DECEMBER 2023
OPAL RISING Sharing Wisdom
Our HeartCentered Feature
Veronica Weston Like We Only Have TONIGHT
BONITA MOSLEY Magical Moments with SPIRIT
KAT BERARD Still HERE TRUDIE OTTOLINI
DEPARTMENTS 5
Message from the Publisher
9
Our Feature Heart-centered business... Veronica Weston
49
Advertise/Submissions
50
Shop Our Products and Services
51
Events and Announcements
WISHING YOU A
Joyous
Holiday Season www.opalpublishing.ca
OPAL PUBLISHING
OPAL RISING Our magazine delves into various healing modalities, empowering personal stories, and a deep exploration of the spiritual and metaphysical realm. Join us on this journey towards holistic wellness and energy healing. Opal Rising Magazine is published in the beautiful port city of Nanaimo, B.C. and we are proud to live and work in the traditional territory of the Snuneymuxw first nation.
Design & Graphics Magazine Layout ...Cindy DeJager
COVER STORY VERONICA WESTON
Columnists Boris Glikman Bonita Mosley Angel Morgan Veronica Weston Jeannie Vassos Dr. Stephen Hobbs Ms. Kat Berard Theresa Stone Catherine Saykaly-Stevens
To Advertise With Us Email cindyopalpublishing.ca
Submissions Inquiries Email cindy@opalpublishing.ca The opinions expressed within any published article, report or submission reflect those of the author, and should not be considered to reflect those of Opal Publishing. The information contained in this magazine is believed to be accurate, but is not warranted to be so.
Editorial /AD Deadline: 5th of January for the February 2024 issue.
DECEMBER 2023
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
MEDITATION & MINDFULNESS METAPHYSICAL & SPIRITUALITY 11
STILL HERE | Trudie Ottolini
13 Magical Moments with Spirit |Kat Berard
16
36
Angel's Animal Corner | Angel Morgan
38
20
HOLISTIC WELLNESS 47
22 Evoke Wondering Through Nature Wandering | Dr. Stephen Hobbs
26 Nature Journaling | Dr. Stephen Hobbs
Like We Only Have Tonight | Bonita Mosley
40 Honouring the Season | Jeannie Vassos
OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH NATURE The Reluctant Leader | Rev. Sandra Bargman
Welcome Silent Nights and Hopeful Tomorrows… Embracing the Gifts of Each Moment | Theresa Stone
A Mindful Practice to Hone Vital Skills and Prevent Online Burnout | Catherine Saykaly-Stevens
SPECULATION / PHILOSOPHY 43
The Virtually Real Life | Boris Glikman
ASTROLOGY & THE HEAVENS 26 32
A Remembrance of Things Imperfect: MARS | Boris Glikman Your Moonology Perspective of the Winter Solstice | Veronica Weston
34 Moon Phase Calendar
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www.opalpublishing.ca
MESSAGE FROM THE PUBLISHER
Here we are, heading into December! Our last issue for 2023 features another beautiful heart-centered business - Veronica Weston. Veronica is a personal development coach who has dedicated herself to guiding and empowering women on their journeys of self-discovery and personal growth. Veronica helps women to identify their goals, values, and purpose so that they can create the life they truly desire and deserve. We are truly honored to feature Veronica
SPECIALIZES IN TREATING
Weston, in our last issue for this year.
anxiety
On page 11 I am including a beautiful
depression,
photograph and a poem written for my sister who is terminally ill. The photograph
addictions
and poem were written by her best friend,
trauma healing
Trudie Ottolini. I recognized the deep connection to soul that Trudie had in that moment that she took this photo and I am so deeply moved and so incredibly honoured to share them with you in this issue. I hope you enjoy this months’ issue as much
www.eternalhealth.ca Phone: 780-293-5722
as I have enjoyed creating it for you.
In Joy, Cindy
Opal Rising Magazine
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OUR COLUMNISTS | PRACTITIONERS ANGEL MORGAN Raising Energy
Angel Morgan is a recognized and highly sought after media clairvoyant, animal communicator, and energetic expert. She strives to bring awareness to clients and audiences everywhere that we are all a bridge to many worlds. http://www.raisingenergy.com/ http://angelmorganpetpsychic.com/
VERONICA WESTON Personal Development Coach Veronica works with individuals, couples and small groups to assist them in getting clear about what they want to create, and how to create it. https://www.facebook.com/Vero nicaWestonPersonalDevelopmen tCoach
CLINTON R JOHNSON Eternal Health Services Clinton R. Johnson is the owner of Eternal Health Services, a clinical hypnotherapist, and a meditation/metaphysics expert. He specializes in treating anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma
THERESA STONE Lightworker Navigation
healing, and helps in facilitating personal growth. http://eternalhealth.ca/
SHARON CARNE Sound Wellness Institute Theresa is a lifelong learner and holds knowledge in several areas within business and the metaphysical. She approaches life with integrity, understanding, and compassion, along with a divine twist! In 2018, she brought forth Effortless Life Operations, applying her 15+ years of collected business knowledge to support overwhelmed solopreneurs achieve efficiency, ease, and sustainability within their businesses. She has since expanded with her second business, Lightworker Navigation, utilizing her long-hidden divine abilities, which she has been honing for 20+ years to guide those dealing with fear, uncertainty, and or curiosities of the supernatural to help them live masterfully and love wholly. Theresa is honoured to hold the space of love for all those guided her way, helping them shift into more of their divine brilliance! Learn more about Theresa here: https://linktr.ee/LightworkerNavigation
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Sharon is a certified Sound Healer, a certified Reiki Master, and an Acutonics Practitioner. She is the author of “Listen From the Inside Out”, and has produced 8 CDs including “Transmutation, Shed the Negative”, “Woodland Song”, and “Blissful Chimes”, and a series of DVDs. http://www.soundwellnessinstitute.com/
BONITA MOSLEY Visionary Optimist Bonita Mosley is a freelance content copywriter, artist, vision board workshop leader, and children’s book illustrator. https://www.linkedin.com/in/bo nita-mosley-customer-successstory-content-writer/
Holistic Wellness and Mind Body Soul Balance
OUR COLUMNISTS | PRACTITIONERS BORIS GLIKMAN Philosopher
DR. STEPHEN HOBBS Wellth Movement
Boris is a writer, poet and philosopher from Melbourne, Australia.
