Author: Danielle Rose

by Danielle Rose Before I share my story of finding Santa Claus, I’ll start by saying that Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. I’m a sucker for an old-fashioned, Bing-Crosby-crooning, It’s a Wonderful Life-viewing, Christmas-Eve-snowing, chestnuts-roasting-on-an-open-fire type of Christmas. But I’ll also say that the holidays have always been hard. Holidays are hard for a lot of us, and I feel for those of you who identify in this way. I find it difficult—as many do—to not get triggered this time of year. Combining an entire family’s worth of trigger/traumas into one room… one table… during one of the most reactive times of the year can become nothing short of explosive. One person triggers another, whose reaction triggers the first, who triggers someone else...

This month, Mind Key will be discussing the multifarious cannabis uses currently in practice, while trying to understand the many facets of use, misuse and abuse, laws, and the history of this drug.

Former gateway drug turns medicinal: An introduction to cannabis use

July 2, 2018

By Danielle Rose Once considered the “gateway drug,” cannabis has now taken on a new definition of health and wellness, and Mind Key is excited to discuss the multifarious cannabis uses currently in practice. We will delve into many questions regarding its uses and history. For example, is cannabis’ evolving definition accurate? If so, what has become of the multitude of claims that marijuana is dangerous? What are the benefits of cannabis? The downfalls? Is it really any better than other medicinal options out there? To clarify, cannabis is the Latin or scientific name for the plant commonly known as marijuana. Marijuana generally refers to the flowers or buds—the part of the plant that contains the psychoactive component, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). Hemp is the fibrous part...

alternative healing Lifestyle mental health personal development

getting back to the fearlessly bared summer body

What’s in your bikini?

June 26, 2018

do what you love Lifestyle mental health mindfulness personal development relationship with self

By Danielle Rose Originally published in the Suburban Trends by North Jersey Media Group, August 2013, but refurbished in light of the ongoing battle all women have with self-image, self-confidence and the yearly summer body bikini battle with the beach. Buried in my bottom dresser drawer is a brand new bikini. I bought it at the beginning of the season—a sort of motivation to get into shape. Numbers on the scale notwithstanding, I’ve definitely slimmed down. I’ve been trying to eat healthier, stress less (if that’s possible), and work out more often. Still, that bikini sits where it lay untouched. Wearing a bikini is a daring personal decision—one that was much easier when I was nine or ten…. Back when self-esteem was a word I scarcely understood; when lack...

Learn how to have a writing career, and in the process, gain that flexibility and freedom you’ve always wanted!

Turn your passion into a career

April 25, 2018

Career, Creativity

By Danielle Rose Once upon a time, if you wanted to make a career change, such as taking up teaching or accounting, your options were limited. Getting another degree was your only recourse—something that cost significant time and money. How often have you said, “I wish that were my job,” or “I’d love to make money doing that”? What held you back? Experience? Reputation (or lack thereof)? No time or money to undergo training? What if you could make a career or thriving side-business out of things you already know you love? What if you could become an expert in your chosen field? And, what if you could do all this without sacrificing too much time or extra cash? The answer is incorporating a professional writing...

creative writing do what you love freelance personal development tips & tricks

Parenting without ego: Living and teaching our children safety and authenticity

March 27, 2018

family & kids Home Lifestyle mental health mindfulness personal development relationship with self spirituality stress tips & tricks transitions

By Danielle Rose If our ego is a guidance structure that we created for ourselves as children, then the best way to ensure our children create their own healthy guidance system is through conscious parenting. That means parenting without ego. That means seeing our ego for what it is, and not coloring everything through that lens. It involves facing the fears of parenting, of your own youth, of your future and the future of your children. It involves taking steps to become whole and forgetting what others have to say about the matter. Parenting without ego also involves incorporating all of our inner voices into one coherent direction. Sound overwhelming? Well, so is parenthood. The good news is that, as always, we’ve got the keys to...

