Issuu

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Nurturing Our Souls -

NATURALLY! P u b l i s h e d b y : N u r t u r i n g M e - N AT U R A L LY ! Welcome to the New Year and our first magazine for 2021—the Summer edition of Nurturing Our Souls – NATURALLY! I’d like to take this opportunity before I go any further, to mention that my thoughts are with those who have been adversely and traumatically affected in some way by the challenging events of 2020. No-one could ever have imagined or specifically foreseen at the beginning of 2020, the dramatic turn of events that were about to catastrophically unfold, and just how disruptive and challenging the year would be to us all. Government departments through to each individual world wide were about to experience a year like no other year in history had ever experienced before.

ISSUE NO.2 — Summer 2020/2021

time and with appropriate measures and support, we can, and will move past the challenges we face.

It is in times of, in particular, financial adversity, that those who generally seek opportunity, view these challenging circumstances as opportunistic and likely favourable. They get creative and seek out how best they can turn what appears to be to many, a failed time in their lives, but to themselves, a time of promise, good fortune, and their greatest blessing about to be conceived. It is all about choice, perspective and being creative and optimistic, also forward thinking. Since publishing the previous edition of Nurturing Our Souls, Naturally! (1 year ago), the behind-the-scenes activities for creating future editions was required to flex with the times and the events of 2020. This meant postponing the second publication until now, which has worked out to be such a blessing in disguise.

2020 was a year that caused divides between many countries, states, territories, communities, and individuals, but it was also a year that brought many together in a way that opportunity provided as well. One way or another we have all been affected, and the fortunate ones are those who saw and made good of the many opportunities that have revealed themselves. You could say that 2020 was an extremely unique year.

Much consideration has gone into how best to proceed with the publication, resulting in a decision to publish a quarterly / seasonal magazine with the addition of a smaller publication, a supplement newsletter, which will be posted monthly, more details on this can be viewed further on in this issue.

Our personal lives and otherwise predictable business routines have required some flexibility of thought, responsibility, and perspective. It is fair to say that if we choose to fixate on the negative for too long, we will drown in our own sorrow and despair. Of course, we all need space and time to grieve our greatest losses, but in

Until next time - May you learn from your experiences and awaken each day to your blessings and purpose.

As we move forward into the new year I’d like to wish all our readers a promising and prosperous, happy and healthy 2021.

Donna-Lynn Live NOW Love MORE & Learn OFTEN

DISCLAIMER: All submissions and claims made by contributors are the sole responsibility of that contributor. Neither Nurturing Me NATURALLY nor Donna-Lynn will be responsible for any unfounded claims or practices. Any use or interpretation of a product or service is the sole responsibility of the consumer. Both NurturingMe-NATURALLY! and Donna-Lynn recommend caution and due diligence be undertaken before purchase, practice or referral. COPYRIGHT © All works through out the publication personally developed by Donna-Lynn ( images, quotes, all writings etc.) remain the sole property of NurturingMe-NATURALLY! And Donna-Lynn. Permission for use must be obtained. 2

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About Our Publication Nurturing Our Souls - NATURALLY !

Nurturing Our Souls - NATURALLY, respectfully aims to support the emotional, psychological and physical health and wellbeing of all women - particularly aiming to enlighten and provide information to those just starting out on their self awareness and spiritual journey. We aim to delve deeper into specific, and what we feel, important and necessary topics as the magazine evolves and matures, with the emphasis on valuing the importance of self-worth and self-respect, self-esteem and courage as well as the overall value of health and wellbeing. The sharing of inspirational personal experiences of courage, overcoming adversity, trauma, challenges or purely sharing an uplifting story is highly encouraged by those willing to step forward and share their gifts. These can hold so much value and benefit, as there is always someone else who could gain a little hope, faith and enlightenment from someone else's courage, strength and/or wisdom. Consider that your contribution may just be the guiding light another soul is waiting for to gain the trust needed to carry them forward along on their journey. We welcome contributions from all women who own or run a nurturing business to share their story, and how best they can support the wellbeing of another soul sister. For more details see page 63. Nurturing Our Souls - NATURALLY, respects the wisdom of our ancestors and that too of many other cultures and tribes so, mindfully and compassionately we may occasionally choose to support and share their wisdom and honorable ways that they once lived. Nurturing Our Soul - NATURALLY, also holds a special place for a special feature - Our Pets and Wildlife. Understanding the importance of just how much they can add to our own health and wellbeing - enhancing our daily experiences with fun and exercise, pleasure and joy, it was considered, why not honor and celebrate these special souls too? The magazine is a FREE online publication, currently offered for viewing through social media platforms and soon to be offered as a FREE subscription and delivered directly to the inbox of our email subscribers. 3

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Nurturing Our Souls PURPOSE & MISSION Support & Celebrate Women of all Cultures and Nations Inspire & Encourage Women to Value Their Worth & Believe in Themselves Create Opportunities For Women to Learn & Grow with Love Share Wisdom & Knowledge For Greater Self Awareness & Connection Naturally Nurture Women Who Desire to Live Life Experiencing Inner Peace, Harmony & Balance ~ Compassion, Love & Connection ~ Heart~n~Soul!

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A SPECIAL GIFT FOR OUR PERSONAL CONTRIBUTORS Receive This Lovely

FREE Skincare Gift Pack when an inspirational item/story you have

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 2-

Welcome

30 -

Energy - Our Life Force

About Our Publication

31 -

Crystals and Essential Oils

A Special Gift For Your Inspirational Story

32 -

Energy (Chakra) Centres

What’s Your Story? Tell Us Your Inspirational Story

34 -

News and Updates

The Journey

36 -

GRACE ~ Aloe Gift Pack, Sample Our Favourites

11 -

Poem ~ What Will You Do With This Year That’s So New?

38 -

Native American Indian Wisdom

40 -

Soulful Pets and Wildlife

12 -

Animal Spiritual Symbolism - The Dove

44 -

Light Of Hope –Charity

13 -

Poem ~ The Legend of The Valentine

46 -

Quote

14 -

A Nurturing Planner and Journal Offer

47 -

Image ~ CW Woodgate

16 -

4 Ways To Get To Know Yourself Better

48 -

Quiz Section

18 -

Why People Fail So Badly at Taking Care Of Themselves

51 -

Quote

20 -

Can You Remember as a Child, What You Wanted To Be When You Grew Up?

52 -

Nurturing Notes and Planner

60 -

22 -

GRACE Specials

Aloe Vera ~ What Makes Optimal Health Aloe Juice So Unique?

24 -

The Importance Of Empathy

62 -

Advertisments

26 -

5 Ways to Affirm Your Worth

64 -

Until Next Time - A Thought To Contemplate

27 -

Poem ~ How to Find Happiness

65 -

What’s Coming Up In Future Issues

28 -

5 Truths to Help You Not Lose Your Soul and Mind On Social Media

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WHAT IS YOUR STORY?

If you have an inspirational story that youâ€™d like to share with our community why not submit your story for approval?

If printed in one of our issues you may receive a special gift* Anyone can submit their story *Gift available to Australian Residents only Submissions to be in by 15th FEB for the Autumn Issue

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THE JOURNEY Experiences - Challenges and Life Lessons Life Story by Donna -Lynn~ Creator of Nurturing Our Souls -NATURALLY!

Before setting out on my journey please note that the stories may be of a sensitive nature to some people. Much care of such sensitivities will be considered towards those who have been involved in my journey. All care and intent of sharing is with much respect an love for all.

