Author: Mind Key Community

Yesterday, Paola Scaduto shared an intensely personal story of loss. We wanted to follow that up with some advice we've found on grief counseling websites. The loss of a loved one, no matter the circumstance, is painful and shouldn't be dealt with alone. Take care of yourself This Help Guide offers the following advice for taking care of yourself: Look after your physical health. Face your feelings. Keep yourself busy. Do things you love. Stay focused and continue your daily life. Don’t let anyone tell you how to feel, and don’t tell yourself how to feel either. Plan ahead for grief “triggers” such as anniversaries, milestones and holidays. “If you’re sharing a holiday or lifecycle event with other relatives, talk to them ahead of time...

The stressed out teen – tips for destressing your high school student

November 21, 2016

By Rebecca Pall Chances are, if one were to ask a high schooler how they were feeling, the number one answer would be that dreaded, eight letter word: stressed. With stress comes anxiety and nervousness as well. In today’s day and age, school and social issues aren't the only things that can add to the stress load of students. One of the things that can lead to stress for high school teenagers is, on the non-academic side, social standing. At the age of 14-19, children feel that they have to be superior by fitting into a crowd. If they don’t do what a certain group of people are doing, then they could be seen as unfit, or unqualified to be with a certain group of people....

family and kids stressed out teen

Harvesting Weeds For Fall Health

October 31, 2016

Creativity, Health

I never used to like autumn. I’ve always been more of a spring girl. Watching the world come alive, and singing with the energy of the earth… I’m in my glory! Lately though, I’m learning how beneficial reaping the harvest can be, both physically and spiritually. Whether I’m watching the October rains turn our August-faded lawns green again, walking a mountain path, or sitting on the beach in my hoodie, debating a swim, there’s so much life waiting for us to share in the bounty and I’m learning to sit quietly and reflect in the cooling days and appreciate all I’ve done in the warmer seasons so that I can reap their benefit all winter long. What grows is often what we need, so I’d like...

Sukkot: A Spiritual Harvest

October 31, 2016

Harvest festivals represent renewal of body and mind--a harvesting of past mistakes, experiences, and relationships that is essential to personal development and growth. We are created to gather the balance of life and learn from its intricate patterns—the good and the bad. Connecting with Spirit helps identify with the seemingly mystical and distant aspects of life. This balance and harvesting of life experience is reflected in ancient traditions. That many of them are still practiced today proves their importance in daily life and the human need for inspiration to start anew. The ancient Jewish Festival of Sukkot, like many harvest celebrations, reflects the spiritual side of reaping the fruit of our labors. Beginning the seventh month of the Jewish calendar and ending on Yom Kippur (which...

Aquidneck Food Challenge

October 31, 2016

Aquidneck Food Challenge Posted by Charla Dury on 10:00 AM in Aquidneck food challenge challenge eat local energy connection energy of food event old patterns new habits snapshot | Comments : 0 Rhode Island's Aquidneck Community Table launches their first ever eat local challenge this week, and whether you live on the island or across the country, shfting your food perspective to "eat like a local" opens up new patterns and new ways to connect to the energy of our bodies and our environment. There's no better time than now--when local food is at its most abundant--to try your hand at a more-local diet. If you're looking for help eating locally in your area, please contact us at info@192.145.233.101 and we'll help you find your local resources. Sign up to take the Aquidneck Food Challenge! September 1-10, 2016 Friends, We've been hearing a lot of questions...

NanoWrimo – Letting Your Vision Grow

October 25, 2016

October is a month of traditions, whether it’s celebrating a harvest festival or Halloween activities. But Harvesting is also another way to reap the seeds we sow in our own journey, honing the talents and skills that make us who we are. Writers all over the world look at November, also known in the noveling world as National Novel Writing Month (or the otherwise cryptic, NaNoWriMo) with anticipation, using October as a chance to gear up for one of the greatest writing challenges of all. NaNoWriMo.org writes: National November Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a fun and creative writing challenge starting on November 1st and ending November 30th. The goal is to write 50,000 words in just one month. Sounds fun, crazy, intensive, and highly rewarding? Well, it is....

Controlled Environment Agriculture At Spring Box Farms

October 22, 2016

As we talk about the annual harvest within environment week, we don't want to forget or discount farms that use Controlled Environment Agriculture who harvest all year long. Many farms use this technique to monitor both the quality and organic content of the food that they produce. Check out the local offerings at Clements' Marketplace. ...