October’s issue: Patterns and cycles–from sleep to food, to self-sabotage and more

October 1, 2017

Energy, Relationship

By Danielle Rose There are patterns and cycles in every life--Whether patterns a person can commit to, or cycles we feel the need to break away from. What do you think of when you think of the word patterns? Is the connotation different from those around the word cycle? Are patterns and cycles good, bad or neutral? How do we fall into patterns, and how can cycles offer us an opportunity to begin again each time? Do patterns and cycles help us grow, or hinder us? Perhaps a little of both? This issue our writers did their best to study the depth and breadth of patterns and cycles. Cycles are simply a part of life. There are cycles involved in yoga, spiritual rebirth, or movement in the...

relationship with self renewal transitions

Faerie card readings with Danielle Rose: A review

September 13, 2017

do what you love events Lifestyle mindfulness personal development relationship with self spirituality

By Danielle Rose Krista experienced a faerie card reading with Danielle Rose back in August 2014. Since then, she has received a number of readings from Danielle. In this interview, Krista discusses her experience with Danielle and how her life has changed since then. All this as a result of card readings for self discovery. The First Time Where did you first learn about Danielle's readings? I was first introduced to Danielle Rose's readings through the Trinity Summerfest psychic fair in Sussex County, NJ. I saw a faerie card reader [Danielle], and being a long time lover of fae, I had to get a reading! What made you want to try it? Simply put: I love faeries and I love card readings. I was even more excited to find out the...

Manifesting your career with Mind Key

July 24, 2017

Career

Are you seeking to boost your exposure as a professional? Writing is one of the most powerful ways to get the word out about what you do. It will help people find you online, and brand yourself locally and globally. Whether your chosen path is writing, or something completely different, a professional writing course will benefit you. It's a great way to take the knowledge and interests you already have and manifest them into regular income—while at the same time offering your career and your brand serious credibility. Everyone from fiction writers to health care practitioners can benefit from publication. In fact, whether or not you're a writer, we’ve found that publication is the fast-track to manifesting the career of your dreams. Unfortunately, writing about what you know and throwing...

career manifestation

Understanding Manifestation: Our July Issue’s Overview

July 3, 2017

By Danielle Rose Manifestation is the law of attraction. Merriam-Webster defines “manifestation” as a: the act, process, or an instance of manifesting. b(1) : something that manifests or is manifest. b(2): a perceptible, outward, or visible expression (ie: external manifestations of gender). If you believe in the palpability of energy, then you understand if we can visualize something, we can bring it into our lives. There's more to the phrase "what you see is what you get" than meets the eye. When we "see" something in our mind's eye, that's what we move toward energetically. And when the energy-self moves, the physical body follows. How to manifest If we seek to bring something to us -- be it love, money, career ...

environment mental health relationship with self spirituality

currency no longer equates to money, but finding ways to do what you love

Currency and exchange: It’s not just about money anymore

April 3, 2017

Currency

by Danielle Rose In light of everyone’s favorite time of year—tax return season—we decided to make our April issue all about currency. We chose the term “currency” rather than "money" because the world is shifting. What used to be about cash flow is now about exchange… and exchanges don’t always happen with cash—or credit—for that matter. Barter has come back in a big way—often in ways we don't immediately recognize. Have you ever babysat someone else’s children, only to have them do the same for you in return? Or have you helped your neighbor shovel after a storm, to find a casserole on your front steps a few days later? Sometimes, we barter with the utmost understanding that bartering is exactly what we're doing. Mind Key practices...

barter exchange money pursue your passion

Alternative Addiction Treatment for Alcoholism: Natural and Holistic Options

March 17, 2017

Energy, Health, Lifestyle, Relationship

By Danielle Rose Alcoholism and addiction is often considered a disease. From this angle, as with all diseases, there is more than one way to approach a plan of healing. If recovery feels too clinical, consider working with your recovery team and adding alternative addiction treatment in order to connect and heal through the process of self-renewal. I’ve pulled from my research and personal experience working with those recovering from addiction. In conjunction with expert clinical advice from Dr. Lisa Avila, we've create a shortlist of some all-natural and alternative addiction treatment methods to support a recovery program. This list is by no means all-inclusive. Additionally, these methods should not be attempted without a broader action plan and support group in place. Alternative addiction treatment through dietary...

addiction alternative healing Lifestyle relationship with self

10 resources for addiction recovery

March 15, 2017

A Mind Key follower shares ten well-known addiction resources he has worked with, and offers his personal perspective. As someone still struggling with addiction, we have chosen not to share his name. Perhaps one or more of them could be a resource for you, or someone you love. #1 Alcoholics Anonymous One resource I found many times inspiring, and just the same many times boring, was a type of AA meeting [caption id="attachment_5662" align="alignright" width="300"] There are many different kinds of AA meetings. Try a few to determine which one is the best fit for you.[/caption] called the Commitments. They’re comprised of two or three people who are typically long term AA members. They have worked all 12 steps and are many years invested into sobriety and AA itself....

