Posts Tagged ‘body mind spirit’

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‘The art of healing comes from nature, not from the physician. Therefore the physician must start from nature, with an open mind.’ – Philipus Aureolus Paracelsus.

In the ancient mystery temples, healing techniques and procedures were designed with the individual in mind. The patient would meet with a team of physicians (healers) who worked in connection with the body, mind and spirit.  After interviewing the patient, the group of healers would then discuss and create the best course of treatment for each patient.

In many of these temples, the healing treatment would begin by having the patient stay in one of the rooms of the temple that had been created for healing. The patient would take some herbs and water which assisted in helping them sleep. During their sleep, a shaman or priestess (depending upon the mystery temple) would watch over the patient throughout the night, saying prayers over the person while conducting energy work over the aura and etheric body.

During the following days and weeks, the patient would receive healing in the physical body, with massage, herbs, potions and even surgery when required. Some of the oldest surgical tools found by archaeologists are from ancient Egypt. The patient would also speak with a healer who would listen to what was going on in their personal lives in order to relieve stress and pain and allow the patient to heal the mind and restore. In conjunction, healing at the energetic level included sound and light healing techniques, and natural elements were used including treatments by fire (sauna type rooms for sweating out toxins), water (bathing in waterfalls and pools with minerals added), air (with breathing rituals to calm the nerves and bring in new energy) and earth (with grounding natural foods and crystal healing techniques).

Over the ages, many eastern philosophies continued these practices, adding their own techniques over time to the healing practice. In recent times, the evolution in medicine has turned to repairing the physical body from trauma in emergency situations. As World Wars entered into the 20th century in conjunction with the Industrial Revolution and advancements in technology, tremendous leaps were made in medicine, including heart transplants, re-attaching limbs, and delicate internal surgeries. There is no doubt that medicine has advanced in surgical techniques and in gene therapy.

The unfortunate side effect of the Industrial Revolution is that during this period of rapid growth, the head (mind) detached from the heart and soul and developed amnesia. Medical science, representing the figurative head, became so enamored with what could be attached, replaced and/or removed from the physical body (such as tumors, growths and diseased organs) that it forgot about the heart and soul of the person which also affects and contributes to the health of the body. In this period of amnesia, physicians have focused only on one-third of the healing process. It can not be blamed entirely on the physicians, as history shows that scientists and doctors were maligned, threatened and at times tortured for their research due to fanatical religions that did not want science to conflict with their teachings, so it is understandable why science and religion parted company. During this time of peril, ancient techniques from the mystery schools continued to be passed down in secret from generation to generation as there was an active campaign by religious sects in the western world to destroy the shamans, the wise women and the natural healers. The old ways of healing were almost completely stamped out in the western world during the Dark Ages.

The information survived by the courage of brave souls in every generation who risked their lives to carry the information from one place, one village, one community to another. In addition, there continue to be souls who are reborn each generation with this knowledge carried within them to continue their work , who are also assisted by guides from the other side.

Now, in the 21st century, many doctors, scientists and researchers are looking into the concept of the body, mind and spirit connection and the philosophy of energy medicine. So many meta-physical events have been documented over the years that they can not be disregarded including:

• spontaneous remissions of cancer with no logical explanation
• patients with a positive outlook in life who experience quicker recovery rates and require less pain medication
• studies of patients who recovered more successfully than other similar patients when the only difference in the study was that their recovery was being prayed for by others
• patients who are cured from disease only to have it return again, when from all logical standpoints in the physical body, it should be healed
• effects and changes in the body such as lower heart rates and stabilized blood pressure levels from engaging in yoga and meditation
• introduction and research into eastern techniques such as acupressure, reflexology, massage and new techniques such as Healing Touch and EFT with successful results
  
• out of body experiences and near death experiences reported by a variety of patients

The number of people who are interested in alternative or complimentary medicine is growing substantially.  As a result, this movement has motivated the medical community to entertain and consider the idea of body/mind/spirit medicine. The outlook is hopeful that the western world may again return to an age of healing where all parts of the person are engaged in the healing process.

On the Explore Your Spirit Show, I’ve had the opportunity to speak with many physicians who are engaging in holistic healing work including: The Biology of Belief with Dr. Bruce Lipton, 365 Prescriptions for the Soul with Dr. Bernie Siegel, Life Beyond 100, with Dr. Norman Shealy and Heal Your Body with Dr. David Simon of the Chopra Center to name just a few. Their work is inspiring and provides great hope for the future of medicine on all levels.

In ancient times, it was easy to engage in energy medicine and natural healing. Many towns and large cities provided financially for temples to be built to house and provide for the healers and they were a firmly established, well-known and respected part of the community. Even in small villages, healers were provided for and cared for by the villagers. Today, many people are just beginning to learn about energetic techniques for healing and the systems and procedures are not quite as organized yet as they were in the past. As a result, It can be a bit overwhelming in the search and research to understand what modalities might work best for each person.

In response to this predicament, Linnie Thomas, an author and healer with over thirty years experience in the study of complimentary and alternative therapies set out on a three year undertaking to create a comprehensive resource on the subject working with editor Carrie Obry. The result of this endeavor is The Encyclopedia of Energy Medicine. The encyclopedia presents an overview of energy medicine and related bio-therapies and includes over 65 modalities including Healing Touch, Cranio-Sacral Therapy, Body Talk, Acupressure, Reiki, and Reflexology. The 547 page book explores eastern and western techniques as well as spiritual and shamanic philosophies and is of tremendous assistance to individuals who are looking for information and detailed explanations on the practical applications of energy medicine

The book is also a wonderful resource for physicians and to healers who are considering a career in complimentary and alternative medicine. Information is provided on how and where to get training and certification in energy medicine including continuing education credits and lists state by state regulations required to practice professionally.

My dear readers, it’s an exciting time for the future of humanity as science and spirituality begin to work together and explore the body, mind and spirit connection. I believe that in this decade we will see great advancements in this work. If you’re interested in energy medicine for your personal health and the health of your family or considering a career in the field, I highly recommend  The Encyclopedia of Energy Medicine to assist you on your path.

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Interested in leading a more conscious, creative and joyful life? On Saturday, April 3, join the Duke Dance Program on Duke’s East Campus for Across the Threshold: Creativity, Being and Healing. This day-long Symposium is a highly interdisciplinary journey designed to join scholars and practitioners from many fields, cultures and countries to explore the transformative paths humans have discovered/created through performance, spiritual/religious/ritual practices, and healing practices.

The daylong Symposium includes workshops in performing and visual arts, yoga and meditation; a panel discussion; and an evening performance. A featured presenter is Ciane Fernandes from Bahia, Brazil. Joining her will be world musician and healer Porangui McGrew and Seattle-based dancer/choreographer Louis Gervais, accompanied by a stellar local lineup including Andrea E. Woods, Susan Gaylord, Jon Seskevich, Hsiao-Mei Ku & Jennifer Chang, Alyssa Hinton, Muz Ansano, Vera Moura, and Beverly Botsford. My dear friend, Dr. Larry Burk, will be moderating the panel entitled: Transcultural Healing: Beyond the Threshold of Convention. A detailed Symposium schedule and registration information is available at danceprogram.duke.edu/threshold.