Harvest: A Human Connection

October 17, 2016

By Tamara Rockiki Harvest festivals are representative of our own personal growth, and the need to share our successes. They center around abundance and community, and in this day and age of limited face-to-face connection, they remind us of the importance of celebrating that which we’ve done to get us where we are. This week, as an inspiration to share and grow from our personal harvests, we will be sharing stories of harvest traditions around the world, such as the olive harvest festival which has been celebrated in the township of Magione, Italy, since 2001. Stephanie Spavento of the The Perpetual Explorer writes that this festival takes place on November 23rd, in conjunction with the feast of St. Clement, the patron saint of metalworkers and blacksmiths. It celebrates the...

Harvesting Wisdom From People We’ve Lost

October 15, 2016

Recently, my husband’s great aunt passed away after a long bout with a painful cancer. Kim was a wonderful woman and her wry wit and comforting presence will be missed at every family gathering. Her love and pride in our family was something that I cherished. Kim had been part of my life for almost thirty years and her presence in our lives taught me many things. Kim devoted her life to supporting the mental and emotional health of troubled teens across the nation. A spiritual person from a young age, Kim gravitated toward spiritual people from all faiths. She eventually settled in southern Colorado, cultivating a close connection to the Native American community. While working with teenagers on the reservation there, Kim’s faith was deepened to...

Oktoberfest – Not Just For Germans

October 13, 2016

Newsbreaks

Although not technically a harvest festival, Oktoberfest is one of the most well-known fall festivals worldwide, and represents the basic human need for community and celebration. Today, Oktoberfest smacks of fall, with seasonal beverages and attractions to connect and recharge. The City of Munich’s website claims the origin of Oktoberfest, goes back to October 12, 1810. It was on that day that the future King Ludwig I married Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen, giving all of Munich a reason to celebrate. The festivity brought inspiration to celebrate yet again the following year, beginning the massive tradition of Oktoberfest. Each year since that famous wedding, new attractions, agricultural shows, contests, and beer tasting stations have been added to the festivity. Like many harvest celebrations, Paige Villiard of The Black Label, writes...

Halloween As A Harvest Tradition

October 10, 2016

Halloween is the ultimate harvest tradition--one that touches upon many cultures and traditions. But where do our Halloween traditions come from? Did the holiday ever have spiritual connotations? Does it still? Whether trick or treating, carving jack o' lanterns or bobbing for apples, Halloween, like many holidays, comes with its own set of traditions. Learning the roots of these traditions can allow for a better understanding of self, and a stronger connection to a holiday that ranks as one of the best loved. Photo courtesy of North Jersey Media Group Samhain, which occurs on the same date as Halloween, was an ancient celebration centered around the last harvest of the year. The day marked the beginning of winter, a time associated with death. On this night, the...

Working With Intuition, Not Fear

October 7, 2016

By Carlie Currier October is a time for harvesting. Nourished by the warmth of the sun, summer was a time for growth within. While sowing the seeds of our goals, we thought deeply about what we wanted to manifest within our lives. Now the season of fall calls for a new phase in our growth--the fruition of our dreams into reality. However, we need to be aware of exactly what we’re harvesting. Ghosts and demons also come out in October. Are we allowing our higher selves to shine through so we can reach our full potential, or, are we letting the superstitions and phobias of our past dictate us? Maybe some of us are still allowing skeletons to hide inside the closets of our comfort zones. Is...

Find Your Untapped Potential

October 3, 2016

Do you ever wonder about your true calling? Do you yearn for something more but just don’t know what? Each of us is equipped with unique talents and skills. Finding our true calling is a journey. It’s not always easy to realize what we’re meant to do in life. In her blog post, “Untapped Potential: Finding Your Talent”, Mind Key member, Tamara Rokicki, shares her journey in pursuing her passion. It doesn't have to be as complicated as we make it. Life presents our talents in many ways, whether it’s a simple hobby that rescues us from the mundane or in the way we inspire others. As the warmer weather winds down, and the days grow shorter, we naturally begin to harvest our skills and lessons from the experiences of the past...

