella term something that could only be achieved that includes premonitions. by leaving the trailer and going far away the precognition and the event.

• A reasonably short delay between the in order to avoid the rocket strike. precognition and the event.

• No way of predicting or causing the event yourself in 2. Here’s a precognition experience with all the elements the normal course of your daily life, even using your plus extra credit. According to a newspaper story in Janunconscious mind. uary 2018, a Virginian named Victor Amole dreamed • Extra credit if you record the experience before the event about the numbers 3-10-17-26-32. He had never had occurs (so you don’t fool yourself with false memories). a dream like that before. He decided to enter the lottery using those numbers. In fact, he entered four times. He won, Here are two of many examples of spontaneous each ticket being worth $100,000. Five numbers (five corprecognitive experiences that fit these requirements: respondences), all recorded before the event. In this case, 1. Craig Hendricks, a 65-year-old retired US Army the odds of anyone’s dream of five random numbers being Officer Sergeant 1st Class who now lives in San Diego, accurate are easy to calculate – according to the Virginia California, tells a story of a compulsion he had while lottery, they were 1 in 278,256 for that draw. in the Joint Inter- Agency Task Force in Baghdad. “We had a trailer, there were 20 of us with our computers. We While some scientists who study precognition study sponwere doing research. One day as I was sitting there in this taneous precognition (outside the lab), most of them study air-conditioned space, it occurred to me that I needed to precognition using controlled tests administered in the lab get an ice tea. I never drank ice tea. We had plenty of cold or over the internet. Instead of going through all the results water and it was 112°F outside. But I had this thought – from these studies, here is a summary: there is statistically ‘I really want some ice tea.’ It was almost a conversation impressive evidence for both conscious and unconscious within my own mind. I said, ‘Nah, don’t think so.’ The precognition, based on careful studies. And a thing called thought came up again, ‘Go get some tea.’ I said, ‘No, I re- unconscious precognition – in other words, precognition ally don’t think so.’ The voice was insistent. ‘You need to go that we don’t notice in our daily lives because we’re not get some tea!’ I said, ‘I refuse to. It’s ridiculous. I will not.’ conscious of it – seems to be relatively commonplace.

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For example, a 2012 analysis of 26 experiments found that physiological changes occur before emotional events that do not occur as often before boring events. These are changes in heart rate, sweat, respiration and behaviour, and they occur seconds before violent or erotic images are randomly selected to be shown to people volunteering for these experiments.

Because of these kinds of results, precognition is becoming a hot topic in the research world. This doesn’t mean precognition research is uncontroversial. Check any Wikipedia entry for any of the researchers we have discussed here – or just read the entry for “precognition”, and you will see that the mainstream scientific view, which Wikipedia represents well, is: “As with other forms of extrasensory perception, there is no reliable scientific evidence that precognition is a real ability possessed by anyone and it is widely considered to be pseudoscience.” Luckily, this kind of uninformed view is largely ignored by the scientists who see the data first hand.

What is the Precog Economy?

Imagine going to pick out a new car in the year 2035. After test-driving it – of course it runs on an alternative fuel that has one by-product: water – you meet with your Positive Precog Sales Associate. You have to wait a few minutes, because she’s not quite done with her meditation hour. As you wait, you check out the awards on the wall of her office. “Best Precog Assessment of Traffic Patterns, 2021”, “Positive Precog Coach of the Year, 2028, 2034”, “Most Airbag Recalls Averted, Western-Canadifornia region 2033”, “Positive Precog Hall of Fame, 2019–2035”. You are excited, but also nervous. You really want her to approve this car for you. You like it a lot; it self-drives like a dream, and the mobile holographic teleporter is the highest resolution you’ve seen. You can’t wait to host cross-country parties in it with all the glitterati, dead and alive. But you know that if she says you’ll die in the car, you can’t buy it. The company won’t let you; it would be bad for their numbers. You wait, tapping your bionic forefingers on her hammock posts as she gently swings back and forth.

You hear a chime ring, and there she is, having jumped out of her hammock, standing in front of you. She’s a bit dishevelled, but friendly. “Oh, it’s you. Hi! Yes, the car’s fine. I saw it this morning in the shower. You’ll have fun. It’ll take you places. You’re good to go. Remember: I can’t be sure that you’ll be 100% accident-free, of course, but I didn’t see any major accidents, for what that’s worth.

I sealed up the paperwork this morning, before you came. Now, enjoy!” She hands you a packet of papers, and you’re off. You’re thrilled, and so is the company. Since she started working for them, they’ve had only three accidents in their cars for the past three years. Not bad.

To be sure, this story is highly speculative. But right now, organizations such as Soul Rider LLC, Intuitive Intelligence, Inc. and Technical Intuition are using what we call “controlled precognition” in applications such as stock market trading and consulting for corporations who want to anticipate future trends. That’s just a beginning.

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We think that these kinds of applications will become more popular and more openly discussed as their utility is made clear, and this will drive the emergence of what we call the “Precog Economy”– a positively disruptive array of goods and services based on controlled precognition and other related forms of precognition.

In addition to financial markets and corporate consulting, we envision that in the Precog Economy, there will be jobs for precogs at every level of education, health care and government. What we call Positive Precogs – people with precognitive gifts who work toward positive changes in the world – could help schools, hospitals and governments prepare for potential future threats and opportunities, define needs for curricular changes to adapt to future worldwide trends, and be available for intelligence gathering for government agencies. Positive Precog trainers, testers, mentors and coaches would probably be commonplace as well. Sensitive people who have skills that are currently under-valued could use these skills to lead the world toward a new way of doing business, one that would take into account both historical lessons and the most positive direction for the future.

In the Precog Economy, how will precognition be used to make the world a better place? It is our hope to foster the development of a Positive Precog Council (PPC), a group of Positive Precogs, each with different specialties and styles. Positive Precogs who work best at discovering new long-term solutions to environmental problems would be on the PPC Environmental Team, while those who excel at the fast-paced world of terrorism precognition would sit on the PPC Anti-Terrorism Force. Global weather disasters, earthquakes and geomagnetic storms would be predicted, saving lives in the process, by pairing the PPC Future World Natural Event Team with meteorologists and geologists.

Sure, all this sounds like a movie. On the one hand, that’s the point – we want to get you thinking about possibilities. On the other hand, it’s not actually that far-fetched, given what’s already happening today. There are a few efforts around the world that we know of, and certainly many of which we are unaware, that seem to be honing this type of PPC vision.

For example, between 1978 and 1996, approximately four thousand people in nations around the world were asked by researcher Stephan Schwartz to give their precognitive impressions of major world changes that would occur by 2050. To his surprise, one of the first consensus points to emerge from these responses was that by 2050 there hadn’t been a nuclear war (which was a major

concern at the time). Instead, the precogs told him that terrorism was the real threat the world would face. There was also agreement on a series of epidemics. The first one, the precogs agreed, was a blood disease that would spread out of Africa from primates to humans and kill millions of people. At the time, Stephan went to a friend who was a haematology specialist with the US National Institutes of Health to ask about this, and he was told that medicine knew nothing about such a disease. Two years later, in 1981, HIV emerged. Other predictions included climate change (unknown in the 1970s and 1980s), the decline of antibiotic medicine and the rise of genetic engineering medicine.