THE JOURNEY EXPERIENCING LIFEâ€™S CHALLENGES Donna-Lynns Personal Life Journey (continues in each issue)

`There may be times when we want to give up, give in - just throw in the towel, because life seems so dark, exhausting and unjustifiably cruel.`

I, like so many others when in a dark place, in times past have considered leaving this place for another due to the harsh cruelty and seemingly unjust ways personally endured, but something, something much deeper within always held me here as I was not yet destined to leave this world. It was not until recent years that I understood why, and began to `appreciate` my earlier traumatic experiences, to acknowledge them as the blessings they are today. As challenging as it may appear, consider for a moment the reason you came to this earth, the reason you took your first breath. Consider the purpose, the meaning of walking among the people you know and love and the people you once knew - inclusive of ALL family members, classmates, friends, work colleagues - even the people you meet and have connected with in the street â€“ favourable connections or otherwise!

Understand that nothing appears just by chance. Our life has been planned and there is a reason we came to live the experiences we are now living, and to journey the path we continue to travel. We each have a purpose, we just need to learn, and realise what that purpose is through each days experience and the lives of those we touch.

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Continued …..

…. the only time I ever felt unconditionally and undeniably loved, genuinely and sincerely appreciated, completely and totally safe, trusted and understood, was in the presence of my mum. As the years went on, we came to understand each other’s uniqueness and special qualities on a deeper level, a soul level, something I had been challenged to experience in any other person, that was, until …. Shortly after I was born my dad became extremely ill and began the journey of a long, suffering, and debilitating illness (as explained in the previously edition of NOS-N) which eventually some years later caused his parting from this world as a young man. Prior to my dad being relieved from a world of physical, emotional and psychological torment and pain, and still in his 40s, the routine of my family pretty much revolved around regular, if not daily, hospital visits. Understandably we spent as much time with dad as possible. Hospital to me felt like a second home for many years and the memories I hold are still looked upon with deep and mixed emotion. One such memory is of how we were compassionately and empathetically cared for by hospital staff over the years. Mealtimes for me were always a treat when it came to Shepherd’s Pie night at one particular hospital (dads fulltime medical care was provided by two repatriation hospitals over the years). I could always count on a plate being set aside for me each time it was on the menu - the staff knew me well and I have never tired of sitting down to, what could be my favourite dish. To this day whenever I see it elsewhere on a menu it always takes me back to a special and precious time of my childhood. As a child I had no idea of what possibly would lay ahead of us as a family. I was not aware of, or privy to our family’s health history but would later hear the reference to dads condition being that of - “The Family Curse”. I was sheltered from the many relatives who had succumbed to this cruel illness at such young ages and the fact that there was, and still is, no cure. You see, once my mum realised what was happening to our little family, she did what she thought to be the caring and safe thing to do - shelter her girls from witnessing a generational illness that could possibly one day lead to being our own fate too. Pretty much all visits to dads’ side of the family were paused, so of course my experiences and memories are limited. But given that we then lived in Melbourne and dad’s `full blood` (dad also had six x 1/2 blood siblings in Western Australia) family were in Ballarat (Australia), near on a couple of hours drive back then, the journey in those days would have been lengthy and exhausting for mum. Little time would have been available to us anyway due to the regular visits to the hospital and mums working commitments, which were understandably necessary to pay the bills and put food on the table. Life was quite the shuffle, not an ideal life for anyone, let alone a child. It was school during the day and shortly after school, trips to the hospital then off to Nans where my sister and I would sleep whilst mum would go off to work a night shift. Of a morning we would be woken to rise (way much earlier than if we were at home) to make the trip back to get ready for school to then begin the cycle again. With only a couple of months earlier having marked the day of dads 47th birthday, mum had the challenging and arduous task of laying him to rest just one week before my 8 th birthday. As a child I could not possibly have imagined nor comprehended the devastation, torment and feelings of loneliness and abandonment mum, as a young devoted and loving wife (although she still had her 2 girls) would have been experiencing at that time, actually, at anytime at all really!

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Continued ….. Understandably there I was, a young vulnerable 7-year-old child entering my 8th year, a time that was meant to be a part of my most innocent, protected and playful of all, having to deal with my own torment and feelings of loneliness, abandonment and heartbreak, as was my older sister too, although she, standing in the shoes of a young impressionable middle teen. There’s just no way a young 7yr/8yr old child could ever feel the true sense of psychological and emotional loss of a much loved partner, nor understand the deep pain and anguish of a teenager’s loss of her father either, a teenager who’d previously been blessed with many precious, earlier and adventurous years of a healthy family life, that was, until shortly after her baby sister entered this world. Also, it should go without saying, anyone attempting to understand or interpret the exact state of mind and emotional state of a younger child who is experiencing such grief, would be furthermore challenged to say the least. Once dad’s time came to pass other challenges and adjustments fell upon us, as of course our lives would never be the same again. Although my mum, sister and I had just experienced our greatest loss together - our personal experiences could never be compared to each other, nor totally understood. The 7year age difference between my sister and I would prove to be challenging for mum for various reasons. As a young child I later realised the hard way that there was much to learn and understand about having a parent pass over. At the time, and for many years later I felt responsible for my dad’s passing, this is not unusual for a child to experience and believe in such times of trauma. Given the impressionable and undeveloped state of a child's brain and their conditioning, children often feel responsible for the sudden absence of a parent, believing that they are the ones that made them leave, regardless of the truth and reality. My belief was that I had somehow made my father ill, considering I had learnt he had become ill so shortly after my birth. How was I to know or understand otherwise as I was so compassionately sheltered from a life I did not know existed. In the years to follow, with maturity and wisdom, I later realised that of course dads passing had nothing to do with me, although I had always thought if I had not come into this world he would not have passed so young. Never Let Any Circumstance Go By Without Attempting To See The Lesson and Purpose Of It’s Existence, For There Is - Generally a Hidden Gift!

Let the journey continue ...... (Autumn edition) (Follow The Journey thread @ nurturingme-naturally.com.au)

Love Light & Peace, Many Blessings, Donna-Lynn 10

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What Will You Do With This Year That’s So New? As we start a new year untouched and unmarred, Unblemished and flawless,

Unscratched and unscarred, May we try to do better and accomplish much more And be kinder and wiser than in the year gone before — Let us wipe our slates clean and start over again, For God gives this privilege to all sincere men Who will humbly admit they have failed many ways But are willing to try and improve these ’new days’ By asking God’s help in all that they do And count on Him to refresh and renew Their courage and faith when things go wrong And the way seems dark and the road rough and long— WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH THIS YEAR THAT’S SO NEW?

The choice is yours — God leaves that to YOU!

Helen Steiner Rice 11

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PEACE – THE SPIRITUAL SYMBOLISM OF A DOVE A perfect union - the Dove, and Nurturing Our Souls-NATURALLY! Once we realise the meaning or significance of something, it is fair to say that we can appreciate it’s value and purpose a little more than had we not understood it at all - just like being aware of the significant spiritual symbolic meaning of The Dove. Both the Dove and Nurturing Our Souls - NATURALLY represent values of, and for, higher good, and so it feels only natural to place them together. There are a number of websites and places of which provide great content and explanation on the subject of symbolic animal meanings, and Marilyn Tokach’s site is one. Marilyn specifically elaborates in great detail, the meaning of this beautiful bird as well as providing other useful and beneficial information and resources. Briefly she writes The dove represents peace of the deepest kind. It soothes and quiets our worried or troubled thoughts, enabling us to find renewal in the silence of the mind. The dove’s roles as spirit messenger, maternal symbol and liaison impart an inner peace that helps us to go about our lives calmly and with purpose. Doves are commonly considered a symbol of motherhood. Historically, dove symbolism is associated with several mother figures:

•The Mother Mary in Christian legend (care, devotion, purity and peace)