Kicking Off NanoWrimo Season

October 1, 2016

Connecting with other like minded people is imperative in finding inspiration. November marks the annual writing challenge, NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), which provides inspiration and resources for to writers to complete fifty thousand words in thirty days. Although NaNoWriMo is revered by aspiring authors across the globe, the raw and freeing act of writing--unedited--is not reserved for novelists alone. October helps us gear up for this event. The harvest season is when we pull together our resources and reflect, and there is no better time to ready ourselves for a writing challenge. Whether it’s by preparing a story outline or gathering ideas on how to gain more writing time, October comes at the perfect time. Mind Key member Tamara Rokicki shares her tips on how to prepare for...

Why Child-Driven Learning Works

September 25, 2016

Creativity, Health

Imagine a school where children choose their own lessons, and are motivated and enthusiastic to learn. Sounds like a parent’s fantastical utopia, doesn’t it? Sugata Mitra, founder of the Hole-in-the-Wall experiment and Minimally Invasive Education, doesn’t think so. He discovered that through the use of learning centers, children were able to learn and thrive on their own, without the input of teachers. Many untraditional schools such as some Montessori and Waldorf schools utilize this concept of child-driven learning, as do many homeschooling families. Child-driven education is also the defining characteristic of unschooling. Photo Credit: Shelby Sheene Shelby Sheene, mother of three unschooled children in Tampa Bay, Florida, says, “Unschooling is a method that embraces the idea that children want to learn. It is basically learning through life and...

Cabin Fever As An Entrepreneur

September 15, 2016

Working from home--or even in an office can be a strain on the body, the psyche, and your creative self. Break the habit of a workaholic...

What Is Aquarian Sadhana

September 12, 2016

What is Aquarian Sadhana? By Shantprem Kaur “Wait, five A M?” I clarify as the beautiful woman all in white nods. “Uh, are you sure it’s not five PM?” I question hopefully. She smiles her angelic smile “Yes, I’m sure.” Yeah right, I think to myself. You’ll never find me doing that. But, at 5 am the next morning I find myself awake and motivated by curiosity. I wander down the hall of the retreat center beckoned by a quiet murmuring. I crack the door, slide through the dimly lit room, and settle into the quiet chanting. A peace envelopes me and I know I am onboard for the next two and a half hours....

The Many Benefits Of Yoga

September 9, 2016

Yoga is a worldwide practice that helps people connect with their body and mind. Statistic Brain reports that over 15 million Americans practice yoga regularly. Malia Bradshaw is one of them. A certified yoga instructor, writer, and mental health advocate, she is one of the many people relying on the benefits of yoga. When she started experiencing anxiety attacks she found that yoga not only helped her body, but also her mind. She says, “I needed a way in which I could move my body, but also calm my anxiety. Yoga was the perfect combination of a very physically challenging practice, but also a spiritual practice.” Yoga improves stress and anxiety by slowing down the breathing and heart rates, while also being a significant GABA booster. Emily Deans, MD,...

You’re Important

September 7, 2016

You’re important. You’re important to your family, to your co-workers and to your circle of friends. The most important person who should know your importance, however, is you. If you don’t know that you’re important, and treat yourself that way, it can create mental and emotional stress and age you prematurely. Do you treat yourself like you’re important? I didn’t for a long time. For what seems like forever, I put myself second. Second to my children, to my husband, to the rest of my family’s needs. I didn’t speak up, I deferred to them. Not that I didn’t have an opinion and talk about it, but I never gave my opinions, my emotions, my health the same weight as I gave everyone else’s. Here’s an example. Years...

Urgent Message About Watering From Glenwild Water Center

September 6, 2016

Health, Newsbreaks

With the Autumnal Equinox last week, we need to switch our gardening mindset to winter preparation. With these tips from Glenwild Garden Center about watering your new trees and shrubs, your lawn and garden should be in good shape for the coming seasons. Issue No. 163 September 16, 2016 URGENT MESSAGE ABOUT WATERING! This is most critical for anyone who has planted any shrub, tree or perennial any time recently (This year especially)! The soil dryness is at critical levels for established plants as well, but if you have planted anything this year, (or for a tree, the last 3 years) you need to deeply water your plants. That means: Use a soaker hose, or put the nozzle or end of the hose on the ground next to the trunk...

