Holistic Networker - Page 5 of 35 - Your guide to wellness.

Electric Car Charging Stations Come to the Metroplex

Nation’s first privately funded, comprehensive electric car / EV charging network now includes Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex; Interstate 45 connection with Houston slated for 2012

NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG) is bringing range confidence to electric vehicle (EV) owners in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex by commencing operations at the first privately funded, eVgo_sm (ee-vee-go) Freedom Station in Texas, including the first high-speed direct current (DC) charger in Texas that is among the first in the nation. NRG plans to install a total of 70 Freedom Stations in Dallas/Fort Worth and 50 in Houston by the end of 2012, with half in place by this summer. NRG also plans to electrify the Interstate 45 corridor connecting them in 2012.

The first eVgo Freedom Station is located at the Walgreens at 5201 Belt Line Road at Montfort Drive in Dallas. Each Freedom Station_sm provides a 480 volt DC fast charger that can add 30 miles of range in as little as 10 minutes and a 240 volt Level 2 charger that can add up to 25 miles of range in an hour. Freedom Stations are available 24/7 and include a customer service tower with a mounted camera, giving customers access to an eVgo service representative or to activate a strobe light, siren and alert law enforcement, even from inside their vehicles. The eVgo network will also include Convenience Stations_sm that offer a 240 volt Level 2 charger and are available during the retail host’s business hours.

“Inaugurating the first Freedom Station in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex is a critical first step toward making electric vehicles the smart and convenient choice for Texans who want to reduce their cost of driving while contributing to cleaner air and America’s energy independence,” said David Crane, NRG President and CEO. “We’re taking a page from Southwest Airlines when they started out 40 years ago to link the major population centers in Texas. This first station is the start of an ecosystem that will eventually give Texas EV owners the freedom to drive with range confidence throughout the region.”

“Thanks to the innovative spirit and hard work of folks at NRG and their eVgo partners, we’re closer to a day when electric cars will be a prominent feature on our roadways,” Governor Rick Perry said. “I’m proud of our efforts in Texas to foster an environment that frees the private sector to solve problems and meet challenges. Because we steer clear of crippling mandates and work to keep our regulatory structures fair and predictable, Texas has created a favorable business climate that allows companies like NRG to provide the cutting-edge technology and products that will keep our state moving forward.”

EVs, powered by electricity generated from domestic fuels, including zero-emission wind and nuclear power in Texas, have the potential over time to reduce dramatically the ongoing transfer of American wealth to oil-producing nations. Transportation accounts for more than a quarter of America’s greenhouse gas emissions and in most Texas cities, it is the largest single source of nitrogen oxides emissions.

“The North Central Texas Council of Governments is delighted that the first eVgo electric vehicle charging station is now operational in the Dallas/Fort Worth region with many more to come in the near future,” NCTCOG Executive Director Mike Eastland said. “In an area of 6.5 million people, air quality is always a primary concern. NRG’s eVgo network is a welcome complement to NCTCOG’s Electric Vehicles North Texas program, and we truly appreciate our public- and private-sector partners that have been and continue to be instrumental in preparing the region for electric vehicles.”

NRG will provide EV owners in eVgo cities with extremely convenient and affordable unlimited miles “home-and-away” charging plans with no upfront cost and a flat monthly fee. NRG will install and maintain the region’s charging infrastructure of home chargers and public fast charging stations conveniently located along major freeways and in key shopping and business districts.

“Electric vehicle ownership should be fun, affordable and convenient, with drivers having complete confidence that a fast charger is never more than a few miles away,” said Arun Banskota, President of NRG’s EV Services division.

NRG is working with the North Texas electricity transmission and distribution company Oncor on zone planning and site selection for the eVgo charging stations in the Metroplex to ensure accessibility and reliability.

“From our installation of more than a million and a half advanced meters to help customers better manage their electricity usage, to the construction of 850 miles of new transmission lines delivering renewable power, Oncor is a leader in making Texas the best place in America to drive plug-in vehicles,” said Jim Greer, Oncor’s Senior Vice President of Asset Management and Engineering. “By 2012, our investments will enable more than three million homes and businesses in Oncor’s service area to use electric vehicle charging technology, such as the NRG eVgo network, when renewable energy availability is highest and the cost of electricity is lowest, supported by the capabilities of Oncor’s advanced meters.”

eVgo Partners

The following companies are working with NRG to make the eVgo network a success:

Auto Sales and Rental: Gulf States Toyota, Hertz, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan North America, smart USA, VIA
Charging Station Host: Best Buy Co., Inc., Crescent Real Estate, Gallery Furniture,
H-E-B/Central Market, Memorial City Mall, Park ‘N Fly, Spec’s Family Partners, Walgreens
Charging Technologies, Network Services and Smart Energy: AeroVironment, GE, Siemens
Retail Electric Providers: Green Mountain Energy Company, Reliant Energy, TXU Energy
Ready for EV (REV) Host: Huffines Communities

For more about eVgo partners, visit https://www.evgonetwork.com/About_Us/Partners/

Twenty Years

Twenty years ago the internet was a small collection of goverment and educational computers, a place for scientists to communicate. Today, you can access the internet and 3 billion other connected beings with a device that fits in your pocket. Twenty years ago your car had an AM/FM radio, and a fancy cassette player. Today, your car plays music and helps you navigate with signals sent from satellites that orbit the earth. Twenty years ago, hearing impairment meant wearing funny earpieces that sometimes squeaked with audio feedback. Today, cochlear implants effectively reverse the condition of deafness.