addiction relationship with self

understanding addiction goes a long way in recovery

Understanding addiction: More than just a disease

March 14, 2017

by Danielle Rose Understanding addiction goes a long way in discovering and mitigating the source of the disease. There a several different types of addiction, and many related causes. Renewal is, in part, uncovering the root cause of our present situation, and using that understanding to create new behaviors and patterns. Impulsiveness as a means of understanding addiction A number of studies indicate a strong connection between impulsiveness and addictive behavior, particularly in substance addiction. A 2017 study published in the journal, Addiction, confirms that delayed reward discounting—a clinical measure of impulsive behavior—was highly associated with not only the quantity and frequency of addiction, but the severity of the addiction, regardless of the behavior in question. For example, a 2009 study published in the journal of Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior...

addiction relationship with self

getting outdoors means beholding more beauty

Getting outdoors: Tips to get motivated and get out

March 3, 2017

Energy, Health

The Mind Key Community offers their tips for getting outdoors Yesterday’s post talked about ways that being outdoors can benefit your psyche and your body. Even though the weather is improving as we approach spring, shaking the cobwebs of winter isn’t always easy—especially when temps still dip below zero now and again. However, getting outdoors is important in more ways than one. New York Times best selling author, Dr. Joseph Mercola, said that getting outside can boost your creativity and focus, improve your mood and self-esteem, and increase your vitamin D levels. It can also improve your workouts and overall healing potential. Lack of Vitamin D from lack of sunlight can be a very real and very intrusive cause of depression. Other than the occasional day where it...

alternative healing environment renewal

Getting outdoors: Your March Checklist

March 2, 2017

by Allelia Cesa, a Fall 2016 graduate of William Paterson University, NJ If embraced, March can be a time of a great renewal of one’s mind, spirit and soul. In nature, everything that had died or turned off in the winter starts to come back. Babies are born, flowers reappear, and everything returns to life. You, too, can join the flowers and come back to life by getting outdoors. The Mind Key Community offers their perspective on being outside, and why they find solace in the great outdoors. The outdoors as a source of creative and spiritual renewal [caption id="attachment_5570" align="alignleft" width="250"] Gardening allows Amy to see other possibilities in her designs[/caption] Despite being an artist inspired by nature, Amy Cousin of Amy Cousin Jewelry said renewal is an important...

Health outdoors renewal

March’s issue: Renewal, a recipe for achievement and growth

March 1, 2017

Career, Creativity, Energy, Health, Lifestyle

Renewal marks a change in our lives. It means to start anew, freshen up lifestyles, ideals, ways of thinking and even our relationships. Sometimes we can become stuck in broken connections or repeating patterns. Renewal becomes an opportunity to shed the skin of old and to become the person you were meant to be. There’s no better time to do this than when the earth is doing the same. In spring, we revel in the scent of fresh air, the sound of birds singing and the wonder of nature being reborn. After the hibernation of winter, spring is (excuse the pun) a breath of fresh air. It’s easy to allow the new energy to envelop us and take us with it. And why shouldn't we allow it? We...

addiction growth renewal

Wrapping up Relationships: February’s issue in review

February 28, 2017

Relationship

We have a relationship with everyone we meet—whether we like it or not. Navigating relationships is at the crux of humanity. When we are on point in our relationships, we feel great! When our relationships are suffering—whether that is our relationship with ourselves, a troublesome family member, or a romantic interest—everything else suffers. Building healthy and productive relationships helps us in every aspect of our lives. That’s why, this month, we chose to tackle the concept of relationships from a variety of angles—discussing everything from our relationship with ourselves, to sex and intimacy, and even our relationship with the paranormal. Here’s a peek into what we found. Sometimes a mentor is all you need to grab your dreams. Mind Key strives to be that boost for young...

relationship with self relationships sex sex and intimacy

When relationships hold you back–Letting go of the limiting beliefs, not the connection

February 10, 2017

Toxic relationships take energy away from our personal path of growth. Ending a relationship that no longer serves us, however, can be a difficult journey. Someone once said to me, “Some people are easy to love, as long as they are in Australia.” Some people I can only love as long as they live on Mars. The point is that sometimes toxic relationships make it impossible to do that which we love. When that happens, we have two choices: try to change the relationship, or change the way we experience it. Wendy Watson-Hallowell, Mind Key’s own Belief Coach, shares how we can self-fulfill that which our relationships do not provide, and thereby forge a richer relationship with ourselves, and with those we love most. Letting go of toxic...

family & kids letting go Love and sex relationship with self

build the career of your dreams with Mind Key

Do you have what it takes to build the career of your dreams?