Bring In New Energy For The Spring Now

September 3, 2016

The practice of planting spring-flowering bulbs is a lesson in patience. Selecting little brown lumps to place in your garden and then patiently waiting, sometimes forgetting about them throughout the winter, until they can bloom come spring. Jodie Bross of Glenwild Garden Center in Bloomingdale, NJ says: "The idea of the bulb is so nice: patience and being kind to yourself, giving yourself that downtime. It's OK to draw in and not be out there all the time, beautiful. Bulbs are also a good lesson to slow down and let things happen at their own pace." As Jodie so eloquently states, we there is opportunity to learn from nature, and sometimes those lessons are best learned by getting your hands in the soil experiencing nature's wisdom first-hand. The good news is,...

Emotion Freedom Technique (Tapping) Can Be A RoadMap For Success

September 2, 2016

As a spiritual counselor or healer, you are continually faced with clients who will not or cannot change the patterns that are making themselves sick physically, emotionally or spiritually. I am reminded of a client who always verbally says how sick she is. I have told her, as others have, that changing the pattern of negative speak to positive affirmations of good health would better serve her. Saying “my” illness puts that notion of ownership into the ether that, once out there, is hard to dispel...

Communication: More Than Just You And Me

August 7, 2016

Since before the time we learn to talk, we are taught that in order for life to flow easy you must talk to people, communicate. All relationships depend on communication. Every relationship is different and requires different means of communication, but communication nonetheless. Good communication is essential for the healthy relationships we crave. Herbalist and author of “The Gift of Healing Herbs,” Robin Rose Bennett agrees. "Communication is the essential key to healthy relationships,” she said. “And healthy relationships are the key to a truly good, joyful life.” Spiritual Healer, Vera Ann Remes says she “depend[s] on spiritual and energetic interactions with [her] clients to tell [her] their needs and how to help them. When [she] scan a client’s body [she] feel the cold spots and vibrations that denote pain or...

Taproot – Preserve Pop Up Shop Sale

August 5, 2016

Newsbreaks

Handmade goods radiate a certain unique energy. Get your hands on one of these great deals associated with the kitchen as Taproot magazine closes their "Preserve" shop, and gears up for their next issue, "Wander." Support home-grown goodness by bringing the energy of the artisan into your home! Please note ** Adorable kitten not included in an order of the heart-shaped nesting boxes!** The Preserve Pop-Up Shop is On Sale! Shop Now! *Spend $100 in pop-up goods, then add a one year subscription (or give a gift subscription!) to your basket & the discount will apply. Sorry, this applies to US subscriptions only! While we are never ones to rush summer along, here at Taproot we are busy finalizing the pages of our next issue, WANDER (coming your way soon)...

You Are A Star In An Otherwise Bleak World

August 4, 2016

Taraleigh embodies exactly what we believe in here at Mind Key. She has made music her life, and has made the leap to allowing that life to fully support her in every way. She's done this by allowing her personal energy to work for her, rather than against her. When we do what we love, and live authentically, we are asking the energy of the universe to bring more of that into our life. As humans, we hide behind masks and allow those masks define us...

The Energy of Peace & Manifestation

August 3, 2016

Energy, Health

Manifestation is the process of manipulating energy in such a way that we first create and surround ourselves in the vibration what we want and then allow the universe to bring the physical manifestation of that vibration to us. That’s why visualization is such a powerful tool. Visualization allows us to see what we want--the clearer we see it, feel it, sense it, the stronger the vibration we create. That created vibration then has the ability to draw that which we desire to us in a very real way. Visualization works best when it’s directed solely at oneself. In other words, a visualization board made to achieve a promotion or new home is inevitably more likely to come to pass than one made for world peace,...

Connecting The Energetic Dots

August 1, 2016

This month we discussed the energy of the things we do to our body and how it can change us as well as so-called coincidences that led to life-changing events. Energy is everywhere and there seemed to be so much energy of change in August, we wanted to share it all with you. There were so many events in each of our areas, Rhode Island, NY/NJ Highlands area, Denver Metro area in Colorado and our newest location, Mind Key Florida. Events, whether they specifically mention energy or not, can connect with energy because, like I said, its everywhere and everything. Creative energy, be it photo manipulation by Elisabeth Ladwig in The Making of Time Capsule or Marisa Goudy's The Energy between writer and reader talking about the bond between writer and reader....

