Health

This month our bloggers wrote about "Finding Your Medicine" -- and the many different types of medicine available, and how they each connect physically, spiritually and emotionally. Danielle kicked off the month by talking about what it means to Find your Medicine. From there Vera talked about how Shamanic Extraction Healing can release and remove negative energy, and how we all have the keys to bring our physical, spiritual and emotional/mental aspects into balance in When you have the right pieces you can heal yourself. During Spirituality week, Tara discussed how Finding Green Tara, and her own spiritual path, became her medicine, while Kathleen talks about love as medicine in her meditation from Thoughts to Awaken the Spirit, and Danielle shared a snapshot of a simple moving meditation...

meditation

Personal medicines change over time

April 28, 2016

Dogs are awesome My husband saw a meme on Facebook recently. I couldn't find it to post here, but it said that "Cyclists are the only people who understand why dogs stick their heads out windows of cars". I don't know if I agree that we're the ONLY people who understand this phenomenon, but we certainly do understand it. I realize that technically, while riding, I actually feel very little "wind in my hair" since I have it in a pony tail and stuffed under a helmet, but the meme is still true. I love to feel the air on my face, the speed of it, the smells that go by so quickly that I'd call them fleeting. I love to feel the power of the bike...

new medicine Yoga

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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

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

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...

Yin and Yang in Acupuncture

March 15, 2016

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) uses Yin and Yang (pronounce yang rhyming with gong) and the body's meridians as the primary foundations for diagnosis and treatment. According to this article on SacredLotus.com, all phenomena can be reduced to Yin-Yang and the earliest mention of it was in the I Ching in 700 BCE. Yin and Yang relate to specific parts of the human body and every treatment modality aims to either Tonify the Yin or Yang and/or Disperse excess Yin or Yang. In TCM, there are six pathogenic factors. Yin Yang ---- Wind Cold Heat Dampness Dryness ---- Summerheat I visit an acupuncturist and he is a great believer in TCM, using the flow of Qi along the meridians of the body and specially mixed herbal remedies to increase and/or decrease the...

NY Event: Crystal Singing Bowls and Toning March 11th

March 9, 2016

meditation NY

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...

Relationship wrap up

February 29, 2016

relationship with higher self relationship with self romantic relationships

Over the last month, the blog here at Mind Key has focused on relationships. Relationships with yourself, your family, your significant other and relationships with your higher self. Each type is drastically different. How you relate to yourself is not the same as how you relate to your family, your partner or your spiritual connection, but each type is connected by the basics; honesty, love, kindness and work. Relationships don’t just spring into being (except for the relationship with self… That one’s kind of a given...

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

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

Keeping the spark alive – Long terms relationships are hard

February 8, 2016

Jon and I cycling at Red Rocks park in Las Vegas My husband and I have been married for twenty years and together for twenty eight. That's a long time. Its hard to keep things fresh when eventually, everything has a low point like I mentioned here. If you go out onto the internet, there are so many websites and articles that give tips and tricks on how to keep it fresh, to keep the spark alive, to rekindle the romance. Date night for the Durys before sushi and comedy One of the most common threads is planning a date night. Date nights are awesome. And I'm not talking about Date Night, the movie (although your date night could include Date Night, laughter is also awesome.) They can consist of something as...

relationships romantic relationships

Take Charge of Your Life.

February 4, 2016

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Beauty Fitness Motivation

Food That Boost Metabolism.

February 4, 2016

Motivation Training Yoga

BMI: Time to Measure Up.

February 4, 2016

Motivation Nutrition

BMI: Time to Measure Up.

February 4, 2016

Motivation Nutrition

The Benefits of Detoxification

February 2, 2016

Beauty Nutrition Training

You Don’t Need Another Excuse

February 2, 2016

Beauty Nutrition Yoga

A Guide to Eating Well

February 2, 2016

Health Nutrition Yoga

Eat Right, Be Bright.

February 1, 2016

Workout Excuses, Busted.

February 1, 2016

Hundreds of Recipes

February 1, 2016

Best Fitness Foods.

February 1, 2016

A healthy outside starts from the inside.

— Robert Urich

February 1, 2016

Health and Wellness.

February 1, 2016

Health and Wellness.

February 1, 2016

Be an Inspiration.

February 1, 2016

Creativity, Health

Integrative Health.

February 1, 2016

Flexibility & Strength.

February 1, 2016

Healthy Snacks.

February 1, 2016

Grown By Nature.

