When Religious Discrimination Hits Home

By Todd Berntson 

The past 24 hours have been almost surreal. I was sitting at the dinner table with some friends at an Indian restaurant when I received a call from my father that my cousin Brad was dead. Brad was four years older than me and had been my superhero while I was growing up. As a kid I used to tell my friends incredible tales about the amazing feats that my cousin could do, as though he was some mythical figure with superhuman powers.

Truth be told, in a lot of ways he kind of lived up to that. He was very good looking, smart, funny, incredibly strong, and was one of those guys that everybody liked. So, when I was told that Brad was dead, I was in shock. Unfortunately, that was only the beginning of the bad news.

A short time later, I received another call informing me that my father and I would not be allowed to attend Brad’s funeral because I was Wiccan and Brad’s wife didn’t want me to “pollute their church” with my evil presence. I was dumbfounded by this. Even as I write this, I still have a hard time believing that this really happened.

Does being Catholic mean that you cannot be accepting of other spiritual paths? What makes Wicca, which is one of the most gentle and forgiving spiritual paths, so “evil”? Would Jesus have barred me from saying goodbye to a deceased family member because I wasn’t Catholic?

Unfortunately, this is not the first time that this kind of thing had happened. Only four months prior, Brad’s father, Bruce, was found dead in a hotel room. When I attended his funeral at the church, most of the family would not even look at me or say hello. During the luncheon that followed the funeral service, I stood up to say a few kind words about my recently deceased uncle. As I looked out at the faces in the crowd, I could see several people looking at me as though I was some kind of leper. There was an almost palpable look of disgust on many of their faces. As we left, both my father and I commented on how unwelcomed we felt.

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Read the full article at: http://edgemagazine.net/2012/04/when-religious-discrimination-hits-home/

Longevity Expo - Free Tickets!

Finding freedom even in the most difficult moments

By Adyashanti 

When I was in my mid-twenties, I had a beautiful dog. I’m sure some of you have had pets that you deeply loved. I had this wonderful dog, and he was a constant companion. He went with me everywhere. Any room I went to in the house, he followed me. Anywhere I went in the car, he was my companion. We were together almost all the time.

And then he developed a form of epilepsy, at which time I took him to the vet. They tried to give him medication to treat it, but the question of how much medication to take or not take is sort of an art. We were just starting to treat him, and after a few weeks, I came home, and he was in the midst of an epileptic fit. And the fit didn’t stop. It went on and on and on, and there was no way to save him. Eventually, he ended up having to be put down.

This was one of the saddest moments in my life. Prior to that moment, I’d experienced some amount of grief in my life. I’ve had grandparents die and friends die, and sometimes people very close to me die, but I was never affected like I was when I lost this great companion. I found myself in deep sorrow — a sorrow that I couldn’t really understand, because I’d never experienced it before.

One afternoon, some friends, family and I went out in the back yard for a final goodbye. I had my dog’s collar and a few other things that had belonged to him, and we put them in a box. I had written out what I wanted to say, and as I began to read his eulogy, I began to weep — tears just started pouring out of my eyes. At some point, the grief was so immense that I decided to just completely give in to it. I completely let go into this great well of sorrow and grief.

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Read the full article at: http://edgemagazine.net/2012/04/finding-freedom-even-in-the-most-difficult-moments/

Embodied Leadership – Passion

By Julie Delene 

Second in a series

As a society, we value knowledge and information, which requires us to exist more in our heads than in our bodies. This causes us to focus on external results, rather than an internal view. Thus, we can get overly involved with affirming ourselves through our accomplishments, comparisons, and the opinions of others.

Embodied Leadership invites you to reverse this perspective and operate from a place of wisdom, peace, passion and purpose. Through practice you can create balanced movement between external and internal worlds.

There are five main principles of Embodied Leadership: Presence, Passion, Purpose, Partnership and Practice. Last month, we began with the first principle, Presence and Presencing. Presencing was introduced by Otto Scharmer from MIT. It means to be present and sensing by practicing “open mind, open heart, and open will.”

This month we are reviewing “open heart” practices to arrive at our second principle, Passion. Research from scientific evidence proves the importance of this position. In fact, the Institute of HeartMath uses instruments to measure the impact of one’s energy. They find when a person’s heart is open and available, their energy extends 8 feet beyond the body. This is far more impactful than when a person is closed, judgmental, cynical or fearful.