Guide Agers-Elders who are solo-
“Writing for me is a spiritual activity of the highest degree. Writing gives me the conduit to a world that is unreachable by any other means, a world that is populated by Eternal Truths, Ineffable Questions and Infinite Beauty.” https://www.facebook.com/bozlich
aging to share the legacy they intend to live as mentors & eco_agers, while assisting the funding of green initiatives & writing forest-tree stories. https://wellthmovement.com/ http://wellthmovement.com/well th-blog/
SANDRA BARGMAN, Luminary Leader
Actor/singer, author, ordained inter-spiritual minister and host of the weekly podcast, The Edge of Everyday on TalkRadio.NYC, based on her hit solo show of the same name. Contributing author to the #1 bestselling book, On the Shoulders of Mighty Women. http://www.sandrabargman.com/
APRYL JONES Naturally Enchanted
Certified as a Reiki Master, Intuitive Reader/Psychic Medium, Past Life Regression Hypnosis practitioner and certified Crystal Master and Healer, I will help support you as you take the next steps in your journey. https://www.facebook.com/NaturallyEnchanted1 https://www.instagram.com/_naturally_enchante d/
Opal Rising Magazine
MS. KAT BERARD Just Breathe Medium Clairvoyance Readings, Reiki Healing (Reiki Master Teacher), Spiritual Teacher, Spiritual Life Coaching, Meditation Circles, Louise Hay Heal Your Life Coaching ®. Motivational Speaking, Group Sessions and Workshops. Ms. Kat embraces her Connection with Divine Guidance with Love & Light. Connections with Archangels assists in your Healing as she channels the Guidance needed at this time. http://www.katberardjustbreathe.ca/
JEANNIE VASSOS Professional Energy Healer, Spiritual Teacher and Guide Jeannie’s passion is offering tools of Empowerment to others by facilitating Energy Healing and Advanced Spiritual Training as a Professional Healer, Teacher, and Guide. She is Initiated as a Celtic Shaman, Knights Templar, Kabbalist, and Magus Hermeticus. Her Energy Healing and Advanced Spiritual Training is in the prestigious Royal Lineage of King Salomon. http://www.themiddlepillar.ca/
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Heart-Centered B u s i n e s s
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Holistic Wellness and Mind Body Soul Balance
Veronica Weston
Veronica Weston is a Personal Development Coach with over a decade of relationship-based training. For 10 years she has worked with men and women to identify their goals, values and purpose so that they can create the life they want and deserve. Her Becoming Committed and Becoming Brave individual coaching programs are empowering women to embrace their most authentic selves and step into being the women they have always wanted to be, while her Goddess Mastery Circles bring those women together to support and encourage each other. Veronica is also passionate about Moonology™ and became Certified to teach and hold workshops about how to manifest using the magic of the lunar cycle. Her Manifesting Magic Workshops. 12-month Moon Planners and Moonology™ Readings are helping beginners create a manifesting practice that works. Learn more about Veronica Weston and all the ways you can work with her at www.VeronicaWeston.ca
Veronica currently lives in Mexico with her husband and rescue dogs after years of having beaches and palm trees on her vision boards. She prides herself on being a true “Foodie” and being in-the-know of all of the best places to eat in every city she has lived in or visited. She loves to travel because of her fascination with people, how they live, what they eat, and how they celebrate life. Listening to people’s stories and learning what they dream about is what brings her the most fulfillment. Follow on Instagram @vera.weston
Opal Rising Magazine
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METAPHYSICAL & SPIRITUALITY
Metaphysical & Spirituality
TRUDIE OTTOLINI
STILL HERE
To know that a friend Is dying of cancer is nothing less than heartbreaking. To take her on a trip,
A jumble of mixed emotions Watching you walk towards the light The sunlight glowing yet gently fading A peaceful, bittersweet sight
knowing too well it may be her last is an experience to treasure. To stand back, quietly, watching her walk beside a sunbeam reflected on a wet beach, walking on water beside the
I see your footsteps fading Step by step in the wet sand Knowing these moments are fleeting Before you depart this land
light, with the knowledge that she is dying…well that just warms and breaks the heart all at the same time. She didn’t know I was taking her
I can see your spirit dancing So graceful and so bright Swirling, twirling, swaying So gentle in the light
photo as she walked beside the light, leaving footsteps in the sand. She was unaware of the struggle of emotions behind her as I raised my camera to capture the moment. I was
Each day now is a blessing Another moment to embrace Another day to experience The simple beauty of this place
unaware that there was a poem inside me waiting to come forward until the moment that it arrived.
Raise your face up gently Feel the warming of the sun Breathe in, breathe out Another moment has begun Blessed to have these special moments To see you smile, my friend Blessed to take you on adventures Before you reach the end Publisher’s Note I want to thank Trudie with all my heart for capturing this moment. It took my breath away when I saw it - after all, it is is my own sister in this photo.
Opal Rising Magazine
Though I know the sun is setting Though I know the day is near I am thankful for all these moments To enjoy that you’re Still Here
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about the Photographer Trudie Ottolini
S
ome of my earliest memories are of sitting on top of the freezer in the basement in my Dad’s darkroom watching him develop photos. As I sat and watched he would always talk to me about the pictures and what he was doing, how he could adjust the exposure, the focus and some finer touches but how no equipment could change the subject matter of the photo. He talked about how to frame a shot, choose the subject and the importance of composition. My Dad spent a large part of his life working with David Suzuki on “The Nature of Things” as his sound man. He travelled the world and shared his love of nature. My Dad then shared with me an urge to travel and see the world and a love of all things living. Photography for me became a special hobby that I always enjoyed and added something to my conversations with Dad as he grew older. I never imagined that one day my work would hang on the walls of a gallery. Encouraged by many friends I undertook my first show entitled “Somewhere Along The Way” in May 2010. The success of that first show and the continued support of friends and family led me back to the gallery again in June 2011 for the show entitled “Lift Me Up” dedicated to Dad who passed away before the show was hung. In October 2014 I had the incredible opportunity to travel to South Africa and spent 10 days in Capetown and 4 glorious days on safari in Kruger along the Sabi Sands River. Being in the wild, unfenced, natural, sharing space with some of the most magnificent creatures in existence able to walk right up beside us was a humbling experience that will stay with me forever. From being charged by a cranky rhino in the early morning light, to watching a mother leopard teaching her 2 young cubs to hunt, to catching the playful eye of a baby hyena so curious about us and coming so close, it is hard to pick a favorite a moment. After my return a little bird kept whispering in my ear that this was an experience I needed to share. So I invited everyone to come take a walk on the WILD side with me, returning to the gallery once more.
Now, a new endeavour, to be published in a magazine and taking one step further to include an original poem. What an honour. Please be kind! To purchase or view my photography please feel free to visit my website at https://trudie-ottolini.pixels.com
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Metaphysical & Spirituality
KAT BERARD
Magical Moments with Spirit Your beliefs are truly yours; that you hold onto and embrace. Believing our loved ones go home to gain strength to assist us is a belief I have not only experienced but I embrace. Our loved ones continue to assist and guide us when we welcome them in as Spirit. How and why do we welcome Spirit in? Death is not forever. The signs that the Spirits and Angels walk with us are left in many ways.
Most commonly: feathers, lights flickering, coins left and coolness in the air. As an International Medium Clairvoyant I am honoured to be able to connect with Spirit. The images come in slowly, yet powerfully. They often stop me in my tracks to allow me to see and feel them around; not to mention the cool air that flows through the warm room. It was like yesterday; the first memory that I saw Spirit. Our little house in Barrie, Ontario; welcoming Spirit into our home was a natural thing to do.
Opal Rising Magazine
Living and breathing Spirituality was always a part of life because my father connected to Spirit as a clairvoyant, a grandmother always reading Tarot and her scrying with her crystal ball or reading palms and tea leaves. This was always included in a visit to her house. Our beliefs allowed us to see beyond the boundary of death being the end. Learning how to communicate with Spirit took little energy when I trusted. It was easy when I was a child. The magical “invisible friend” was always there when I needed someone. Soon, Spirit of a person invited my dog in. When my dog passed, her spirit continued to protect my parents bedroom. You could feel her at your feet as you walked in their room. I loved each experience and continue to. The invisible friends now are my passed on loved ones, and yours. continued >>
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Now my role when using Mediumship is to assist others to be able to have closure and to receive guidance from a loved one who or a dear friend who has passed away. Creating a safe, sacred space through trance and/or meditation I begin to channel (receive downloads/messages) when I have permission from my client. I ask that their loved one, friend or family pet joins us and we begin to chat. The guidance I am gifted from Spirit is shared with love. My clients will often ask “how did they know?” It is easy I say, because they are around you when they need to be. Spirit will share magical moments like a wedding or celebration by speaking of the dress or the colours of objects around. Many times clients need only to know that their loved one knew they were there, as they were at the end of life. Spirit will talk about how they held their hand or how they wiped their tears and even bring laughter when explaining an incident that happened when they were young. I call these moments the Magical Moments. In these moments great comfort comes in when they know that their loved ones' rest brings closure to the unknown. Talking to the “dead” is another way of speaking of being a Medium. The ability to connect in order to receive closure, or ask for assistance is always a pleasure to provide the Spirit's message. Most times it can be emotional as well as releasing. My heart chakra will respond if my client is holding onto grief for a longtime. Fresh pain feels very different for me. When you hold on to grief too long I feel your loved one holding me and telling me to express their love and hug the one who is receiving the message. I will often ask Spirit to hold them or place their hand on their shoulder. I wait until I see them standing beside them and then ask them to touch their family member.