Twenty years ago, I was introduced to the local holistic community and met fascinating people who taught me about new dimensions of reality. I wanted to share what I learned from these mind/body/spirit practitioners. I asked Felicia what she thought about starting a local directory. She wisely told me how hard it would be and that we didn’t know what we were doing, but she also trusted that we would figure it out. Today, we can look back and remember an incredible journey that helped us connect with amazing people and organizations whose shared goal was to help shift our consciousness to prepare for a better, more rapidly changing tomorrow.

The year 2012 brings with it both fears and hopes as mankind tries to imagine the significance of the Mayan calendar. Personally, 2012 brings a significant milestone as the 20th anniversary of the Holistic Networker magazine. These past two decades have been rewarding and enlightening for me. I have been blessed to be able to work from home, and watch my children achieve their own milestones and grow into aware and responsible beings.

I see 2012 as a new beginning for our civilization. New understandings of how the universe works, and new advances in technology enable us to create a sustainable future and even begin to remake and reshape our own ideas about what it means to be human.

What an exciting time to be alive!

Count Your Blessings

Recently my mother was attending a show. They called a woman in the audience to come on stage as it was her 95th birthday. She excitedly got up from her chair and with surprising agility climbed the steps. They then began to play her favorite song. With a lot of enthusiasm, she sashayed across the stage as she enjoyed her special moment. A few weeks later my mother was attending another show at this same venue. A woman in the audience got up and commented that it had been her friend, whom they had honored. The 95-year-old woman had told her after being on stage that that was the best day of her life. The next day she passed suddenly and was gone. I marveled at the way this woman’s life had concluded. To have one’s best day at ninety-five, just seemed so wonderful and precious to me. And to remain in good shape until the end and to then pass quickly and painlessly just felt so right.

Shortly after hearing this story, I was riding in an elevator with a much older gentleman, who was hunched over and had a cane. He looked like he was well into his 80’s and he appeared to be very feeble. I asked him how he was doing. He replied hesitantly, “O.K.” and asked me how I was doing. I said that I was fine.

He said emphatically, “At your age you should be fine!”

I smiled and said “you are right”. As I got out of the elevator I pondered this moment. I thought about the truth of what this man had said. For him every step is a challenge. His health is obviously precarious and at this point, he is unlikely to improve to any great extent. I have my health and while I am no longer in my 20’s, I am in good shape and still have a lot to look forward to. I often think that it is important to appreciate what you have while you still have it and not just after the fact. While most of us would agree that we would like to be dancing happily until the day before we pass, very few people are fortunate enough to have this experience. That is why it is good to be grateful for all of the many blessings we do have while we still have them.

I hope you will count your blessings each and every day and that you will be an inspiration to the rest of us by living a long, healthy and happy life.

Your Winter Stars: Astrology Forecast (Winter 2012)

Welcome 2012! We’ve been waiting for you and I couldn’t be more excited to see a New Year arrive. It’s a year filled with financial opportunity and political debate that ends with a new plan and likely a new man in the White house. The first six months have powerful Mars transits that keep business moving, but are also good for aggression. It is important to be aware of events in the world without being anxious or wary of them. It is also good to pull away from the computer when the Uranus-Pluto transit compels you to plug in for more and more. The gift is the perspective of Saturn. We are in exciting times, but all times in history were exciting. The stress comes from fear of the future so roll up your sleeves and build something.

Saturn is exalted, which means the planet of strength and endurance is particularly happy to roll up his sleeves and lend some sweat to the equity of the future. Saturn first moved into the constellation Libra as the Super Committee ended in a political stalemate, however, that didn’t stop money from moving. Within 2 weeks the Market went up along with consumer spending and there was a tax deal that sent it higher. Throughout this season Saturn remains strong and in a good place for business and optimism. In June of 2012, our President will rework his plan for the future. It’s tempting to jump ahead, but we don’t want to miss any of Your Winter Stars.

January 2012 begins with Jupiter, the optimist, moving forward. He’s ready to make political and legislative hay of seeds planted late in 2011. Saturn anchors Jupiter at the beginning of the month, but soon Jupiter charges ahead. This should be good for jobs, construction and mortgage loans. As Mars appears to stop in the heavens and move backward late this month, politicians are frustrated, but something compels them to help move us forward. Caveat: The apparent retrograde or backward motion of Mars, the planet of business, could mean that things are delayed until July when Mars finally leaves this place for about 2 years. I suspect we’ll see movement this month with more this summer and fall. These are exciting times. The dark side of Mars is anger and confrontation…even war. Watch for aggression at every level: Whether it’s on the playing field of sports, work or the battlefield. Jupiter appears to stop so all month he is sitting in the same place. This can be lucky for you, however, here is a caution for Jupiter transits: Although you’ll want to bet your winnings, Saturn faces Jupiter and says to save some. Saturn is stronger, but if you bet it all, then your winnings are fleeting. Best luck comes when you invest and save. This is true with love, too. Invest in a solid relationship, but if you’re not willing to move, then you might be waiting alone.