•Ishtar in Assyrian culture (promise of hope and salvation) •Aphrodite and Venus (viewing the soul or a sense of higher love) Doves teach us that, regardless of external circumstances, peace is always a touch a way – within us – and always available. It is said that if a dove flies into your life, you are being asked to go within and release your emotional disharmony. The dove helps us to rid the trauma stored deep within our cellular memory. Doves carry the energy of promise. When inner conflicts are banished from our thoughts, words and feelings, goodness awaits. Online sources: http://www.whats-your-sign.com/animal-totems.html http://www.shamanicjourney.com/ http://livingartsoriginals.com/animal-symbols.html http://www.lilytherese.com/POWER1.HTM#Dove%27s%20Message%20and%20Medicine http://www.mysticfamiliar.com/library/shamanism/animal_totems.htm#Dove Throughout these pages a Dove will appear, and it is hoped that it will gift you a moment of opportunity to stop and reflect on it’s meaning and how it can support you with it’s grace. The intention in this instance is to remind us to pause in the moment - and ask—

•

‘Am I being kind, loving and caring towards myself? If not, why? Then ask-

….. what needs to either change or be implemented so I feel more at peace and loving towards myself for my greater good? It’s surprising what answers lay within us when we are ready to ask the necessary questions and are then, prepared to take the required time to be patient wait and then listen for the answer.

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The Legend of The Valentine The legend says ST. VALENTINE Was in a prison cell Thinking of his little flock

He had always loved so well And, wanting to assure them Of his friendship and his love, He picked a bunch of violets And sent them by a dove…. And on the violets’ velvet leaves He pierced these lines divine That simply said, `I LOVE YOU` And `I’M YOUR VALENTINE` So through the years that followed, From that day unto this, Folk still send messages of love And seal them with a kiss…. Because a SAINT in prison Reached through prison bars one day And picked a bunch of violets And sent them out to say That FAITH and LOVE can triumph, No matter where you are, For FAITH and LOVE are GREATER Than the strongest prison bar.

Helen Steiner Rice

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NURTURE YOUR MIND GOALS AND DREAMS TODAY What you’ll find when you receive your Planner + Journal is that they are not standard or average by any means. Much time, effort, consideration and love has gone into creating these beauties with the intention to support, and nurture women who wish to draw themselves out from the shadows to live a much more fulfilling life. Our Nurturing Companion Pair have been created to complement each other with the aim for women to feel Inspired, Empowered and Worthy. They’re a practical combination that encourages you to return to each day to support and nurture your growth, dreams, creations and goals. As these are EVERGREEN creations you can commence using them any time of the year at your convenience.

IN ADDITION TO STANDARD PLANNER FEATURES THERE’S – Inspiring and Encouraging notes (to help you achieve more from life) Financial Worksheets and Monthly Overviews (keeping things basic) Checklist Reminders for each Day/Week One – Five year Calendar One – Five year Goal+Strategy Planning (great to support your long term goal planning & visions) Special sections for you to enter • Your Personal Daily Affirmation • Images to Create Your Life’s Vision • Images of The Things That Make You Happy and smile etc • Special Highlights / Milestones (these serve as reminders of what you have been achieved and what you are still capable of achieving – when you need support to stay on track and / or have your spirits raised) And so much more ………… Here’s to your Growth, Health and Happiness – and Living Out Your Dreams

Donna-Lynn Nurturing Me – NATURALLY!! 14

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AVAILABLE NOW AND READY TO BE DELIVERED Order yours today at @ nurturingme-naturally.com.au

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4 Ways to Get to Know Yourself Better Self-knowledge is the key to a truly happy and rewarding life. It is the power to truly understand yourself and your interests and motives as an individual. If you thoroughly know your values, principles, and morals, and what you want to accomplish in life, you will always have a plan to succeed.

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Continued …..

Keep a Journal – Purchase a journal and make it a daily requirement to write about your feelings and what you accomplished each day. Also, include what the one thing that has been on your mind all day long, even if it may sound silly, like thinking about new carpet for your living room or something you just want. It may not seem the most important thing ever, but this gives you a small insight regarding your interests.

Ask Loved Ones – Ask a loved one what they see in you as a

person. Others often can see great things that you will never see within yourself. You may think you have nothing of value while your friends and family can’t live without your prospective or your joyful smile. You will be amazed by all the great information they provide as they see you during unique moments that you cannot possibly see.

Identify People You Dislike or Feel Neutral Toward – This

may sound kind of negative. Still, the people you don’t like or are indifferent too often represent values you don’t respect that is found within yourself. They may even have certain attitudes they experience daily that your mood and aura can’t handle. Such as someone extroverted who can go days and weeks socializing without any breaks, while introverts must have alone time to recharge and survive the next social interaction. Once you make a list of these individuals, identify the reason you don’t like them, and then identify within yourself those features and whether you truly represent that or not. You will soon see a pattern to certain dislikes that lead to likes and interests about yourself.

Always Ask Yourself, “Why?” – The more you ask yourself why the more you will identify the reason behind your need to doing something. Maybe you know for a fact you like video games but why do you like video games? Is it the art or social interaction or both? If it is social interaction, then why again? What about the social interaction within video games do you like more than other activities? As odd as this exercise may seem. Eventually, you will start to realize after each question how it relates to you. You have certain tendencies and values you gravitate to and will start repeating them. It will become clearer each time you ask yourself, “why,”?

Try practicing these few tasks daily to understand yourself better. It can also be helpful to jump start this by taking a few personality tests on the internet. While most of these aren’t scientific, it does give you food for that though you can use it as a guide to get to know yourself better. 17

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Why People Fail So Badly at Taking Care of Themselves Even when you know how important self-care is to your wellbeing, it isn’t always easy to incorporate it into your daily routine. In fact, did you know many people fail when it comes to taking care of themselves? Here, we’ll look at why people generally fail when it comes to self-care and the main things holding them back. It is often perceived as selfish One of the main reasons people fail to take care of themselves is because they feel it is selfish. It could be that you feel guilty when you take time to focus on you. Or, you may worry what other people think, or that you are a terrible parent for not focusing solely on your children’s needs. It is a total myth that self-care is selfish. In fact, it can help you to be a better parent, friend, spouse and relative. The more you take care of yourself, the easier you’ll find it to take care of others. You’ll also show your children the importance of self-care. Teaching them to take care of their own needs is a crucial life skill that’s going to help them to grow up to be happier adults. It requires effort There is no getting away from the fact that self-care does take some level of effort in the beginning. When you aren’t used to making self-care a priority, you’re going to need to make quite a few changes to your routine. Coming up with a self-care plan can feel like a chore, making it easy to put it off. However, there are ways to reduce the effort. For example, focusing on one thing you want to improve at a time can really help. Perhaps you’d like to start working out more? Scheduling time to exercise as soon as you wake up for example, can be a great start. Or, if you’re looking to drink more water, focus on that goal first.

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Continued …..

If you break down your self-care tasks, it makes them much easier, reducing a lot of the effort involved. Different approaches work for different people Every one of us is different, which means we enjoy and dislike different things. When you initially look at examples of self-care, you’ll find a lot of them relate to things like reading a book or taking a hot bubble bath. These types of activities aren’t for everyone so they might feel self-care really isn’t for them. Self-care isn’t just bubble baths, yoga, and meditation. It is anything that relaxes and takes care of you. So, if you find going for a run is a more effective way of feeling good, that would be classed as a self-care task. If you find one self-care approach isn’t working, try something else. Self-care should be personal to your own needs. These are the most common reasons people fail to take good care of themselves. It can be difficult overcoming the initial barriers to self-care. However, once you fully understand what and how important it is, you’ll find it much easier to stick to a self-care routine.