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Seeing this is beautiful. When the touch happens I will say “allow yourself to feel”, and the tears begin. The touch or the sound of their voice is so comforting to someone who has lost a loved one. Sometimes even my voice will be altered, or my hand movements or how they would walk. Truly I never know what will come through until the channelled message shows itself. I trust with all of my being that the connection is worthy of the moment we share, to bring messages of what is needed for that moment. After a Reiki healing, during a client session, we asked Spirit to come in. The room temperature changed slowly, but not everywhere. My legs felt a breeze passing by. Quickly an Aunt stood beside my client placing her hand on her lap. Explaining to my client her Aunt was here, the conversation began. The messages came quickly as she chatted about her pearl necklace. “Pick up the pearls”, the words repeated over and over. I told my client to watch the string of the pearl necklace she was given by her Aunt as they could be broken. My client looked at me with tears in her eyes. “How did you know that?” she asked. I said I did not. Your aunt just told me. A warning this was. Now I asked for a deeper message from the Aunt and was given not only the warning but to tell her to keep moving forward and to pick up the pieces of life she is leaving behind and to also not forget the little things in life. She understood. We thanked her and she left as quickly as she came in. Over the years I have learned how to interpret the messages to gain clarity to explain to my client. The pearl necklace that was shown to me being held in the Aunt’s hands began to fall apart and I heard pearls dropping on the floor. It was a warning, as it is an old string and fragile.
Holistic Wellness and Mind Body Soul Balance
Metaphysical & Spirituality
Additionally, it was presented like a gift she was given. A message that I have been shown previously I will place in a dictionary in my head, it makes it easier to understand why they are showing me that picture the next time I see that message. Now each Medium creates their own way of interpreting Spirit messages and how they give the message to you. The Spirit messages are not for us to understand, but for you to know that they are around. It is up to you to hold the messages or release them. Sometimes there is frustration because not always what we need assistance with is what Spirit comes with, and it is not always the Spirit that you want to connect with who comes. I have had messages from teachers from 30 years ago chatting about the way they were in class and how they were appreciated and that they are proud. I explain to my clients that when I ask Spirit to come in we begin a conversation for me to understand why and when they were a part of their life. Connection with Spirit is a pathway of information needed, whether it's a statement or direction it’s healing. Being the Medium for many I am truly grateful that I trust Spirit and Spirit trusts me to come and provide. Ms. Kat Berard, Just Breathe Ms. Kat embraces her Connection with Divine Guidance with Love & Light. Connections with Archangels assists in your Healing as she channels the Guidance needed at this time. http://www.katberardjustbreat he.ca/
Opal Rising Magazine
4 Easy Ways TO CLEANSE YOUR PENDULUM 1 Smudging Light a smudge stick (it can be dried white sage and/or other herbs, or cedar) or you can use your favorite incense. Blow out the flame and pass pendulum or crystal through the fragrant smoke slowly - at least four times.
2
Brown Rice Fill a small can or bowl with dry brown rice. A round grain is preferable to long grain. Submerge your pendulum or stone under the surface. Let rest for 24 hours. Dispose of rice after cleansing.
3 Ho'oponopono Hold your pendulum or crystal in your hands, close your eyes and say the following four sentences: "I love you. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you." Continue to repeat these words several times until you feel the energy shift.
4 Visualize Cleansing Light Hold your pendulum or crystal in your hands or place in front of you on a table. Visual beautiful, cleansing, healing white light or golden light surrounding the stone and washing through it making it fresh and clean.
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Do you have a pet pal question? We all do!! Fill out our QUESTION FORM and we would be happy to include you in our upcoming editions! You can also email us at angelmorgan.orm@gmail.com. Don’t forget to visit our website angelmorganpetpsychic.com, or on Instagram @angelmorganpetpsychic The holiday season is a time of joy. In my world it is a time to connect with animals as much as people, and to share our good fortune even if it’s a small gift of time. This year, take a day or an afternoon and spend it with a kitten, dog or even a reptile at your nearest rescue or shelter. That time is so meaningful to a pet pal that is lost, needs a new home or may be old. This is a time of giving. Buy a toy, some food or litter and drop it off at your nearest pet store. Adopt a pet knowing that they will be yours for their lifetime and will be grateful for it! Purchasing a communication for a loved one is a great gift for the holidays too! My pet is having health issues. Was diagnosed with Cushing's a few years back she still has symptoms but I keep running tests and vet says it may not be. But still has symptoms. I want to help my dog don't want to see her in pain. Not sure how to help her? Theresa - St. Catherines, Ont. Canada This is always challenging when we have pets with illnesses. This little pup though only seems to feel out of sorts in moments. Maya is telling me not to worry. She is achy, but she can handle it and it’s not always. She loves you and wants to play when she is up to it. Just not always. From what I am seeing just stay in tune with here. I get that you are very much on her vibration and intuitively know what she needs. Trust that. I cannot stress enough that as pet pal parents we are gifted with the right animal family members, and can tune into them. It’s just about really following your feel. Yes, consistent vet visits will be required for her, but I do get that you are making her as comfy as you can. Also, her guides keep showing me food. So take a look at her diet, discuss it with your vet. Many symptoms of many challenges we have physically can be managed that way too. Finally, I would look into doing some emotion code (which can be used for animals) to see where her trapped emotions are that are leading to the Cushing’s. We believe as healers that everything is emotion based.
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Holistic Wellness and Mind Body Soul Balance
Metaphysical & Spirituality
Shady was recently found after 2.5 years of being missing. Why did he go missing and where has he been all of this time. Daniel Vangeffe - Strathroy, Ontario
This is an interesting kitty who found a home away from home. He was lost for a time. He loves where he is and wasn’t far away. The people that had him never made him stay. He found his way back home on his own. So, in a nut shell…he wondered onto another street, was lost, found a home, went wandering again and found his way back. Have you ever seen the finale of Gilligan’s Island? (Spoiler alert) in the end they were never cast away’s. Had they ventured far enough they would have found on the other side of the mountain was a luxury hotel. That’s really what happened here. What is incredible is that I do believe this kitty consistently let his other people know that he wasn’t going to be with them forever, so when he didn’t come back they understood on a very deep level and hoped he had gone back to his original place. He says he would always find you, he just didn’t know how. He also says he spent some time on the street. He was grateful that someone let him in, but his intent was always to come back to you. And from what I am seeing, he did have some adventures along the way and made some new friends and had some close calls with other cats and animals. All’s well that ends well in this case! She was always a very anxious and fearful dog. Why was she like this? I love her and miss her and I hope she's enjoying the Afterlife now. Stephanie Campbell - Keswick, Ontario This puppy was always about you. She just wanted to make sure you were okay and says that she didn’t like big noises or being surprised. She felt safe with you. Life scared here a bit. But with you she felt confident. If you said it was okay, it was okay. She loved being at home. That was her favourite place to be. She didn’t like shadows. She was always needing reassurance that things were going to be okay. Her life was so good, that the idea of something bad happening was a subconscious concern for her. If I ask her why she thought she was like this she says, “I don’t know why I am like this, but is it okay?” It came from a place of love. So yes. And to answer your second question. She is so calm. She feels great and safe and totally at peace. She somewhat reminds me of a Pisces. A creature who loves her circle of safe and has no need to venture far from it.)