Ciane Fernandes, a tenured Professor in the Performing Arts Graduate Program at the Federal University of Bahia, Brazil and an associate researcher at the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies in New York, personifies the Symposium theme. With a background in dance and performance studies, nursing, mental health and art education, Prof. Fernandes explores authentic movement and the healing power of the body across cultures through her research and artistic work as a director, choreographer, performer, video maker and writer. For the Symposium, she will participate in a panel discussion, lead a workshop entitled Dancing Images: Authentic Movement, Analysis and Composition, and perform a solo work on the evening performance.

As one of the top five research universities, Duke has become the college of choice for the dedicated dance student. Duke is unique in providing the rare combination of high-quality dance training with a first class science or liberal arts education.

Dance at Duke encourages the total union of physical, intellectual, and expressive capabilities. The student dancer develops skills of perception, analysis and expression that benefit many fields of endeavor beyond the dance world. The Program in Dance provides a wide choice of classes for everyone from the highly trained dance technician to the absolute beginner. Beyond the three main areas of emphasis in ballet, modern, and African dance, other courses including jazz, swing dance, floor-barre, tap, Flamenco and classical Indian dance are offered on a rotating schedule. Extensive full credit courses include areas of study in history, choreography, kinesiology, world dance cultures and dance writing.

There are many performing opportunities for students of all levels working with faculty, guest artists and student choreographers. All students on campus are enriched by an abundance of professional touring productions and in house concerts.

Dance at Duke dates back to the thirties. Once part of the Department of Health and Physical Education under the leadership of Julia Wray, it is now a freestanding program in the Humanities with a major and minor in Dance and an individualized major available through Program II.

Across The Threshold: Creativity, Being & Healing is sponsored by the Duke University Dance Program, co-sponsored by the Franklin Humanities Institute; the University of North Carolina Program on Integrative Medicine, Dept. of P.M. & R.; and the following Duke University Departments: Asian & Middle Eastern Studies, Music, Religion, Theater Studies.

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Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Robert Butera, author of The Pure Heart of Yoga: Ten Essentials Steps for Personal Transformation Robert has studied meditation and yoga for over twenty-five years and is the founder of the YogaLife Institute in Devon, Pennsylvania, where he trains yoga instructors and publishes Yoga Living magazine.

Kala: Robert, thanks for taking the time to sit down with me for this interview. I enjoyed reading your book as it shares the philosophy that I’ve always aligned with, which I describe as the ‘essence of yoga’. You describe it as the ‘pure heart of yoga’. Can you define what yoga means to you?

Robert: Yoga is the spiritually infused life. Yoga is a path to a viribrant life and Yoga embraces all paths that lead to harmony of mind, body, spirit and environment. One classical definition of Yoga from The Yoga Sutras is that Yoga means cessation of the mind’s waves. (Yoga citta vritti nirodha). Thinking of Yoga in terms of the mind’s waves can be a good barometer regarding if an activity is yoga or not – simply ask yourself if that activity calms the waves of your mind. I am writing this with a smile, mind you!

Kala: In some parts of the US, yoga has become completely mainstream, and in other places, it is still being steadily introduced into communities. For beginners, who are just exploring the idea of yoga and are preparing to take their first class, what advice can you give to beginners?

Robert: Firstly, remember that each and every experience you have can be a source of learning. Finding your perfect style of yoga or the best teacher for you requires some investigation. So, learn from all classes and recognize that finding your perfect situation may take time as there is great variety amongst all the styles of yoga. If your first class is not a fit, remember to try another teacher as there is alot of variety. Be careful of absolutes. There are many physical body types and therefore many ways of doing yoga poses. Non-violence is a cardinal virture in yoga so make sure not to overdo anything or to stretch too far. At the start, read a few books to gain some perspective. In a beginner’s yoga class learn the breathing as it is noted as the top benefit for new students; relaxation is usually second and the interesting philosophy follows. Physical flexibility is often ranked fourth as a benefit to new students, while most think that flexibility would have been the first conclusion.

Kala: In your book, you share 30 main poses, what they represent and how to use them as tools to achieve physical and emotional balance. Can you discuss a few of these poses with us and how they help to create balance within the person?

Robert: As the book states, I recommend that everyone finds a teacher to meet at least once per week to avoid any mistakes. Then, perform a few minutes of a deep breathing exercises in a quiet place. Next, try a group of poses that move your spine in each of 5 directions; a reaching pose to elongate your spine; a twist to release tension; a sidebend for flexibility as the body rarely moves sideways; a forward bend to release stress and a back bend for energy. These exercise can be performed right at your desk during a short break during your workday. The final exercise for the busy person is to maintain the “Smile Pose” and attempt to navigate through the ups and downs of life realizing that the inner state of your mind is the ultimate pose!

Kala: The western world has a bad habit of taking an ancient philosophy and connecting to only a small part of the whole, in an attempt to bypass the full lengthy process and get quick results. For example, I studied Feng Shui for years, at first I studied the western version and I felt it was missing something at the core. I then studied traditional feng shui with two masters, one from China and one from Hong Kong. One of the masters referred to the western version as the McDonald’s version (fast food) of feng shui. I’ve seen this with some yoga practices as well, where it’s touted as exercise and skips over the core of yoga. What are your thoughts about yoga and how it’s practiced here in the west?

Robert: Well, Kala, you have hit a big issue that is a tough one. I went through a big let down in 1989 fresh off of the Yoga Ashram in India (theyogainstitute.org) when a friend gave me a popular yoga magazine. At the Ashram, men and women had separate dormitories, I wasn’t allowed to wear short pants… and the Yoga magazine had a scantly clothed model in a revealing posture on the cover. A point to remember is that the jewels of discovery are within yourself and not in the form of the body but in its essence. Many years have passed and one of my mentors mentioned the concentric circle approach to transformation. Whatever each one of us knows about life and reality can be honored. And however broad our knowledge, we can draw a larger circle around our present state. So, leave open the possibility to learn something new. What you know at this point can be honored and maintained as you circle your present experience with something new. Suffice to say, there is usually much room for authentic yogic wisdom to shine forth.

Ironically, when you learn the theory of yoga in more depth, the mind becomes more focused. This focus quiets the nervous system and actually improves the physical experience of life as well as the spiritual experience.