You don’t have to be rich to pay it forward

June 27, 2016

Energy, Lifestyle

When I retired in 2012 and moved to Pennsylvania, I kept telling my friends this would be my time of giving back. I started volunteering at a therapeutic riding center near my home. Started learning Reiki, something I had wanted to do since my twenties. Volunteered at the local Food Pantry and a local Humane Society. I even offered my Reiki services to the senior citizen facility in town but they weren’t keen on the “new age” stuff. Over time I cut down on my activities. Cleaning a litter box the size of a kiddie pool at the Humane Society “cat” house did a number on my asthma. The local Food Pantry had so many volunteers we kept stepping all over ourselves. I still volunteer...

spirituality

Putting together your healing puzzle pieces

June 7, 2016

When I was initially diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease about thirty years ago at age twenty-two, I had no idea this was the start of my life’s purpose. Although, it would take me some time, many years in fact, to realize this. Had I known from the beginning, I would have kept a detailed diary so I could share more of the specifics of what I was going through, the ups and downs, all the things I tried that worked and didn’t work, etc., but I was so ill and just wanting to survive that I didn’t have the energy or where with all to keep a written record. However, I remember enough to share the top strategies I used physically, mentally/emotionally & spiritually that...

giving back

Letting Go with Oracle and the written word

May 27, 2016

Energy, Health

Professionally, I am a teacher. That is how I pay my rent. How much teaching is done by my own volition? I am not sure sometimes. However, I am sure that leading others to writing as a primary source of detox is the best kind of teaching I can do. As a writer, artist, educator, and participant of the Mind Key project, my purpose has leaned more toward helping others find the stories they need to tell. As resistant as some may be, every single person has a story in words, pictures, or song. Once the creative outlet is found, we can let go of everything else which feels the need to hold us back. Creativity is an integral part of connectedness and restructuring, and some...

spirituality tips & tricks

Being your own best friend

May 18, 2016

I consider myself a team player. But what do you do when you don't have a team? The people I was friendly with years ago all rode horses and were volunteers in sheriff’s department mounted unit. The depended upon one another, sometimes for their very existence. Until the advent of a new regime in that department, we were like brothers and sisters who could fight among ourselves, but provide a unified front against the onslaught of others. After the new regime, we were torn apart. I’ve been looking for that same team feeling for years now. Maybe the world has changed, but finding a team to play on isn’t easy. As we all know, true friends are hard to find, maybe impossible. As good a friend as...

Simple steps for avoiding a detox

May 13, 2016

In today's culture, detox seems to be the go-to for almost any health concern. And why not? We are often overwhelmed and so overloaded, that the idea of "letting go" of it all seems incredibly appealing. However, sometimes a detox isn't the answer. Oftentimes, there are simple solutions that require a more gentle letting go--such as releasing old paradigms and emotional patterns. Lack of sleep For those who are tired and have trouble falling asleep, I recommend leaving computers, cellphones and televisions out of the bedroom. When you get into bed at night and you are ready for sleep, do nothing except relax and settle your body down; the stimulation to the pituitary and pineal gland from the screen lights is not one that is conducive to a state of relaxation. For those...

letting go stress tips and tricks

Do you really need that detox?

May 13, 2016

Detox? Maybe not...

Deep breathing for detox and release

May 10, 2016

When I was in college in the early 1980’s, I learned one of the most valuable life lessons in one of my Physical Therapy classes. The professor taught us about how to breathe in deeply by expanding our diaphragms at the lower part of our chest areas. I believe we were studying about pulmonary (lung) conditions at the time. Our professor told us how many people, especially women, breathe shallowly from their upper chest. More women he said because of them being self-conscious about not wanting their belly’s to expand making them look heavier. In response to his urging, I placed my hand on my lower chest about my belly-button area to assist me in feeling my diaphragm expand allowing me to breathe more deeply. By deep...

The Impossibility of Letting Go

May 4, 2016

The Mind Key Theme this month is letting go, and as I sit here contemplating what to say on the subject, I realize that I’m totally clueless. I tend to focus, you see. OK, not focus. Obsess. If something has my attention, I will dissect the subject thoroughly. I will twist it this way and that, hold it under a microscope, analyze it, catalog it, rip it apart, put it back together again. On the other hand, if it doesn’t have my attention, it zips right over my head before I realize it’s there. So, if I can harness my laser-like focus only on things beneficial to me, then the poisonous would just slip away, right? The thing is, I don’t get to choose what attracts...