Certainly this project is not a controlled scientific study -there’s no way to verify the data until 2050. But we think it might be smart to continue investigating how to assess and increase the accuracy of controlled precognition in the service of the Precog Economy and the creation of a Positive Precog Council. We think bringing precognitive skills out into the open and examining how they might best be used is an important contribution to helping the world move toward a better future.

y

The Premonition Code by Dr Julia Mossbridge and Theresa Cheung is out on October 18th. Theresa Cheung has a Masters from King’s College Cambridge and has spent the last twenty years writing bestselling books and encyclopedias about the psychic world. Two of her paranormal titles reached The Sunday Times top ten and her international bestseller, The Dream Dictionary, regularly bounces to number 1 on the Amazon dreams bestsellers chart.

Julia Mossbridge MA, PhD is a cognitive neuroscientist and director of the Innovation Lab at the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) and visiting scholar in psychology at Northwestern University. She is the author of Transcendent Mind, one of the first academic books to examine paranormal experiences, published by the American Psychological Association in 2017. Her research focus at IONS is precognition and the possibility of time travel.

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52 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e November 2018

THE EMISSARY

AN EPIC STORY OF LOVE REBORN THROUGH THE AGES

By Tamara Veitch & Rene DeFazio When the world collapses from a Golden Age into one of chaos and strife, mankind’s salvation lies in the hands of eternal Emissaries-guardians chosen to protect the secrets of a sacred, ancient civilization and to guide humanity back to enlightenment even as its darkest hour approaches. A timeless tale of love reborn through the ages.

The Emissary is the first book in The One Great Year series.

The concept for the SERIES is based on documentation from more than thirty-one ancient civilizations, tracking the Earth through a 26,000 year cycle as it slowly wobbles on its axis. Today NASA refers to this phenomenon as “the period of one complete cycle of the equinoxes around the ecliptic.” Plato simply called it “The Great Year.” Using this as a unifying theme, Veitch and DeFazio also reference philosophies and archaeological sites that they researched long before they began writing.

Maxwell Quinn had been reincarnated an exhausting number of times. How many lives had he lived? He could hardly count them. Over the past thirteen thousand years he had lived through a Golden Age, descended into a Silver Age, a Bronze Age and then agonized as humanity declined, into the brutal Iron Age.

Plato had called it the “Great Year” and Quinn knew the ancient concept well. Roughly every twenty-six thousand years the tilted Earth rotated once on its axis and within that time period there was a rise and fall of consciousness on the planet. Quinn carefully watched the precession of the equinoxes, charting the four Ages of the Great Year Cycle. The star constellations were a cosmic clock and he had mapped them in all of his lifetimes, awaiting a worldwide awakening.

Throughout the Ages he had been embroiled in the messy, fickle aspects of life; living, dying and living again. He had suffered more than most, but unlike other people, Quinn understood that for which he suffered. Still, he longed for a time when all misery would end.

Quinn was different than the rest of humanity, he was special—one of the chosen— but his connection to his purpose was waning. He spent hours every day tracking other Atitalans—Emissaries like himself from the ancient land.

They had been sent to guide mankind in its evolution and many were healers, musicians, scientists, artists, and teachers. They were the way-showers, laying clues for those who would reawaken as the Great Year ascended once again.

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Emissaries glowed with a distinct indigo shine that set them apart from the auras of other people and differentiated them like fingerprints. Even though their bodies and faces were changed, Quinn could recognize his fellow Atitalans immediately. Seeing shine was no special skill, he just knew what to look for. In the Dark Age the human brain rejected ninety percent of what the eyes saw, but Quinn knew how to see.

The Emissary rubbed his forehead with the back of his thumb, ruffling his messy black hair. He watched a bulbous black spider outside his window repair its web. He had watched it climb, trap, and mend, over and over, up and down the delicate grid. Quinn observed the microcosm and knew it was a model for understanding the universe: create, destroy, repeat. He felt stuck, like a fly trapped and bound in the most dense and sticky time of the Great Year Cycle. He reminded himself it wouldn’t always be like this, it hadn’t always been like this.

He had no girlfriend, no wife. He had only his buddy Nate and a few casual friends in his life. The blogger had chosen a career that kept him anonymous and in the background. Though his blog had a huge following, he warily avoided recognition and notoriety, ever on the lookout for his adversary, Helghul. Helghul had shine too, but unlike the Emissaries’ shine, his appeared as a dark shadow around him, flowing with wicked intentions.

The television flickered and after a moment Quinn snapped it off in disgust. He tossed the remote onto the chaotic pile of multi-language newspapers and books that buried his sofa. Gossip and propaganda were pasted like wallpaper over the truths that begged for attention underneath. Dark souls absorbed the spotlight and chaos had overtaken the planet, but the Emissary knew suffering had a way of waking the soul.

Thousands of years earlier, in Atitala, Quinn’s name had been Marcus, and his Marcus-brain—a deep, ancient consciousness—was awake within him, constantly guiding, educating, and urging him to duty. As the world and humanity continued to falter and crumble around him he had to rebuild and set an example. In his lifetime as Quinn he felt sadly inadequate. He assumed the other Emissaries were active and contributing. He was confident that they were not sedentary, disgruntled, and stoned.

They don’t have past life memory tormenting them.

Quinn justified to himself, though he knew he wouldn’t give up his memory if he could. He took a hard final drag of his tiny roach.

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What the hell am I doing with all my memories? Suffering. He thought as he flicked the dying ember and dropped the scrap in a soda can. A frown turned the corners of his mouth and deep furrows carved his handsome brow. Fatigue caused an ache in his back and neck. It was literally the weight of the world on his shoulders.

The Emissary positioned himself in front of his keyboard, and began typing his blog. He was determined to reach the public in a way that they would welcome. He trusted his words would reach someone who needed it.

Adapted from The Emissary by Tamara Veitch and Rene DeFazio (Waterside Press). Copyright (c) 2018. All rights reserved. This book is available at all bookstores and online booksellers.

Rene DeFazio, who was born and rasied in Canada, currently lives in the Vancouver area with his wife and writing partner, Tamara Veitch. Rene is an actor and producer with numerous film and television roles to his credit, as well as countless commercials and print ads. A world traveler and lifelong adventurer, Rene has called upon his unusual and exciting experiences in co-creating the One Great Year book series of which THE EMISSARY is the first installment.

His tireless research and first-hand knowledge of exotic locations, customs, sights, and smells help to bring this epic story to life.

Tamara Veitch is a writer, mural artist, and mother of three. She grew up in Canada and attended Simon Fraser University, studying English and Psychology.

Tamara has had a lifelong interest in spiritual wisdom and has carefully researched ancient teachings from many traditions to ensure historical accuracy through the One Great Year book series.

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LANGUAGE OF SPACE

By Michael White Ryan

WHERE DID YOU GO TO MY LOVELIES

I was feeling really good when I woke up this morning, sometimes you don’t need a reason to go to bed early. Living day to day, walking passers by, heading for those endless never-ending, tomorrow tomorrows.

I just can’t figure out why reason and understanding remain strangers, standing around, hiding out in dark-ness frequencies. The real lovelies love the sunshine clear blue skies. Our life of opposites remains a paradox, a shell walking in the living forest, of “knowledgeable past”. Challenges of 9-2-5, and the reckoning is finding, discovering the other ‘I”.

Two steps forward one step back, it’s the tonic of the everyday. The unseen mystery grows, surrounds the “meyou”, it’s pure vibration education. The forgiving hand of faith having placed its arm around our past, has delivered our calling “In the now-time”. It’s PM, not sure how this goes, forgotten memory bubbles silently coming down all over me.