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SUMMER NO BETTER TIME TO RELEASE YOUR INNER CHILD 20

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CAN YOU REMEMBER AS A CHILD, IMAGINING WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE OR DO WHEN YOU GREW UP?

DID IT COME TRUE? All too often we lose sight of what we imagined - as a child, our life would be as a grown up. We tend to go with the flow and societies expectations and then slowly, before we realise it, we have allowed our dreams to slip away. Weâ€™ve even forgotten how to use the majestic power of our imagination and the focus to hold onto the visions of what we would like to achieve and experience. Sometimes it just seems all too hard to go after what we want because of our conditioning and what we perceive to be true. We grow up and life and circumstance can slowly erode our hopes and dash our dreams.

If we only allowed ourselves to stop for a moment and reflect on what it was that we wanted back then as a child, and started to dream and believe again, all really need not be lost. Generally speaking, children live the simple life as they have not yet experienced the many forthcoming challenges and stresses we as adults seem to accumulate due to the requirement of being a responsible adult. Their minds are far less developed and cluttered, therefore, and understandably, allowing more mind space to daydream and consider being creative and playful. But seriously, all is not lost on us grown ups. We can, and really need to, learn how to take back the right of nurturing our imagination and creativity - AND WE CAN! We all have 24 hours in a day, it just depends on how we choose to manage our thoughts and construct our time. The most successful, productive and creative people are the busiest, but they have developed the skill and knowhow to be disciplined and focused and use their time wisely. Iâ€™m not saying it is easy, but it is a matter of perspective!

Glass half full? Glass half empty? In this day and age we are fortunate and can be so grateful for the internet, as there are so many organisations and people who can guide and support us along our creative journey. If you are unfamiliar with vision boards or would like to learn more, and how to create them effectively, why not check out the many FREE resources on Mr Google and FB etc. Become a member of a FB group and join in on the fun and adventure of creating your own board. Learn to gain back your playtime, release that inner child and create the vision you once had or, maybe now, something even greater! 21

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The Importance of Empathy In All Areas of Life

Being more empathetic means understanding how someone feels and then also wanting to care for them or help them when needed without having to have ever experienced the situation yourself before. There are three types of empathy, which include, emotional, compassionate, and cognitive empathy. Emotional Empathy is the ability to respond to others with the appropriate emotion. Compassionate empathy is the ability to understand someone's feelings but without exactly having to feel them as well. Cognitive empathy is the capacity to understand and perceive someone else's emotions without having to be in their shoes physically. There are also two critical theories regarding how empathy works. Simulation Theory - This means empathy is possible because people can simulate the emotions they see from others and feel it physically to relate. Theory of Mind - This is the idea that there are a set of rules you can follow on how one can or should feel to understand their feelings and overall thinking.

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Continued …..

If you have difficulty showing or experiencing empathy, you may find that you experience conflict within your life, frequently. That is because, without empathy, your only focus is about yourself and how things affect you only. This lack of empathy clouds your ability to think of others and, in turn, reduces your perspective of the world. You must be empathetic if you want to have successful professional, interpersonal, or romantic relationships with others. EMPATHY: Developing and enhancing your empathy will also benefit you in other ways by: Helps you control your emotions – Controlling your own emotions enables you to create long and strong relationships, whether professional or not. This is because you allow yourself time to think beyond your own emotions and interests. Seeing the world through others’ eyes can give you the clarity you need. Helps build social connections – Social connections are vital for physical and psychological well-being. If one person in the relationship is selfish and only ever thinks about themselves and what they can get out of the relationship, then they are doing the exact opposite of what empathy is about. Empathy is having the ability to understand a friend or partner without experiencing it yourself and giving up your time freely to do it. Promotes teamwork – Being empathic promotes helping behaviors, which is important during situations that require collaboration such as work or other social group situations like community service—helping behaviors including putting in the work or providing something that someone needs effortlessly and without expecting something in return. Promotes compassion – Empathy compels people to be concerned and worried about those around them. They can’t help to see that others are suffering and provide help. They can’t fathom the idea of ignoring the problems and moving on. Being empathetic may not come naturally, but there are ways to develop it. Try to adopt new habits and change your routine to make you more empathetic. Practice noticing moments when the only focus on your mind is “you” – if that is the case, stop and immediately think about how others are feeling at that moment. If you continue to do this, you will be on your way to satisfaction in any relationship. 25

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5 Ways to Affirm Your Worth & Build Your Self-Esteem In essence, self-esteem is trusting and believing in your abilities. It is having real confidence in yourself to do anything. Unfortunately, for most people they have very low self-esteem, which prevents them from enjoying life thoroughly. Make Daily Affirmation Statements Develop a morning routine that includes words and statements of affirmations. Look to others or develop your own. Write down the affirmations. Recite them aloud to yourself every morning. Even if you don’t believe them at first, the more you do it, the more you will, and you will start to prove it to yourself too. It is also a great way to start your day off with positivity to attract more throughout your day. Volunteer & Donate Help others by volunteering your time, skills, and even money if you can. Helping others will provide a great sense of pride while also being thankful for the things and life experiences you have had throughout your life. Try New Things Even if you might fail, keep trying new things. Guess what, if you fail, you will not explode. At least most of the time. It’s not typically the end of the world. It only makes you stronger and develops more as an individual. If you succeed, you will feel accomplishment, and even if you don’t, you will be happy you decided to try it and to the best of your abilities. There is nothing more exciting than accomplishing something you thought you could never do. Be Around Positive People Spend more time around people who are positive and don’t want to bring you down constantly. Negativity only breeds more negativity. More times than not, people who 26

are negative and try to bring you down are unhappy with themselves and it has nothing to do with you. It’s actually a result of their negativity. Therefore, it is best to limit your time with these people and spend most of your time with people who are happy and honest. Stop Comparing Yourself to Others Unfortunately, due to social media, society makes it easy to compare yourself to others. This is unhealthy and you should avoid this as much as possible. Others do not define your self-worth, and the beauty of it all is, no one can be like you no matter what they try to do. Due to this, comparing yourself to others will only lead to dissatisfaction. Treat Yourself In other words, do more of the things you love and never feel guilty for it. Schedule time daily just for you. The more you spend time doing the things you love, the more positive you will be and feel better about yourself. Read a book, take a long bath or space out on the couch; whatever makes you happy, keep doing it. Don’t let your low self-esteem and self-worth prevent you from enjoying life and accomplishing your goals. It might feel uncomfortable at times but overall, you will be happier and never regret the choice you make to act and change your circumstances for the better.

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How To Find Happiness Through The Year Everybody, everywhere seeks happiness, it’s true, But finding it and keeping it seems difficult to do, Difficult because we think that happiness is found Only in the places where wealth and fame abound— And so we go on searching in ‘palaces of pleasure’ Seeking recognition and monetary treasure, Unaware that happiness

is just a ‘state of mind’ Within the reach of everyone who takes time to be kind— For in making OTHERS HAPPY we will be happy too, For the happiness you give away returns to ’shine on you’.