February 4, 2017

Career

Since this month’s issue is all about relationships, we thought now was the perfect time to introduce Mind Key’s relationship with the future. About a year ago, I cultivated a relationship with Martha Witt of William Paterson University. Impressed with the Mind Key Project, Professor Witt asked that I speak with her capstone writing class about building a career in writing. What ensued was an assignment worthy of publication. That’s why, over the next few months, you’ll be seeing student pieces published in The Daily Key. Each student was asked to pitch their story in detail. Upon approval of these pitches, they underwent several drafts. They submitted their final articles at the end of last semester. I have been working with the students, helping them find sources...

career marketing relationships writing

Self-discovery as a pathway to your dreams: the story behind “Gutless and Grateful”

February 2, 2017

February's issue is relationships. There is no better way to start than to share the story of how one amazing woman who lost everything to achieve true self-discovery. In doing so, she caught her dream in a way that could have never happened otherwise. By Amy Oestreicher I grew up doing musical theatre. Let me rephrase that. I grew up thinking my life was a musical. Call it the “theatre bug,” call me a “drama queen” or a great big ham--I lived for the world of the stage. Singing and acting were ways I could connect with the world around me. When I took a deep, grounded breath from my gut, I sang what my heart longed to express. I found comfort in the words of my favorite composers. Through theatre, I...

relationship relationship with self

February’s Issue–Relationships: from business to love, and everything in between

February 1, 2017

Social interaction is a basic and essential human connection. Building healthy and productive relationships helps us in every aspect of our lives. What can we do when we can't seem to connect with others on the levels we desire? How do negative connections affect our physical, mental, and emotional well-being? Enter our theme for February -- Relationships. [caption id="attachment_5380" align="alignleft" width="300"] Photo Courtesy of Charla Dury[/caption] Relationships come in all shapes and sizes...

networking relationships

Connect the dots–make the most of time

January 31, 2017

Career

We can’t believe how fast this month has flown by. And that’s just what January’s theme was all about--shifting our perceptions of time to better serve us. No matter what your perception, our society depends on a linear model for almost everything. Can that line be changed? Some articles this month asked readers to challenge their definition of chronology. Others offered guidance on how to make the most of the traditional linear view. Our goal was to help you organize, feel more centered, and incorporate more productivity into your lifestyle. Week One--center yourself In Plan to achieve your dreams, creative journaling becomes a means to be more focused and organized in 2017. Improve productivity and creativity, organize thoughts, and achieve your goals with The helpfulness of lists. Also,...

Health meditation organization time writing

Amy Oestricher's one-woman-show "Gutless and Grateful"

Time is running out to see a great show!

January 30, 2017

Time is running out to see Amy Oestreicher’s one-woman-show “Gutless & Grateful,” a moving story of triumph over one of life’s most incredible detours. As writer, director and starring actress, Amy is a creative visionary who wears many hats. She is a speaker, survivor, columnist, and author of "My Beautiful Detour," available December, 2017. She was also featured on the Today Show with Kathie Lee Gifford, and '16 TEDx Talk. (Be sure to check out her next TEDx on Feb. 17th). About the show [caption id="attachment_5373" align="alignleft" width="258"] Amy Oestreicher[/caption] “Gutless & Grateful” is an inspirational musical comedy which documents Amy’s experiences of over 25 surgeries, and six years without food. Amy knew she needed to stop waiting for life to catch up to her, so she decided to...