Driving down the highway tears swelling up from my eyes sitting on the rail track waiting for the train

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Sounds of world musical festivals burst forth crying out lost years into the present. Opening buried emotional crevasses, with a presence in every cell of mankind’s humanness. It’s the you and me, the “meyou” the “youme” expanding, releasing, returning home to my other manifestation, the formless one. We have been praying for generations, for centuries, waiting for our train to come and take us backforward home to our familiar. Early every morning, give one minute or more to ritual, choose whatever, repeat repeat repeat, it is our healing clothed in disguise. Dance and sing with the one-self, rejoice for you are the oneself, go on and get down, for we are the oneself, it’s free.

Come with me, stand here, face into the mirror, close your eyes, silently breathe quietly. After a few minutes in your own time, open and look deeply into you. Place no judgment, let there be no staring, relax and rest your eyes on the image for this is the one who lives, but it is not you!

Answers, I don’t have, for this life is only for you, this life is only for me, this life is the “meyou”, for now!!!

He who sees difference between what is within what is without travels forevermore from death to death “The Vedanta Upanishad” Hey hey hey, there are answers every which way we turn, more than we could ever imagine. As long as we continue to play that cheating game, Guess Who Wins? Are you not excited, I got this thing on my mind? One of the best ways to say thank you is to forgive the oneself first. When awareness appears, and if I hold this vessel to its visionmessage, clarity clears my path.

It’s not you, it’s not me, it’s the no-risk-mindset who grapples with those moments when the gift of unconditionallove descends from Grace. For the vessel has no state of mind to attach to such unknowns. Find your space, celebrate the I am standing in it, yah, nobody but you need know. You are worthy, maybe not yet of mind but definitely of being, the worlds energy has turned, it speaks, experience may stay, but yesterdays no longer remain, halle-lu-ya.

Go this way, go that way, sit exactly, face this direction and the light will enter via the every-path. There is no doubt it will happen, but it’s yesterdays path. If we know change is the constant, lovelies we are so far behind, even Hollywood couldn’t make it look good. So, ask are you going to

carry on carrying on, or open to a non-scary small idea, am I drowning in my hidden retracing stepdance? Communities living breathing in selfmade anesthetic ether?

No one can see me, I am up up on the outside, inside I am going down down, please don’t speak to the inner me, I may become an all-over emotional state of being, while hiding my all existence. Positivity mindsets hold the waters at bay, maybe I was Dutch in another life? I eat grass-fed organic beef, now this I am is spiritual, did the organic cow survive? Am I awake living the delusion while life is passing me by.

Where do you go to my lovely When you're alone in your head Tell me of those thoughts that drown you I feel you inside my head a makeup of qualifications gathered from times past Yeah, look at you in your educated manufactured painting Never stop hoping in your heart Your loveliness will carry you on and on forever Where did you go to my lovelies Blessings to the “meyou”

t Michael White Ryan is a co-founder with his wife Pamela Edwards of Language of Space.

They are leaders in sustainable business growth via Performance Design and Performance Code.

Sustainable design encompasses both Western and Eastern philosophies including advanced Feng Shui principles, Environmental Design, Buildings, Alternative Health, Business Advisory Consultants and 20 plus years as entrepreneurs. Recognized in the top 100 globally and are Americas Leading Feng Shui Business Consultants.

They are on faculty at CEO Space International one of the oldest business organizations in America today, currently operate in 7 countries and reside in Carlsbad CA.. www.languageofspace.com

57 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e November 2018

SOUL COURAGE

By Tara-jenelle Walsch

PRIORITIZING

UNITY

Our country is becoming divided. There are vast differences of opinion among us in matters of great significance.

What we’ve been doing is not working; it is time to come together. If we continue to roar with fangs in the face of opposition, we will inevitably start tearing each other apart.

And here we stand, again, at the closing of another year.

The months ahead, awaiting holiday celebration. The month's past, filled with political fury and emotional kerfuffle. Regardless of political preference, we’ve all been taken on quite a ride; led by the nose and punched in the gut.

Meanwhile, the holiday season is approaching. A time of respite and recharge for most of the world, but many wonder how to switch gears and embrace it fully and authentically without putting their head in the sand.

Thankfully, there are ways to increase peace and unity, when done universally. The power is in the plenty. When we’re all onboard, simultaneously, we have the ability to create an undeniable, energetic shift from anguish to love.

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How? Tell me more?…I hoped so. But before reading further, you must know that the very first part of this plan is that each one of us gives it our all. Meaning, we do more than try.

We start out knowing that we’re all in and that we’ll likely be leaping out of our comfort zone to do our part in keeping the domino effect going. We do this because in our heart of hearts we want our country to stand united again.

Where do we even begin? With trust. Trust that humanity is always connected through love and cannot ever be persuaded to separate and betray itself through a governing of politics or religion.

Human beings are souls in physical bodies, and all souls are infinitely connected beyond this lifetime. Trusting that we’re more than skin and bones gives us a sense of instant togetherness. We have existed together for thousands of years. This is not our first rodeo. Once we have this trust in place, it’s nearly impossible to look at people in the same way. We feel newly teamed up with them.

The next important step we can take to increase peace and unity is to recognize the humanity in one another. This is what will keep us stitched together, for humanity is ultimately the fabric of this country. Not those appointed as leaders. Not the majority race. Not even the law. Those are suggested illusions sewn into the blanket covering our eyes.

But when we put down our swords of opposition, our hands are then free to remove this blanket and see each other for what we really are; human beings who all want to love and be loved.

Here are a few of the many ways to Recognize the Humanity in Others: Increase Compassion Remember that no one has faults, but rather that we are all on different levels of personal growth and spiritual evolution. When we look at others in this light, their once “faults” disappear and we feel compassion for them which induces a sense of connection with them. This also gives us deeper insight into our own life and increases selfcompassion for what we may have once deemed as a flaw.

Decrease Judgement Bring our attention to the moments when we judge others, then immediately and lovingly dismiss those judgements.

Remember that we’re all living with a different understanding of life, love, God, ethics, etc. No one has the exact same internal system as you do, because no one has lived your exact life. In this way, every one is doing the best that they can.

Increase Acknowledgement Acknowledge others for their efforts, do-goods, intelligence, beauty, etc. Seeing ourselves in others doesn’t always mean identifying the less than qualities, it’s also about finding the wonderful and good in people that we usually don’t give permission to see in ourselves.

Decrease Righteousness Increase our awareness around letting go of the need to be “right.” Believe it or not, we all have this trait, some more than others, but everyone has an inborn sense of selfprotection that defends their personal beliefs, opinions and intellectual gains. The more we can soften this, the safer others will feel to connect with us.

These reminders open the gates for us to understand each

other more naturally. Identifying humanness in others opens our hearts to an innate sense of compassion and gratitude for one another, ultimately increasing connection.

And, by the way, not just increasing connection with that particular person, because once they feel seen, accepted and teamed-up with, they will be drawn to give back and instinctively go out and reach out to someone else. And so on, and so on. It’s as if each person we connect with is a portal to hundreds of others.

Our strength as a country lives largely in the commonality we share as human beings. It’s as simple, yet strong as this: Commonality encourages Relatability—>Relatability encourages Connection—>Connection encourages Harmony—>Harmony encourages Understanding—>Understanding encourages Peace.

All of this takes courage, of course. And it’s worth it.

Here is another way to decline the suggestion of separatism and reverse it to universally increase peace and unity. And humor me on this one by exploring it hypothetically: Imagine for a moment that you are imagining for a moment. And in that imagined moment, take yourself back to when you were a toddler with no developed concept of right and wrong, no awareness of religion, no political preference.