Poem By: Helen Steiner

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5 TRUTHS TO HELP YOU NOT LOSE YOUR SOUL OR YOUR MIND ON SOCIAL MEDIA “The key to not losing your soul on the Internet is in remembering that someone else’s perception of you is not your reality. Just because someone places a label on you, doesn’t mean you have to wear it. You are the only one who knows your truth, so never let those who know less about you, define you. You know who you are. They don’t”. Social media is my home and my workplace. As with many people, I live a good portion of my waking moments here, engaging, writing, responding— virtually existing. As fruitful as it can be, there’s a toll this all takes though, a price we are all paying that most of the time we are oblivious to. We usually just absorb the negativity and the vitriol and we allow it to become part of our normal operating system. If we’re not careful, over time it can rob us of our basic humanity and it can fundamentally alter us in a way that isn’t pretty. Today, I wanted to share a few thoughts to help you navigate life out here, and not lose your soul or your mind in the process. 1. Love the trolls, don’t feed them. The great beauty of social media is that it gives everyone an equal voice, allowing people who have felt or been silenced to be heard. This also means that we are all provided with our own potential bully pulpits, and from time to time we all use them simply to express our anger and our outrage at those in our path, whether those things are merited or not. We all take our turns playing the ticked-off contrarian looking for a fight. We are all capable of being reduced to trolling for a negative response and little else. Spend enough time in the virtual world and you will invariably be the target of someone else’s prior hurt and past experiences and lazy stereotypes. Their agendas will not be pure, their methods not admirable, and their goal not conversation but the cheap high of throwing shade in front of a crowd. Try to determine when people are seeking understanding and when they are looking for the attention of a hateful response—and refuse to give them the latter, for your health and for theirs. Don’t feed the trolls. 2. Remember who you are. We are all viewing people from the small, selective window of what they choose to reveal on social media. This means we are all evaluating others with incomplete information, always engaging them without really knowing them but feeling as though we do. Remember that people are doing this with you too. They will use a limited body of work by which to categorize and summarize you, believing that this is accurate and speaking from this deficit. The key to not losing your soul on the Internet is in remembering that someone else’s perception of you is not your reality. Just because someone places a label on you, doesn’t mean you have to wear it. You are the only one who knows your truth, so never let those who know less about you, define you. You know who you are. They don’t. 28

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Continued …..

3. Time is always on your side. The greatest mistake most people make on social media is allowing the manufactured urgency of Twitter feuds and comment sections to pull them into believing that they must respond immediately. We so readily unleash words simply because they pop into our minds, without considering whether they are helpful or warranted or necessary. In the middle of the frenetic crossfire of passionate opinions and strong stances that we find ourselves immersed in every day, it almost never occurs to us that we can simply pause. Yet there is almost never an occasion where waiting is not the better option; when slowing down doesn’t let wisdom and dignity catch up with us and offer us a better response—which sometimes is no response. It’s okay to wait. It’s okay to be silent. There’s goodness there. 4. Social media communication is inferior communication. I spend a great deal of my life here in the virtual world and love so much about it. Yet although it has allowed me to reach millions of people and to cross paths with more disparate perspectives than would ever be possible otherwise, I know its limitations. I understand that it is not the ideal. Social media conflict often looks like a conversation, but in the end it can only be at best a series of public monologues. It is the separate ping-ponging of perspectives which does have value, but because it doesn’t allow realtime interaction, facial expression recognition, and because it is often done surrounded by an interjecting chorus of ill-informed onlookers, it is always going to be terribly flawed. Even at its best it will always be inferior to sitting across from someone, seeing their face, listening to them, hearing their story. We obviously can’t have this with everyone we interact with on social media, but the more we are able to, the more we will build true, bridge-building relationships with those who believe differently than we do. 5. Know when to apologize—and when not to. Words are wild animals. Despite our best intentions and without much warning, they will damage people. Despite our sincere, laborious efforts to choose our words wisely, they will sometimes be the wrong ones, or they will be received in a manner in which we didn’t at all intend. People will be hurt. The same words that to some are laced with compassion will to others feel like bitter attack. When those words do damage we need the compassion to know when our choices have been irresponsible and to own those choices and to seek reconciliation with those who are hurt. Other times though, we will need to accept that our most carefully crafted truth will really make people angry and that this is okay. Often, especially when we are speaking into injustice, the turbulence that our words bring is necessary and quite good. Unrest can be beautifully redemptive. Sometimes to defend the underdog you have to risk really ticking off the big dog. Check your heart regularly for pure motives for sure, but never be bullied into silence simply because people get angry. Hopefully these things will help you as speak and engage and live life out here in social media with a bit more compassion, integrity, and humanity. You and I will surely fail miserably at some point today. Do your best, but give yourself a break when you fail and keep going. We’re all trying to figure out how to do this. Hold on to your soul.

Author: John Pavlovitz Blog: johnpavlovitz.com (republish permitted) 29

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ENERGY HEALING FROM THE GROUND UP

ENERGY - OUR LIFE FORCE The thought of briefly learning about, or even more so, seriously studying the subject of energy in greater detail may not appeal to many of us, in fact, it could be considered quite a boring topic with judgement and views placed on it as a `nerdy` thing to do.

When we begin to realise the benefits of self-care, and start investigating greater ways to nurture ourselves - BODY, MIND & SOUL - we can be lead along an inspirational path where we encounter a desire, a need, for even greater knowledge, and so we dive deeper leading us on a journey way beyond our earlier expectations but one of which brings enlightened understanding.

Mindlessly, we may go about our day taking for granted the overall significance of it’s purpose, meaning and function.

Today’s fast paced existence and the concerns over many medical methods and practices are supporting an awakening of consciousness, as many of us seek alternative options to those more commonly experienced and known so we can live a far more optimistic and fuller lifestyle.

When we think of energy we generally think of two independent forms on a superficial and basic level – one being, a possible image coming to mind of a light switch or an appliance that only works once plugged into a power socket etc., and the other thought, how we are feeling in the moment without further consideration on how the energy within us actually functions. Both of these we grew up knowing about, but not necessarily understanding. Energy can be quite a complex topic to fully submerse ourselves into and of course who has the time to learn about the things that don’t spark our interest? As long as we can get up in the morning and have everything functioning well – life is good right!? Believe it or not it can be quite a fascinating subject to delve into, and this opportunity may come about once we start exploring the areas of self-awareness and spirituality. 30

Energy healing is experiencing a resurgence of ancient teachings and wisdom and it’s no wonder our energetic buttons have been pushed and we want to free ourselves of the constraints and conditions that hold us back from living the lives we were born to live, with much joy. In this section of each edition we will begin to explore just how understanding our own energy can empower us to break through limitations and release us of what no longer serves us for our greater good. In each issue we explore a particular chakra (energy centre), beginning from the ground up—our Autumn issue will focus on the root chakra and the many influences it has on our body and life.

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CRYSTALS & OILS COMPLIMENTING CORRESPONDING AREAS OF OUR ENERGY SYSTEM

Crystals &

Essential oils Crystals and Essential Oils not only have their own individual special qualities, benefits and features, but they also perfectly compliment any energy healing session too. Commencing in our Autumn edition of Nurturing Our Souls– NATURALLY, we explore and discover how to best use Crystals and Essential Oils when aiming to receive enhanced benefit for a particular concern or issue in relation to our health - BODY MIND & SOUL. The illustrations on the following pages share a brief overview of our energy system - the areas of which are effected by each function within the body, and which disorders are associated to each area as well. We will expand on these in future editions. In the next issue we explore the root chakra as illustrated on the following pages. *NOTE: •

Caution must be exercised when purchasing and using ESSENTIAL OILS as not all oils on the market are of pure grade and authentic - although possibly promoted as such.

•

Authentic Pure Essentials Oils have a high level of potency that requires caution when using in cooking.

•

Care must be taken when using Essential Oils around pets, as some oils are specifically toxic and harmful to particular animals.