February begins with plenty of relationship drama not just on Valentine’s Day, but in the very first days of the month when Venus faces Mars. Retrograde Mars is stuck in the past. That may literally play out like a series of planetary actions and reactions. Women look at men and ask for action. Saturn faces Jupiter suggesting a push for real commitment. Retrograde Mars lacks the oomph to commit. This could add up to an abundance of folks taking a little space. It promises to bring more folks out to see what or who is the best fit for now and for the future. The dark side of retrograde Mars is passive-aggressive behavior. The good thing about the Venus opposition: We see what’s up and decide with our time and ultimately our allegiance. It should make for some estranged bedfellows and a call for a clear platform or commitment in later April after Mars goes forward again. This is true for politics and international relationships, too. The political arena is much more volatile with outside nations influencing actions. If your romance has too many outsiders stirring the pot, then you’ll easily see that they will be part of your future. The month is great for clarity; what you see is what you’ll live with. Would you want this for your best friend or child? If your suitor can’t decide, the push of Jupiter to Pluto first and later to Mars may well lead you to bid “adios Adonis”, as you may decide that you want someone with more substance than physical form. Yes, wisdom does win over ego…grins.

March: This month is all about love and money. On a simple or shall we say private level, the Market moves on optimism and we have loads of that. It’s a gambling combination and it is fraught with high rollers with high hopes. It’s hard for Saturn to remind us to save some. We can’t hear him over our excitement for today. I expect a passionate surge of public enthusiasm for a candidate, too. President Osama’s healthcare legislation comes under the Supreme Court’s gavel until the end of June. This is the perfect balance of Saturn and Jupiter. Is it the law or is it belief? Is it right or do I simply wish it were? March and April are great for his potential opponents, however, they need to bring their respective plans for the future of the nation. Sound bites and irritation are entertaining, but a serious debate is a wise investment for voters. Money is in the air and it’s not about money lost, but about potential. Plenty of it is moving to candidates’ coffers. Venus Joins Jupiter and they are indulgent planets. They trigger Pluto and eventually Mars. Mars is still rather reluctant to dive in, but something is happening and there is something in the wind that might just catch the emotions of the people. There is also the war or anger side of Mars. I hope there is no new war in the air, but with the actions of Iran and revolutions in several Arab nations, the dogs of war are howling.

Lucky You! If you happen to have a personal planet in Vedic Aries, then you feel the optimism of Jupiter all season. In March, Venus might just tip you toward romance, a new job and, yes, even a fresh philosophy of life. Pull out your chart and see if you happen to have a planet near 6 degrees of Aries, Leo or Sagittarius in your Vedic chart (which is 1 Taurus in your Western chart). If so, then you have great potential to transform your life so choose your actions and reactions wisely. This is only the beginning. Anchor your enthusiasm with Saturn’s wisdom and this could be the best new beginning ever. We all have the opportunity to use this great combination. As Jupiter moves forward to catch Pluto and Mars in the first half of 2012, this energy enlivens all of our lives. Saturn faces Jupiter and we do what we must with the knowledge we have. Like President Clinton, we give up something for better health and perhaps a longer life. If you happen to be directly under Jupiter’s optimism and face Saturn’s wisdom, then you have it just a little easier and can show us how to leave resentment behind and embrace our gifts. I mean that literally. The luckiest of all are folks who embrace the power of their own choice to live a full life each day. That takes the best of these planets and we all have access to them now.

President Obama has very stressful, life-transforming transits in March and April with relief at the end of June. Ketu (karma) pulls off his Moon. The Moon is our emotions in western astrology and our perceptions in Vedic. The President’s moon is very likeable, however, it doesn’t look as if he’s enjoying his success. His moon line runs through Washington DC. I anticipate problems with his healthcare bill, but that he will be happy (more than just relieved) when the court rules. I am saying that it will be a mixed bag and that the legislation will need to be changed in some form before it can move forward. I do not believe it will be ruled as being totally against the constitution. This experience will alter the way he perceives the world, politics and this nation. What the President decides to do in terms of running or not running again is up to him. The transits are truly wild cards. It is possible that “We the People” will see an incumbent not run for personal reasons. I honestly don’t know. I wish him well and hope that he has the best advisers in the world to help him navigate the nation and not just run for office. We’ll see a man who appears to transform before our eyes this summer, however, the winter and spring bring heavy burdens of responsibility and trust.

Politics aren’t everything this year…but they seem to be everywhere. Newt Gingrich is rising. I have no confirmed time of birth, but do have 11:45 pm. If that is accurate, then we should see the former Speaker of the House continue to rise. He and President Obama have a very potent connection. The President’s Moon (or his perceptions) and Speaker Gingrich’s Mercury (or business planet) are in the same place in the heavens. At this time, both men of opposing parties can literally shed the karmic debt encountered in their success and work together. That is a lofty hope, but it will literally free both and could bring the nation together. It triggers Romney’s chart, too, but not as powerfully.

I would love to watch them debate or better still, just sit and explain their respective plans for the nation. Speaker Gingrich (assuming his birth time is accurate) is in a very successful master cycle for political success, however, he has a tricky chart. He rose and fell and rose again over the decades, however, he has a practical vision worth listening to. I don’t know if he’ll make it to the nomination, but I do expect a very lucrative few months for his campaign. Greed is his weakness, as well as his relationships. However, with Ketu at the very front of his chart, he is difficult to frame in a simple picture. Ketu came of age by age 50 so when he says that he is a better husband now than he was before, I believe him. I also know that it is very difficult to “see” a person born with that placement. That alone makes him interesting.

Since Ketu has come of age for him and since Ketu is crossing his business and communication planet, as well as President Obama’s Moon, I see them facing off. I hope they work together as the nation needs them, but in a 2-party system that isn’t likely. Instead the most we can hope for is a debate or discussion. Ketu helps us shed our karmas and is great at revealing the foibles of the ego. I do not believe it is an accident that they are both on the national stage as “We the People” must decide which direction to take this fall. Scandal follows both men as we enter the spring. Romney may well reap the rewards.