Kala: Describe for us what you call the body’s Energy Centers and how we can connect with these centers through a yoga practice…

Robert: These days most people have a fascination with the “Chakras” or energy centers in the body. Chakra means ‘wheel’ and in this case relates to a wheels of energy that converge at different areas in the body. The heart chakra is most easily perceived; a loving interaction brings warmth to the heart and sadness brings a constricted or cold feeling. After one performs the yoga poses for six months and understands how to breath and align the body in the poses, understanding the chakras helps go deeper in the poses. This is simply one area of discovery on the inner journey with yoga poses.

Kala: You mention 10 Steps that transcend yoga and connect it with spiritual and emotional growth. Share some of these steps with us…

Robert: Beginning with a spiritual Intention for your yoga practice is an important first step. Start with your first motive even if it feels shallow, say weight loss was your first reason for starting yoga. Then, go beneath that and align weight loss to improved health. Take your nutritional choices and align those with received love in your heart… pretty soon, you have moved into an intention on love that is at the core of weight loss. Another interesting approach is to try to gain an understanding of the attitude of a posture. Inherent in each posture is an expression of an attitude. Yoga poses also relate to archetypes whch is an interesting exploration. There are also the energy centers, concentration points and emotional transformation. The recommendation is to discover one new aspect of yoga poses at a time. If you are a beginner, stick with the alignment and breathing. And as your practice grows, explore the other areas one at a time.

Kala: I view yoga as a way of ‘being’, rather than as some people say that they, ‘take a yoga class’. For example, when I say I’m a dancer, it’s part of my essence and spirit, how often I dance is almost irrelevant, I am a dancer at heart. To me, yoga is the same, one lives and embraces yoga. What are your thoughts?

Robert: My original teachers say that yoga is a culture of consciousness. Yoga studies physical health in great detail as we have been discussing. What few people know is that Yoga also discusses how to work at your job and turn work into Yoga. There are equally detailed teachings on relationships, meditation, psychology, higher knowledge and practically every field of living. So, yes, any activity that is taken to its depth penetrates a person’s consciousness and is a “yoga.”

Kala: Let’s talk about yoga and meditation. Many people picture meditation as sitting in an uncomfortable position for an hour while trying to stop their mind from wandering. Each pose in yoga can be an active, moving meditation. Can you discuss the yoga poses in regards to what they can do for the mind body and spirit?

Robert: Refering back to the definition of Yoga as stilling the waves of the mind; each yoga pose can lead to stilling the mind. A lot of folks ask if stilling the mind is boring, they ask in passionate ways, “Bob, am I supposed to turn into an android?” Ironically, a clear mind is one that loves deeply, it’s a mind that is free of negativity and limiting thoughts. A quiet mind is able to laugh loudly and feel passionately.

Kala: Robert, where does yoga take us next? What do you see as the evolution of yoga?

Robert: I am seeing the maturation of yoga in terms of an increasing interest in all the points that this interview asks, what is further? How can I go deeper in my life? How can I love more, how can I be stress-free in my life? As those who take the time to improve their health physically begin to experience the joy of having a balanced mind, more and more people will look into the theory of yoga. Just as you are helping people access this information, I am seeing an interest in meditation and activities that quiet the mind! Thank You for spreading this information!

Kala: My pleasure Robert and a pleasure to speak with you, thanks for your time. More info on Robert and his book can be found at: PureHeartofYoga.com

Robert: Yes, Thank You Kala, it is always a treat to discuss the essence of Yoga.

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Dr. Deanna Minich is an internationally-known nutritionist with a unique approach to holistic health, food and nutrition. She combines the various facets of her background integrating her academic training in medicine with her study of energy work including shamanic healing practices, reiki, yoga and intuition, the results of which have been published in several books through Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari. Through her years of experience, she has uncovered the art and unification of what occurs when food is connected with spirit. Recently, I sat down to speak with Deanna to learn more about her practical applications and work to help people achieve what she describes as …‘bridging the gap between the earthly body of our being and the heavenly essence of our soul.

Kala: Deanna, wonderful to speak with you again. I enjoyed having you as a guest on the Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show where we discussed your book, Chakra Foods for Optimum Health .Today, I’d like to speak with you about your book: Quantum Supplements; A Total Health and Wellness Makeover with Vitamins, Minerals and Herbs. Deanna, what prompted you to write this book?

Deanna: When we think about nourishment, it is important to think about everything that we ingest. Of course, everyone eats food, and with many people wanting to take control of their health, they are also taking dietary supplements in some form or another, whether it’s a daily multi-vitamin, vitamin C tablet, or Echinacea if they feel they are becoming unwell. In addition, an increasing number of health care practitioners are implementing nutritional therapy in their practices, prescribing dietary supplements such as omega-3 oils or probiotics. As a result, there is more awareness about using supplemental nutrients overall.

Kala: How does nutrition affect the chakra system?

Deanna: Everything we do, say, think, and eat impacts our well-being. It is all “information” for the body to digest and transform. We have our physical body, which uses the nutrients from food as energy to live. In the ancient spiritual texts in India, they refer to more subtle aspects of our being – an “energy body” – which will respond to our environment just like our physical body. Our being is wired with paths for this subtle energy to travel on. There are certain places in the body where these “energy highways” coalesce – these intersections are the “chakras” or main energy centers. In Sanskrit, “chakra” means wheel, and, thus, this term is used to refer to the nature of these energy centers – they flux energy in and out of our being. In Western medicine, we might say that they correspond to the major endocrine glands of the body. Essentially, the way that I see chakras is as subtle and symbolic. Each of them connect to a specific aspect of our being: structure, emotions, power, love, authenticity, intuition, and interconnectedness. There is no doubt that food, supplements, and eating hook into each of these aspects of who we are. For example, instead of expressing our emotions, we may stuff them down with food. Instead of telling someone you love them, we may make them a meal. Rather than say what we want to eat, we may let someone else determine what goes in our mouth. Therefore, there are healthy and unhealthy ways to connect foods/nutrients/eating to these aspects.

Kala: How can the vibrational properties of vitamins, minerals and herbs help to balance our body and restore energy?

Deanna: By being in tune with what we need, we can use vitamins, minerals, and herbs to get us into balance. Just like foods, each vitamin, mineral, and herb carries its unique energetic signature. Minerals will be more dense and physical (think of iron, zinc, and calcium), vitamins act as catalysts (B vitamins are used for metabolizing carbohydrates), and herbs contain inherent information for healing (think of the origins of aspirin, white willow bark). I think it is beneficial to tap into supplements as needed. For example, perhaps we are living a stressful life. We are over-committed, over-tasked, and overwhelmed. What may happen is that our physiology begins to “mirror” our surroundings. We may start to feel on overdrive from within – our blood sugar may be erratic, our insulin levels may be overextended. Taking the mineral, chromium, or supplementing with herbs such as extracts from bitter melon and cinnamon, may help to provide the vibration we need to rope ourselves back into balance mode.

Kala: Are supplements enough to bring the body back into balance? For example, the american diet is so full of processed food, can one continue to eat processed food and maintain balance with the use of supplements?