Disclaimer: Using Essential Oils always come with a level of risk. Nurturing Our Souls - NATURALLY! and it’s creator do not assume responsibility for any persons interpretation or choice of use. It is always recommended to research diligently. 31

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THE BODYâ€™S ENERGY CENTRES Chakras BODY FUNCTION

GLANDULAR FUNCTION

CROWN CHAKRA

Brain - The entire organism

Pineal Gland (serotonin, melatonin)

Crown

THIRD EYE CHAKRA Cerebellum - Nervous System Hormonal System - Eyes - Ears Nose - Sinuses

Third Eye

THIRD EYE CHAKRA Pituitary Gland (vasopressin)

Throat

THROAT CHAKRA

Heart

Throat - Neck - Oesophagus and Windpipe - Shoulders - Jaws

THROAT CHAKRA Thyroid and Parathyroid (vasopressin)

Solar Plexus

HEART CHAKRA

Sacral

HEART CHAKRA Thymus (immune system)

Heart - Lungs - Blood - Arms and Hands Root

SOLAR PLEXUS CHAKRA

Digestion - Small Intestine - Liver Autonomic Nervous System

Pancreas (insulin, digestive enzymes)

SACRAL CHAKRA

Sexual Organs - Kidneys - Bladder Blood Circulation

Testicles and Ovaries (oestrogen, testosterone)

ROOT CHAKRA

Suprarenal Glands (cortisone, adrenalin, noradrenalin)

Pelvis - Bones - Larges Intestine Nails - Teeth

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THE BODYâ€™S ENERGY CENTRES Chakras continued PHYSICAL DISORDER

MENTAL DISORDER

CROWN CHAKRA

Cancer - Immune System Disorders -

Depression - Confusion - Flight From Reality

Chronic Illnesses Crown

THIRD EYE CHAKRA

Third Eye

Headache -Sinusitis

THIRD EYE CHAKRA Poor Concentration and Learning Disabilities - Anxiety

Throat

THROAT CHAKRA

Heart

Thyroid Ailments - Neck Pain Speech Defects

Shyness - Inability to Express Solar Plexus

HEART CHAKRA High or Low Blood Pressure Coronary and Respiratory Disease

Sacral

Root

SOLAR PLEXUS CHAKRA

Oneself

HEART CHAKRA Lack of Feeling - Problems with Relationships - Poor Boundaries

SOLAR PLEXUS CHAKRA

Digestive Problems - Stomach Ailments - Diabetes - Obesity

Aggression - Insecurity - Nightmares Sleep Disorders

SACRAL CHAKRA

Impotence - Prostate Disease Problems with Females Reproductive System - Kidney Disease

Addition - Lack of Sexual Drive Mental Weakness

ROOT CHAKRA

Basic Fear - Lack of Trust Disorientation

Constipation - Back Pain - Disease of the Bones

THROAT CHAKRA

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NEWS & UPDATES NATURALLY GRACE Natural Skincare by Donna-Lynn Valentineâ€™s Day is Just Around The Corner Remember Your Special Valentine on February 14th

PERSONAL SHOPPING BALLARAT, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA. Our Certified Aloe Vera Natural Skincare and Therapeutic Product orders can be placed by contacting 0407 070 616 during business hours or messaging us on FB 24/7 SUMMER ORDERS So our products can maintain their optimal levels of efficiency for longer periods of time over the much warmer months of the year, less stock will be held on our shelves in Ballarat. As keeping high quality products are important to us, we prefer to order on demand so our customers receive the most recently produced quality product possible. Orders from Ballarat to our Head office will be placed on the 15th and 30th of each month should you prefer to shop locally. PLEASE NOTE: For any product that Ballarat may not have in stock, orders to head office are placed regularly. You can arrange for a regular reoccurring order in advance so you will always have your favourite items on hand (conditions apply). Or If an item is required urgently itâ€™s suggested to please place orders online so you receive your product/s directly to your door.

Online shopping available 24/7 and generally processed within 24 business hours.

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NEWS & UPDATES Nurturing Me - NATURALLY! NURTURING Body, Mind & Spirit SUPPORTING & ENCOURAGING Self Development, Confidence & Self-Esteem Publication – Issued Quarterly /Seasonally Next issue - March / Autumn

RECENT UPDATES AND NEWS It’s been a busy time in recent months as we’ve just produced and published our latest creation, and first ever - Evergreen Nurturing Planner and Journal companion pair. More details can be found on pages 14 and 15. COMING SOON •

A private FB group will be operating soon for those who purchase our Planner and Journal Companions. The purpose is to provide updates specific to the P+J, also …..

… it aims to support women who dare to dream. The group will be a safe haven for members to feel supported when discussing their goals, dreams and aspirations — a place to go to to dream BIG. So many women feel they have no-one to share their dreams or personal journey with for many reasons. A common one is that they don't feel safe to do so due to fear of judgement from non-believers and unfortunately, all too often it can be those who are closest to us. The group will also be an opportunity for those who choose to communicate their journaling experiences and journey etc. if they wish. •

A REGULAR NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION OFFER As from July this year we will be releasing a monthly newsletter to compliment and supplement the Seasonal Publication of Nurturing Our Souls - NATURALLY! This will allow us to provide tips, details and news that require to be featured and updated more frequently.

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MAGAZINE OFFERED FOR SUBSCRIPTION Also soon to be offered for subscription will be our seasonal magazine, Nurturing Our Souls NATURALLY! Instead of coming across our publication by chance or having to scroll for it you will be offered the opportunity to have it delivered directly to your email address so you don’t miss a publication.

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OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVERTISE IN BOTH PUBLICATIONS; MAGAZINE AND NEWSLETTER (PRICES TO BE PUBLISHED SOON WITH SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFERS) . More details can be found on pages 62 and 63.

For expressions of interest in submissions, please message us @

facebook.com/NurturingMeNaturally For all news and updates between publications you can stay in the loop by viewing our social media sites and blog page. All links can be found @ linktr.ee/nurturingme_naturally

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NATIVE AMERICAN WISDOM There are four ways in which you can go â€” if you are going somewhere. The first is to go immediately on the first thought. That is not right - Think about it! This will make it the second way. Then think about it a third time, but donâ€™t go yet. Then on the fourth consideration, go and it will be all right. Thus you will be safe. Sometimes wait a day in between consideration of your problems. DIABLO (White Mountain Apache), (Oglala Lakota, 1942)

Excerpt: Native Wisdom, The West Book by Joseph Brucheac 38

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We Cannot Create Peace In The World If We Do Not First Attempt To Achieve Peace Within Ourselves

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SOULFUL PETS & WILDLIFE one that I hope you find intriguing too.

As our pets and wildlife are also living, breathing soulful creations, it seems only fitting that a place be set aside in this publication for these amazing creatures so that we can honour their purpose, meaning and being.

It’s hard to imagine a world without our much loved pets and the creation of natures beautiful and bold wildlife. Many of which bring us so much peace, reflection, love and joy, in a world that could otherwise be lonely, empty and unadventurous when void of their existence.

EMPATHY & ANIMALS In this issue I felt drawn to discuss the topic of empathy and as to whether horses, like us, experience this emotion as well. As discussed in the previous issue, horses have become so well known and appreciated for their ability to support the psychological and emotional healing of children, adolescent and adults alike. Why, and how could another species be so valuable to the health and wellbeing of that of our very own state? This I find to be an interesting topic and 40

Being a pet owner, horse lover and owner myself, over the years I have had the privilege and honour of experiencing just how these beautiful souls relate to one another, as well to us human beings. I have absolute no doubt what so ever that horses and most other pets and animals can teach us something quite extraordinary when it comes to experiencing the emotional and nurturing side of the soul - just as nature intended. Generally speaking we mostly consider empathy as a human emotion, although, mother nature has an amazing way of displaying and communicating ways in which animals can relate emotionally to one another, and to other species also. I came across the following article when researching another topic and considered it worthy of placing in this edition for those who find the subject just as fascinating as I do. “Do Horses Feel Empathy?” written for thehorse.com and posted by Robin Foster, PhD, CHBC, Cert. AAB, IAABC - 7th Jan 2021, Robin’s article can be found in it’s entirety at thehorse.com/19072/dohorses-feel-empathy/ Including a video of the World's Smartest Horse Passes Self-Awareness Test Until recently, researchers considered empathy and other higher-order cognitive processes the exclusive domain of human psychology, but over the past decade discoveries from scientific study results have blurred the line between humans and nonhuman animals.