February 1, 2016

Beauty Lifestyle Training

Checking in on my New Year’s “Un-Resolution”

January 27, 2016

My "Un-Resolution": I Didn't Improve One Damn Thing. As the month comes to a close, I'm wondering how many of you kept your New Year's Resolutions. Maybe some are still at it. Maybe some lasted a week, and then your life got busy. Maybe, you were like me, and it was just another day and you are good enough the way you are and you are just going to "keep on, keeping on". Whatever the case may be. Good for you. Day-to-day living can be stressful. I feel like most days, if I didn't scream in my head at least fifty times some swear word, it wasn't that bad of a day. I just keep taking one day at a time, try to be positive, handle problems when...

resolution

It takes two weeks to create a habit

January 26, 2016

Health, Lifestyle

Start small. Make small changes. New Year's resolutions are difficult to maintain. Gym rats always say that January is the suckiest month to be in the gym. All of the newbies with resolutions clog the gym arteries with their good intentions. February 1st, they can breathe again because everyone has given up. Its getting close to February 1st, have you given up on your health goal? Any habit, based on scientific studies, takes 2 weeks to create. During the first two weeks, its a choice. After two weeks, it has become a habit. So start small. Replace one soda a day with water. Replace one crappy snack with an apple. Take a ten minute brain break and walk outside, or even stroll around your building. Meditate for 2 minutes...

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

DIY Coconut Salt Scrub Recipe

January 22, 2016

doTerra representative, Jane Morba, offers us a recipe for a coconut salt scrub that can incorporate your favorite essential oils for glowing, more vibrant skin. What You Need: 1 cup organic virgin coconut oil 1 cup Pink Himalayan (or Epsom) salt 1/4 cup Fractionated Coconut Oil (may substitute grapseed oil) 15 drops of your favorite essential oil Directions: 1. Melt coconut oil in microwave or over a double boiler. 2. Once melted, remove from heat. 3. Add Fractionated Coconut Oil and Pink Himalayan Salt into melted coconut oil. 4. Stir until combined. 5. Add essential oils. 6. Let sit until coconut oil solidifies, stirring every 10 minutes. Tip: Put in refrigerator to speed up the cooling process. 7. Stir until well combined and store in an airtight container. 8. To use, rub on skin and rinse with warm water. - See...

Health

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

The Benefits of Detoxification

January 21, 2016

Beauty Training

Aromatherapy and Essential Oils 101

January 18, 2016

As I focus on my meditation practice and always look for new tools to engage in a deeper, more spiritual awareness, I find aromatherapy to be an essential instrument to my practice and overall daily living. But with so many brands, schools of thought, and opinions, how do we discern the true meaning and benefits of aromatherapy? Being new to aromatherapy, I’ve reached out to our Mind Key member Danielle Rose, whose expertise in aromatherapy and essential oils provides valuable information. The first question I asked her, and possibly the most important question when learning about essential oils, is what are they exactly? Additionally, how do you know we’re buying pure and authentic products? Danielle explains that essential oils are derived through distillation of plant material--usually the...

nature

Making Space: Your weight loss plateau

January 14, 2016

Health, Lifestyle

I was in a yoga class not that long ago… and I heard the instructor say something I hear over and over again in yoga classes… "Breathe space into your body, in between the bones and joints." Breathe… a key element to yoga and to life… but it was the "making space" that hit me this time. My weight is something I've struggled with since having children. Those few extra pounds reveal themselves in places I'd rather they not. Skimming Louise L. Hay's book, "You Can Heal Your Life," shows us where aches, pains, and even weight will settle when we mentally allow it. I won't tell you where my weight settles, because that will be too telling of my own personal demons… but I will say,...

Health mindfulness weight loss Yoga

Feel the Difference.

December 30, 2015

Energy, Health

Beauty Training

Food That Boost Metabolism

December 21, 2015

Energy, Health

Training Yoga

Holiday Season Stress? Yes, You’ve Got in Under Control

December 11, 2015

This month Mind Key will be sharing stories and tips for living in the moment with ease and brilliance this holiday. Inspirational author and motivational speaker, Azuka Zuke, provides encouragement and insights on how we can remain positive and present with our loved ones and the beauty of peace during even the most stressful moments this holiday.author Azuka Zuke * * * It’s holiday season again. A time when we get into the frenzy of celebrations. From holiday songs to decoration adorned houses lining streets of holiday shoppers. For some people, this is an exciting time. But for others, this can also be a tough time of year. We all want peace, beauty, mindfulness, happiness, strength and joy, but oftentimes...

holidays

Your most essential self with essential oils

November 20, 2015

I believe we all want to feel vibrant, healthy and express ourselves with our personal touch of creativity and beauty. We want to feel more abundant, seen, and loved. ~Jane Kamala Morba Jane Kamala MorbaMystic, photographer, Aromatherapy Wellness Advocate, storyteller and coach, Jane Morba believes we are all unique and each have important contributions to the world."It's important that we connect with our life force and sensuality to attract what we desire." Jane's mission is to encourage people to use earth based practices to heal body, mind and spirit, to balance the masculine and feminine qualities in our lives, and to support intimacy. She practices a blend of Buddhism, goddess feminine wisdom, Hinduism, and the school of yoga. She is a yoga teacher, trained in...

