Some Thoughts on Hope, Kindness and Compassion as We Welcome Back the Light!

As we approach the the end of the year and pause to enjoy the varying celebrations that take place around the world in December, including Winter Solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, my thoughts turn toward reflection and renewal. 

Ending one year and beginning a new one can be a difficult time for many, and I've seen a noticeable uptick with clients, friends and family feeling discouraged, disheartened, and frankly, hopeless.  Without a doubt, these are unsettling times, and the world seems more challenging each day.  Anxiety, depression, pessimism, a sense of feeling forlorn, disconnected, alone, hopeless, helpless, broken and even a sense of worthlessness can surface at any time, yet seems to carry more weight at this time of year more than any other, rather highlighted and brought to the fore.  Some have even said that they have feeling of utter dejection and have such a bleak outlook that they feel numb to the happenings around them.  Unfortunately, "I'm at my wit's end" and "What's the point?" seems to be the new seasonal jingle. 

Another Reason You Should Limit Your Exposure to WiFi and Other EMFs

For at least the last 15 years, I have been warning folks about the dangers of EMFs (Electro-Magnetic Fields), ELFs (Extremely Low Frequencies), WiFi and other unseen micro-wave radiation 'waves' that are all around us due to the use of electrical appliances and devices.   From smart TVs to smart appliances to smart meters, these waves bombard us constantly and from every direction.  Does your mattress have metal springs and coils?  If you keep your WiFi on at night, and have an electric alarm clock near your bed, then you are amplifying the EMFs into your body as you sleep every night.

Whenever I see a teenager or a young adult with their smartphone stylishly tucked into their bra or pocket, I ask them if they realize they've got the equivalent of a mini-microwave against their skin.  When patients have come to me with hip and lower back issues, I always inquire where they usually carry their cell phone.  Without fail, the answer is always in the same pocket or place on their body.

In today's world, it is becoming increasingly harder and harder NOT to have a cell phone, and especially the higher frequency smart phones, because, not only are we tied to our families and our jobs, but also to our addiction to constant internet access.

12 Amazing Benefits of Chaga Mushroom

(Reposted from:  RiseEarth:  
http://www.riseearth.com/2017/04/12-amazing-benefits-of-chaga-mushroom.html)


by Elisha McFarland; My Health Maven

Superfoods is the buzzword across the internet. You can’t talk about superfoods without thinking of medicinal mushrooms such as Chaga (inonotus obliquus). Chaga mushrooms are making news with their amazing health benefits including treatment for cancer. Chaga has been traditionally used for treating gastrointestinal cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes in Russia, Poland and most of the Baltic countries.

What are Chaga mushrooms?

Chaga doesn’t look like a typical mushroom, in fact many people might mistake it for a knot or even a burned spot on the tree. Typically it grows on the on the exterior of birch trees and can grow in a variety of shapes and sizes.

2015: The International Year of Soils

We will be hosting a free viewing of "Symphony of the Soil" at our holistic center, Grace of Angels, located in Chester, NJ on Wednesday, April 22 at 7:00 PM.  

Come and celebrate Earth Day with a movie and discussion!

From the iMDB Film Summary:
Drawing from ancient knowledge and cutting edge science, Symphony of the Soil is an artistic exploration of the miraculous substance soil. By understanding the elaborate relationships and mutuality between soil, water, the atmosphere, plants and animals, we come to appreciate the complex and dynamic nature of this precious resource. The film also examines our human relationship with soil, the use and misuse of soil in agriculture, deforestation and development, and the latest scientific research on soil's key role in ameliorating the most challenging environmental issues of our time. Filmed on four continents, featuring esteemed scientists and working farmers and ranchers, Symphony of the Soil is an intriguing presentation that highlights possibilities of healthy soil creating healthy plants creating healthy humans living on a healthy planet.

About the Year of Soils:

The 68th UN General Assembly declared 2015 the International Year of Soils (IYS)!

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has been nominated to implement the IYS 2015, within the framework of the Global Soil Partnership and in collaboration with Governments and the secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

The IYS 2015 aims to increase awareness and understanding of the importance of soil for food security and essential ecosystem functions.

Additionally, PBS has a wonderful documentary entitled, "SOS:  Save our Soils", which can be viewed here:   http://video.pbs.org/viralplayer/2365301480

However you choose to celebrate Earth Day, remember to be gentle with the Earth and her resources EVERY day!

Green Blessings!