Opal Rising Magazine
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Essential Oil Copaiba
Soft, Sweet, Balsamic Commonly Used For Anxiety Pain Muscle Aches Can be applied to skin to promote the appearance of a youthful, radiant glow Body systems affected: cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous system, muscles and bones. Copaiba helps to elevate mood and lift depression. It is believed to amplify the effects of any other essential oil.
Product code: 343103 $78.95 // 15 ml
CINDY DEJAGER Distributor Young Living Essential Oils To Place an Order Email: cindy@opalpublishing
I use Copaiba together with peppermint or
Wintergreen on my lower back to reduce the pain
and inflammation caused by joint and muscle pain. -Cindy
OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH NATURE
A Personal Experience
REV. SANDRA BARGMAN
I was recently talking with a friend who asked me about taking over the leadership of a group to which we both belonged. I told him that he should take over the role. We both laughed a lot during this conversation, and I accused him of being a fellow reluctant leader. The moment that phrase rolled off my lips, “the reluctant leader,” I was enamored. I loved it and so did he, Googling it immediately only to discover it was already a “thing”, but I wasn’t too upset knowing I couldn’t lay claim to coining the phrase. I was strangely encouraged that it was already out there, and I wasn’t alone. The most unforeseen choice in life can put you on a path full of unforeseen awakening and fulfillment. In the early 90’s I made the strange and jaw dropping decision to move away from a bustling life as an actor and performer in a bustling metropolitan area to a life in a very remote one. This big city girl, with matching big city hair and shoes, and nary a piece of flannel owned, moved from NYC to a 3000acre nature preserve and biological research station in a small Brigadoon of a town in upstate New York.
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In a nutshell, I was terribly angry at Life and needed some quietude, which I got in spades with my shocking move, landing in a small cabin in the woods, smaller than my NYC apartment, resplendent with a wood stove and a composting toilet, dubbed unironically “The Throne.” I’d say it was my love for my then boyfriend that fueled my monumental leap, but I’d be lying.
Our little cabin on the preserve was nestled by a huge pond, with a path around it that I would walk, sometimes with my love and more often alone. The woods around the pond intrigued me, as I walked through three distinctly different habitats. One, a young forest, small trees with lush undergrowth, swaths of sunlight filtering through. The second, more mature, a bit darker.
Holistic Wellness and Mind Body Soul Balance
Our Relationship with Nature
Finally, a hemlock forest, majestic, formidable, and magical--it always seemed as if a wood nymph or nature fairy should be peeking up from one the gnarled roots. One night I had a dream about the hemlock forest. In this dream, it was nighttime, with a bright, full moon as I started down the path. When at last I got to the hemlocks, moonlight was dappling down through the branches and everything was alive with an expectant quality. In the embrace of the hemlock forest, I began a ritual. I searched for a spot in which to lie between some jutting roots, and when I found it, I lay back, resting my head in a base crook of a tree. Immediately, my body began to tingle from head to toe. My breathing became rhythmic and an inner pulsing began in my heart region, and slowly it grew more persistent, filling my entire body. In anticipation, I started to split open. With no surprise on my behalf, my body simply opened up in a long line from my chin to my pelvis. As I opened, a bright white light came shining out, straight up into the trees—and from within, another me sat up as if sleeping and was only now awakened. This new me was iridescent, sparkling with light. She looked around and finally stood up, stepped out onto the forest floor, turned to look down at the old me still cradled in the hemlock roots. Knowingly, the old me smiled up at the new me and slowly began to close herself back up, as the new me bent down and picked her up, hugging the old me to herself, and began to walk, slowly in the moonlight through hemlock to the edge of the pond. As this new me walked, the old me that she was carrying began to crumble and dissolve to dust, floating out across the sparkling, moonlit water.
Opal Rising Magazine
It was with Mother Nature, that I began to howl with some real power and for the first time in my life, I could begin to face my anger and my rebellion. Clearly my subconscious, with this epic, mystical event, was ready to look at my anger and transform, but was I? Acknowledgment was the beginning. I had much more of this work to do, but this was the first step: Why was I so angry, about what, and with whom? Next month: Part Two WHY ARE ANY WOMEN IN THIS WORLD ANGRY?
SANDRA BARGMAN,
Luminary Leader Actor/singer, author, ordained inter-spiritual minister and host of the weekly podcast, The Edge of Everyday on TalkRadio.NYC, based on her hit solo show of the same name. Contributing author to the #1 bestselling book, On the Shoulders of Mighty Women. http://www.sandrabargman.com/
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Our Relationship with Nature
DR. STEPHEN HOBBS
EVOKE WONDER through Nature Wandering Including Nature Journaling as an Extraordinary Experience Companion Moving In Are you ready to embark on extraordinary walks of wonder, connection, and selfdiscovery? Join us in a three-section article as we encourage you to "Evoke Wonder through Nature Wandering." Along the way, we invite you to explore the landscapes of nature and enhance your adventure with the transformative practice of nature journaling. This word-rich experience is not just a journey; it's a destination of the senses. As you wander through the outdoors, you'll find yourself captivated by the various landscapes of nature with all the wild kin and ki.
Each step becomes an opportunity to deepen your environmental appreciation and celebration, engage your six or more senses, and ignite your curiosity. What sets these nature walks apart is the integration of nature journaling as your trusted companion. Nature journaling allows you to capture the essence of the surrounding planet, translating your observations, emotions, and insights into the pages of your journal. It's a magical process of personal expression and reflection in and on your sensibilities.
As you record the details of nature, you'll not only evoke a sense of wonder, but also gain profound understanding of your wanderings. Your journal becomes a treasure trove of memories, a canvas for your artistic expressions, and a mirror reflecting the deep connections between you and being with the planet. So, whether you're a seasoned nature enthusiast or a curious beginner, "Evoke Wonder through Nature Wandering" promises encouragement, where you'll not only explore the marvels of the outdoors but also embark on an extraordinary inner journey of self-discovery.
Opal Rising Magazine
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Presence in the Present In todays technology-driven - information/misinformation world, the importance of reconnecting with nature, with the planet cannot be overstated. The hum and buzz of urban life and the demands of our modern lifestyles can sometimes leave us feeling detached from nature. This disconnection not only affects our well-being but also distances us from the beauty and wisdom that the environment - nature - our wild kin have to share. The art of nature awareness writing via journaling provides a profound way to bridge this gap, enabling individuals - like you - to reconnect with nature in a personal and meaningful manner. It serves as a gateway to explore the beauty of the planet for us and around us/you, fostering self-awareness, enhancing your connection with the presents of landscapes, and promoting a sense of awareness via presence.