yoga

Finding healing for body, mind and soul at the Mind Key Winter Solstice Celebration

November 18, 2015

Barbara Steingas is an award-winning author, inspirational speaker and radiant life coach. She has written three books which share her tools of healing and wholeness through body, heart and spirit, drawing on her personal path of healing, and 30 years experience as a physical therapist. Her coaching, workshops and talks are designed to help you quickly identify the missing pieces to your personal healing puzzle, optimize your health and vitality, and live the radiant life you deserve.As a member of the Mind Key Community, Barbara will be joining us at the Winter Solstice Celebration this Saturday in West Milford, NJ. Visit www.mindkey.me/festivals to learn more about this day of free events, demonstrations, crafts, live music and open mic, and more for the entire family."I have...

Health inspiration reiki

Meet The Village Shaman at the Mind Key Winter Solstice Celebration 11/21/15

November 17, 2015

We are pleased to announce The Village Shaman as one of our vendors and healers at the Mind Key Winter Solstice Festival in West Milford, NJ this Saturday Today, Kieran of The Village Shaman shares The Village Shaman's philosophy and offerings:"The whole is more than the sum of its parts". ~ AristotleHolistic care addresses not only imbalances of the physical body, but encourages harmony within the entire being, body, mind and spirit. The Village Shaman believes that the best healing occurs within a partnership between client and practitioner, in which the client is educated and inspired to take an active part in sustaining their well-being in all aspects of life. Through a variety of modalities, we offer an opportunity to rediscover health, peace and empowerment....

herbalism

Sneek peek: The Mind Key Winter Solstice Celebration and holiday shop

November 16, 2015

This week we will be sharing the stories and offerings of vendors that will be joining us at the Mind Key Winter Solstice Celebration this Saturday, November 21st from 11:30-5 pm. There will be talks, live music, and a number of free events and demonstrations.Learn more about: The Village Shaman Living your most radiant lifeMuses with Scissors creativity for allEssential oils and goddess energyThe Winter Solstice Celebration is a day of vendors, music, talks and events for the entire family. Finish your holiday shopping early with our vendors, and with the Mind Key gift certificate, offering products and services to help you live your happiest, healthiest, most inspired life--the perfect gift for anyone ready to live their passion. Join us at Lindy Lake Manor house270 Maple Road,...

new jersey

30-Day Total Body Challenge

November 11, 2015

Fitness Health

In a Nutshell: All about the Darkness

October 26, 2015

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

Darkness has always been associated with the scary, frightening or evil. The light, on the other hand, seems to represent goodness, comfort and ease. Mind Key writer, Rebecca Godina sums it up in her blog Embrace the Dark, when she said: "We have been taught to fear the dark. After all, our myths inform us that is where the monsters lurk."But what of those peaceful moments at night? Those sweet dreams, or midnight trysts?Destruction is often represented by darkness, Rebecca said, and destruction represents change, and change can be scary. But it doesn't have to be this way."Imagine how much more painful the process of transformation would be if it was done in the full light of day," Rebecca said.After all, in Three Reasons to Love...

Flowers of Fall–Harvesting strength for body, heart and soul

October 14, 2015

As my all-time favorite season, spring seemed to hold the most award winning blooms. Fall is ordained by the leaves, spring is for the flowers. Not until I became an herbalist did I find a true appreciation for autumn flowers. Now my yard is full of goldenrod, queen ann's lace, evening primrose and flowering artemisia—plants I never gave much notice before. Each of these plants have their blessings and beauty in both the medicine cabinet as well as the garden. They are bright and cheery, and these attributes are mirrored in their emotional and physical benefits, perhaps to strengthen us for the winter ahead.Evening primrose She is known on the shelves for women's hormonal support. Evening primrose oil comes in coveted capsules, particularly for women going through...

BMI: Time to Measure Up

October 2, 2015

Motivation Nutrition

Take Charge of Your Life

September 15, 2015

Beauty Fitness

What is Raven Reiki?

August 19, 2015

One of the core values of Reiki is the notion that the healing does not come from the healer but moves through the healer from a universal energy source. In other words I am a conduit, a hollow bone. In Reiki there is no ego. I have known healers who become impressed with themselves, thinking they are healing their clients. Shortly their energy becomes depleted. The universe doesn't condone that notion and reacts accordingly.The other tougher concept is the necessity to forgive all those who have acted unkindly to you and ask for only the best for them. Hard to get up in the morning and ask for blessings even on those who have wronged...

What is Reiki?

August 18, 2015