letting go

The Subtleties of Listening

April 25, 2016

Listening is quite an art form when practiced properly. By "properly", I mean in such a way where one hears all of what is being expressed, between the lines of what is directly communicated and what is not. While in my office with those I care for, listening becomes a wonderful dance of both active and passive participation. I listen to what is being said, as well as to what is not said, what is being communicated through the quieter aspects of facial expression and diagnosis, tone of voice and choice of words, posture and body language. I listen to my intuition as well, because sometimes I clearly understand that there is more to know than what is being said. When this understanding occurs, it's time...

intuition

Natural Medicine – A short story

April 21, 2016

Creativity, Energy, Health, Lifestyle

She ran from the house, her skin cold against the balmy summer air. It could have been late afternoon, the full weight of sun and humidity pressing down against her, and it wouldn’t have mattered. Nothing could warm her now. Her hurried steps brought her to the small patch of woods not far from the apartment. Gnarled limbs, heavy with Spanish Moss, provided sanctuary as she wove her way around the trees. Most of her friends were leery of this place, leery of the creatures that called this swampy spot home. She was far more concerned with the human creatures she left behind her, specifically the so-called friend that climbed on top of her while she was passed out. She woke up to find his hands...

Finding Tara

April 11, 2016

I was never a, “If you can’t see it, it isn’t there,” kind of person, but I wasn’t a dandelions-in-my-hair, tie-dyed spirit guide either. As previously mentioned in other blogs, I became jaded in regard to anything metaphysical after my husband of seven years dumped me for a fantasy - a pretty, blonde self-proclaimed medium who sold crystal skulls, bought married men element pendants, and met them for lunches at quaint New England bistros. Granted, no resemblance, still one of my girls After my divorce, I worked my ass off and rarely slept in order to regain my independence. In two years I became self-sufficient, living in my own apartment, working two successful teaching jobs, and maintaining a healthy relationship. Still, something was amiss. Confidence, peace of...

self-discovery spiritual growth

When you have the right pieces, you can heal yourself

April 7, 2016

Whatever created us – some call it God, some call it universal creative energy – either way we are pretty miraculous beings and I believe we were created to be basically healthy in mind, emotions, body and spirit. However, our human experience gets us off track and misshapes us. Then we start believing the illusions that we are flawed, not worthy or deserving, etc. to have health, happiness, joy, love and prosperous to name a few things. Maybe we allow ourselves success in one area, but usually never all of them. To quote a Seinfeld episode, we don’t think we can have the this, the that and the other. However, if we choose to do so, we have the opportunity...

Have you ever had an Extraction Healing?

April 5, 2016

As the founder of and practitioner with Raven Reiki, Vera Remes offers Usui Reiki with nuances of Shamanism and psychic intuition. She also offers Shaman Oracle and Angel Card readings and is a certified H3 Energy Healing Therapist. Vera's column (Vera's Rave'n) will focus on the many aspects of Shamanism. *************************** Extraction Healing, always trying to learn something new to help my clients. As you know, I am attracted to the Shamanic way of life. The concept of getting rid of stuff that's weighing me down is appealing. So when a “soul extraction healing” workshop was to be given by Michael Harner’s Institute for Shamanic Studies, I jumped at the chance to really learn about this fascinating concept. I have taken internet courses that touched upon this subject but...

shamanism

Where Shamans negotiate with the gods

March 25, 2016

Energy, Lifestyle

Vera Remes As the founder of and practitioner with Raven Reiki, Vera Remes offers Usui Reiki with nuances of Shamanism and psychic intuition. She also offers Shaman Oracle and Angel Card readings and is a certified H3 Energy Healing Therapist. Vera's column will focus on the many aspects of Shamanism. *************************** For a long time I didn't feel comfortable cruising the Upper World. I resonated with animals and the earthy feel of the Lower World and was comfortable there. Many of my friends were exactly the opposite, identifying with angels and shunning the Lower World. Having been forced in a recent Shamanic seminar to repeatedly journey to the Upper World, I found it compelling and a source of great wisdom. I encourage everyone to journey to the Upper World,...