Further support comes from the Chinese proverb that states: “Nothing in the world is accomplished without passion.” And quantum physics has brought awareness to the fact that thoughts and emotions are energy. Therefore, this leads us to understand that heart-centered intentions can improve our effectiveness in both work and life.

How do we do this? I take the lead from my experience as a ballroom dance instructor, one of my passions. Often called “emotion in motion,” dance is a beautiful expression of passion, especially when combined with inspiring music. Sound improves whole-body connection and stimulates our heart. Further studies show that opening the heart improves brain function and overall strength. This is clearly demonstrated in dance.

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Read the full article at: http://edgemagazine.net/2012/04/embodied-leadership-passion/

Celebrate Your Life!

We Age From Our First Breath

By Lewis Richmond 

The emotional undertow of aging, I think, is a feeling of loss — loss of youth, loss of dreams, loss of possibility. This quality is what used to be referred to as mid-life crisis. Other phrases have come into vogue now — such as the cheery “60 is the new 40″ — but the undertow of such homilies is still loss.

Is there some way out of this sense of loss, some fresh point of view that assuages the pain of it? Actually, there is. Aging is not a matter of years — 40, 60, 80 — but of life process. Everything is aging, all the time. We age from our first breath. The problem is not aging per se, but our view of it.

It is natural to want to avoid pain and abide with pleasure. Even a sunflower wants to turn to the sun as much as possible. Why should it be otherwise? And yet, this pleasure bias does not really maximize our pleasure. Even pleasure turns to pain as it fades. Though we want to maximize gain and minimize loss, gain and loss are actually interwoven in each moment.

In teaching Zen meditation, I sometimes talk about breathing in terms of gain and loss. We breathe in and gain a new moment of life; we breath out and that moment is gone, never to return. This is how our life is.

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Find the full article at: http://edgemagazine.net/2012/04/we-age-from-our-first-breath/

Recipe: Chicken Verde

By Maggie Christopher 

A Gluten-free, Dairy-free Whole Food Recipe 

This chicken dish can simply be eaten over brown rice or you can roll the filling into enchiladas. These enchiladas can easily be frozen into serving-sized containers before baking. Using 4 small Serrano chilies makes this dish a medium spice, so adjust accordingly. Just a reminder: Start this recipe by baking the chicken covered at 425 for approximately 40 minutes.

Sauce

• 1 pound fresh tomatillos, husks removed
• 1 small onion, skins removed and ends trimmed
• 4 or 5 cloves garlic, peeled
• 4 Serrano chilies, seeds removed
• 1/4 cup tightly packed cilantro
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 cup organic chicken broth
• Sea salt to taste

Enchiladas 

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 teaspoons cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 small zucchini, diced small
• 2 cups chopped fresh spinach
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• 2 to 3 cups shredded cooked organic chicken (about 3 chicken breasts)
• Brown rice or whole grain wraps depending on how you’re preparing this dish.

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Oil a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish.

2. Sauce: Place all of the ingredients for the sauce in the blender and blend on high until smooth.

3. Filling: Heat a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil and diced onions for 5 minutes or until soft. Add the garlic, cumin and sea salt, and sauté another minute. Remove from heat. Add raw spinach, zucchini and cilantro. If making the chicken over rice, simply combine the shredded chicken with the veggie mixture and mix well with the sauce.

4. If making enchiladas, wrap the chicken mixture mixed with some sauce in a tortilla and then cover with additional green sauce. Cover with a lid or foil and bake 50 minutes or until sauce is bubbly. Serves 4-6.

Copyright © 2012 Maggie Christopher. All Rights Reserved.

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Find this recipe, and others like it at: http://edgemagazine.net/2012/04/recipe-chicken-verde/

Experiencing God

By Mother Clare Watts 

Experiences of God can occur over a very broad range of situations and circumstances. Many people feel God’s Presence with them when they ask for God’s help or support. Many also tune into a greater Consciousness, a Source and Intelligence when they are awed by nature’s beauty and diversity. Many are profoundly struck at a birth or a death of a loved one that there is clearly more than what we see here.

But, can you actually have a deep and personal relationship with God in which you feel, hear and come to know God?

Mystics of all religions have always sought to discover the way to actually experience God, directly and personally. Though they embrace different religious teachings and practices, some mystics from every tradition have found their way into the presence and direct experience of God. They left behind poems and treatises, songs and prayers attesting to the knowledge of God that they had acquired through their mystical encounters with their Creator. Though they may call the Creator different names, all found the same Creator when they traveled to the center of their beings. And all came out with very similar experiences and testimonials to what such an encounter does to the soul who embraces it.