Why Connect with Nature While Living in the Modern World? Nature has taken a back seat! For some, it might be in the trunk. Others, it’s in the trailer pulled behind the truck. Many of us spend more time indoors than ever before, and our daily routines often revolve around artificial places and spaces. While the conveniences of modern living are undeniable, this lifestyle can lead to a sense of disconnection from the outdoors, resulting in feelings of loneliness, isolation, lack of purpose, loss of support, lessening control of experiences, and a lack of appreciation for the environment. Nature, however, has an incredible capacity to heal, inspire, and nurture the human spirit. Studies (peer-reviewed samples below are for illustration) have shown that spending time in nature can improve mental/emotional well-being, enhance creativity, and even boost our immune system. *Use the “keywords” listed below to learn-know-share your continued learning. Mental and Emotional Well-being: Search for studies using keywords like "nature therapy," "green therapy," or "forest therapy" and their effects on mental health and well-being. _Moyers, Samantha I., "Nature Based Interventions for Human Health and Wellbeing" (2023). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 11951. https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/11951 Creativity: Use terms like "nature and creativity," "nature and problem-solving," or "outdoor inspiration." to find studies on the link between nature and creativity. _Joye, Y., & Dewitte, S. (2018). Nature's broken path: The effect of a disordered environment on the creativity. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 60, 47-54. Immune System: For studies on the effects of nature on the immune system, search with keywords such as "nature and immune system" or "forest bathing and immunity." _Li, Q. (2010). Effect of forest bathing trips on human immune function. Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, 15(1), 9-17.
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Holistic Wellness and Mind Body Soul Balance
Our Relationship with Nature
Yet, in our fast-paced lives, finding the time and inspiration to connect with nature can be a challenge. Here is where nature awareness writing comes into play. Journaling about nature is a powerful practice that combines the art of observation, selfexpression, and awareness. It allows individuals to immerse themselves in the present moment, encouraging them to sense - see, hear, touch, smell, taste, intuit safely - the places and spaces (splaces) around them with greater clarity. By fostering this connection with nature, we improve our well-being for self and well-living with others (i.e. for the wellth of it) AND develop a deeper celebration for the footprints we can leave with the planet.
What to Expect Walking Forward Hereon, we will embark on a journey into the world of nature awareness writing, with a focus on beginners. If you are a novice in journaling or a seasoned writer, what follows can continue your development of wise practices, thus enriching your extraordinary (nature) experiences. We highlight a stride-by-stride process suggesting the tools, techniques, and inspiration you need to start your own nature journaling adventure including:
1
Value the power of awareness writing and the benefits it offers to individuals seeking a deeper connection with nature.
2
Dig into how this journaling practice can enhance your declaration of intention and actions of attention that becomes a transformative tool in your daily life.
3
Consider practical advice on getting started with nature journaling, including selecting the right materials, creating an inviting outdoor setting, and allocating time for your practice.
4
Explore techniques for effective nature journaling, focusing on observation, sensory engagement, and the art of description.
Sarah, a beginner in nature journaling, discovered the practice during a challenging period in her life. As she started documenting her daily walks in a nearby urban park, she found that the act of writing about the trees, birds, and changing seasons brought her a sense of calm and clarity. Over time, her entries shifted from simple descriptions to profound reflections on her own personal journey. Nature journaling became a source of solace and healing, helping her work through her emotions and discover a newfound sense of strength.
Opal Rising Magazine
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NATURE JOURNALING getting started For beginners, stepping into the world of nature awareness writing via journaling is an exciting journey filled with opportunities for self-discovery and connection with nature. Here, I suggest you read these background articles in Opal Rising: Essential Supplies for Nature Journaling [14-16] https://issuu.com/opalpublishing/docs/opal_rising_october_2023?fr=sNGJmZDYzMDExNjc Explore the listed resources. More suggestions follow in this article. Combine the two and you are off to a great start! Awareness Writing [14-18] https://issuu.com/opalpublishing/docs/opal_rising_october_2023?fr=sNGJmZDYzMDExNjc In short… Awareness Writing involves writing from the perspective of your awareness of landscapes as they influence you (outside in) living your extraordinary (legacy) life. As we continue along this path, it's essential to start with the correct tools and materials. What follows are first step suggestions. Each step welcomes deepened involvement until the chosen mediums and tools arrive for you… with encouragement to use other mediums to open up the boundaries like nature encourages.
Selecting the Right Journal A journal is the heart and soul of your nature awareness writing practice. It's the pages on which you'll record your observations, emotions, and reflections. WHEN CHOOSING A JOURNAL, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING: Size and Portability: Opt for a journal that is comfortable to carry during your outdoor excursions. It should fit in your bag or backpack without being cumbersome. Paper Quality: Select a journal with good-quality, acid-free paper. This ensures that your writings and sketches won't deteriorate. Consider choosing thicker pages if you plan to use watercolors or other wet mediums Binding and Cover: Spiral-bound or hardcover journals offer durability and stability while you write. Add a protective cover to shield your journal from the elements.
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Holistic Wellness and Mind Body Soul Balance
Our Relationship with Nature
Blank or Lined Pages: Decide whether you prefer blank pages for free-form writing and sketching or lined pages for structured notes and entries. Environmental Considerations: Some nature journalers prefer eco-friendly journals made from recycled or sustainable materials to align with their love for nature.
Choosing Writing Instruments The correct writing instruments are crucial for capturing the nuances of nature. Here are some tips for selecting the best tools: Pencils: Mechanical pencils or traditional wooden pencils are popular choices for sketching, allowing for fine detail and shading. They are also smudge-resistant and easy to erase. Waterproof Pens: For writing, inking, and making permanent sketches, consider using waterproof pens. These pens prevent your work from smearing or running if exposed to moisture. Watercolor Pencils: These versatile tools allow you to add a burst of color to your journal entries when desired. You can apply water to the colors with a brush to achieve a watercolor effect. Brushes: If you plan to use watercolors, include a small set of brushes in your kit. Choose brushes with a fine tip for precision. Accessories: Don't forget essential accessories like an eraser, pencil sharpener, and a small container for water if you plan to use watercolor pencils or paints.
Creating the Ideal Outdoor Setting Quiet and Peaceful: Look for a spot that offers solitude and tranquility. A natural setting allows you to immerse yourself fully in the experience.
Jahya, another nature awareness writing beginner, had always felt disconnected from nature because of his urban lifestyle. When he started dedicating time to nature journaling, his perspective was transforming. Through careful observation and writing, he developed a profound sense of presence, appreciating the simple beauty of his surroundings. This newfound awareness not only improved his overall well-being but also allowed him to become an advocate to preserve local parks and natural spaces, especially those close to schools.
Varied Ecosystems: Explore different natural environments. Whether it's a forest, a meadow, a lake, or a beach, each ecosystem offers a tapestry of life to observe and document. continued >> Opal Rising Magazine
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Comfortable Seating: Bring a lightweight and portable chair, cushion, or blanket for comfortable seating during your journaling sessions. Being at ease physically enhances your mental focus.
Weather Considerations: Be prepared for changes in weather. Carry sunscreen, a hat, and extra layers for cooler days. A small, collapsible umbrella can also be handy for rain or intense sun. Linger and Observe: Allow yourself ample time to sit and observe. Do not rush your nature awareness writing; it's about being patient and embracing the rhythms of the environment.