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Continued ….. The

capacity

psychological fundamental

for

empathy

mechanism role

is that

cooperative,

general

plays

prosocial

behavior.³ The degree to which an individual feels empathy in response to another’s pain or pleasure depends on the situation. Empathy seems to be stronger when the other is socially close or similar and inhibited when the other is a competitor, a

stranger, or different. Moreover, some individuals are fundamentally

Do Horses Feel Empathy? Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Here’s what we know about horses and empathy.

more empathetic than others, and in humans scientists have linked these differences to brain activity. When someone who doesn’t feel empathy hears about or sees another person in pain, the brain areas associated with empathy do not light up, and in extreme cases of psychopathy, the

Have you ever seen a horse quietly follow a calm

brain’s pleasure centers might even become

buddy into the trailer but then become anxious when

active.

loaded alone? Or maybe you’ve been on a trail ride when one horse suddenly startles and spins, causing the others to startle as well. These are examples of social buffering and emotional contagion—when one individual is affected by or shares the emotions of another¹,²—and provide evidence that horses possess the capacity for empathy.

Until recently, researchers considered empathy and other higher-order cognitive processes the exclusive domain of human psychology,² but over the past decade discoveries from scientific study results have blurred the line between humans and nonhuman animals.

How do animals express

What is empathy?

empathy?

Emotional contagion and social buffering can affect

an animal’s immediate and future behavior.¹ In

Internal states are difficult to study, because they

horses, they trigger responses that are adaptive in

can’t be directly observed. However, behavior can

the moment. For example, a horse can flee without

provide insight into what animals feel, think, and

exposing itself to the potential threat. Horses can

know. Emotional mirroring, motor mimicry, and

also learn that a situation is safe or dangerous by

synchronized movements are viewed as evidence

mirroring the emotional reaction another horse had

of primal empathy,² and the responses are

to the same situation, without having to go through

typically unconscious and immediate. Examples

the experience directly. For example, a horse might

that have been used as evidence of animal

quickly learn to avoid a hot wire after having

empathy

observed another horse touch and react to it.

synchronized movement, and gaze-following.

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include

contagious

yawning,

Continued …..

Contagious yawning is a well-studied example of

In horses, mirrors are often used as a form of

motor imitation that has been linked to empathy in

“social” enrichment and might also be mounted in

humans,

carnivores.

riding arenas. For several years I worked with a

Female gelada baboons even precisely imitate

mare, and every time we rode past the mirror along

different types of yawns.4 In contrast, contagious

one side of the arena, she would pin her ears and

yawning has not been reported in horses. Yawning

then cow-kick the wall at the “other horse” that

occurs less in horses and other ungulates than in

pinned its ears back at her!

nonhuman

primates,

and

primates or carnivores. In a recent study comparing domestic and Przewalski’s horses, researchers reported that yawning occurred most frequently in mature stallions and was associated with social and environmental stress.5 Synchronized movement and gaze-following are commonly seen in horses, but systematic studies of these imitative motor patterns in horses are lacking.

empathy, but it requires the cognitive capacity to distinguish self from other that goes beyond state-matching.²

fundamental

psychological

mechanism

prosociality, the hallmark of which is taking a personal risk to help another in distress. This targeted helping requires the mental ability to take another’s perspective and is rare in nonhuman animals; it has been documented in great apes, dolphins, and elephants³ but probably does not

Studies have also linked self-awareness with

emotional

The capacity for empathy is thought to be a

Humans,

occur in horses.

Take-Home Message

some

Comparative scientific research of empathy and

nonhuman primates, elephants, and dolphins show

other higher-order mental processes in animals

self-recognition using the mirror test.

have focused on human’s closest relatives. Like primates, horses share many of the social and ethological characteristics believed to favor an ability to experience empathy. Horses are very social and long-lived; they have prolonged

maternal care, on which the well-being of the foal depends; and they also form strong and longlasting social bonds with other horses, and close alliances between unrelated horses are common. Under free-ranging conditions, horses also rely on the herd for survival. Further scientific research In most studies, the mirror test involves applying a

that includes horses would provide a more

paint mark on the animal’s face. Animals with self-

complete cross-species understanding of how

recognition will look at the mirror image and then

animals experience and express empathy.

touch the mark on their own face, but those without self-recognition will touch the mark on the mirror image or react to the image in some other way. Using this test, horses do not appear to possess self-recognition. 42

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If you have a story of a pet or an animal that’s uniquely touched your soul in some special way, why not share your experience with our readers. It’s always uplifting and often inspiring to hear about how our pets and nature are making a welcomed difference to someone’s life. Whether it be a magical one time experience, or a much needed life changing blessing, these special souls and the gifts they bring to us, I feel, deserve a little celebrating. Contact:

admin@sewnreapwithheartnsoul.com facebook.com/NurturingMeNaturally

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WE BELIEVE IN BEING A BEAUTY BRAND THAT GIVES Grace Cosmetics is more than just skincare. It’s a revolution to empower people all across the globe and part of this revolution is our charity arm, Light of Hope. Light of Hope has been a part of the fabric of Grace Cosmetics since the very beginning. As an organisation we know life is more than just ourselves, so we have created a platform to outwork this generosity. HOW IT ALL BEGAN Grace Cosmetics Co-Founder and Founder of Light of Hope, Sandra Fittler, saw a need and started a movement. Our charity began with one woman who had a heart big enough for the whole world. As a company we are able to follow in her footsteps. She has paved the way for thousands of individuals across the globe to get relief from the grip of poverty. “Don't be afraid to give, be a blessing to others and give of yourself. Every small gift or effort changes lives.”

Sandra Fittler

OUR MISSON Light of Hope’s mission is to bring hope to desperate, disadvantaged communities by providing them with what they need the most. Whether it’s nutritious meals and clean water for orphans, medical supplies for families or schooling facilities in countries that need it most. We partner with some pretty incredible organisations that have the same vision as us: to help people break the cycle of poverty.

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NO ORDINARY HAND WASH LIGHT OF HOPE CAMPAIGN MAKING A REAL DIFFERENCE

.... It’s A Fundraiser Where Everyone Benefits ALL OF THE PROFITS GO TOWARDS FEEDING AND EDUCATING 100’S OF NEEDY CHILDREN AND BUILDING A SAFE HOME FOR ORPHANS.

YOUR SMALL PART GOES A LONG WAY TO CHANGE A LIFE. $5.00

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR CAUSE by SHOPPING ONLINE

or Contact Donna-Lynn for some personal shopping when in Ballarat 0407 070 616

Follow the links @ linktr.ee/nurturingme_naturally THANK YOU 45

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If you ever wonder or question, `Am I on the right path?` Sit for a moment and tune in to how you generally feel Do You Feel Peaceful? Do you Feel Excited? Do you Feel Joy? There is your answer, in it’s purest form. Donna-Lynn Nurturing Me—NATURALLY! 46

Photo credit - CR Woodgate

HEALTHY MINDFUL EXERCISE - MADE EASY!

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DID YOU KNOW THAT … The adult human body

DID YOU KNOW THAT … Cells contain structures called organelles (“little organs”), which carryout many vital functions?

contains over 50 trillion

Cells are bathed in fluid, which brings them oxygen

cells?

and nutrients. It also takes away products, such as hormones, and wastes, such as carbon dioxide.

DID YOU KNOW THAT … Three Billion of the body’s cells die every minute; most are renewed?