Iran: I have Iran’s birth chart as 2-11, 1979 at 2pm. This is when the Ayatollah Khomeini came to power. In light of Iran’s arrogant actions and the painfully reminiscent Embassy burning, I pulled up this chart. It is a great chart for self-destruction. Pluto on the point of physical body (in this case the physical nation), with this sort of arrogance, and Iran’s defiance of the world’s agreements, takes my breath away. Furthermore, we can add to that their potential for a nuclear weapon. (I’d bet on it with their actions and transits). Add to this the transit of Uranus (an unexpected transit from home, in this case the mother land) and I believe they are ripe to blow or implode. Looking at their president’s chart, I see that Mars will appear to stop on his Jupiter in January and I fear that his hubris will make even more action then and in May and June 2012. This is not a passing mood, but a passionate and aggressive action. I suspect and fear that they believe (Jupiter) that now is the time to rise up (Pluto) to take their rightful place on the world stage as an opponent to the Western World, which started with the British Embassy. I fear that Iran wants to be the Islamic nation to gather the Arab nations together against a foe. It will backfire against them, but in the meantime, their hubris is potentially destructive for many others. And, it will play a role in the election of our next president.

President Obama’s chart is hit by the same powerful transits. His Mars, the planet of action and, yes, of war, trigger’s Iran’s chart and, yes, Ahmadinajad’s (whom I disrespectfully refer to as “nutjob”). I do not envy the President the next few months. As I edit this, I heard that Iran has a US drone. Mars is sitting on Iran’s Saturn and pulling onto its Rahu. This is big and part of the first of three powerful swings over potentially perilous planets. A nation has a birth chart and the Sun in that chart is the leader. Neither “nutjob’s” chart nor the nation’s chart shows any sign of restraint or compliance.

The Republican Players: Don’t count Perry out. The Mars transit I mentioned in Iran’s chart is a big player in Perry’s chart. I expect to see Perry rise and fall as Mars triggers him in Dec. 2011 April and June 2012. He’ll find the wisdom of his Saturn or be gone, although he is not leaving anytime soon. One thing is certain about Perry’s chart: He believes he is the right man for the job. His national position will rise in June, but I don’t know if he will be the nominee. The stress of Mars on his Saturn and Moon may be a struggle between Perry, the man and Perry, the candidate his handlers want him to be. This will either bring voters to him or push them away. I don’t think we will know until this summer.

Romney’s chart is also triggered, but he will make a more measured response. Romney’s own Sun faces the President’s Mars. Both will face off as the leader and potential leader of the US. Romney takes the challenges and balances them with fortunate transits. He’s in for the long run. Gingrich will have the most carefully thought out and researched response for Iran if the time I have for him is right. It will also have a huge impact upon his image. Saturn is strong. We get to see the men and their plans for the nation. This is exciting on every level.

I hope you will check back for more exciting news of 2012. This is the year we’ve been waiting for. There is a big party at the end. I hope to see y’all there.
Cynthia Novak is a professional astrologer. She can be contacted at metro 817-261-2984. Read Cynthia’s daily astrological message atwww.HolisticNetworker.com/dailymessage/ or see www.CynthiaNovak.com Come hear Cynthia’s talk at the Wellness Expo in Addison on Sunday, October 16 at 11:30am entitled “Astrology & You”.

Take a Love Bath

Of all the unusual things I learned from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda about conception and pregnancy, this one caught people’s attention most. Probably because it was the one thing they’d never heard of.

Growing up in Texas in the 70s, we kids without two nickels to rub together only did about two things: if we had energy, we played in they sun; and if we were tired, we lay in the sun. Sun, sun, and more sun.

We’ve been told since that too much sun isn’t the healthiest choice (though I’m not convinced the pasty-skinned kids growing up today with eyes glued to a 2”-200” monitor have it better), but there are still few things I love better than a good 30-minute sunbath. That’s why it didn’t take long for me to come up with the perfect name for the following ancient Chinese precepts for pregnant women:

A pregnant woman carries with her the finest piece of jade (the baby). She should enjoy all things, look at fine pictures, and be attended by handsome servants. (I especially like that last bit. My husband got a kick out of that, too.) From Admonitions to Ladies

She should eat no odd-tasting food, see no ugly scenes, and listen to no licentious sounds. From Ladies of Virtue

And in the words of my Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor: Do not watch or listen to anything violent.

I first named this concept of avoiding negativity and violence: a Violence Fast. But though the concept was beautiful, that term itself was unpleasing and negative. And then it hit–the opposite of engaging in ugliness, absorbing violence and participating in hate was soaking in peace, love and happy vibes–like a sunbath…a Love Bath!

Nothing Exceeds Like Excess

It is incredible how the mind and body can acclimate to unpleasant or harmful things: the constant sound of sirens; foul odors emitted from factories; the feel of synthetic clothing; excessive use of alcohol, caffeine, sugar and salt; and violence.

But acclimated or desensitized doesn’t mean that it’s not affecting us in major and long-lasting ways.

Despite the evidence, I ran my own convincing test: I asked 25 people if they’d spent just two little hours of their life watching a movie called…

Jaws

Every person asked had seen the movie and all of their answers were disturbing.

One 26-year old woman who grew up in the Bay Area had seen it when she was 10. Immediately after seeing it, she was “terrified” of any body of water, including the bathtub. Ten years later on swim team in college, she “felt like prey in the water” and had to “focus not to have a panic attack” when swimming in the deep end of the pool.