Tree Orienting: Bridging the Human and Botanical Worlds

I had met Jen Frey of Brigid's Way at this year's Mid-Atlantic Women's Herbal Conference in Kempton, PA that was held at the beginning of October.  She spoke about Tree Orienting, and it just completely resonated with me.  So, today I traveled all the way out to Lancaster, PA to participate in a Tree Orienting workshop that she was hosting. Tree Orienting originated as a collaboration between Damanhur, Italy and the Wisdom University in 2011.  From Damanhur's website:

Tree orientation is an initiative that Damanhur has proposed since 2011. The community participates in this project along with many friends worldwide, most of whom are part of the Popolo Spirituale, as part of the Global Tree Network. The purpose of Tree Orientation is to bring the human and plant worlds closer together, as they once were. 

Damanhur's Spiritual Vision gives great importance to communing with the physical and subtle forces of nature that are represented by plants and nature spirits. The trees are large, living antennas of our planet. On the Summer Solstice, the trees launch a signal into the cosmos about the health of our planet, and at the Winter Solstice, they receive a return signal. For many years, their message has been a cry of despair because humans are destroying nature. The community of Damanhur and the many supporters of this initiative around the globe have made a commitment to transform the cries of the trees into songs of joy.

Four Benefits of Getting Back to Nature

Source:  http://www.riseearth.com/2014/11/4-benefits-of-getting-back-to-nature.html

From this informative article:

"Author Richard Lou, who published the bestseller “Last Child in the Woods,” wrote about what he called a “nature deficit disorder” in relation to children, but he ultimately became overwhelmed by adults with stories about their own disconnect.
He’s not the only one to come upon this realization. More and more people have noticed a disconnect, which is largely credited to a world that’s constantly surrounded by technology. While communication is easier than ever, the quality of that communication is rapidly decreasing, which is why many are looking to take a step back from technology and reconnect with nature. It’s a good idea for everyone, with numerous benefits, including the following." 

Read the whole article here.

"Symphony of the Soil" Movie!

THIS is an excellent documentary about the need to care for this vital natural resource. I've watched it several times this summer. Look for an upcoming Discussion and film viewing in our Samhain newsletter later this month. Green Blessings!

 


Read the full article here.   

Keyhole Gardening

Recently, I learned about a relatively simple way to have a raised garden that combines recycling and composting and can be a boon to folks during summer droughts or those who live in arid climates since it requires less water!   From what I have read, they first appeared in Africa in areas with very little water and rather infertile soil.  Villagers used whatever materials they had access to, and the idea for this sustainable gardening style was born.

Since early in September, I have been collecting used bricks with the intent of re-purposing them into a 6' diameter keyhole garden in my backyard.  Based on an idea from fellow herbalist, Shelly Moore, I intend to create a separate keyhole garden for each body system, and plant the corresponding medicinal herbal allies accordingly.  Shelly has done this in her yard, and I totally loved the idea because it is not only a great way to add to my teaching gardens, it also reinforces to my students that many medicinal botanicals can be beneficial to several organs or body systems at the same time - so it can help when creating a client-specific triune formula.

Here is a link to HGTV's description of keyhole gardens:
http://www.hgtvgardens.com/raised-garden/keyhole-gardening-tips

Here is one 'blueprint' for a basic 6' diameter keyhole garden:

Earth Overshoot Day, 2014

Tomorrow is Earth Overshoot Day for 2014. Read more about it below, or on our website: http://willowmoonherbals.com/Environmental-Awareness.html

 


From the website:  Footprint Calculator:  "How much land area does it take to support YOUR lifestyle? Take this quiz to find out your Ecological Footprint, discover your biggest areas of resource consumption, and learn what you can do to tread more lightly on the earth"

12 Facts About Microwaves That Should Forever Terminate Their Use...

Gave up mine in the divorce and haven't missed it in 15 years! I avoid them like the plague, especially in office kitchenettes where I have repeatedly seen employees stand DIRECTLY in front of the microwave while they warm their food, ...and slowly cook their major internal organs from pelvis to sternum... 

Recycle it, folks!




by Marco Torres
Prevent Disease

Are microwaves a benign bastion of convenience or a sinister contributor to biological and nutritional damage? A growing percentage of people are now heeding the advice of holistic health experts and disposing of their microwaves due to the dangers of microwaved food. Regardless of where you stand, humans are the only animals on the planet who destroy the nutritional value of their food before eating it, and the use of microwaves is no exception.

Microwaves are a source of electromagnetic energy (a form of nonionizing form of radiation) electronically generated. When penetrating the aliments, they trigger an inner rotation of the water molecules inside the food. This rotation triggers a friction between the molecules and the result is a rapid growth in temperature.

Microwaves use super-fast particles to literally radiate the contents of water inside food and bring it to boil. Not only has microwave use been linked to causing infertility in men, but it also denatures many of the essential proteins in the food making them virtually indigestible.  

Read the whole article here:
Source:  www.riseearth.com/2014/07/12-facts-about-microwaves-that-should.html