You can speak choice words, but haven’t yet crafted conversation. People talk to you, but you don’t understand what they’re saying. Your primary language is energy and emotion. You feel things within yourself and you feel things from others.

Soon you learn what it is that people are communicating by watching their facial expressions and hearing the repetitive tones in their voice accompanied by certain hand and body gestures. Automatically and unknowingly, you begin to mimic these nonverbal clues when interacting, to get what you need.

Imagining aside, this is an innately universal process of our development as human beings. We entered the world by feeling our way through life. Then somewhere along the way we started choosing our minds over our hearts and began to value thinking over feeling. All which has taken a toll on the connectedness of humanity at large.

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As adults, it's a survival mechanism for our minds to take the lead and often shame our feelings into silence. We subconsciously fear that revealing emotions is energetic exposure that displays weakness, but we’re forgetting that our primary language is energy and emotion.

We’ve been allowing our psyche to be pulled by illusional currents of the mind for so long that we’ve lost sight of our essential nature and its true contribution. We’ve lost sight of each other.

But we have a choice and every day, each one of us is faced with the same decision: How much of me am I willing to share?

Who will I be in this moment?

And the decision doesn’t stop there. We must then take this inquiry one step further and ask ourselves: What will the actions that follow my being this way energetically contribute to and produce more of in the world?

Love or fear? Peace or hostility?

If we fail to investigate the latter half of this inquiry we aren’t embracing peace or unity as our objective, we’re merely offering ourselves the freedom of being.

By expanding consciousness prior to our immediate actions and exploring the possible outcomes of those actions beforehand, we’re examining cause and effect on a personal level. All which evolves our sense of self and unifies our relationship with others.

We cannot continue to let our differences feed animosity and then be appalled and dismayed when combat rears its ugly head. We are spiritually riper than that; we know better.

The call to action is to come together as a team regardless of our spiritual beliefs and political opinions. The option to lovingly agree to disagree or compromise to a place of mutually beneficiality is always available. More often, though, it isn’t as much about words as it is about energy and emotion.

And as our awareness increases around the energy and emotions that we and others emit, we’ll begin to feel and identify the uncomfortable, uninviting and negative more quickly. If it’s coming from ourselves, we can

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practice genuinely shifting or containing the energy to preserve harmony.

If we notice it spilling from others, we can practice responding versus reacting and gently shifting the energy by contributing some neutrality in the space.

This is our Thanksgiving offer. It’s a gift to ourselves just as much as a gift to others. When we incorporate this level of consciousness in our daily interaction, we’re doing a huge service to human kind. You might even say that we are waking humans to kind, again.

With dedication and fortitude, we can create a universal domino effect of unity just by the way we interact and communicate with each other. The dominant energy of humanity always stands as the true leader. Physics says so.

Logic says so. History says so.

Now it's time that we say so.

ROADMAP TO PRIORITIZING UNITY 1-Trust that we’re all connected through love, despite differences of religious & political beliefs 2 -Recognize the humanity in one another 3 -Put down swords of opposition 4 -Communicate through your primary language of emotion & energy 5 -Pre-examine your actions & what they’ll likely produce 6- Start right now

e Tara-jenelle Walsch is a monthly columnist for the Eden Magazine. She is the author of the book, Soul Courage, and the founder and spirit behind the Soulebrate greeting card company. You will also find her speaking publicly about emotional and energetic awareness, and a sacred formula which she believes has the ability to enrich the world at large. Tara-jenelle was raised in Annapolis, Maryland and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from Towson University in Baltimore. She currently lives in the beautiful hills of Ashland, Oregon. www.soulcourage.com

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The Power Of Habit Building

By Stephanie Mason

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How many times have you looked in the mirror and said to yourself something along the lines of “enough is enough”?

You’re sick of feeling sluggish, not confident, and uncomfortable in your skin. So you decide you’re going to get healthy. It’s time to diet hardcore and throw out all the food out of your fridge. You’re not going to drink any alcohol, but you will drink all the water. Oh and that gym membership you’ve been sleeping on? It’s time to make use of it and workout 7 days a week until you reach your goal. Sounds like a solid plan if you want to change your body right?

Well, let’s take a closer look.

If I have a new client who’s been sedentary the last 6 months I’m going to recommend they begin training with me 2-3 days a week, and not 5. Here’s why: I want to set you up for success. Sure, diving head first into the deep end may seem appealing at first if you’re truly ready to make a change.

But 9 times out of 10 I see people fail to make a habit stick if they try to go from 0-100 too quick. This goes for any habit too, not just exercising.

This is where habit building becomes the solution. Think of a habit you could begin. Can you say you’re confident that you can be successful? I like to gauge habits on a scale of 1-10. You need to be at least a 9 out of 10 confident that you can accomplish the habit on a weekly basis. If you’re anything less than a 9, you need to make the habit simpler.

I say that because no one likes to continuously fail, and if you make the habit something extreme there’s a good chance that after a couple weeks you’ll fall off the wagon.

You’ll be less inclined to want to try a new habit again because discouragement settled in, and your old habits seem to be calling your name anyway. It’s easy to stay the same, because the same is familiar, and familiar is comfortable.

So, save yourself the trouble from the start, and make your habits and goals realistic. You will be more confident in your ability to achieve them from day one.

The next step is to make sure that the habit is SMART (no pun intended). Here’s what the SMART acronym stands for: S- SPECIFIC M- MEASURABLE A- ATTAINABLE R- RELEVANT T- TIMELY

Here’s an example of a habit that is not SMART: “I’m going to do cardio this week”. That’s a great start, but how can we make it more specific? “I’m going to do cardio three times this week for thirty minutes”. That’s what I’m talking about.

By making your habits and goals “SMART” you’re making them dummy proof from the start, (pun intended).

If the habit you set for yourself is going well, after a few weeks you can add on to it. I say a few weeks because of the time it actually takes for a habit to feel routine. If you find that you start to regress on certain habits or behaviors, this is a good time to practice self compassion.

Remember that habits you’ve set for yourself had to be set for yourself because the behavior is not something that comes naturally to you. It makes sense that the road will get bumpy every now and then. This is where self awareness, journaling, or an accountability coach could help you when you get stuck. Changing old habits that are no longing serving you, into new ones that are is hard, but it’s absolutely worth the growth that occurs.

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Stephanie is a certified NASM Personal Trainer and Lifestyle Coach at Equinox Century City in Los Angeles. She holds a Bachelors degree in Exercise Physiology from Bridgewater State University. She specializes in resistance training and nutritional coaching.

Stephanie’s mission is to help her clients feel strong mentally and physically. Through her coaching abilities she helps her clients develop a positive mindset that facilitates a healthy relationship with movement, food, and body image.

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Mindful Matters

Mindful Nights

By Samantha Gordon

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Intentful Steps to Unwind & Recharge 1. Power Down Before you hit the hay, power off all backlit devices such as your phone, laptop, and television. These screens are stimulating to the eyes and brain, sending the message that it's daytime. Exposure to too much light before bed can significantly suppress levels of melatonin, the hormone that helps make us feel sleepy. Try making at least the hour before bedtime a digital-free zone. Instead, read a book, journal, or stretch.

2. Mind Dump Ever lay awake in bed worrying and stressing? Trying doing a “mind dump”: take out a pen and a paper and write down everything that comes to your mind. This can include what is hanging over your head, what you’re stressing about, your hopes, dreams, goals, fears etc! Everything that enters your brain immediately must exit your brain and get “dumped” onto your paper.