Techniques for Effective Nature Journaling Here are 7 technique considerations to get started. Over time, you’ll edit (add, alter, delete) these techniques. 1 Observe and Engage: Sensory Awareness: Begin by engaging all your senses. Observe what you see, hear, smell, feel, taste (all with safety), and intuit. Note the textures, colors, and sounds of nature. Stillness: Cultivate quiet presence and patience. Spend time in one place, allowing nature to reveal itself to you. The longer you sit in one spot, the more you'll observe. 2 Record Nature: Sketching: Sketching is a cornerstone of nature journaling. You don't need to be an artist; simple sketches are effective. Capture the outlines, shapes, and unique features of plants, animals, or landscapes. Label and Annotate: Label your sketches with species names, colors, and other relevant details. Annotating your entries adds depth and context to your observations. Colors: If you wish to use color, watercolor pencils and portable watercolor sets are excellent choices. Use them sparingly to enhance your sketches. Photography: Photography can complement your journaling. Capture images to reference or use as inspiration for your entries. Plant Identification Apps: They supplement the books used for years and years. 3 Write Descriptively: Details as Narration: Describe what you observe. Sometimes more is better! Note the shape of leaves, the texture of bark, and the nuances of colors. Be precise in your descriptions. Weather and Conditions: Include observations about the weather, time of day, and other environmental conditions. These factors can influence what you encounter. Emotions and Impressions: Record your emotions, thoughts, and personal impressions. How did the experience make you feel? How does it connect with your life or memories?
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Holistic Wellness and Mind Body Soul Balance
Our Relationship with Nature
4 Incorporate Reflection: Questions and Wonder: Embrace curiosity. Ask questions and express wonder about what you've observed. Does a coniferous tree shed its needles? Connections: Reflect on the connections between your observations and your personal experiences, memories, or the broader ecosystem. How does nature resonate with your life? Metaphors and Symbols: Explore metaphorical or symbolic interpretations of what you've observed. What does a particular tree, forest, and/or landscape symbolize to you? 5 Practice Regularly: Consistency: Commit to regular journaling sessions. Nature changes over time, and regular practice allows you to witness and document these changes. Seasonal Observations: Observe nature through different seasons to gain a comprehensive understanding of the environment's life cycles. Data and Field Notes: For those interested in more scientific journaling, include data and field notes. Record scientific observations, measurements, and data relevant to your interests. 6 Share and Connect: Join a Community: Consider connecting with nature journaling communities, either in person or online. Sharing your experiences with others can provide valuable insights and encouragement. You educate what you love to learn! Collaborative Projects: Collaborate with fellow nature journalers on shared projects. Joint exploration and the exchange of ideas can be both inspiring and educational. 7 Maintain an Open Mind: Embrace Surprises: Be open to surprises and unexpected discoveries. Nature is full of surprises, and flexibility in your journaling approach will enrich your experience. Nature journaling is a practice that encourages you to slow down, become more observant, and establish a deeper connection with nature. Onwoards, as you meet the trees and forests, the landscapes, and persons who enliven what it means to be for the world and with the planet!
DR. STEPHEN HOBBS Wellth Movement
Guide Agers-Elders who are solo-aging to share the legacy they intend to live as mentors & eco_agers, while assisting the funding of green initiatives & writing forest-tree stories. https://wellthmovement.com/ http://wellthmovement.com/wellth-blog/
Opal Rising Magazine
Dear Beginners… you can hone your skills and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature - the outdoors - the environment. As you continue to journal, you'll become a keen observer and an appreciative and reflective participant in the ever-changing dance with nature. More and more, you’ll learn and know what it means to be WITH the Planet!
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NETWORKINGWEB TIP #112
Handling Online Stressors, Specifically Negative Responses: Remember that it's not personal; don't take on and carry that negativity with you. Accept that negative feedback is inevitable online and decide to leave it there. Focus on building emotional resilience to handle negativity, criticism, and setbacks. Read my article on page
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Catherine Saykaly-Stevens has over 30 years of experience in digital marketing, content marketing, and social media strategy. She guides her busy clients in replacing time wasting activities with the income generating activities that converts online leads to sales. Catherine Saykaly-Stevens and The Networking Web, home of “The LinkedIn Client Engine” program, transforming connections into clients. https://linktr.ee/CatherineSaykaly Join my comprehensive program, The LinkedIn Client Engine Find out more
ASTROLOGY & THE HEAVENS
VERONICA WESTON
The winter solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and it will be upon us on December 21st. That day, the Moon will be in its Waxing Gibbous phase passing through the sign of Aries, the first sign of the Zodiac. The winter solstice is celebrated by many cultures around the world. It is a time to mark the beginning of winter and the return of the sun. Some common winter solstice traditions include: Lighting bonfires and candles to represent the return of the sun Decorating homes with evergreen trees and plants Feasting and celebrating with family and friends Attending religious services or ceremonies Spending time outdoors in nature The winter solstice is a time of hope and renewal. It is a time to celebrate the darkness giving way to the light and the promise of spring.
The Moon will be Full on December 26th and passing through the sign of Cancer. The Cancer sign is nurturing, intuitive, protective, family oriented and loyal but can also be moody or “crabby” as it may… So however you choose to spend your winter holidays, make sure to take some time to go within and practice self-care as you release and forgive over the Full Moon. As this is the first lunation of the winter season, being the first after the Winter Solstice, this also signifies a new start to a new cycle of life. Trust that spring is just around the corner and that you will start to see the results of your manifesting work.
From a Moonology™ perspective, this is the perfect time to practice gratitude for what you have, the lessons you learned and growth you experienced during the darker days, and to attune yourself towards what you want to manifest. Aries is supporting you to be stubbornly determined to achieve your goals and to dive in head first! Even if you’re not sure what you’re doing or how it’s going to turn out, trust that you can figure it out. Not knowing and making mistakes is part of the process.
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Holistic Wellness and Mind Body Soul Balance
REMEMBRANCE OF THINGS IMPERFECT
mars
"The Master of Wars"
It is the end of a bleak winter day.
I am running down the stairs, quickly and excitedly, with my neighbours following me. We all want to see Mars. He has just crashed down in the front yard. I saw him coming down, like a juicy pomegranate, leaving a bright scarlet streak upon the pink sunset. There he lies, crushing the fence on which he fell, oozing sticky, red fluid upon the snow. A regiment of generals march around him in strict formation, saluting smartly, paying final respects to their fallen Commander-in-Chief. I approach angrily, filled with hate for all the wars, all the misery he has brought upon the world. Even though he is in his death throes, I feel no pity for him.
Notes 1) In mythology, Mars is the God of War. 2) The surface of Mars is covered by reddish soil that gives it its characteristic red appearance.
The smashed fence upsets me not at all; with the Master of Wars defeated, no man will need to protect himself from another ever again and eternal peace shall reign upon the Earth. I recall clearly a deep sense of vindication coming over me, for my belief (despite all evidence to the contrary) in the ultimate goodness of the Universe had been confirmed.
BORIS GLIKMAN Philosopher Boris is a writer, poet and philosopher from Melbourne, Australia. “Writing for me is a spiritual activity of the highest degree. Writing gives me the conduit to a world that is unreachable by any other means, a world that is populated by Eternal Truths, Ineffable Questions and Infinite Beauty.” https://www.facebook.com/bozlich
Image credit: Alicia Pacheco
Opal Rising Magazine
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Moo n
dar en
e s C a a h l P
New Moon DECEMBER 12 Initiate new ventures. Make lists of things to accomplish in the month ahead.
First Quarter DECEMBER 19 Change your mind. Ask for what you want.
Last Quarter DECEMBER 5 Edit your work. Organize your workplace or home and figure out what you can let go.
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Full Moon DECEMBER 27 Take an honest look at where you are. Ask for, and pay attention to feedback from others.