One 75-year old man who grew up on the water in Florida and spent his adult life in Cape Cod saw it when he was around 40. He said the movie “scared the heck out of him” and to this day his love for the water remains replaced with fear.

Everyone who saw the movie as a child said it instilled a fear of water so great that it affected him or her in the bathtub.

Everyone still has an increased fear of natural bodies of water.

That is an older and extraordinary example. Let’s look at a recent Pixar / Disney blockbuster. Did you take a child to see…

Toy Story 3

The opening scene is a “good guy” driving his spurred boot into the face of one of the “bad guys” who’s bombed a train full of orphans, blasting them off the tracks to their death in the canyon below.

A sympathetic theater manager gave me a refund when we walked out after five minutes, saying, “Yeah, the movie is pretty hard-core.”

Happy Entertainment?

Constantly absorbing images of violence and peril have spiritual, mental, and physical implications and leave an indelible mark on our behavior for a lifetime. How else could otherwise intelligent, water-loving adults still hear a grim theme song and have elevated heart rates just looking at a lake thirty years after seeing a 2-hour movie set in an ocean?

In adults, these images create a lifetime pattern of fear, phobia, and anxiety. Children, especially those under eight, are particularly vulnerable to even “pretend” peril, as they are yet unable to clearly decipher between pretend and real experiences. Children in utero are strongly affected by stress chemicals created by mother’s reactions, and it affects the development of the baby’s personality.

Marcy Nexus, Ph.D. writes in her article Lifelong Lessons From the Womb:

There are countless fascinating case histories in the literature to support the connection between experiences in utero and certain compulsions, repetitive behaviors, fears and fascinations in later life.

If the limited time we have for R&R (pregnant or not) is spent creating stress responses in the body, when does the body relax and heal? It is in time of repose that our bodies and minds regenerate, and that is impossible to achieve when constantly sending the body’s systems into shock.

How can we anticipate a kind and benevolent world when even children in utero are inundated with increasingly violent impressions, all in the name of “fun”?

My Path to the Love Bath

When planning to conceive and embarking on the Violence Fast, or Love Bath, I had already stopped watching TV about 20 years prior. I thought I’d eliminated most of the violent images to which so many people subject themselves. But when I began to consciously consider any film, book, or conversation, I recognized that many things I considered “artistic”, “moving” or “important” may have required some talent to create, but were simply playing on emotions of fear and anxiety.

As I replaced those negative sources and images with art, books, and conversation of a peaceful and loving nature, I realized that I, too, had been desensitized to the inundation of negativity. However, it was delightful to discover how consciously choosing to walk life’s sunny side of the road quickly brings a sense of peace and joy.

The Naysayers

Many people are enchanted with the concept of a Love Bath, but I also heard comments such as: “Violence is a part of life. You can’t live sticking your head in the sand.”

Indeed, life itself could be considered violent. We’re all born to die, and with every meal we take the life of a plant or animal. Further, there are real dangers of which we need to be aware to protect ourselves. Those are life’s realities and we can call them violent or find peace in the cycle of life.

However, murder, gruesome battles, and macabre scenes are not a part of most people’s natural daily experience or the cycle of life. When people do experience them it’s called “trauma”, which is treated—often with extreme measures—to attempt to bring the person back to a state of balance.

Inundating ourselves with pretend trauma–or images of real trauma experienced by others–in the name of entertainment, relaxation, or being “informed” is something all together different and it has a price: our health and peace of mind, individually and as a society.

Soak In What You Want to Soak In

Those ancient Chinese doctors were on to something, and it’s as relevant today as it was then. If you’re looking for greater happiness and health, try a Love Bath. Soak in images of peace, happiness, fun and love. It’s not just pregnant women who carry within their bodies “the finest piece of jade”. We all do—our very selves.

And even better, unlike with a sunbath, we don’t have to limit ourselves. We can soak in a Love Bath 24/7.

Allie Chee is a certified Traditional Chinese Medicine Nutritionist

http://texanesemama.blogspot.com/

NAET: A Holistic Approach to Allergies

Have you ever experienced a bad feeling that just won’t go away? It could be caused by an undiagnosed and untreated allergy.

Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique (NAET) is a holistic method to approaching allergy treatment. NAET uses muscle response to detect where the allergen is located and how it is disrupting the body. Created by Dr. Nambudripad, NAET is quickly becoming a popular form of alternative medicine because of the extremely effective method of restoring balance and wellness in an individual. This technique is non- invasive, drug free, and has no known side effects, so there is little harm that could occur.

The secret to NAET is the unique combination of acupuncture, applied kinesiology, nutrition, and traditional allergy therapy. Applied kinesiology can be defined as “the study of muscles and the movement of the human body for use in diagnosis and treatment, based on viewing the body as interacting unit of different parts that affect each other and combining methods from chiropracty and traditional Chinese medicine.” When there is an allergen in one specific part of the body, it blocks proper energy and electrical flow throughout the whole body. The body works as one unit, and NAET treats it as so. Instead of just trying to treat the symptoms of allergies, NAET searches for the root cause of the problem then solves it. Acupuncture and accupressure is used to

Allergies plague millions of people in the United States- hay fever and food or chemical allergies affect roughly 25 percent of the population. Once you get rid of the underlying problems of allergies, then the asthma, eczema, lupus, and other diseases will get better. The duration of the treatment program is dependent upon the number of specific allergies and the overall intensity of the allergic condition. When the allergies have disappeared, happiness can finally be regained.