Set a timer for 10-20 minutes and just write! Once that timer goes off, analyze what you wrote. Go back to your list and identify anything that isn’t serving you. Then identify things that can be done easily in 2 minutes. “Mind Dumping” is a great way to organize your thoughts and rid yourself of worries before you go to sleep!

3. Take Time for Yourself Soaking in a bath of epsom salts centers the body and spirit! If I ever feel overwhelmed or out of sorts, my favorite thing to do is take a bath in epsom salts, diffuse some lavender essential oils in my diffuser, and read a book! Close your eyes, let go, maybe light a candle. Do something for your spirit, like practicing meditation for 20-30 minutes or doing yoga. Nighttime is also a great time to take a moment of gratitude for yourself and your life.

Try keeping a gratitude journal, where you can jot down things you feel grateful. Taking an intentful moment to recognize your blessings will help you go to sleep with a Samantha Gordon is peaceful mind and heart. committed to helping others around her live their life as 4. Plan Ahead abundantly and vibrantly as The key to having a productive day is to plan your day possible! Through exercise, diet, the night before. Check the weather for the next day, mindful meditation, and lay out your outfit,and pack your bag and leave it by artistic expression, Samantha your door. Make yourself a list of your “MIT”s for learns something new about tomorrow. “MIT” stands for “Most Important Things.” herself everyday and hopes to These three things are your top priority to get done in exchange and share this knowledge with others. your day ahead.

Samantha studied journalism and musical theatre at NYU and now lives in Los Angeles, working as an Knowing that you are well-equipped to face the day actress, singer, personal trainer, and writer. To see more ahead of you will allow you to completely relax and live of Samantha, follow her instagram @SamKGordon presently while you lay your head down to sleep!

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Message from the Goddess Mother

By Jan Diana

THE FLAVOR OF CHOICE

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My Beloved Children of Heart, “Greetings on this glorious day! Each day of life offers us many gifts. Each moment comes with blessings to be felt, experienced and discovered.

As we look upon our life experiences, we can begin to see the nature of life itself. Life is in motion, flowing, changing, becoming. Change is a constant.

Another person might be concerned about what kind of day it will be based on the weather report projected.

They may have many thoughts about how it may limit their activities they had planned. Even perhaps they may wake up and decide to just not plan on anything good happening.

Just as the seasons change, so does life. Nothing stays the same. All is in a flowing motion of constant change.

Two different people, two different perceptions, two different days experienced. And that is using just one topic as an example.

To become aware of this wonder, allows us to sense and feel the nature of life. You are a divine being experiencing many different realities all playing out simultaneously, both individually as well as collectivity. Ponder on the wonder of this for a moment.

Imagine how many factors are at play in every moment that can potentially influence the day, too numerous to mention. However the most important fact is that you always have a choice over your perceptions of life, of possibilities and the vision you hold for yourself.

You are experiencing your life. It is unique to you. Each one’s life is unique to them also.

Only you truly know what you are feeling, sensing, and experiencing. You flavor your life by your very thoughts and perceptions.

Imagine the wonder of this truth. The nature of what can influence a happy day or a day filled with travail.

The person, who decided each day was an opportunity, took that flavor of vision and opened their mind to possibilities. They were open to new ways, and new ideas which allowed them to be ready to expeConsider this, a person who wakes up rience more wonder. greeting the day with the perspective that another great opportunity to ex- The other person felt limited and perience life is here. They are looking allowed that to flavor their expeto discover what wonder will present, rience. All choices are honored. It having an outlook of hopefulness for is more about what each one truthe day. ly desires to experience in their

What brings the same day that comes to all living, a different flavor? Why do some have more days filled with joy and others more days of pain and struggle?

life journey and becoming aware of the truth that they truly do have the power of choice to influence.

Of course there are many factors involved that can have influence over what is experienced. It can be simply based on what the weather is and how that is perceived or what perhaps is spoken about on the local news.

In both cases each person is a master in the process of remembering that truth. Each has chosen a different perspective, a different path. Each is exercising their divine right to choose, to experience what they desire. The difference is the flavor of choice and how it affects their experience, and the level of awareness of the power of choice they have to make changes.

It may seem to many that there is no choice involved in the weather. It just is what it is and perhaps that is the reality for many.

Consider this, a person who wakes up greeting the day with the perspective that another great opportunity to experience life is here. They are looking to discover what wonder will present, having an outlook of hopefulness for the day.

They are open to receive the blessings and have a bit of an excitement to what may present. Perhaps even thoughts of what opportunities can take them closer to their dreams they have been envisioning 68 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e November 2018

The pathway to remembering mastery is flavored by focus and choice. It is a process of developing a focus that consciously fuels choices that you really desire to experience verses feeling that there is no choice but to endure.

Humanity is now in the process of moving beyond limited thoughts and perceptions. The process of releasing from the old history of experiences of suffering, struggle, less than desirable into a greater acceptance of the power of choice of focus is happening.

Perhaps you have heard it said before that what you focus your thoughts on are fueled and become reality. This truth exists for all. Experiences are flavored by choices that are fueled.

You can begin now to more consciously choose thoughts to focus on what will uplift and enhance your life experiences.

It is a shift in conscious application of choosing thoughts to focus on, that fuel your hearts desires rather than create what is no to your pleasing.

To remember your divine nature, to recognize that you have power to create and influence your life experience is a great discovery. To acknowledge this process of growing and becoming more brings great satisfaction and joy. To create the dreams of your heart brings fulfillment, leading to living a life of passion and purpose.

Today you can choose another thought another action another focus. You can begin with the decision to experience more joy right now.

What would I enjoy doing today? Let the thoughts of choices flow and pick one that you are drawn to. Continue this focus for several days and you will begin to notice the flavor of your days changing.

What would you truly love to experience? What vision do you have that would make your heart sing? Let the thoughts flow. Open to receive the guidance from your heart and let yourself choose pathways that support that vision.

This is your time to shine, to blossom and to develop your mastery, in greater awareness than ever before. There are many tools available for you to seek out which will assist you. You have the answers within your heart, just allow yourself to receive them.

Blessed ones, why not make your journey reach the stars of delightfulness. You are offered life as a gift to experience and grow. Flavor it as you truly desire it to be.

Know that the paths are lighting up before you. Step on them in confidence knowing that you are finding your way back to the truth of yourself. You are the wonder.

Shamon.”

With great love,

Your Beloved Mother

FREE CLASS: As a Gift I am offering you a Free Tele- Class, “Remember Who you are”.

-Restore pathways to remembering the truth of yourself using the tools of SVH, a prayer modality that can shift the old stories, old beliefs and perceptions that are not relevant to your truth.

-Receive tools that you can utilize in your life to further free yourself from the veils of forgetting -Take a journey to meet your true self and receive a priceless gift You will leave this class filled a greater vision of yourself and what is now possible for you.

This class is a great joy bringer!

Note: Register by subscribing by email at: http://www.jandiana.com (if the time is not convenient, register to receive the recording when available)

n Jan Diana is an intuitive healer, spiritual teacher, and master practitioner.

Her mission is to assist clients & students in creating harmony, balance, heightened levels of clarity, develop innate gifts & abilities, empowering them on their personal evolution to create the dreams of their heart. She utilizes several modalities including SVH L3M, Animal healing, GHM, Language of love, Reiki Master, and more.

Free meditation journeys, articles, & classes. http://www.jandiana.com Sessions and Classes by phone. You can reach her at website http://www.jandiana.com or by email sunsinyourheart@aol.com.