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MEDITATION & MINDFULNESS
THERESA STONE
Welcome Silent Nights and Hopeful Tomorrows… Embracing the Gifts of Each Moment Where has the year gone? As we enter December, I find myself looking back over the year, asking myself ‘What have I accomplished? How have I grown? Did I meet or exceed my goals set out at the beginning of the year?’ One area I’ve been circling back to is an intuitive message continually woven throughout the year from my Spirit Team which was this, ‘You’ll walk by happiness and not know it.’ When it first came through, I felt it was a reminder to amp up my gratitude practice, but when the message continued to show up, I was puzzled, wasn’t I embracing the gifts of each moment? It was later while at a senior center when someone said to me, ‘Enjoy your youth while you have it and oh my, look at how easily you can walk!’, that I realized I would never be this age again, I would never have this moment again, I may never have these current capabilities again. This is when I started thinking, was I walking by each moment oblivious to the happiness encompassing my life? Was I missing the joys of living, I mean really living? I’m aware these thoughts may feel a bit gloomy, as we move into the holiday season, but my intention in sharing this is merely to bring your attention to how you may be consciously or unconsciously living. Are you spending too much time wishing and hoping for things to be different, saying things like, I’ll start blank when blank happens? Or maybe you feel you cannot move forward until X happens because of a perceived limitation or belief?
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Holistic Wellness and Mind Body Soul Balance
Meditation & Mindfulness
All the while, life is passing you by, and you’re not fully embodying the preciousness of each moment. How are you showing up every moment, day, week, year? Are you taking steps, even small ones, towards your dreams/goals? Are you breaking out of your chrysalis to welcome the opportunities that transformation offers you? These are the questions I’ve been sitting with as I reflect back on 2023. We all have a beautiful role to play in this journey of life. What I have determined thus far is that my time here matters, the work I’m doing matters, the smiles I share matter, the love and kindness towards myself and others matters. All life matters and is important in the grander scheme of things. There will be times when things feel impossible and times where things flow easily, but it is vital to keep moving forward even if the steps taken are tiny. So, as we round out 2023, let us reflect on our growth, our tears, our laughter, our pain, our joys, our sorrows, our love, and our losses with celebration and honour for the beautiful gifts they played in our journey! Let’s welcome the silent nights to create hopeful tomorrows.
May we embrace where we were and where we are being called to go; utilizing the energies this incubation period of winter has to offer to lay the ground work for a new chapter, a new cycle filled with laughter, tears, gratitude, growth, and love, so much love! Where will 2024 take you? Enjoy each moment for when its gone, its gone. What magic will you create with the Universe? Wishing you many blessings of abundance, health, compassion, gratitude and so much love for a magical 2024 and beyond!
Gratefully, Theresa Stone Theresa is a lifelong learner and holds knowledge in several areas within business and the metaphysical. She approaches life with integrity, understanding, and compassion, along with a divine twist! In 2018, she brought forth Effortless Life Operations, applying her 15+ years of collected business knowledge to support overwhelmed solopreneurs achieve efficiency, ease, and sustainability within their businesses. She has since expanded with her second business, Lightworker Navigation, utilizing her long-hidden divine abilities, which she has been honing for 20+ years to guide those dealing with fear, uncertainty, and or curiosities of the supernatural to help them live masterfully and love wholly. Theresa is honoured to hold the space of love for all those guided her way, helping them shift into more of their divine brilliance! https://linktr.ee/LightworkerNavigation
Opal Rising Magazine
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BONITA MOSLEY - VISIONARY OPTIMIST
LIKE
WE ONLY HAVE
TONIGHT Eli’s song is about stopping in the middle of the chaos, and hubbub of our days. Intentionally focus on your loved ones and the beauty your life holds. Because tragedies like the tornadoes that hit Rolling Fork, hidden in the darkness and rain, can impact your life without any warning. And the memory of being with someone you love or doing something that fills you with joy, may be all that’s left. One story Eli heard was told by a woman who received a call from a friend that March night, telling her a tornado was on the ground and heading her way. No sirens had gone off,
C
ountry Music Artist, Eli Mosley, stood in the middle of a cleared out town square in Rolling Forks, Mississippi, to sing his newest song to the small crowd gathered for his concert. Tears flowed freely as they listened. In February, this square was a bustling marketplace filled with everyday people doing everyday business and life. The night of March 24, 2023 changed all that in about twenty minutes.
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making the call her only warning. Her husband was already in bed and not happy that she woke him up about the storm. So she climbed into bed and held him close. Seconds later their entire brick home was ripped from around them. They cringed in the bed, getting soaking wet from the rain that poured down on them where their house used to be. Other families rode out the tornado in bathtubs and closets.
Holistic Wellness and Mind Body Soul Balance
Meditation & Mindfulness
It takes years to make a home, build a business, create an organization or follow a dream. It can take seconds to destroy it. So far in 2023, 1,165 confirmed tornadoes touched down in the US. What do the people who survived the twisters have in common? Gratitude for life is the first thing people express for themselves and others they care about. Hope that life can be rebuilt and it will be better than before. Hope always rises in the human heart like cream. It’s fitting that God chose the rainbow that rises high in the sky after the storm, to represent hope. Things are just things. Deeply cherished photos can often be recovered from friends and family. The rest has to be entrusted to your heart. Remember the specialness that certain items were to you. Amazingly, it doesn’t take long to accumulate stuff to fill a space. Suddenly they see beyond ourselves. They sympathize and empathize with neighbors who have suffered with them. Needs greater than theirs give them a purpose to be useful to others. They appreciate the help that begins to flow into their lives from people they’ve never met. Maybe those who help have been in this situation, or close to someone who has. Faith and relief groups pour in to help relieve the pain, suffering, and emptiness felt during the time needed to get their feet back on the ground. Care becomes part of life.
Eli and his Dad came to Rolling Forks to join the rebuilding effort several days before the concert at the Great Delta Bear Festival. Miles of empty concrete slabs, where homes stood last February, made a lasting impression on the Country Music artist. He’s a Floridian, who played in Fort Myers beach bars, for a Nashville writers event, the day before Hurricane Ian swept the entire beach community into the sea. His song, “Like We Only Have Tonight” was greatly influenced by the fragility of life. The people who found themselves in minutes, standing in a pile of sticks where homes once stood, will need many things for Christmas. But consider what they have now that can’t be purchased at a store or online.
Gratitude for life, hope in the future, and a clarified view of the value of material possession. Heart connections with the people in their community, and appreciation for the help provided for their lives- these things are priceless. Eli Mosley’s song, “Like We Only Have Tonight” is a reminder about the importance of living in the moment. Bonita Mosley is a freelance content copywriter, artist, vision board workshop leader, and children’s book illustrator. https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonita-mosley-customer-success-story-content-writer/
Opal Rising Magazine
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Honouring the Season
JEANNIE VASSOS
In the northern hemisphere we are entering the time of year when we experience the shortest day and longest night. Along with the Winter Solstice, it is also a time to celebrate the many holidays (holydays) that are in the month of December. This time of year is about death and rebirth, which is also reflected in our daily life and in our holiday traditions. The sun is low in the sky and is visible for the shortest amount of time all year. The nights are long. We begin (or we should begin) to slow down, settle, and give ourselves some well-needed rest. As we do this, we can reflect on all our accomplishments and achievements of the year, but also our losses. It is a good time to let go of what is stagnant and what is not needed for our future and the new year to come. It is also a time for cooler (or very cold) weather, along with the plants and trees becoming dormant or dying, and animals hibernating or heading to the warm south. By knowing that in a few months springtime will come with the sun shining longer and longer again, Mother Nature provides this natural rhythm and cycle to imbed within us that dark times will ALWAYS become bright again. How do we honour this season best? Traditionally, we gather together for rich and dense food, which also builds up nutritional stores for the long winter. We also burn candles, hang colourful lights, display sparkly, shiny decorations, and light fires to welcome the sun’s return. We bring in natures greenery, with pine trees, cedar, fir, rosemary, holly, ivy, and mistletoe, symbolizing the continuance of life and health. Gathering with our family and friends, in celebration of this wondrous season, gives us a sense of community, responsibility, and obligation to each other, to remember to support one another through those cold, dark winter months, and throughout the rest of the year, of course.