Interested in meeting with a practitioner? Visit http://www.naet.com/subscribers/drnamerica.html to find the nearest professional to you.

Swimming in the Bliss of Natural Birth

I’d always imagined a natural birth. In our 20s my cousin, Christina, and I would joke and laugh about squatting in the shade of a tree to have our babies—and we were just joking…but not completely.

Through my 30s I watched not one or two, but almost all my friends enthusiastically enter the hospital in labor, having claimed for nine months that they would have a natural birth, and saw them come out 2-10 days later having been induced, forced to labor on their back, drugged, cut, observed by countless strangers, having had their babies taken from them immediately after birth, having nursing problems, and having been given food I would call “toxic”.

If you’d asked them ahead of time if that would have been their story, none of them would have said yes. And these were fit, health conscious women. I wondered what was going on after they entered those doors of the L&D that all of them were checking out with dramatically changed birth stories.

That question led me to do a lot of research and I discovered many things I’d never known.

Growing up in the States, we are hardly surrounded by the images of natural motherhood such as: home birth, breast-only feeding until weening on homemade solids, mothers cared for and nurtured for a traditional 40 days postpartum. And we definitely don’t see many examples of women over 35 choosing home birth. If we desire to have an experience out of what is now the norm (as outlined above), we have to figure it out for ourselves. And so I did.

I read dozens of books, studied birthing and postpartum care methods from around the world, watched every DVD produced on home birth, went through several doctors and midwives until I found my match, and I came to the conclusion that so many other home birth mothers do:

Birth is completely natural. My body and my baby know what to do. We will do our best to prepare, to have strength, and then we will let nature do her thing!

Ah, Mother Nature. Just because she knows what to do and will take charge doesn’t mean that it won’t be incredibly difficult. My throat (among other things) was so sore from grunting and growling in labor that I could barely speak the next day. However, in the big picture, that was over in the blink of an eye, and the reward for my baby and me will last for a lifetime.

If it had just been for me, perhaps I would have been tempted to use painkillers despite knowing the multiple benefits of natural birth for the mother. But I also wanted my baby to experience her birth and first few days out of the womb with bright eyes and a clear mind.

I’d watched the movie Orgasmic Birth a dozen times for fun and inspiration, and though I did actually believe that it could happen that way, no, crowning did not feel like an orgasm. But I was prepared ahead of time for the fact that it must be incredibly painful–otherwise how could all of my strong friends have chosen drugs and surgery when they were so opposed originally?

There was only one way to make my dream of a blissful, sacred birth happen…and that was to give myself no choice. If I stayed at home, when push came to shove (!), I would have no way to do it but go through it.

Just like swimming in the surf.

All lovers of the ocean know that to reach the open water, you need the courage to leave the shore and swim through the breakwater. And in using this metaphor, we should not let our minds drift to the warm ankle-slapping waves of the Caribbean. We’re talking about Mavericks and Waimea Bay here! When the waves between the shore and the open water are huge, you must dive right into them and let them roll over you. It can be terrifying, but with solid resolve, you reap the reward of an experience few people have.

My original reason for pursuing home birth was just to be able to preserve my goal for a natural, drug-free birth. As I studied more and more, I found that a home birth in every way offered the opportunity for a deeply sacred experience, which it was.

When I first spoke to my midwife, I asked if she thought I were “high-risk” for home birth. She looked surprised.

“High-risk? Why? Are you sick? Do you have a problem?”

“No,” I answered. “But I had two first-trimester miscarriages.”

“So?” she replied. “That is a terribly painful experience, but there are millions of miscarriages before babies are born. If it were three or four, we’d have to do further consideration, but two doesn’t necessarily make you high-risk.”

“And I have fibroids, but my OB-GYN said they were small and not positioned in a way that would cause a problem.”

“OK, that’s good. What else?”

“Well, I’m 42 years old.”

“Women have always had babies in their 40s. Nothing new there. Are you fit?”, she asked.

“Yes.”

“Do you eat well?”

“Yes.”

“Is this what you want?”

“Yes.”

“Then of course you can have a home birth,” was her conclusion.

I asked her to explain the differences in experience and risk for a home birth vs. a birthing center.

She said that the only difference was that (given my home was equal distance from an excellent hospital as the birth center) at the birth center, I would not be alone with my husband in my own peaceful environment, and four hours after delivery I would have to pack up, walk to the car with my baby and drive home. If at home, four hours after delivery she and her team would have tucked my husband, baby, and me warmly in our bed, would have fed us, cleaned up, and would leave quietly.

My husband and I looked at each other, smiled, and both shouted, “Home birth!”

And so it happened. Eight hours after we realized I was in labor, my baby was born in a tub in our family room. The lights were dim; the room was warm; my husband had a fire going in our wood burning oven; he put on a traditional Japanese flute CD I love; and he served as my “squat chair” in the tub. Surrounded by our midwife and three doulas who stood back until they knew they were needed, my husband and I joked, kissed, and played together right until the intense pushing started. One hour later my baby was born, and I was lying on my yoga mat, pushing out the placenta while my baby crawled her way from my abdomen to my breast and started nursing.

And just as they’d said, four hours later we were tucked in bed, the midwives had cleaned the house, and the three of us fell asleep in an ocean of bliss.

This is not intended to encourage women who want a hospital birth to change their minds. Women need to give birth where they feel the most comfortable and safe. This is intended to be a story that a woman committed to her home birth decision can enjoy, as I enjoyed so many home birth stories before my baby arrived.