Deanna: I don’t believe in “quick fixes” or “silver bullets”. Supplements are one therapy on a palette of many other options. They are potent substances, but also need the support of healthy, vibrant eating, movement, thinking, and emoting. Without everything else in combination, they may not be as powerful as they truly could be. I believe that the first approach to becoming well and maintaining balance is to look at one’s lifestyle. Are you overworking? Are you passionate about what you do and how you live? If not, perhaps some changes need to be made. Eating nourishing foods will be helpful, and eating them in a mindful, loving way will be even better at assisting one in finding balance. An individual’s surroundings may be so stressful that he or she can eat all the nutrient-dense food they want, but they may need added protection. An example would be living in a polluted city. In this instance, a healthy eating regimen combined with appropriate supplements can be of value.

Kala: There’s a huge debate about vitamins, some say that cold pressed vitamins don’t have much nutritional value. What are your feelings on the best way to absorb nutrients?

Deanna: First of all, I think it’s important to examine the health of the gut. Is your gut in a healthy state? I believe it’s better to start here so you can absorb everything you need to optimally rather than focus on the other way around – find supplements that can be absorbed in an unhealthy gut. There are a number of ways to heal an unhealthy gut – the first is to remove the offending substances that you eat. Find out what you are allergic to by working with a healthcare practitioner. Note that most of your immune system is in the gut, so if you are eating foods that you are allergic to, you will be creating an immune response every time you eat. You may also need to examine whether you are stressed when you eat, whether you eat too much, and if you are eating the proper amount at times that your digestion is robust (like eating a larger meal in the afternoon rather than in late evening before bedtime). Supplements such as pancreatic enzymes, probiotics, and fiber may be important in helping to heal the gut. Regarding absorbing nutrients, make sure you follow the instructions provided on the label. If it states to take with food, it’s probably because it’s a fat-soluble substance or it needs food to facilitate its absorption. There may be other supplements that are best absorbed and used by the body when taken throughout the day rather than in one dose, like calcium. Since we only absorb 20-25% of calcium on average, it is better to take smaller amounts throughout the day rather than one huge pill.

Kala: You’re also the author of: An A to Z Guide to Food Additives: Never Eat What You Can’t Pronounce. Sadly, I think 80 percent of what we see in products in the grocery store contain label descriptions that are difficult to pronounce. Why are our foods filled with such complicated ingredients?

Deanna: Our foods are filled with these “unpronounceables” because the majority of consumers want food to be convenient, cheap, abundant, and good tasting. As a result, the food industry responds to this consumer demand by creating additive-laden foods so they can sit on the shelves longer at a low price. As Michael Pollan has said, “We vote with our fork.”

We need to take the responsibility as consumers to demand high-quality foods by speaking out, and by not supporting the purchase of the lower quality items. We put our energy where our money is. If we want to change, we need to start with our next food purchase, food selection in a restaurant, and, ultimately, with the next bite of food.

I would say that your best bet is to shop the perimeter of the store where there are more fresh foods rather than face the complicated foods in the “guts of the store” that are disguised in cardboard, metal, plastic, and Styrofoam.

Kala: Are there some additives that you’d like to attach a red light to and say Stop! Never eat these?

Deanna: Absolutely! There are some additives that don’t do you any good to eat, and, in fact, may cause deleterious effects when consumed over a long period of time. One of them is TRANS FATS. Trans fats were created by the food industry to stabilize fats in a food. Now we know that they are awful for our cardiovascular system. They increase our bad cholesterol and reduce our good cholesterol, so not a good effect overall. As of 2006, it became the law to list trans fat content on Nutrition Facts Labels. However, if the content of trans fats is less than 0.5 grams, the food manufacturer can list the content of trans fats as zero! Therefore, you need to read the ingredient list, and if you see anything that says “partially hydrogenated” on it, be advised that it most likely has trans fats in it. The other “never” ingredient is ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS. I think that if we are eating a healthy diet, we will find these substances to be too sweet, and they may encourage cravings. Aside from potential cravings, many of them may have side effects, often neurological ones like headaches and dizziness in some people. I would avoid them at all costs!

Kala: Any tips you’d like to share with us on how best to shop and prepare our meals?

Deanna: The best way to shop is to make sure that you are not stressed when you are making food choices. Use the grocery store as a sanctuary. Enter into it in a meditative, purely calm state so that you can listen to what your body truly needs. In preparing your meals, do the same. Ensure that you like your kitchen, that you want to be in it – paint it a color that makes you feel creative. Orange is the color for creativity so that may be a good place to start. Light some candles, play some music, and create your meal. Whether you are shopping, or preparing or eating food, the most important part of all is that you feel your body and soul are nourished.

Kala: Deanna, a pleasure as always. Thanks for taking the time to share information on having a healthier lifestyle!

Deanna: The pleasure is mine! I enjoy getting the word out about healthy eating. If your readers want daily tips, please have them sign up for the “Food and Spirit Facebook Fan Page” or they can sign up for my newsletter via my website at www.foodandspirit.com. Nourishing wishes to all!

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The journey continues as we seek seek out talented artisans who are designing unique heartfelt products and designs. This summer on the Bohemian Blog, we focus on art, fashion and design which nourishes, harmonizes and enhances the body, mind and spirit. Next up, we have Kathy Morawski, a well known equine and collage artist with works in many collections worldwide, so relax and get comfy as we spend some time with Kathy here on the Bohemian Blog, which as always is dedicated to “Truth, Beauty, Freedom and Love”.

Kala: Hi Kathy, Thanks for joining us here on Explore Your Spirit with Kala’s Bohemian Blog. This summer, we’re featuring Fashion and Artistic Designs for the Body, Mind and Spirit. I discovered your work online and was touched by your use of natural elements to express strong heart-centric expressions of love and joy. Tell us, how did the inspiration begin for Love Rocks?

Photo caption: A selection from the Love Rocks series

Kathy: It’s great to be here, Kala! I’m honored you were touched by the Love Rocks. Their inspiration initially started in the aftermath of my mother’s sudden death. I began encountering angel and heart references seemingly everywhere and wasn’t sure of the source of these synchronicities but they were comforting. Then I started finding heart shaped rocks on my walks and began collecting them. It wasn’t until I was preparing for an art exhibit and acting on a spontaneous whim, I made a music themed collage titled “Love Rocks!” featuring sheet music and some of these rocks. Since most of my work incorporates words, for my next show I wanted to use the rocks in more of a text based way, but in a simpler format than a collage. I edited down as much as possible, substituting the letter O with a heart shaped rock and thus the Love Rock plaques were born!

Kala: You’re a talented artist, (mixed media collages, black and white and color pencil portraits) with a sincere love for horses. Your painted ponies jump off the cover and I connect deeply with the colored pencil horse portait. Your eye for detail is inspiring. How did your career in art begin?