Not Waiting for Life: Embracing your detour

January 24, 2017

If anyone can be considered an ‘expert’ at making lemonade, it’s Mind Key’s extraordinary affiliate, Amy Oestreicher. She took the incredibly sour lemons life gave her at the age of 18, and turned them into a sweet adventure that has not only allowed her to achieve her dreams, but to become a stronger woman than she ever imagined. As someone who hated the idea of waiting, she learned that embracing each moment meant never having to wait again. Today, Amy teaches others to embrace “detourism” as a PTSD peer-to-peer specialist, artist, author, writer, speaker, award-winning actress and playwright. Here, she shares the tale of her personal detour, and how it changed her life. ******************* Amy's Story I’m the youngest kid in my family, and with two doting parents and...

Don’t be a zombie–Improve email productivity

January 20, 2017

I am a total email zombie. There's no doubt that my email productivity sucks. I spend more time in my email than any other app. I constantly flip back and forth from my inbox while working. I'm the one refreshing my email while waiting in line, running out the door, at the bus stop...

Rock Your Year with Taraleigh the manifesting unicorn

January 12, 2017

Taraleigh Weathers is a manifesting unicorn! I didn’t know what that meant, either, until I took her four week manifestation course. Taraleigh speaks with authority and clarity, offering real-time, realistic tools for creating what you want in your life. During her Manifesting Unicorns course, I watched the dreams of the course’s other participants unfold, and watched myself lay the groundwork for Mind Key’s next adventure. Now Taraleigh is offering her next course, “Rock Your Year,” to help you attain all of your New Year’s dreams. Don’t have time for another “course?” The best part about taking strides toward your goals is that the more you do, the more time seems to be available to do it. That’s because the universe believes in you, and believes in your...

manifestation

Morning meditation for those short on time

January 12, 2017

Energy

When I first heard about Jessica of Jahmu Chai’s tea meditations, I was stoked. Making time for a cup of tea is about as close as I seem to get to meditating these days. Apparently, I’m not the only one. Jess has found a way to take this sacred time and turn it into an even more powerful ritual of intention and peace through the Tea Meditation Project. Below, she explains how it works, and offers a tea meditation that you can start with right now. Our favorite way to practice these meditations are with Jessica's own Jahmu Chai. (I put mine in my coffee!) Get a 10% discount on your order of any Jahmu tea by using coupon code MINDKEY at checkout. [caption id="attachment_5274" align="alignleft" width="225"]...

meditation spirituality

The helpfulness of lists in prioritization of goals

January 5, 2017

In an article for Psychology Today, Carrie Barron, MD, author of “The Creativity Cure: How to Build Happiness With Your Own Two Hands” writes that lists are a way to “coalesce and conquer” the plethora of choices in today’s culture. She adds that lists benefit productivity as well as creativity by working through questions and confusions, to prioritize and streamline, to determine direction, create action and to organize to minimize inner chaos. [caption id="attachment_5222" align="alignright" width="300"] Lists can help you organize your thoughts[/caption] Ultimately, lists are a way to better understand ourselves and the work that we’re doing. They help us create action plans, organize our thoughts and ultimately, drive us toward our goals. I had the benefit of spending some time with the Belief Coach, Wendy Watson-Hallowell...

January’s Issue: Time – How do you view it?

January 2, 2017

Career, Creativity, Currency, Energy, Health, Lifestyle, Relationship

[caption id="attachment_5204" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Time is a clock in the sand begging to be overlooked - It's only a "thing" if we make it one.[/caption] We depend on time for everything. We are so conditioned to run on or by it, that there's a sense of jealousy or confusion for those who don't know or care. But what is time? We as a society measure it in linear terms. We adhere to this linear definition so tightly that we find it difficult to even be open to a different interpretation. How do we find the time to do all that we hope? Can we manifest more, or bend it? What does it mean to "spend our time wisely” and why is it so important to "stop to...

time

A local’s guide to gift giving–Rhode Island

December 20, 2016

Currency, Lifestyle

Mind Key Rhode Island (Rhody) is growing as fast as The Mind Key Project itself! In one of my many articles for the Newport Daily News, I was asked to write a story describing all I want from Aquidneck Island, the heart of Mind Key Rhody. We hope those of you in our local community support these local businesses this season as well. For those of our readers who don’t live here, consider this an opportunity to visit someplace new (let Danielle be your tour guide--email me to learn how), or to pick up some of the global services these business offer online. [caption id="attachment_5115" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Photo courtesy of Dave Hansen, Newport Daily News[/caption] The ocean has always called to me, so last December I finally...