Allie Chee is a certified Traditional Chinese Medicine Nutritionist

http://texanesemama.blogspot.com/

Feet in Both Worlds

Offering trance sessions extensively since 1986, “the channel formerly known as Seán Michael”, hails from a heritage of psychics, travels through the States and Internationally, offering Visionary Guidance. CeAnn inspires Loving Allowance, Self Motivation, Intuitive Growth and the awakening of unlimited human potential. CeAnn channels a non-physical being known as Malachite.

Upon The DreamTime

thoughts beyond form reaching toward infinity
endless aches explore the marrow of my being
soon soon to lay it to rest?
and once again the true succession begins
beyond beyond time beyond mind
the walk amongst those
whom do not sleep drink or speak the touch
To The Dream Time
will you be there
eyes to the eyes that speak soundless truths
(excerpt from “Dancing from the Heart to the Mind – Destiny”)

Inevitably, this reality is as illusionary as one is willing to participate… transparent, as one is willing to see. Everyday, the illusion calls to us, tames the inner vision to view what’s in front of us and believe the inoculated thoughts, which permeates this stew.

What are you feeling now…?
I want to share some meandering thought regarding Feet in Both Worlds; saying feet rather than foot as our realities, multi-dimensional and 3D, are merging and morphing together more than ever. Each of us with our own entrainment, memory baggage, life experiences and indoctrinations are moving toward an ever-widening chasm – perpetuated by fear, separation and confusion – regarding our 3D reality, when in actuality all that’s happening about us is nothing new, as generations before us have had these same social and monetary collapses and contractions. What’s making it so tantamount for us? Maybe the fact ‘It’ is happening simultaneously for all to experience via technology and world communication AND the ‘veils’ are falling faster allowing us to feel each other’s experiences more.

Paralyzed yet? Why won’t you simply let go? Surrender, I Am with You…
There’s so much written, observed, spoken, heard, and watched; expressed by us and absorbed by us in every moment as quantum physics, body mechanics, kinesiology, and electromagnetism demonstrate. Though, are we creating the space — the breath — to allow this human dimension to drain off, to clear, so the parallel realities can be addressed and experienced? What if you could, while seated in this moment as you read this, simultaneously check in on your children, your stocks, have a conversation with your sister (not physically with you nor on the phone), acknowledge your deceased father’s presence, send a hug to your lover, dim the lights (without your iPhone) all without leaving the written word?

Beyond imagination, you remember … as a child, you did it all the time. I was with you… I have always been with you…
Obviously, if you are reading this article you subscribe beyond some beliefs or we wouldn’t be communing around this subject. The human experience appears to be breaking down, while the planet we call home shakes, rattles and rolls as we move ever closer to 2012. And, you’ve been on your awakened path ‘seeing’ and being present now for years, and if it seems stickier now more than ever, complicated and dense having feet in both worlds… IT IS OK; this is what is happening. Our civilization hasn’t circumscribed this moment before, though the entity we are has. We know it in our souls! That’s why waking up every day brings the ego a depth of: what’s next and a defense toward what catalyzes the mind; all the while, You are right on schedule. It’s been said we are Spirit having a Physical Experience rather than Humans seeking a Spiritual Experience… what if in truth it is: We are Consciousness having a Community Experience looking and feeling singular, simultaneously multi-dimensional. The question posed would be: What if you are ALL-WAYS in ‘both’ worlds, 3D and Multi-dimensional, demonstrated everyday by your conscious connections, intuitive remarks, psychic ‘coincidences’ and are simply excited to be distracted by this tangible sensorial reality surrounding you?

Remember as an infant, unbridled by concerns, doubts and fears, you were willing to absorb everything… Yes, Everything… and you still are
Please take a slow inward breath, and a slow exhale. May this find you feeling better in this moment, recognizing you are connected – rather than finding your path, Being the Path – secure in “I Am Always Connected”. Malachite (the label of a channeled frequency which shares through) often reminds, “Life is for your Entertainment Or you are Guided.” Maybe this reality is beyond something needing to be conquered, suppressed, or protected… just simply accepted. Sound too happy… too unattainable? Consider how you play in the multi-dimensional and what you think in this reality contributes to the community mind. Ask yourself some questions as you feel the polarized reaction beginning to well up: Where am I projecting from? If we are all connected, then there’s only the One feeling as you and me, and the separate you and me doesn’t really exist, correct? I have already acknowledged this moment or I wouldn’t be here, so now I can relax and watch the play of consciousness pour through both you and me ‘being alert, alive, and attentive’.