Kathy: Thank you. I’ve been drawing ever since I can remember and my favorite subject was horses. I was always attracted to details and rendering them myself, so the fact I’m a Virgo seems appropriate! I was also incredibly lucky to have parents that nourished my art and called me “the artist of the family”. As a kid I painted on rocks and took orders for drawings from classmates on the school bus. I studied art and then worked professionally with an amazing art director who expanded my knowledge and took me to a level I would not have obtained otherwise. Over the years I continued creating my art and commissions while working my way up to being an art director myself in the publishing field. It was at this point when my mom passed away prompting a reassessment of my own life and I left the corporate cubicle world to do my art full time. It was a huge leap of faith but I knew I was loved and protected so I jumped.

Photo caption: Colored pencil horse portrait drawing

Kala: In many ancient wisdom teachings, it is said there are four animals who are here with the purpose to be of service and connect deeply with humanity. They are the horse, the cow, the dog and the cat. With this in mind, how have horses touched and inspired you in your life?

Kathy: Well, there’s no doubt which animal I resonate most closely with! Looking back at the many horse references in my life it’s obvious that horses are my totem animal. I was born in the Chinese Year of the Horse in a state claiming the horse as its state animal and my high school mascot was a horse. I got my first horse in another Year of the Horse and was invited to create a horse sculpture for a national art project during yet another Year of the Horse. The horse in my life now, Skip, is a true inspiration and helped me to open my heart again after the death of my mother. He was an older horse who’s owner had just died and no one wanted him. Initially thinking he was too old, I didn’t want to put myself through the possibility of getting attached only to lose him too. But he taught me that wasn’t a way to live and constantly amazes me in how two completely different species can clearly communicate with each other. Horses have the ability to mirror us  – you can’t hide, lie or B.S. a horse, they’ll call you out on it every time. Riding and trusting my horse with my life is an honor as it means he trusts me as well. Recently I began volunteering for a therapeutic riding program and am witnessing yet another aspect as to how horses enhance our lives. Horses truly help us in so many ways, spiritually, emotionally and physically.

Kala: I was born in the Year of the Horse too and agree horses have so much to teach us and to share with humanity. I can see your love for horses in your work, tell me more about your inspired “Quarter Horse’’ design…

Kathy: I remember first encountering the life sized painted horse sculptures on display for an art for charity program called Horse Power New Mexico (later to be known as the Trail of Painted Ponies). It was July 2001 and I was standing on a Santa Fe sidewalk when suddenly the words “I want to do this!” came unconsciously flying out of my mouth. After returning home I started working on sketches but when the events of 9-11 occurred, I set them aside as now designing a horse specifically for America became my creative outlet to deal with the confusing times. After weeks of many new ideas and sketches still nothing felt quite right. Then one night I had a dream in which I was reading a newspaper article about a woman creating a new design for the American quarter and woke up wondering why I was dreaming about coin designs when my problem was coming up with a horse design. I immediately gathered a bunch of quarters, cleared my mind and stared at them. One quarter with a dark tarnished patina caught my attention so I began experimenting, focusing on the eagle and selected words of the reverse side of the coin. The discovery of the opportunity to reflect a theme of national allegiance and unity hit me. E Pluribus Unum. Out of many, one. That was one of most memorable inspired Ah-ha! moments I ever had.
Photo caption: Detail of original Quarter Horse sculpture created for the Trail of Painted Ponies

Kala: Your latest creation is Love Rocks. I love how many words you’ve worked the rocks into… love, hope, yoga, om, joy, and many others. When I look at them, I see the stone… as being strong, enduring, and long lasting and the clay plaques as being of earth, warm, fragile, and encompassing. Together, they hold love. Perhaps the two things most needed during this time on earth is love and kindness. What do you wish for each piece as you create it and what are your hopes for the world?

Kathy: I love your take on this! For me they are also like condensed versions of affirmations. Many times they are often messages or reminders I need for myself. Since words conjure up different meanings and reactions in people I think their simplicity has a pure essence. It’s also interesting to see how people, especially children, are instinctively attracted to the rocks. There is something grounding and reassuring about rocks. The words aren’t set in stone, rather the stone is set in the words and the heart shaped rocks only help to reinforce the words. I want to share and remind others that we are all loved with the idea that the heart shaped rocks are angelic offerings echoing my own hopes for the world to include love, peace and respect for the Earth and all of its inhabitants.

Kala: You also work in mixed media and an author, I enjoyed your Food for Thought design. As a creative person, you’ve found many outlets to share your talents with the world. How do they differ and how are they the same when you are expressing yourself?

Photo caption: Food For Thought, mixed media collage
Kathy: I’ve accepted that I have many interests and facets to my personality and need various ways to express them. My collages are always intuition and process based and made from found and recycled materials. I literally will start with one object that captures my attention and then build a piece entirely around that, often inserting words or hidden messages in them. I have absolutely no idea what the end result will be and the entire process is a dance of the divine, with me constantly asking, getting out of the way and letting the inspiration guide me. The way I work on them is a great reminder and metaphor for how I try to live life. The horse portraits are more straight forward as they are mostly representational commissioned pieces and I generally have an idea of what the desired end result is. But these drawings are the most meditative to work on and I love being able to capture the essence of the horses and why their owners love them. The Love Rocks are my most restrictive pieces as the words must fit in my predetermined plaque sizes and contain a letter O which can be replaced with a heart shaped rock. Sometimes too many choices or options can overwhelm the creative process so working within narrowed parameters allows simplicity to emerge. These are also the pieces where I am most out of the way as they speak for themselves and people will extract their own personal meaning from them. But the spirit of love is literally embedded in each one.

Kala: Do you accept custom orders for your art and for love rocks? What has been your favorite piece that you have designed thus far?

Kathy: Yes, I have done and do accept custom orders and commissions for all of the variety of my art forms. The Quarter Horse figurine is retired from production but I do have a very limited supply of special editions available for collectors. It’s difficult to say which piece has been my favorite as I love them all for different reasons. But I have a special affinity for the works made as a result of being outraged about something and consider them my art activist pieces. I’m a firm believer in that energy flows where attention goes so I’m very mindful of my creative intentions. I don’t want to make angry negative art, so I try to step back to see the bigger picture and focus on what I perceive a positive outcome to be. A piece called 50 States of an American Dream, featuring 50 positive words, or states of being, was created during the heat of the last presidential election and another piece titled Paradise was my response to an environmental issue. These pieces represent my way of enacting Peter F. Drucker’s quote, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”

Photo caption: 50 States of an American Dream, rubbing drawing on architectural paper

Kala: Who is Kathy Morawski? If your friends and family were to describe you in five sentences, what would they say?