family & kids Rhode Island

The symbols in our dreams, with Jefferson Harman

December 15, 2016

[caption id="attachment_5068" align="alignright" width="153"] Jefferson Harman[/caption] Jefferson Harman started interpreting his own dreams as a young child. Over time, he came to learn a universal symbolic language which applies to any aspect of life, waking or dreaming. This is when he began to read the symbols present in others’ lives. Through this interpretation, he is able to help others identify specific challenges and how to overcome them. For the past six years, Harman has been interpreting dreams live on the air on “Life Unedited” on WCHE Radio 1520 AM. He also has internet TV show called “Dreaming With…” on StarDreamsCafe.com, in which he interprets for a variety of artists, writers, and entertainers at the Algonquin Hotel in New York City. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="960"] image by Kennedy Shenberg[/caption] Looking...

spirituality

Great American Novel Package–Meet the editors

December 7, 2016

Yesterday's Great American Novel Package post talked about the services the package can provide. Today, we want to tell you about all of the resources we have to support your journey. [caption id="attachment_4946" align="alignnone" width="154"] Danielle Rose, story editor and novel coach[/caption] Danielle is a long-time author and journalist. She has edited several large-scale, and many small-scale publications, and has completely compiled the Mind Key Anthologies of art and writing (www.mindkey.me/anthology). She has the experience and dedication needed to provide feedback for nonfiction work, as well as a passion for characters, and for weaving stories that reflect current social and philosophical issues. She will focus on not only your story, but your sentence structure, your organization and chronology, as well as the emotional aspect of your characters,...

NaNoWriMo novel writing

December Issue: Connection

December 1, 2016

[caption id="attachment_4933" align="alignleft" width="241"] Photo courtesy of JoAnna Schillaci[/caption] This month's theme is connection. We're going to talk about about how we work together as a community to remain connected--how we connect with others, with those we love, with the world around us. The holidays are a time when we work so hard toward a sense of connection while at the same time often feeling completely disconnected. As your resource for everything health and happiness, Mind Key believes that the idea of connection, whether to each other, to spirit, or to ourselves, is essential. That’s why we’ve devoted this month to spotlighting members of our community that offer resources via products and services that promote all forms of connection. As you peruse this month’s spotlights, utilize your...

RI Event – The party that’s giving back

June 20, 2016

Looking for good music, good food, and good times this weekend? Look no further than A Party for the People, happening Sunday, June 26th in Middletown, RI. The day is about creating a sense of community and goodwill for all of us who have given back in some way to help others, event organizer and owner of Good Time Productions, Michael Hayes, said. "Everything that happens impacts the next person because [on the island] they're so close," Michael said. "I wanted to give something back to everybody. We are always struck by tragedy, but I wanted to do this for a positive reason." Over the past decade, Michael's watched friends battle cancer, lose their loved ones and homes unexpectedly to tragedy, and time and time again, he's seen...

giving back RI

Moments with Dad

June 15, 2016

Dads give so much for their families. This Father's Day, we're giving back by sharing our favorite Dad moments and the best Dad advice. What are your favorite fathering moments? Here are some fond memories from our Mind Key Community via Facebook. "One of my favorite things - sitting in the backyard on a summer afternoon, listening to the Yankees on the radio with my dad...

giving back

Mind Key: Giving back to the community at large

June 3, 2016

Creativity, Health

In June's Mind Key Issue we will be sharing stories of giving back and paying it forward. Sometimes this is referred to as karma, but we prefer to look at it simply as energy. We receive what we put out, which is why the best way to change the world is by changing your personal world. This creates an incredible ripple effect that touches the lives of others, who then pay the good energy forward. Not only that, but it raises your individual vibration so that you attract more of what you give into the world back to yourself. I like to compare this to the phenomenon of love. No matter how much love you give, it never diminishes, only grows. Giving back works the same way. We feel fulfilled and...

give back giving back

The things our body holds

May 25, 2016

The things we hold onto—emotions, hatred, old patterns—they hold onto us in very physical ways. A sample photo of a somatoemotional release session About six years ago I began to understand this truth while experiencing Somatoemotional Release, a type of body work (like massage or chiropractic work) based on the inherent memory of body tissue. In other words, you may have physically healed from a trauma (such as a fall or impact) but the tissue retains the memory of the injury. This can cause muscles around the traumatized area to tense as if they still needed to protect the injured tissue. Since the body has essentially healed from the actual injury, Somatoemotional Release allows the body to release that trauma so everything else can relax and realign. Much...