Always and Everywhere I Am with you… Beyond mind Beyond body… the merge into a forever experience
The chasm we race toward, way beyond any of our human 3D attachments, is to narrow our perceptions of what we think this place is and isn’t. Recently, Malachite was asked about what it thought of parallel realities and living with a foot in both worlds; what follows next is what was said:
“Ah ah… living in both worlds. Most people consider this reality work and some consider this something they have to do. Sometimes the spiritual life, the unseen life, is the hard work because you have to create the space for it. The most difficult thing is not living in two worlds… it is accepting the fact they are simultaneously always with you…To live in both worlds is to accept both worlds, and truthfully the only difference between both worlds is the body. Your conscious and unconscious minds exist simultaneously, so how do you know (this reality) exists? Because of Shape and Form. The real question is: how do you live in both worlds? You have to accept your participation. There is such beliefs system gathered around participation… that you have to do something differently, you have to meditate, you have to connect this way, you have to be in this state of mind where it is bliss, where it is love… another illusion painted that separates both worlds. What separates both worlds? Belief.
So, what is going to happen if you realize that this physical reality is just here because of the physical body; contemplate it. Where would you be if this physical reality wasn’t here, what would you be! The most difficult aspect of living physically is just that: living physically… the perpetuation of motion. What is the only thing that’s fluid and balanced so you would be able to stand confident as a participant in parallel realities? Energy. So when I say minds think and bodies feel, a more provocative question might be what’s thinking, what’s feeling. Human beings know they exist because they are having the same reality each time they come into awareness. I will say that again: human beings know who they are or experience themselves as they are because they keep coming into the same reality, the same personality: they got the same clothes, the same people around them, so they become identified by these markers. The true question is not who are you, but what are you… Energy. You are energy that encompasses and is part of the powering link to the physical form. You are an energy that fills space: however, whatever, you want to be. The easiest way to be in both worlds is to acknowledge both worlds. To acknowledge there is no difference between both worlds except the body. You are always in both worlds. It is not something you start or stop; it is not something you can control. It is something you define, it is something you limit and it is something you have beliefs about.
Here’s a simple exercise for bringing all your parallel realities here and now: It starts verbally like this: I AM SITTING IN THE SEAT; I AM NOTICING THE FORM BREATH. Then take a couple of deep inhales and exhales. I CALL ALL ASPECTS OF WHAT I AM HERE AND NOW. And as you call it all here, the next part is physical: using your palms… Left Palm covers the heart center and right palm covers the solar plexus, drop the shoulders and sit back, relax and just sit with that for a while. Eyes open or close, it does not matter. What matters is that you are engaging with the physical body. Simply allowing yourself to feel how truly large you are; how your consciousness encompasses so much and the body is the way station, the playground for here and now. When you are done just move your hands from your body and notice how you feel. It is that subtle; it is that simple. Yes…”
Sometimes reading channeled passages aloud helps integrate the information. Thanks for stopping by and letting our realities dance together as one.
Peace on your Path, Ce Ann (c)2011 Visionary Guidance

And
here is sound…?
shrill and peaceful, thunderous and deserted
making its way through the veins of my discovery
where do i go from here?
sounding the peace, responding to the thunder
i am capsized…?
breathing in the shallow waters gasping for depth
am i waiting?
expressionless, i am watching me, watching the eye,
watching madness circumcise the head of intelligence,
while an ego laughs bittersweet, bittersweet… too much to savor,
i spit up undigested bits of god only to swallow more… more
and breathe in the spinning delight of unmeasured source resourcing itself as me?malachite tells me a story
the winds are silent only to howl in the busyness of a mind
thoughtlessly i proceed deafened only by the nonchalance of awareness
(excerpt from “Dancing from the Heart to the Mind – Destiny”)

CeAnn will be speaking at the Wellness Expo on Saturday, October 15th at 2pm on “Our Hidden Talent”. He will also be offering a special workshop at the Wellness Expo where he will be channeling Malachite on Sunday, October 16th from 5pm-7pm. Call 972-221-8080 for more information and to register for this workshop or visit: www.visionaryguidance.com or www.messagesofjoy.com

Movie Review: Another Earth

The possibility of another planet that can sustain life is a frightening thought for many people. Even worse is the idea of a duplicate self on that planet. Would you want to have a conversation with your duplicate or runaway or blindly pretend they do not exist?

Part sci-fi and part indie drama, Another Earth explores many bleak themes. In particular, the psychology behind the two protagonists stands out. Both of the characters share an unbearable remorse, which causes them to withdraw from society. They morph into introverted misfits, although they were originally happy people before the discovery of Earth 2. The staunchly realistic acting of Brit Marling and William Mapother carry the plot throughout the movie. By only using a handheld camera, the director creates an unmistakbly tense mood throughout the movie. Another Earth specifically appeals to an audience interested in cognitive science, physics, and the drama of human existence. Slight twists in the plot keep the audience from becoming bored by the darker scenes. The juxtaposition of a melancholy past to the possibility of a reinvented future is what makes Another Earth poetic.

US: Transforming Ourselves and the Relationships that Matter Most by Lisa Oz

Lisa Oz’s new book is a must read for any self-help junkie. In the book US: Transforming Ourselves and the Relationships that Matter Most, Lisa Oz discusses the connection between healthy minds and healthy relationships. Unlike many self-help books, which force an opinion on the reader, Oz unbiasedly guides the reader to understanding relationships. Right away, in the introduction, Oz makes a personal connection with the reader. She illustrates the significant effect variables such as body-image and self-perception have on a relationship. By understanding ourselves better, Oz states that we can experience better emotional and spiritual lives. This thought-provoking book is also easy to read because Oz weaves her own personal anecdotes throughout the book.

One of the most memorable sage piece of advice in US is “creative energy flows in the direction of focus, so you’ll get much better results and generate a positive shift in the relationship if you concentrate on making constructive change in your own life instead of dwelling on negative traits of your partner.”

Writing more as an enlightened friend than a haughty intellectual, Oz is able to sympathize with many common problems. Like most Americans, she has had to deal with marital strife, sudden change and societal pressures. Oz provides us with a new outlook on how we function as individuals. In sum, US is about how to see life in a new light and experience relationships thoughtfully. Her short bits of humor add a lighthearted feeling to the serious subject matter. Buy US on Amazon Kindle.