Kathy: This is great because as for the answers I actually posed these questions to my friends! Though my family is no longer physically here, they always said I was talented and smart and I loved my grandmother telling me I had the Midas touch. My polled friends said I’m compassionate, have a good sense of humor, and am a good friend and offered some responses that were surprising in their depth: Kathy embraces the scared sensuousness of life and is able to tap on a creativity that exists outside of the box while still being able to communicate to the rest of the world in an enlightening, entertaining and expressive way. Kathy is free spirited with a daredevil quality that inspires others and is extraordinarily creative and wonderfully adept at gathering her creativity to make significant visual contributions to the world. Wow!

Kala: What advice would you give to someone who wanted to connect more with their creative side?

Kathy: First of all, I believe everyone is creative, and anything can be done in a creative fashion. Just thinking about how to do something differently than you usually do it is being creative. Immersing yourself in activities you enjoy and learning new ones is a great kick start to creativity as is discovering what other creative people are doing. I’d also suggest slowing down to be aware and open up to intuition by asking and allowing yourself to receive answers in whatever form they may arrive. I find looking for the humor in situations makes life more fun and creativity breeds when you’re in a lighter state of mind. And when you get an idea, instead of dismissing it, act on it!

Kala: Beyond your artistic creations here Kathy, what inspires you? How do you Explore Your Spirit?

Kathy: I also believe spirit and inspiration can reside in anything, it’s the connection that counts. Some things I’m inspired by are music, nature, beauty, truth, books, dreams, great minds that explore the blend of science and spirituality, and words which includes quotes, song lyrics and even catchy lines on junk mail! I’m also moved by moments when humanity bands together to make a difference or help others. Methods that help keep me in that state of being include spending time with my horse, going for walks, listening to music, yoga, traveling, learning new things and spending time with good friends and being grateful for all of it.

Kala: It was a pleasure speaking with you Kathy. Looking forward to seeing more of your work and best wishes for your continued success.

Kathy: Thank you so much, Kala, the pleasure’s been all mine. I look forward to keeping up with you on your work as well! It’s inspiring people like yourself who help raise the consciousness of the planet.

Photo caption: Kathy with her horse, Skip. Photo by Susan Kozlowski
Artist Kathy Morawski is known for her articulate assemblages featuring found objects taken out of context and placed in unique perspectives, encouraging the viewer to look at them in a new way or to find hidden meanings. She also expresses her life long love of horses with her equine portraits and is an official artist of the Trail of Painted Ponies. Her current Love Rocks series is part of her recent work exploring life experiences and the clues that cross her path. More information on the artist and her work can be found at www.kathymorawski.com.

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On Explore Your Spirit with Kala’s Bohemian Blog, we seek out talented innovative designers and entrepreneurs of the 21st Century.   Join us as we meet up with bright souls who do what they love and allow the rest to unfold as it should. On this path, we connected with Niki Fountain, CEO and owner of Serene Bath and Body.

Kala: Hi Niki, Thanks for joining us here on Kala’s Bohemian Blog. We’re featuring a special section on the Bohemian Blog entitled Inner Beauty and Fashion for the Body, Mind and Spirit.  Your company, Serene Bath and Body sells a metaphysical inspired line of soaps and lotions with delightful names including Goddess, Aura Enhancer, Eve’s Garden, White Light, Awaken and Zen for Men. What was your inspiration to create this metaphysical line of products called Celestial Farms?

Niki: Hi Kala. First let me say thank you for having me! The inspiration for Celestial Farms came from a number of places but it really started many years ago when I was a young woman who, like many other women and girls, found myself with a poor body image.  I didn’t take very good care of myself or treat my body with the respect it deserved.  But I did find one activity that I truly enjoyed and it actually helped me feel better about myself.  And that was indulging in really nice bath products.  I can remember many times in graduate school where I would take what little money I had left after paying the bills and go shop for new soaps and lotions.  I would hurry back to my apartment and take a long, hot shower with my new soap and then slather myself with my new yummy lotion. The entire act of picking out a new scent, hurrying home in anticipation, taking the shower and then rubbing the lotion in created a wonderful sense of well being and made me feel good about myself.  So that was part of the inspiration, the desire to help others feel good about themselves, to help them find that sense of well being that I had found, that serenity that comes from taking care of our bodies.  But the other part, the metaphysical inspiration ironically came from my science background as a geologist.  Being a geologist I’ve spent many years learning not just about the physical properties of crystals and gemstones but also the metaphysical properties.  I took this knowledge of the crystals and what they can do and combined that with my desire and inspiration to create beautiful bath products.  And from there I created the Celestial Farms line where we include crystals and gemstones in everything we make.

Kala: When sampling your work, I was attracted to the fact that you include real gemstones and crystals in the soaps and lotions.  How did you decide which gemstone to put in each product and how do they enhance the product?

Niki: As I mentioned, being a geologist I have spent many years working with and researching crystals and gemstones.  Along the way I learned that crystals have more than just the physical properties that we can see like color and hardness.  They also have metaphysical properties. What I mean by this is that crystals vibrate with energy and different crystals have different types of energy.  I selected the crystals for various products based on the energy that I wanted vibrating in them.  For example rose quartz is a crystal that vibrates with the energy of love.  We utilize this energy and embed rose quartz crystals in one of the Celestial Farms product lines called Eve’s Garden.  Eve’s Garden was created specifically with love in mind. Whether you’re looking to attract romantic love, trying to love yourself, or learning to love humanity, Eve’s Garden is “charged” with love and will help attract love to you. By adding the rose quartz crystals we enhance this effect because we’re adding that vibrating energy of love.

This same concept carries in all of the Celestial Farms products.  For example our Aura Enhancer line contains amethyst crystals because amethyst helps clear and cleanse auras.  Our Awaken line contains aventurine because those crystals vibrate with an energizing and healing energy.  Our Goddess line includes moonstone crystals because moonstone vibrates with the energy of the Divine Feminine.

Kala: Celestial Farms soaps are all natural. What makes them different than other soaps?

Niki: I think what really sets Celestial Farms soaps apart is the energy that we put into them.  All of our soaps and other products are created and charged with love and white light. And of course the fact that we add blessed crystals enhances this.  Not to mention the fun bonus of finding a treasure of a crystal in your bar of soap!

Kala: How important is it do you think to connect Body Mind and Spirit in all activities? Is there a conscious thought that we should focus on when bathing?

Niki: I think it’s absolutely critical to connect body, mind and spirit in everything we do. In fact I’m not sure that you can really avoid it, it’s just that most people are not conscious of the connection. I think we can easily see the connection when we see things like internal emotional turmoil expressing itself as physical illness.

So the answer is you should definitely be conscious of your thoughts while bathing.  Research has shown us that we can manifest what we think- like athletes envisioning themselves winning the race before they run it.  So it is very important to be thinking loving and positive thoughts while bathing or grooming yourself.  Our bodies will give us what we give them- if we fill it with love and positive energy that’s what we’ll get in return. But if we’re thinking about how much we hate this or that part of our body or if we’re feeling angry about something while bathing then we’ll get that negative energy back, creating a vicious cycle.