letting go

The release of motherhood

May 8, 2016

I suppose life is always a pattern of gaining and releasing. But there's something special about the release of a mother. As a mother we are always releasing something of ourselves, of our children. We are always letting go. Motherhood changes everything! First we let go of the experiences of youth in order to become and nurture a pregnancy. We let go of our office or workout room, of the clothes in our closet, of the foods we once loved, of our ideas of exercise. This is even before the baby arrives. Then the baby does arrive, and we are filled and blessed and joyous at this change. We let go of our work, Friday nights out, our relationships as we knew them, healthy habits, sleep. We release...

What it means to hold on/let go

May 2, 2016

Energy, Health, Lifestyle

What are you holding on to? We all hold onto something: Physically, emotionally, physically, it's human nature to hold-on. I used to hold onto things. I held onto every little thing I could. Wrapping paper, old dishes, screws, wires, toys, scraps of wood. Everything can be reused. Everything had sentimentality. There was energy in everything I owned. This was as a child. As I grew, so did my collections of things. I realized I couldn't hold onto everything anymore. We accumulate so much. Then there's nothing to do but let go of it or let it consume you. The first things I remember struggling with letting go of was gifts. I remembered every single gift given to me, and couldn't bear to let go of them. I held...

letting go

Writing as medicine

April 27, 2016

For many years I struggled with endocrine and hormone imbalances. The process by which I found healing included a long path of different modalities… modalities which eventually became the beginning of The Mind Key Project almost six years ago. The most powerful modality, however, has been writing. Writing, in fact, is how the Mind Key Project began. Perhaps writing has helped because it provided emotional perspective, processing and release. But there's more to it than that. Writing has also offered a real, physical healing as well. The body is an amazing machine. From the moment of conception, it is creating, maintaining, regulating and regenerating. Mind Key began under the premise that the body contains all the answers an individual needs to attain perfect health. The question is how...

Meditation made easy

April 12, 2016

Energy

Sometimes meditation is hard, but this little moving meditation is so simple that I've taught it to my girls who are 4 and 7. It's something I hope that we can all come back to when life seems overwhelming. It's a great way to recenter, and focus. It's a way to find your spirituality, and to meditate without struggling to remove your thoughts from your mind. The simple act of walking slowly while bringing your hands to your heart or your face allows you to feel your thoughts without judgement. Even if you only have a few moments, check out the beginning of the video to get the gist of it. Listening further will take you deeper into how this helps quiet the mind and bring peace...

meditation

What is medicine, really?

April 6, 2016

I was up to my elbows in dirty water, dingy sponge in hand. I'd been at it two days and the empty apartment was still only half cleaned—my apartment—my new life in a new town, a new state. And I was alone. The sun was setting on a Wednesday night. I'd had no dinner, I had no furniture, no friends, no bed other than a half-deflated air mattress. My kids were three states away and my marriage in shambles. My entire life was crumbling around me. If not for an album I'd already over-listened to a god-zillion times, I might have gone completely over the edge. But there was comfort in Nahko's words, words that offered hope… the hope I'd come to this new place to find. Still,...

The energy of the equinox

March 21, 2016

Today I'd like to talk about faerie energy. We at Mind Key chose to talk about yin and yang and balance this month because March heralds the spring equinox, which happened yesterday (March 20th) at 12:30 AM (EDT). The equinoxes (one in the fall and one in the spring) occur when the earth's axis is almost perpendicular, the sun shines directly on the equator, and we experience an (essentially) equal amount of light and dark over the course of one day. The equinoxes remind us of how humanity, like Mamma Earth, experiences a brief period of balance in our lives. Those moments may or may not coincide with the equinoxes, but these are good points in time to reflect upon those moments, and to recognize how fleeting...