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The Fur-ever home

By Sasha Gary

I have been a dog owner since I was a child. My neighbors were English Springer Spaniel breeders. We bought one from them and named him Skip. People today hear breeder and have a judgement on what they do. Please understand the difference between a legitimate breeder and a puppy mill. There are wonderful breeders out there who breed for the existence, beauty and purity of the breed. A puppy mill is backyard breeding system that is done in a unhealthy manner, they don’t care about the welfare or wellbeing of the dog. The dogs end up in a pet store, where people feel guilty they are in there, and purchase them and they are usually sick, and unhealthy pets. This keeps them in business and it has to stop.

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I began volunteering at Dogs Without Borders in Los Angeles, when I was looking for a dog, but I wasn’t sure about what I wanted. I thought I wanted a purse dog, and I brought a Papillon home and she hung out with me, but I didn’t really care for her. She was cute, little and a purse dog which is what I thought I was looking for, but adopting a dog is similar to dating. You are not necessarily the right match. So, I brought her back to the rescue and one week later a little girl around eight years old fell in love and walked out of the rescue with her little Papillon in her purse. They were meant to be together, she found her forever home! Each week many dogs waited for someone to come in and pick them so they could find their forever home.

One Saturday I went to the rescue and as I walked towards the front door, I saw a woman walking a little white dog, with hair down to the ground, and he was putting on the breaks. That’s when they use all four paws to stop.

This little dog didn’t want to go anywhere on leash. The woman tried to get him motivated but he was not having it, he was very stubborn. I checked in with the rescue to see where I was needed for my volunteer time and I watched the small dog and I picked him up and he was so cute. I didn’t put him down for four hours!. As we were wrapping up the day, a lady came over and said she would take him and another dog home with her and foster them for the week. I was devastated I had to hand him over.

Over the next few days, I realized he was my dog, and I wanted to give him a forever home.

After watching the flooding in North Carolina and the hunting dogs that were left behind, and later rescued by amazing volunteers, it made me sick to my stomach that owners could do this. The amount of abuse I see it makes me sad that a human being could do this to an animal who only shows you unconditional love. That’s all they know. We have to do better as a society, and humanity to treat our furry four-legged friends with more care. They depend on us.

I am so thankful and grateful to amazing rescues like Dogs Without Borders, and the newest rescue by Lisa Vanderpump! The amount of attention she has been able to get from her celebrity and love for animals, for the dogs rescued from the meat trade in China is brilliant!

Now, I cannot sit here and say I am not a meat eater. I am. I am very conscious of where I get my chicken, turkey and fish. You can be a conscious consumer when it comes to our food supply. There is even a prop 12 happening in Los Angeles based on the confinement of specified farm animals. We can all make a difference in our everyday lives, one way is to vote on November 6th. The other is to make conscious decisions that you can live with.

I loved volunteering, it was so rewarding. If you can’t volunteer, make a donation to help a rescue, so they can help more animals. Every little bit helps.

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I called the woman, and told her another person wanted to take a look at him, and if she wasn’t able to commit to adopting him, we wanted him to have an opportunity to get adopted. Since, I worked at the rescue I was able to do this with permission. She agreed, and I left my one bedroom apartment in Hancock Park, and drove to her mansion up Sunset Boulevard into the hills. When I arrived both dogs were in wonderful care, and clearly she was torn but was not ready to commit. She could have changed her mind at anytime and I would have had to let her adopt him. She gave him up. I took him home, and set him up. A couple days later I adopted him. In actuality, he adopted me, and he found me, we were meant to be together, just like that little girl with the little Papillon in her purse.

Sasha Gary is an actress, writer, and Wellness Coach at www.balancedbellasonline.com a 16 week online health program for women that shows you how to implement small sustainable changes one by one to help you with whole food nutrition, self-love and a conscious movement.

Eleven years later he now lives at the beach, chases ducks, travels with me and is absolutely spoiled rotten. I gave him a forever home. I am a huge advocate of adopting!

Sasha is a yogi of 25 years, a crystal healer, and an avid sound bowl meditation participant and lives in Venice California!

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The Man Who Grew thankful for His Memoires

By Nancy E. Yearout

As the Thanksgiving Holiday approaches, it reminds me of a story that has stayed with me over the years, one that I would like to share with you.

The Story is of a man who learned late in his life how precious our memories truly are. This is what happened to a gentleman by the name of Lance P.

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Lance was in his early twenties when he married the love of his life. Her name was Anne, and as they said in those times, “The apple of his eye�. They lived on a farm in rural America where Lance spent his days in the field farmin corn and the nights at school, completing his degree. Five years passed rather quickly and before he knew it they had been blessed with two children and another one on the way.

During these early years Lance recalls that there was much joy and laughter in the house. The family’s weekends were filled with picnics, baseball games, croquet matches, riding bikes, skinning knees, barbecues and catching lighteningbugs at night.

When I spoke with Lance, he said that Fishing at their little pond in the summertime was one of his favorite memories with his kids. All three learned to bate a line, cast it into the lake and catch a fish. He showed them the importance of respect for the animals, the land and foremost, each other.

In the winter months as soon as the pond was frozen, they all joined together to slip and slide on the snow-covered water. Lance recalls the year that Anne bought the entire family ice skates for Christmas. He said to me, “I can still see the kids and Anne laughing and joking as they tried out their new gifts from Santa Clause.” It was a time that was never forgotten by any of the family he said.

He went on to tell me that the Holidays were fun for them, as Anne loved a party. She planned each event with love and spice! She would add her special flare to each family gathering. There many Halloween parties with homemade costumes that we put together days before the event. “I can still remember decorating the house for the big night, Lance said, with a laugh.” Anne oversaw all Birthday celebrations and some how always pulled off a special day for each of us every year.

Lance shared with me that for many years he worked twelve-hour days to accomplish his goal of providing plenty of wealth for his family. He explained to me that he missed numerous plays, awards, concerts, and sporting events of his children’s.

Now in his late eighties he is regretful of his choice to go after the money. He wished for more time with his family.

He paused and then said to me in a whisper, “It is the most difficult in the mornings.” “It’s the quietness of the morning time that is deafening to me.” He confessed, “As I drink my coffee my memories are all that I have left when I am alone.

“His eyes lit up when he began to tell me about his grandchildren and their visits. He explained he was creating new memories with them to fill the silence of his days, but when they fade, he said, “I go back to the days when my kids were still at home laughing and playing and my wife’s smile lit up the room.”

Lance had a wonderful life with his l wife and three great

children who filled his heart and mind with happy memories of everyday life.

His wife is gone now, and his children visit him as often as their busy schedules allow. Lance expressed to me that his only regret was that he had not spent more time with his kids. He said, “before he knew it his children were grown up and gone.” Lance said, “that even though he could not get the time back, he was grateful for the memories that he did have.” He advised me to take the time to create many joyful memories in my life time and to spend time with my family.

I am grateful for his story and for his wise advice.

Nancy E. Yearout is an author, a spiritual life coach, and a motivational speaker. Nancy has enjoyed an extensive corporate career as a sales coordinator with one of the Big Three automakers in Detroit. Her sales, management, and marketing skills have grown with each step of her business.

Her success has blessed her with the real life experience, knowledge, and common sense that is required to help others through life’s challenges.

Nancy has been fortunate to acquire hands-on energy healing skills from an Aztec healer from Mexico, and she has helped many balance their energy fields.