Meditations from the Other Side

March 24, 2016

Thoughts to Awaken the Spirit Kathleen Santora teaches meditations and self-healing through the understanding of one’s own personal energy. A spiritual healer for the past 30 years, Kathleen began trance healing later when she became aware that angels were working with her during healings. She has since learned to step back and allow her angels to come forward and work through her. ************************** I am in perfect balance Today I will remember my perfection I am in perfect balance As I remember this every part of me heals I am in perfect balance My spirit in its perfection radiates to all of me In my remembrance The vehicle that was given me remembers its function and it purpose The universe in all its perfection Sent us with perfection I will remember today I am in perfect balance ****************************** If...

meditation

Journeying with The Green Tara

March 23, 2016

Tara Ann Lesko Tara Ann Lesko is a woman of many talents. Art, poetry, teaching and exploring spirituality are her loves and she enjoys helping others get in touch with their creative side through art and writing. *************************** The Goddess Tara vowed: "There are many who wish to gain enlightenment in a man's form, And there are few who wish to work for the welfare of living beings in a female form. Therefore may I, in a female body, work for the welfare of all beings, until such time as all humanity has found its fullness." Years ago, when I was still under an illusion of contentment in regard to who I was and what I was doing in the world, a gas station attendant told me that in Arabic my name meant “star”. I knew “Tara” meant...

spirituality

Yin and Yang: A Christian Point of View

March 22, 2016

The concept of Yin and Yang sprouted its roots in China several hundred years before Christ’s birth. It represented Taoism, a religion that focuses on two opposing parts, one dark one light, one evil one good, one balanced one unbalanced. But the true beauty of it is that when placed together, the duality of this symbol recognizes the true balance of life itself. It takes these two clashing parts to make a whole, something well rounded and spiritually progressive. I can relate my Christian faith to this concept, as it is the very basic foundation of my spiritual core. If Yin and Yang represent two equal yet opposing forces, then I find a congruent principle in my own spiritual journey. My faith understands the acceptance of...

From all or nothing – to finding balance

March 17, 2016

Barbara Steingas Barbara Steingas is an award winning author, inspirational speaker and radiant life coach, helping people to optimize their health and vitality. She can be found at Steingasbooks. Barbara is joining Mind Key as a resident columnist, sharing her 21 Tips for Healing. *********************** It used to be all or nothing for me. That was due to the need for perfectionism that made me a person of extremes. Either I would have to do something 100% right or not at all. I didn’t know how to be balanced or allow myself any slack for mistakes or learning curves. It was all black and white so to speak, no gray areas. This is best illustrated when I went to college and I gained the freshman twenty pounds. To...

Finding Balance

March 16, 2016

Medussa's Myths Medallion Rebecca Godina, storyteller and writer, comes to Mind Key from the great state of Washington. Rebecca will share her unique take on life and allow us to join her on her fantastic journey through the many fictions (some factual!) of life. Many of us have this elusive goal of “finding balance” in our lives, but do we really know what that means? My job once held a seminar on balancing work and home life, but honestly it felt more like a juggling lesson than a lesson in balance. At least in Western culture, we are expected to busy ourselves with many different things, to the point that we think balance means being able to keep up with them all. I don’t think that’s true....

Dissonance

March 8, 2016

dis·so·nance ˈdisənəns/ noun Music noun: dissonance; plural noun: dissonances lack of harmony among musical notes. "an unusual degree of dissonance for such choral styles" a tension or clash resulting from the combination of two disharmonious or unsuitable elements. "dissonance between campaign rhetoric and personal behavior" There's the version of the world and of ourselves that we each want to be true. Then there's the real world and our actions within it. Dissonance is the story of one man's journey from fantasy to acceptance of reality. Written and directed by Tino Godina, Dissonance is the fifth short produced by Wretched Children Productions. According to Tino, the inspiration for the story came from mostly practical concerns. With limited time and manpower, Tino wanted a story that could be shot in a single day and with...

Yin and Yang – What does it mean?

March 7, 2016

Energy, Lifestyle

As you can see, the symbol means so much, both within its origin, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and throughout the world. All of us have each of these characteristics within ourselves. Although some characteristics might seem awkward or downright offensive (dirty?) they're certainly not meant that way. They're just meant to show opposites on either side of a whole. The trick is balance. As the symbol above is split in equal parts, so should we. Any time we are out of balance, our bodies and souls show signs of wear, of dissonance. Those signs could include (but are certainly not limited to:) Illness Depression Lackluster Anger Clouded thinking Finding true balance is incredibly difficult. I certainly haven't found it. I strive each day to incorporate more harmony into myself. Have you found your harmony?...