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Holistic Wellness and Mind Body Soul Balance
Meditation & Mindfulness
Having the awareness that the sun's light and warmth will return and that new growth is inevitable, it gives us a deeper understanding about this natural cycle, which provides comfort about the death and rebirth that occurs in our personal lives. This is an undeniable cycle of life. Remember to take a moment to honour all that you have lost this past year, and plan a month filled with colours and lights to remind you of bright times coming. How are you going to honour the sun’s return and celebrate this time of year?
JEANNIE VASSOS Professional Energy Healer, Spiritual Teacher and Guide Jeannie’s passion is offering tools of Empowerment to others by facilitating Energy Healing and Advanced Spiritual Training as a Professional Healer, Teacher, and Guide. She is Initiated as a Celtic Shaman, Knights Templar, Kabbalist, and Magus Hermeticus. Her Energy Healing and Advanced Spiritual Training is in the prestigious Royal Lineage of King Salomon. http://www.themiddlepillar.ca/
Opal Rising Magazine
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Peppermint
HOW TO USE PEPPERMINT to help relieve joint or muscle pain apply to stomach area when experiencing digestive discomfort apply to neck and temples to help relieve headache inhale to reduce the symptoms of cold & cough
When I was a little girl, my grandma used to give me a teaspoon of pure peppermint extract
whenever I had a stomach
ache and the pain would be gone immediately.
Product code: 361403 $39.47 // 15 ml
As I grew up I kept
peppermint on hand, until I discovered essential oils. Today I use peppermint
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more than any other essential oil. Cindy
Speculation/Muse
THE THE (VIRTUALLY) (VIRTUALLY) REAL LIFE LIFE REAL
BORIS GLIKMAN
I recall that day well. My friends and I were checking out an abandoned, rundown mansion on the outskirts of town and that's when we noticed that strange, inexplicable things were beginning to happen… Every time we open a door to some room to take another look at it, the room and the things in it have changed and look completely different. The more adventurous amongst us explore the building more thoroughly, only to discover that it has an impossibly paradoxical structure. One girl gets spooked out and, in her hurry to get out of the house, jumps through the ground floor window. A moment later we hear a shriek of horror and bewilderment coming from the top floor; her senses refuse to accept that she ended up there and not on the overgrown lawn in the front yard. Then someone screams out, "Don't you see what is happening?! None of this is real! This is all Virtual Reality! Someone is running this game and we are its involuntary, unwitting participants. So, we can do anything; break all of society's taboos, take any risks, shoot one another, because it is all a counterfeit, simulated world."
Opal Rising Magazine
At once I devise a way of putting this remarkable claim to the test. I speed off in my car and start driving along train tracks that ascend to a great height before ending abruptly in mid-air. My car goes for a graceful flight through the sky, spinning and turning, soaring up on the warm air currents, then gradually descending, rising again higher and higher, then stopping and hovering in mid-air. Finally, I get tired of flying and crash-land on top of a high-rise building. ‘I wonder if I have sustained any injuries,’ I think to myself. ‘If this really is a virtual world, then I should be just fine!’ It occurs to me that if in fact my life has been virtual reality all along, then that would certainly explain a lot of things. I always thought this world and my life in it never made any sense—things were just too absurd and incoherent. Horrible, unthinkably terrifying events like massacres, famine, persecutions, and injustices which would never happen in the real world kept occurring, time after time after time. Now I could see why certain things kept getting lost and disappearing in my life, why my life never worked out right, why something always got in its way and ruined its forward progress. continued >> |43
Now I could comprehend why I could never fit in anywhere and always felt at odds with the whole world, for this wasn't an authentic environment, but rather an artifice of someone else's mind; a degenerate, corrupt copy of the real reality. No, this wasn't the universe that the Absolute Being had created, according to His flawlessly sublime and ideal specifications, but rather a miscreation of some devious, impious, immoral human being. And so it contained within its makeup all the faults, deficiencies and imperfections that every human construction possesses, as well as being coloured by the particularly nasty character of the cad running this simulation. It was also obvious that this contemptible creature held, for some reason or another, an intensely bitter grudge against me in particular. He obviously meted out the worst of his cruel tricks on me, judging by how my life has been just one senseless absurdity after another. ‘What kind of a person am I, really, outside of this sham construction? What is my life actually like in the real world? Who is the wise guy that created this diabolical game? What's he got against me? Wait till I find my way out of this virtual world and get my hands on him! I'll make him pay for all he has done to my life!’ And just then, an even more devastating thought strikes me: ‘What if I am the evil genius who created and is operating this game? What if it is I who has inflicted all of this misery, pain, and suffering onto myself and the whole world? But why would I do that? Why would I torment myself so?’
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January Gemstones Gemstones Garnet
the embodiment of the energies of fire, passion, creativity, and strength.
Thought to be the oldest of crystals used for spiritual protection. Garnets hold not only the power to protect its wearer from negative energies, but to also deflect those negative energies back to their origins. Resonating with the second or Sacral Chakra, the Garnet aligns the wearer with abundance and prosperity, protection, enhancing relationships in a variety of ways, on many levels. Radiating with warmth and the color of rich blood, Garnet is also a glorious stone for helping flush out body toxins and keep circulation strong.
When you have a cold your frequency is 58 MHz Thieves essential oil has a frequency of 150 MHz Essential oils promote emotional, physical, and spiritual healing
Young Living Essential Oil Distributor | Cindy DeJager | cindydejager.editor@gmail.com
HOLISTIC WELLNESS
Holistic Wellness
A MINDFUL PRACTICE
to Hone Vital Skills and prevent Online Burnout
Mastering online marketing and presence can feel daunting, isolating, and neverending. These five skills are crucial for online practitioners and heart-centered entrepreneurs who feel the calling to help others but still need to grow their businesses while maintaining well-being and making a lasting impact for their community. Digital Detox: Handling Online Stressors, Specifically Disconnect daily from digital devices and Negative Responses: screens. Remember that it's not personal; don't take Set regular designated times or days for on and carry that negativity with you. complete digital detox to recharge. Accept that negative feedback is inevitable As the slogan goes: Set a limit and stay online and decide to leave it there. Focus on within it! building emotional resilience to handle Time Management: negativity, criticism, and setbacks. Utilize batch blocks to efficiently tackle NEVER stop posting because of what an repetitive tasks. ignorant person posted. Set timers to stay focused, particularly for tasks prone to distraction, like social Resilience and Emotional Regulation: media. Regularly check in with yourself to identify You may start out working, then end up when and where you need support. scrolling. The timer will bring you back Practice customized emotional releases to instantly. prevent overwhelm and maintain resilience. Setting Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries between your You’ve got this! work and personal life to avoid Wishing you success in all your endeavors. overextending yourself. Communicate these boundaries to clients and followers upfront, setting expectations immediately. So no. You are not available any time and every time. Catherine Saykaly-Stevens is a 30+year digital marketing strategist with the Networking Web: Home of the LinkedIn Client Engine program. Helping Solopreneurs, Entrepreneurs, and Business Owners Connect with and scale their audience, Generate a steady flow of new leads, and Create the pathways from initial contact to sales. https://tjf419.isrefer.com/go/LIWEB/CDEJ/ Opal Rising Magazine
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