Kala: Your education and background is as a hydrogeologist with a focus on saponification.  How has your work inspired you and what you create at Serene?

Niki: My graduate thesis work focused on creating “soaps” to be used to clean up chemicals that were spilled into groundwater.  I say “soaps” because they were not technically true soaps but had a similar chemical composition.  From there I spent more than a decade working in the environmental industry looking for and cleaning up chemicals that had been released into the environment.  During this time I saw firsthand what chemical manufacturing did to the environment and what long term exposure to chemicals did to the human body.  It was a direct result of this experience that led Serene to use ingredients that do not adversely impact the planet or the human body.

Kala: As an entrepreneur, you’ve found an outlet to share your talents with the world. How does what you do for a living also express who you are as a person?

Niki: First I want to say that I am so thankful and fortunate that I have been able to create a business doing what I love.  I know not everyone has that opportunity.  I guess I have always thought of myself as a nurturing person and someone who enjoys taking care of others.  By creating natural and organic bath products I feel I am, in a sense, taking care of others and helping them take better care of themselves.  Also, being a scientist, I have an analytical side that I get to tap into while formulating and creating new products.

Kala: The shapes and designs on the soap are striking and empowering. Do you connect with the Divine Feminine energy?  Wise women in the ancient past used herbs and oils to make soaps and healing poultices. Do you feel that you are continuing this work or are walking a similar path?

Niki: Thank you! I specifically chose the shapes and images on the soaps for their ability to empower and to further enhance the effectiveness of the soaps.  I do connect with the Divine Feminine energy and feel that I have spent many lifetimes as a healer and a wise woman who created healing potions and poultices. I feel very fortunate that I connected with this energy and found this path once again in this lifetime.  I am very honored and blessed that the Universe has provided me with the talents it has so that I can create the products at Serene.

Kala: Do you accept custom orders? What has been your favorite product that you have designed thus far?

Niki: At this time we don’t accept custom orders. But we do hope to have this option available to our customers in the future.  Ideally we would talk with the customer and find out what his or her specific needs and desires are- stress release, invigoration, self love, etc.  We would also discuss things like skin type and possible sensitivities.  From there we would create a personalized product just for that customer.

My favorite creation is our Dead Sea salt scrub. The scrubs are made with salts from the Dead Sea which are amazingly therapeutic.  The salts are in a mixture of various oils including jojoba, grapeseed, neem, and vitamin E oils- all of which are incredibly nourishing to the skin.  I love rubbing the salt/oil mixture on my skin after a bath or shower and then rinsing off.  My skin feels silky smooth and super moisturized.

Kala: Serene Bath and Body is now releasing a new organic line called Persephone’s Wish. Tell us about this line.

Niki: I’m very excited about this new line! While the Celestial Farms line is an all natural line the Persephone’s Wish line is all natural plus the products are made with certified organic ingredients. It was important to me to give customers the option of buying organic bath products.  It’s taking the “all natural” to another level and really embracing the idea of living a more eco-friendly lifestyle.  The line currently has bar soaps and lip balms and we’ll soon be adding lotions, liquid soaps, and Himalayan bath salts. We also use 100% post consumer waste recycled paper printed with soy ink for our bar soap packaging.

Kala: Who is Niki Fountain? If your friends and family were to describe you in five sentences, what would they say?

Niki: I think the first thing people who know me well would say is that I’m goofy and fun loving.  I’m not sure goofy is a good thing but I definitely am.  They would say I like to laugh and I try to make others laugh as well.  And they would say that I will do whatever I can to make others happy and feel good.

Kala: What advice would you give to someone who wanted to connect more with their entrepreneurial side and start their own business?

Niki: The most important piece of advice I would give is that you need to find something you love to do whether it’s creating a product that people use or offering a service.  You have to truly LOVE doing whatever it is you are considering making into a business because there will be times when you won’t love it. Creating and running your own business is one of the most rewarding things a person can do. But it’s also one of the most challenging and demanding.  I have never worked harder or more hours in my life than when I started my own business. Not even when I was working 3 jobs and putting myself through graduate school.  When you own a small business you, as the owner, wear most, if not all, of the hats in your company.  So while you get the joy of doing what you love you also have to do the things you may not enjoy like being the sales person, being the advertising executive, being the accountant, and being the bill collector. So that’s why I say you have to truly love what you do because it has to be enough to make up for the less enjoyable duties.

Kala: Beyond your business here Niki, what inspires you? How do you Explore Your Spirit?

Niki: I think I’m most inspired by love and the generosity of people.  Those two things make me feel warm and fuzzy inside and make me want to be more loving and more generous myself.  One way I Explore My Spirit is by listening to your show of course! And reading the Bohemian Blog.  It’s so inspiring and exciting to hear and read about what others are doing to make this time on earth more purposeful and enjoyable.

Kala: It was a pleasure speaking with you Niki. Looking forward to experiencing more of your bath and body products and best wishes for your continued success.

Niki: Thank you Kala for having me. As always it’s been a pleasure spending time with you and your readers.

More about Niki Fountain and Serene Bath and Body…

Niki Fountain is a hydrogeologist who spent the first part of her adult life working in the environmental industry cleaning up chemicals that were released to the environment.  She eventually left the industry and took the knowledge and skills she learned in graduate school and in her job and applied them to creating all natural and organic bath care products.  She founded her North Carolina based bath care company, Serene Bath & Body, in 2005.  You can find her creations at www.TheSereneStore.com Readers of the Bohemian Blog can enjoy FREE SHIPPING in the continental US until August 31 2009 on purchases of $25 or more by using Promo Code BOHOBLOG at checkout.

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“We are indeed much more than what we eat, but what we eat can nevertheless help us to be much more than what we are.” – Adelle Davis

Eating is an act that no human being can truly escape. We eat throughout the day, many times per day, taking in thousands of pounds of food on every year. One way to view eating is simply an act that provides the body with energy. Another aspect is what we eat and how we eat are anchored more deeply into providing insight as to what in our lives needs healing. Even though I am a nutritionist that has been trained to look at food as calories, what I have discovered is that foods and eating are vehicles to our personal growth.  When someone tells me about their eating, I immediately see the connection to the rest of their lives.

This concept may seem far-fetched, but let me give you some examples:

•    Jean eats convenient foods and can’t find time to prepare meals. A common theme in her life is that she is always on the run. She never has time for anything she really wants to do, including something for herself.  She started to heal after taking a look at what she was running from – and asking the question: where does my focus need to be, and what do I need to make time for?
•    Jim binges on sweet foods. He also talks about how his life feels lackluster and that he never quite “gets around” to having some joy and fun? Looking from the outside in, maybe his life doesn’t seem so “sweet” so he needs to get it from other places. He also feels that he can never make sweetness last in his life – something always stands in the way – ultimately leading him to binge.