She has received guidance from religious and spiritual teachers along the way, resulting in the development of her skills as an intuitive, a tarot card reader, and a life coach.

She utilizes these tools to guide her clients to joyful and successful lives. Nancy is the author of Wake Up! The Universe Is Speaking To You. www.TheEnergyProphet.com

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The Mindful Tax and Money Guide

By Miriam Bertke

PLANNING FOR YOUR “GOLDEN YEARS”

Chances are that retirement is on your mind. Perhaps it fast approaching, or maybe you just retired. A journey of a thousand miles. Either way, you’re going to live a long time and that means your money will have to last a long time too.

Here’s the reality: There’s a 50% chance that, among married couple, at least one spouse will live to the age 92 and a 25% chance that one will live to 97.

And with longer lives, we expect longer - much longer years for our retirement. Fifty years ago, the average retirement was 12 years. Someone retiring today at age 65 74 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e November 2018

is expected to live to 85 or longer. That’s 20-plus years of retirement. And that’s the average. Many will live longer and have 30 years of retirement.

What do you think is number one fear for baby boomers?

Death? Terrorism? No, the number one fear of baby boomers is outliving their savings. The baby boomers have a right to be scared, and so do millennials.

According to the Center for Retirement Research, 53% of American households are “at risk” for not having enough money in retirement to maintain their living standards.

That’s more than half!

Putting together a plan before you and your spouse reach that period of time is extremely important, and never too late. As I have mentioned in my previous articles regarding financial planning this is something that you need to know and also include in your financial plan.

Whether you’re in your next stage of life (which also calls third act), or just starting out, it’s never too late to start planning. Everyone’s “third act” arrives sooner than we can think so it’s never too soon to plan for our later years in life.

In my previous article we talked about meeting your financial team of advisors, about the importance of asking questions and that you and your advisor(s) continue to ask questions to have a clarity and a mutual understanding. There is never a question too small, too big or too dumb to ask.

And this part is not exception. Planning for your “golden years” is a part of the financial plan, so it is important that your advisor(s) and you keep asking questions to have a complete understanding of how to plan for your “golden years.”

With that said, here are some interesting thoughts, as well as some concerns and fears. For most, they include the following questions: * Will I be able to retire? * When I reach my “golden years” will I have enough money? * Will social security still be around? * What about inflation? How will it affect me and my spouse? * I am getting older, now what? * If I am in my last third of my life, I am running out of time. If I am headed that way (as we all do) should I be planning for it now? If so, how?

Although some of these concerns may be just emotional, they are all real and typical and need to be address.

When talking about retirement, first thing that is important is to know where you are going. So if you don’t know where it is that you are going, you might not get to where you want and need to go. And also before you can know where you are going, you need to know where you are currently.

With that in mind, the first step that we like to prepare for our clients to help them to determine of where they are and where they are going, is a cash flow model. In order to do so we need to have a target (we call it required capital account) and that is the amount of saved money that is necessary to produce the required amount of income at an assumed interest rate after taxes and inflation indexes. To prepare such

a model we need to know: - Current lifestyle requirement, net after-tax - Existing liquid assets - Earnings assumption - Interest rate assumption - Inflation rate - Current age and preferred retirement age What might also reduce any deficit is if their is any, and that is: - Expected inheritance, if any - Life insurance proceeds on husband and/or wife Once all these questions are answered, any highly qualified financial advisor or team of advisors should be able to create the required capital account, which allows them to create a cash flow model.

If you are a younger single person, or younger couple and putting off your retirement planning, think again, it is never too early to start the process. And for those who are reaching or already have reached that “third act” of life, it is time to sit down with your financial advisor.

Plan ahead, think smart and make adjustments along the way to make sure you’re on course.

∑ Miriam Bertke is a Financial Services représentative. She is a part of The Advisor Consulting Group (ACG), a firm designed to provide financial and estate planning assistance to individuals and businesses.

She has many years of experience, specializes in strategic and comprehensive financial planning focusing on the areas of tax, retirement and asset protection, helping people gain clarity with their financial goals and objectives. She also works closely with attorneys, CPAs, as well as with other financial advisors, creating financial planning teams.

You can also connect with Miriam via email or on LinkedIn: Email: miriam@advcg.com http://linkedin.com/in/miriam-bertke Website: www.advisorconsultinggroup.com 75 THEEDENMAGAZINE.COM e November 2018

A Global Fashion Affair that marked the History of San Francisco this Fall

September is known as Fashion Month all over the world and San Francisco is no different. For the past five years, every September in the city is marked by the award winning Fashion Community Week. A four day celebration of fashion presentations, showcasing local and global fashion, and most importantly providing a platform for emerging talents and designers who are underrepresented in the industry. The participating fashion designers & brands create brand new collection to launch at Fashion Community Week every year.

Celebrating five-year anniversary as an organization, Fashion Community Week continues to expand under the leadership of a diverse board of professionals, and responding to community demands, now presents bi-annually. Firmly standing for their belief that fashion has no borders, this year we launched a #Wunite campaign representing world unity and women’s unity, a sincere reflection of this organization’s legacy.

Opening night kicked off at members only club The Modernist with ‘Privé Shop the Runway & Influencers Evening’. This was an opportunity for Buyers to shop designer’s collections not yet released in the market place. The evening included with an industry meet and greet with Press, Influencers and fashion designers.

The second night was the most extravagant event held at the iconic Fairmont Hotel, titled ‘International Couture Fashion show & Showroom’. The following designers presented on the runway: IB Bayo, Binta Sagale, Rosa Pistachio, FD Fashion House & George Styler. The exhibitors included: Manjusha Jewels, Philine, Camp Couture, Tendance, Rudo Active, Plantioxidants, Borbon, Rosebud & Sephora. The show concluded with an unveiling of the #Wunite campaign marked by models on the runway adorned with flags of various countries all over the world. The celebration after party took place at The W Hotel.

The third night was the Exclusive Fashion & Pret-a-Porter show held at the trendy and hip Clift Hotel. The following designers presented on the runway: Fantabela, William Lei, Veronica Estrada, Too Damn Expensive & Ayla. The celebration wrapped with an afterparty filled wall to wall with San Francisco fashion lovers.

The Finale event was held at the gorgeous rooftop of Hotel Zelos, representing Emerging and Sustainable Fashion devoted to sustainability and raising awareness of a more conscious fashion industry and lifestyle. The presenting designers included: Marissa Britt Holt, Viktoria Tisza, Blood of a Billionaire, 3rd Eye Brand, Brooks Ware, and Alexandria Von Bromssen. The afternoon concluded with a closing fashion week party.

Fashion Community Week is an example of an organization using fashion for good and changing the face of fashion to create a more sustainable, inclusive and unifying fashion industry for fashion designers and beauty talents of all backgrounds, origins, and aesthetics.

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This year the Fashion designers & Beauty talents emerged from countries all over the world including: Serbia, Hungary, Norway, Colombia, Peru, Mexico, Nigeria, Cameroon, Guinea, India, China, Zimbabwe, Germany, Ukraine and New Zealand.

Some of the nations designers and talents joined from New York, Chicago, Ohio, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Cruz and Sacramento.

Each year Fashion Community Week prioritizes supporting designers & talents burgeoning careers and giving back to the community. A portion of this years proceeds benefitted the non-profit Dress For Success. We invite you to follow the Fashion Community Week social media channels (Facebook, Instagram & Linkedin) for upcoming Fashion Community week events both Locally and Globally. The organization is looking forward to presenting a bigger fashion week in the Spring of 2019 and positioning San Francisco on the Fashion Map!