Yin and Yang

A Yin/Yang Herbal

March 18, 2016

Yin and yang represent different aspects of everything that exists. Within us we have a measure of each, and that measure changes in any given moment or situation. It's the melding and balance of the two that is important. In Yin and Yang, as in the ocean, the balance is ever changing In herbalism, there is little difference. As Charla wrote in her blog on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupuncture, and yin and yang energy, part of healing comes from balancing these two energies inside us. We do this often without thinking. When we are dry, we drink water and moisturize. When we are overwhelmed with moisture (think runny nose, bloating, etc.), we take antihistamines, diuretics, or force perspiration with exercise or using a sauna or similar treatment. In herbalism,...

herbs Yin and Yang

NJ EVENT: St. Catherine Art Expo March 11th-13th

March 10, 2016

Newsbreaks

St. Catherine of Bologna, Patron of the Arts Association is holding their This is a wonderful event that encourages us to use art to stay connected, touching those parts inside us we don't give enough attention. Amateur and professional artists of all mediums will have their work displayed in this juried exhibition. Live music and free hors devours each evening, and a poetry reading at 7pm Saturday. Free admission, donations gratefully accepted. For more information, visit www.stcatharts.org or stop by www.mindkey.me/calendar to view this and other great events. ******************************************** If you are interested in having your event, business, product, or idea highlighted on Mind Key, visit www.mindkey.me/promotion....

photography poetry

NY Event: Change your water, Change your life

March 2, 2016

Newsbreaks

Water is the one of the most important things we put into our bodies on a regular basis. The question is, however, what's in your water? As an avid water drinker (it's about all I drink besides tea), I know certain waters agree with me better than others. This Friday's free event is one of many Bobbie and Rita have been doing to help people find the best water possible, and how it has helped them. Rita says, "We have had tremendous success with helping people and want to keep sharing this. There will be many testimonials that you will hear and the benefits of drinking this water is incredible. No other water compares, especially bottled water and you will find out why. This is a free...

snapshot

Mind Key: Creating the balance you need to thrive

March 2, 2016

Creativity, Energy, Lifestyle

Recently, Mind Key has had some wonderful support from a variety of different people and different backgrounds. Everyone resonates with the need to find and follow your own path. Some of us are just beginning to understand that only by using our god-given talents are we truly being of service to ourselves and to the world—and that those talents are the very things that make us happiest. The question is how to take those passions, talents, and happy thoughts and meld them into something amazing that can sustain us, sustain others, and bring abundance into our lives—in every sense of the word. Tackling this question is a huge undertaking. So many books, websites, coaches, and more have game plans for how to do this yet none of...

Spirituality and “higher-self”

February 22, 2016

Energy, Lifestyle, Relationship

This month, we've explored relationships of all varieties—family relationships, romantic relationships, and the ever-changing, relationship-with-self. For our last week, we're going to explore the not to be ignored important relationship-with-higher-self. The definition of higher-self varies from individual to individual. Some define it as god, the universe, spirit… some recognize it as power from without, and others as power from within. Our higher self is comprised of our angels, our guides, our inner wisdom, those who have passed on and are still with us, sentient beings we connect with, innate knowledge, intuition, and yes, our god(s)/goddess(es). There are so many more. I could go on and on. The one thing that binds all of the above concepts is that our higher selves are connected to the greater fabric of the...

relationship with self relationships spirituality

Motherhood: The ultimate relationship-with-self

February 5, 2016

Energy, Lifestyle, Relationship

Motherhood changed me. Danielle Rose as a brand new mother of two That's kind of funny to say, isn't it? I mean, doesn't it go without saying? Where there was once one, now there are two… two bodies sharing a body, two schedules to navigate, and two egos competing for space (and despite what anyone says, babies' egos are huge!). Then there came two… two children that is. And no one tells you that having two kids isn't twice the work of having one—it's ten times the work. Because with one blissful baby it's impossible to see how the intersection of bodies, schedules, and egos multiply exponentially. Ultimately, what happened was that I lost myself in the wild tangle of everything childhood. Motherhood became an all-encompassing title that didn't...

family & kids Love and sex mindfulness relationship with self

Why I love lavender

January 22, 2016

Lavender is my favorite essential oil. It always has been. It was the first oil I worked with, and it is still one of the only oils I use on a regular basis. My original thought was to create an "essential" essential oil kit for you, but in the end I realized, as I had many years ago, that for most of my essential oil needs, lavender fits the bill. Here's why I love lavender: It's gentle, yet extremely effective It's gentle enough for babies. Yes, babies… although always check with your health care practitioner, and be careful. I used it constantly while pregnant—and it was one of the only essential oils I did use. Although it's gentle enough for a baby's skin and respiratory system, it's powerful...

Health herbs

Making Space: Your weight loss plateau

January 14, 2016