DID YOU KNOW THAT … An egg cell ( ovum ) is the largest human cell? It can just be seen without a microscope.

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QUIZESSENTIAL 1/ A deficiency in the mineral iodine can cause: (a) Goitre (b) Eyestrain (c) hypoglycaemia 2/ What is a LACTO-OVOVEGETARIAN? 3/ What is the most predominant mineral in all the body cells? (a) Sodium (b) Iron (c) Potassium

5/ According to official national statistics, what percentage of women in the late 1980â€™s were considered overweight? (a) 20-30 % (b) 30-40% (c) 40-50% 6/ Which of the following apply to gherkin: (a) A weed (b) A fruit (c) A member of the cucumber family?

4/ Which of the following has the lowest level of cholesterol in a 100gram serve? (a) Prawns (b) Lobster (c) Oyster 50

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Answers: Page 70

“If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete” BUDDHIST TEACHING

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I AM MOST GRATEFUL FOR —————

MY FAVOURITE QUOTE IS —————

MY AFFIRMATION FOR THE MONTH IS —————

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DAILY CHECK LIST —————  

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SELF-CARE REMINDERS -Daily Practices; ie. Affirmations ,Vision Board etc.  

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TOPICS OF PERSONAL INTEREST —————

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MY HAPPY PLACE IS ——————-

THE THINGS THAT MATTER THE MOST TO ME ARE ——————-

THE FEARS AND CHALLENGES I CHOOSE TO OVERCOME ARE —————-

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PLANS/GOALS   

      

STRATEGIES / ACTION STEPS           I’VE DONE WELL, I DESERVE A REWARD MY REWARDS ARE ...........

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DECEMBER Mon

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JANUARY Mon

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FEBRUARY Mon

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SPECIAL ENTRIES â€” ADDITIONAL NOTES

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SPECIAL DATES AND EVENTS

LINKS AND RESOURCES

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PROMA’S OPTIMUM HEALTH ALOE VERA JUICE WHAT MAKES OPTIMUM HEALTH INNER LEAF ALOE JUICE SO UNIQUE? You’ve heard it before, Aloe Juice has astounding health benefits for you and your family - But what’s the difference between Optimum Health’s Inner Leaf Aloe Juice and the Aloe juice you see on the shelf at your local grocery store? Yes, it might be easier to pick up a bottle while you are doing the rest of your grocery shopping, but what exactly are you compromising? Many other brands claiming to be ‘Aloe Juice’ use a powdered form of Aloe Vera and water down their Aloe content to fill more bottles. A study by nutritional journal ‘Agro Food Industry Hi-Tech’ analysed nine Aloe products and found only three had satisfactory amounts of Aloe Vera. Optimum Health’s Aloe Inner Leaf Aloe Juice micro pulp is 99% pure organically grown inner leaf Aloe, meaning you get a highly concentrated dose of Aloe Vera goodness. The key to quality Inner Leaf Aloe Vera Juice is the careful cultivation of the Aloe Vera plants using only the best organic farming techniques. The process by which Aloe Vera is made into a juice is also very important in preserving those beneficial, active constituents. Other brands may damage or eliminate these healthy constituents by heating, filtering and over processing their Aloe Vera. Every bottle of Optimum Health’s Inner Leaf Aloe Juice is created using our own proprietary formula. We carefully fillet the Aloe gel, removing the unwanted aloin before cold processing the pure inner Aloe gel. This unique treatment preserves the bioactive constituents including the natural vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids and unique Aloe polysaccharides, maintaining the high quality and potency for your benefit. THE OPTIMUM HEALTH DIFFERENCE Over 30 years experience, extensive research, knowledge and expertise using the latest technology delivering high quality Aloe Vera Drinking Juice.

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A unique, proprietary formula developed by leading experts to provide the maximum health giving benefits.

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Our Aloe Barbadensis Miller (Aloe Vera) is grown using 100% organic farming without the use of chemicals, fertilisers, pesticides, insecticides or fungicides.

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Our formula is the direct result of consultation with Dr Ivan Danhof, an internationally renowned medical scientist whose life work has been the study of the healing properties of Aloe Vera.

Every bottle of Inner Leaf Aloe Vera Juice is bottled under strict TGA, (Therapeutic Goods Administration), requirements, in our TGA licensed facility. So the next time you are faced with an Aloe Juice choice, don’t settle for watered down imitations, choose Optimum Health’s pure Inner Leaf Aloe Juice and enjoy the full benefits of Aloe Vera.

Aloe Vera - How It Can Support Your Health & Wellbeing 60

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CONTACT Mob: DonnaLynn 0407 070 616 FB: @ DonnaLynn.NaturallyGrace

Australian

Natural

Cruelty

Recyclable

Organically

No Sulphates

Made

Botanicals

Free

Packaging

Grown Aloe

or Parabens

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ADVERTISMENTS ADVERTISING SPACES AVAILABLE FROM JUNE 2021 Throughout 2021 our magazine will be published seasonally/quarterly, with a supplement newsletter soon to be offered on a monthly basis which will support our magazine - Nurturing Our Souls - NATURALLY! If you feel that your business is aligned with our purpose and mission, why not consider investing in some advertising space to market your product or service? Special introductory advertising offers will be available for the first 12 months, July 2021 - July 2022. Your first quarter will be FREE. We offer to display your advertisement in both publications (Magazine and Newsletter) as well as, where appropriate and possible, support you and your business on our social sites and blog pages for an agreed time as well. Space will be limited so it is advised to act sooner rather than later. Sizes available for standard regular advertising are as follows; • • •

Business card A4 Quarter page A4 Half page

(Prices soon to be advised) 62

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ADVERTISMENTS ADVERTISING SPACES AVAILABLE FROM JUNE 2021 In addition to regular advertising space, each seasonal publication of the magazine will offer a One or a Two page Advertorial / Native Advertising Opportunity for businesses. These will be limited to a maximum of two businesses per edition.

If you would like to display your business in greater detail, sharing how best you can offer support and benefit our readers, maybe this option could be a perfect opportunity for you to consider. ( CONDITIONS WILL APPLY)

To be kept up to date, please keep an eye on our pages Facebook

NurturingMeNaturally

Instagram

nurturingme_naturally

Blog

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To enquire further please email info@sewnreapwithheartnsoul.com 63

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UNTIL NEXT TIME A THOUGHT TO CONTEMPLATE ......

JUDGEMENTS THOSE WHO DON’T KNOW OR UNDERSTAND US - WILL JUDGE US BUT IT IS THE JUDGEMENTS THAT WE PLACE ONTO OURSELVES THAT CAN DO THE MOST HARM Donna-Lynn Nurturing Me—NATURALLY!

TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION ON ANY TOPIC HEAD ON OVER TO OUR BLOG:- www.nurturingme-naturally.com.au FB:- www.facebook.com/NurturingMeNaturally INSTAGRAM:- nurturingme_naturally

—————————— Nurturing Me — NATURALLY! Body Mind & Spirit

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IN FUTURE ISSUES WE’LL CONTINUE •

The Journey

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Energy Healing

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Crystals

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Essential Oils

ALSO REGULARLY EXPLORE AND DISCUSS •

Self-esteem

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Confidence Building

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Latest Brain Research

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Healing with Colours

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Vitamins and Minerals

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Dreams and Interpretations

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Personality/Character Types

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Inspirational Women in History & Today

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Balancing the pH in Our Body For Greater Health .............. and much more

If you have any topic that you’d like to explore why not message us on FaceBook 65

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GRATITUDE & BLESSINGS

Donna-Lynn Nurturing Meâ€”NATURALLY! www.nurturingme-naturally.com.au www.facebook.com/NurturingMeNaturally