BETRAYED

WORLD PREMIERE HEATS UP HOLLYWOOD On Wednesday Sept 26th, Betrayed had its’ world premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatres 6 in 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028. This much anticipated action crime thriller from multi award-winning actor and filmmaker Harley Wallen, “Betrayed,” stars Richard Tyson, John Savage, Billy Wirth, TJ Storm, Yan Birch, Kaiti Wallen, Nick Sarelli, Calhoun Koenig, Angelina Danielle Cama and Blanca Blanco.

Numerous celebrities and VIPs were in attendance such as filmmaker/actor Harley Wallen (Bennett’s Song), Richard Tyson (Kindergarten Cop), Billy Wirth (The Lost Boys), TJ Storm (Punisher: War Zone), Kaiti Wallen (Into A Dark Mind), Yan Birch (The People Under the Stairs), Nick Sarelli (Moving Parts), Calhoun Koenig (Bennett’s Song) and Angelina Danielle Cama (Moving Parts). Other celebrities in attendance were Jake Busey (The Predator), Scout Taylor-Compton (Rob Zombie’s Halloween 1 and 2), Tara Reid (American Pie), Dennis Haskins (Saved By the Bell), Mel Novak (Bruce Lee's Game of Death), Sean Whalen (Twister), Emmy awarding Producer Kelly Parker (Game Girls), Athena Bass (Ex-Wives of Rock), Vida Ghaffari (The Mindy Project), Sadie Katz (Wrong Turn 6: Last Resort), Jimmy Star and Ron Russell (The Jimmy Star Show with Ron Russell), celebrity couture designers Mathilde Badji and Michael Ferrera as well as celebrity hair and makeup artists Bruna Nogueira (Founder of Hollywood Makeup Lab) and Alma Cedillo. The sponsors of the event were ROAK Brewery, Cabresto Tequila, Oochie Wear,

Painted Creek Productions and Vision Films.

This action crime thriller deals with the gritty world of human trafficking. In an effort to control the city, the Mayor Don Alderman (John Savage, The Thin Red Line) lets the Russian mob into his city. After the Russians don’t follow his rules, he opens the city to the cartel to push them out. When the Russians find out, Mikhail (Harley Wallen, Bennett’s Song), the head of the Russian mafia, kidnap’s the Mayor’s daughter (Kaiti Wallen, Into A Dark Mind) and then the real games begin. Caught in the middle of an escalating crisis, Mayor Alderman hires Mike Wolf (Billy Wirth, The Lost Boys) and Alpha (TJ Storm, Punisher Warzone) to rescue his daughter before the cunning Mr. Stone (Richard Tyson, Black Hawk Down) puts her on the market to be trafficked.

“With three beautiful daughters and a stunning wife, the subject of trafficking is something that it’s on my mind more than I’d like to admit. I wrote this script with the hopes of scaring people a bit into action after my church really brought this to the forefront. I feel we often think these things happen far away and the victims and perpetrators are somewhat faceless. I think in Betrayed we bring these issues to your doorstep. We had some absolutely amazing and electric performances and I am super proud of my cast and crew for this, it took some blood, sweat and tears to get this made but it was worth it!”, said director Wallen.

Wallen has been awarded by numerous prestigious film festivals such as the Castel Award at the Barcelona International Film Festival, Amsterdam Film Festival, London Film Awards and the Mexico International Film Festival.

Lise Romanoff, Managing Director/ CEO of Vision Films says, “Betrayed is an entertaining film about blackmail, corruption and greed taking place at the government level. I believe it is necessary for the public to get a glimpse into this dark facet of our society in order to invoke change.�

Betrayed will be released on Blu Ray and DVD and VOD by Vision Films through its distribution deal with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on October 2, 2018.

Vision Films is an Independent Worldwide Distributor and VOD Aggregator of over 800 Feature Films, Documentaries and Music Programs from some of the most prolific independent film producers in the world. Led by Lise Romanoff, Managing Director/CEO Worldwide Distribution, Vision Films releases 2-4 films a month, across Theatrical, VOD, DVD, and television. www. visionfilms.net.

Betrayed CABLE PROVIDERS: Comcast VOD, Comcast EST, Verizon VOD, Verizon EST, Dish, Time Warner, Cox, Charter, Frontier, Other VBQ Betrayed DVD outlets: Amazon DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Betrayed-John-Savage/dp/ B07FRXG27N/ Shortened Link: http://bit.ly/B-Amazon Walmart DVD: https://www.walmart. com/ip/Betrayed-DVD/357330876 Shortened Link: bit.ly/B-WalmartDVD ONLINE RETAILERS: iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/ movie/betrayed/id1435660316 Shortened Link: http://bit.ly/B-iTunes Amazon Video, Vudu, Microsoft, Google, Playstation Fandango Now: https://www. fandangonow.com/details/movie/ betrayed-2018/1MVc7b328d9570ec6c8a16dc0e0d31f9b88?ele=searchresult &elc=betrayed&eli=0&eci=movies Shortened Link: bit.ly/B-FandangoNow Betrayed Trailer: https://youtu. be/8M8oqY2ohvY IMDB page: https://www.imdb.com/ title/tt7014430/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_8

Crumbs & Whiskers a Cat Cafe Experience

WE HELP RESCUE & FIND HOMES FOR HOMELESS CATS www.crumbsandwhiskers.com

Adopted: 800 Saved from euthanasia: 1,710 Amount donated to charity: $24.5K Our impact on our communities’ cats is simple. We partner with rescues who save cats at risk of euthanasia in high kill shelters and cats facing homelessness on the streets, and place them in our cafes. Once they are at our cafes, we care for our cats until they meet their perfect human and are adopted. As our cats are adopted, our partners bring us more cats who are rescued from risk of euthanasia, and the cycle continues! One day, we hope to be a part of the reason why no shelter cats are euthanized simply due to a lack of space.

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Reduced Euthanasia Rates By housing cats who have nowhere else to go, we reduce the number of cats who are killed in the cities we operate in simply because there's no more space for them.

Increased Adoptions By housing homeless cats in a unique space and marketing their profiles in a different way than shelters do, we significantly increase the exposure shelter cats get to potential adopters, which in turn, increases the adoption rates at our partner rescues.

Improved Lives for Homeless Cats Cats who are homeless on the streets are usually experiencing high disease rates, and cats who are in cages at shelters are usually experiencing an extremely high level of stress, anxiety, and depression. By housing these cats in a comfortable, safe, enriching, and nurturing environment, Crumbs & Whiskers drastically improves the lives of the cats in our care and gives them a loving temporary home while they wait to find their forever families.

About Our Partner Rescues Our DC partner, Homeward Trails Animal Rescue, rescues cats facing euthanasia in overcrowded shelters and places them for adoption in loving homes.

Our LA partner, Stray Cat Alliance, is an organization dedicated to saving animals in need by finding them permanent homes and providing the resources for successful companionship.

Check them out, they are amazing organizations.

www.straycatalliance.org

Photo courtesy by Sam Schweikert www.samschweikert.com

written & performed by Dina

Morrone

An accelerated, full immersion Italian lesson about Cinema, Sex and Saints...

Oh, and Federico Fellini too!

"One of the truly funniest nights I've spent at the theater." ~Mel Brooks

Winner Best One Person Show ~Valley Theatre Awards, 2018

2 Performances Only

Sat. November 10 - 8pm & Sun. November 11 - 2pm Tickets and Info: www.theatrewest.org Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd. W Los Angeles, 90068