Since we eat so often, it becomes only logical that our food choices and eating practices start to intermingle with our lives. Therefore, to get some insight on your life, you can begin by looking at how and what you eat. There are seven main areas of our lives that may require healing, and we can jumpstart the process by altering our foods and eating:

(1) Survival: Do you have some “fear” around eating – whether not wanting to eat because you don’t know what to eat, or distrusting your bodies’ messages about eating ? Do you have difficulty with family traditions around eating and struggle with being able to eat in the presence of a community? By letting go of protecting ourselves with food or of any fear of eating, we open up our ability to trust and feel safe. Eating with others in community is healing for this part of us. Foods for grounding and protection: Protein, minerals, root vegetables, edible and medicinal mushrooms, red-colored foods (apples, pomegranates, etc.)

(2) Emotions: It has been estimated that most people overeat for emotional reasons. Have you found that it is more comfortable to stuff your emotions with food rather than expressing them? Emotions are the juice of creativity so when we let our emotions flow, our creativity moves through us. By taking time to create meals, we allow for more movement within, which can ultimately spark our emotional strings. Making meals and sharing with another person can also help to restore flow. Foods for flow and feelings: Fats and oils (especially omega-3s), fish (e.g., wild-caught salmon), tropical fruits, seeds, nuts, orange-colored foods (oranges, tangerines, carrots, etc.)

(3) Energy: Where do we put our energy? Do we give it away to foods that have power over us? Do we deplete our physical bodies by ingesting anti-nutrition (foods that take away and don’t “give” anything) like soft drinks and artificial sweeteners? We can reclaim our power and energy by eating more frequently through the day, and eating foods that sustain our energy like low glycemic carbohydrates. Foods for power and transformation: Carbohydrates (complex), fiber, whole grains, legumes, yellow-colored foods (yellow sweet peppers, yellow lentils, corn, etc.)

(4) Love: Rather than allowing love to flow from our hearts in an unconditional way, do we substitute by feeding others food? Do we use food as the only way of showing love? Are we able to give and receive love in a healthy way? We can embrace love in our lives by sharing our food with others, being grateful for foods, donating to food banks, and infusing love into our food and water. Foods for love and compassion: Vegetables (especially cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, kale, cabbage, and leafy greens), sprouts, raw foods, foods rich in chlorophyll, any green-colored foods .

(5) Communication: Do you convey mixed messages about foods – saying yes when you mean no? Do you become a victim to your environment when it comes to eating, unable to stand up for what you need? Do you find yourself gulping your food down or talking while eating? We can uphold truth in our lives by honoring our bodies’ choices at a deep level. By eating mindfully, we communicate to our bodies that we give it the utmost attention. Foods for communication and truth: Seaplants, soups, sauces, juices, fruits.

(6) Insight: How do you listen to your intuition? If you have a strong sense that you need to eat foods or exercise, do you act or do you let something else stand in the way? Do you keep your mind and moods on overdrive with foods like caffeine and alcohol? We can heed our internal insight by taking time to listen deeply within.  Respecting your mind by taking care not to push its limit with external substances is one way to enable your intuition to be heard. Foods for intuition and insight: Spices, tea, purple-red foods (purple potatoes, blackberries, blueberries, purple grapes, etc.)

(7) Unity: Do you feel interconnected with all of life? Or do you feel that you are longing for deeper meaning and connection with others and nature? Do you feel severed from something greater than yourself? One way to repair your connection with life is by seeing eating as a divine act that connects you with the lineage of field, farmer, grocer, and cook. Using foods as a symbol of connection can help us to connect to that which is sacred and deep. Foods for unification and interconnection: Sunlight, air, love.

Deanna Minich will be on The Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show on Friday, August 21 2009.

More about Deanna Minich….

Deanna Minich, PhD, CN, www.foodandspirit.com is a nutritionist who sees more to food than calories and macronutrients. She blends cutting-edge nutrition information, quantum physics, and the ancient chakra system to guide others to use foods and eating as tools for spiritual growth and nourishment for the soul. With her latest book, Chakra Foods for Optimum Health, she opens your heart, unravels your intuition, and guides you on a journey to inner and outer bliss with every bite you take!

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A.R.E. Announces First Ever Online Virtual Conference – Edgar Cayce’s Body-Mind-Spirit Transformation:  Preparing for 2012 and Beyond

The Edgar Cayce organization is presenting their first ever virtual conference using innovative 3-D interactive technology from ON24. The conference, Edgar Cayce’s Body-Mind-Spirit Transformation:  Preparing for 2012 and Beyond, will feature experts on a wide range of body-mind-spirit topics. In addition to the presentations, the virtual community center gives attendees the opportunity to interact with individuals from around the globe.

The Conference explores ancient mysteries, perspectives on the afterlife, reincarnation, personal health, the wonders of the cosmos, the practical side of intuition, walking a spiritual path, vibrations as the underlying force of all creation, the Edgar Cayce information, and more. Speakers include:  Kevin J. Todeschi, Lynn Sparrow Christy, Mary Roach, James Mullaney, Henry Reed, Dr. Norman Shealy, Tom Baker, Wendell Beane, Shigeru Mitsuda, Robert J. Grant, John Van Auken, and John Holland.

According to Conference Manager Allison Parker Hedrick, “This is such an exciting time to live in, as we approach a coming new era of transformation. This on-line conference format will allow the work of Edgar Cayce to reach the greater global community, and touch the lives of seekers who might never have an opportunity to visit us here in Virginia Beach–but still experience the sense of community and fellowship that attendees enjoy here at A.R.E. Headquarters.”

The Body-Mind-Spirit Transformation:  Preparing for 2012 and Beyond Conference is scheduled to begin on May 8, and will remain available to all attendees until November 7, 2009. The one-time admission fee is $199. To register or learn more, visit EdgarCayce.org/virtual

More about the A.R.E….

Edgar Cayce founded the non-profit Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.) in 1931, to explore spirituality, holistic health, intuition, dream interpretation, psychic development, reincarnation, and ancient mysteries—all subjects that frequently came up in the more than 14,000 documented psychic readings given by Cayce, who died in 1945. The mission of A.R.E. is simply to help people around the world change their lives for the better through the ideas and information found in the readings. The Virginia Beach headquarters is a popular site for locals and tourists with free daily lectures, a health center and spa connected with the Cayce/Reilly School of Massotherapy, an extensive metaphysical library, a meditation garden, a labyrinth, and a bookstore and gift shop. A.R.E. also maintains an affiliation with Atlantic University. Through its many programs, services, publications, and membership outreach, Edgar Cayce’s A.R.E. provides individuals from all walks of life and a variety of religious backgrounds with tools for personal transformation and healing at all levels—body, mind, and spirit.

For more information about Edgar Cayce’s A.R.E., visit EdgarCayce.org

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