Traditional Chinese Medicine Yin and Yang

Managing Difficult Family Members – Family Relationships

February 19, 2016

Over the course of time that I have been in private practice, which will be 16 years this April, I have been asked many questions related to managing the triggers of internal stress that are immovable in life. Among these questions, the one that is asked most often is how to navigate difficult family relationships. There are always 2 choices: first, to write the offending family member(s) off completely, with no further contact, thus eliminating the stressor entirely (and perhaps substituting another in its place, but that might be another blog post...

neutrality relationships

Thriving in a Blended Family

February 17, 2016

Lifestyle

There are different kinds of family units. Single parent, the Traditional family, and now the Blended family, a recurring situation where couples merge and raise a family where biological and un-biological children come together. Writer and Mind Key member Tamara Rokicki, shares her blended family journey through her personal blog. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Blended Family: ‘a family consisting of a couple and their children from this and all previous relationships’. I often get asked how I manage to survive—and thrive—in a blended environment. Many people expect this arrangement to be frustrating, something that either works or completely falls apart. I’ve met parents who automatically assumed there is a ‘resentment’ component among our children—biological, adopted, or step. The latest question has been, “Is it hard to be in a blended family...

family & kids

In defense of the unmarried woman

February 11, 2016

So I am supposed to be writing about relationships this time. I am sitting here on my couch with my ever-faithful dog and out of no where my grad school thesis advisor popped into my head along with other loved and admired poets. Women who had one huge commonality. Rachel Wetzsteon was a revered poet, author, and teacher who had a profound influence on my strengths and weaknesses as a poet and writer. I may have been her last advisee since she committed suicide seven months after I graduated in 2009. I think about how I’ll never have the opportunity to sit with her in a coffee shop on a cold February in New York, laugh with her over the ridiculousness of...

love relationships self-love

Lent and Mindfulness in relationships

February 10, 2016

“In a time where no one seems to have enough time, our devices allow us to be many places at once — but at the cost of being unable to fully inhabit the place where we actually want to be. Mindfulness says we can do better.” — Time Magazine cover article on mindfulness, February 3, 2014. Oh Catholic Lent! Self-denial for 40 days. First begins with Ash Wednesday and ends with Easter Sunday. This year that is February 10th until March 24th. Then we can commence back to the sinning!!! ( Just a little humor) I am not Catholic. I have though, participated in Lent for a few years now. It's mindfulness. Give up harm, replace with good. Mediate for the 40 days and send peace to the...

mindfulness relationships romantic relationships

I love you. But we can’t be together…. today

February 9, 2016

Sarah Loukos Sarah Loukos is a tarot reader and a valued Mind Key member and contributor. Today I will not think That we could not spend it together I will instead think Of all the days we did have together And hope that you can feel me Reliving every moment S.L. Gray Love is a funny lil bugger, ain't it? It dives you into a world of joy and anger, dizziness, bliss and oh the fantasy that lives in your mind about how it will be when you both are in each others arms. One day. Guess what, it's not today. You're married or he's married, one can, one can't. Life or jobs. KIDS?! All of these things are the things that get in the way of you and your soul mate's love. As a tarot reader, I see...

love

Love yourself to love others

February 4, 2016

Energy, Relationship

I used to think that if I took time to care for my needs, that I was being selfish. So I would give of myself to a fault to others. I people pleased in lieu of listening to what I needed or wanted. As a result, this depleted my energy and contributed to me developing an autoimmune disease. Women, especially in our society, are looked at as the caretakers, causing many wives and mothers to use all their energy, focus and resources fulfilling the needs of their family and neglect to properly take care of themselves. This can cause underlying resentment and family dysfunction. I found this to be true for myself. I would take that resentment and internalize it, beating myself up and causing...

Love and sex relationship with self

Get back on the wagon & create your shining year with Leonie Dawson

January 25, 2016

“I’m a hippy that gets shit done,” says Leonie Dawson, CEO of Shining Biz & Life Academy and creator of the Create Your Shining Year series of workbooks, diaries, and other resources. This Australian native has managed to turn what was once a simple idea into a million dollar business where she is able to keep herself and her children top priority. For the past five years, she has developed her own system to help countless others achieve their personal and professional goals. Her 2016 Create Your Shining Year Workbook is a mere fraction of what she has to offer. She also has a selection of webinars and other online courses that have helped thousands find purpose and contentment in life and work. Now, most of us...

higher self journaling organization planning self-care

Aromatherapy and Essential Oils 101

January 18, 2016