Finding one’s way to God always starts by addressing the level of your will and your desire to undertake this journey. It will be quite different from simply feeling awe for God while watching a beautiful sunset. This journey will require that you become willing to make it the most important element in your life.

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Read the full article at: http://edgemagazine.net/2012/04/experiencing-god/

Angel Star Journeys

The Fine Art of False Identity

By Dr. Bridget Bagley 

What have you been saying to the world around you when you are asked “How old are you?” Did you give a comatose reply? Or do you rephrase the question to, “You ask how young I am?” instead of the knee-jerk response: “I am __ years old.” Our “I Am” statements are powerful self-fulfilling prophesies. Our chosen words become the sculpting tools that shape our future.

Write your own screenplay, commonly called “This is Your Life.” Become a conscious author. Next time you’re asked “How old are you?” be insanely honest and reply: “I’m ageless” or “I am 78 years young” or “My father says I must have been born yesterday! So, I guess I’m a few hours old” or “I am a year younger than I was this time last year” or simply sing “Youngerrr thaaann springtime ammm I.”

You don’t have to become a philosopher. Just become a prophet. Words are living things. The are constantly organizing the ethers that march before us with embossed thought-prints of our imagination. Your daydreams take shape when imbued with desire, and they run in front of the camera of your mind with fierce repetition. These frequent images will actualize into hard copy, i.e. your physical reality. It’s a Law of Life as predictable as gravity.

The truth is that Walt Disney, the great animation legend of Hollywood, surrounded himself with “Imagineers.” Do you identify yourself as “a senior” because you can cash in on Golden Years special discounts? Do you readily scramble for your AARP card and say the all-powerful statement “I am” followed by “over 62″ at every movie ticket box. Multiply this decree you speak about yourself publicly times the movies you go to annually and pat yourself on the back for your self-success in making yourself who you are today.

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Find the full article, and others like it at: http://edgemagazine.net/2012/04/the-fine-art-of-false-identity/

Ready to get your Shine on?

Minnetonka Animal Hospital

Positive change is physical, emotional and spiritual

By ONeal Hampton 

It’s a very thin line between wanting a change and making a change. My philosophy is that it’s never too late, no matter what your situation. When you start doing good things, your body, mind and spirit will respond.

My stated aim to pay it forward has been the blessings of a renewed life, and I am showing no signs of slowing — not even after two total knee replacements in the last two years.

In the fall of 2010, I had the amazing opportunity to go on the hit television show “The Biggest Loser” on NBC, thanks to my daughter, who started the audition process that eventually got us on the show. After 30 years of being obese, my life was changed forever. It is hard for me to sit on this blessing, which is one of the reasons I want to inspire others.

You can’t fix anything until you know what’s broken. When you take the time to do this, you’ll be open to being healed.

I recognize my life-changing influences and pivotal people. Two essential people who impacted my life were my mother and my wife, Sarah. Sarah has been the Rock of Gibraltar and my mother instilled in me a foundation of spirituality.

The O’Neal Hampton Wellness Foundation has been one of my critical choices. I’m operating this foundation from the heart. I know that low self-worth can be a barrier to change. When you’re in the deepest darkest hole, you don’t know who to reach out to, because you’re afraid people may not understand what’s going on in your head. Now, you’ll be able to reach out to someone at the foundation, and you’ll get a response that may spark a change in you because someone cares and totally understands what you are going through.

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Find this article, and others like it at: http://edgemagazine.net/2012/04/positive-change-is-physical-emotional-and-spiritual/

All your questions answered...

Evolution Astrology

Letters to the Editor

By Staff Reports 

Dear Editor,
I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciated your article about your sister in February’s issue of The Edge [read here]. I have a younger sister who has Down Syndrome and I know exactly what you are talking about. She is love personified through and through. She has such a gift and she helps me to focus on the good. I am so thankful for her. — Andrea Thelin, Akeley, MN

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Dear Editor,
What a gift the “special needs people” who do not have all the answers demonstrate to us in their ability to be with whatever life’s challenges present. The interesting thing is that special needs children and people do not see what so-called normal people see. They see what normal people do not see. Yet, as they see what normal people do not, they don’t have to tell another how they should be or who they should be or how they should act or what they should believe or what is or what is not. They just demonstrate they are not just loving, but unconditionally accepting also.

Does genuine and authentic really exist on this planet? “Special Needs People” show us it does! The problem with so-called normal people is they tend to choose when to be genuine and authentic and who to be genuine and authentic towards. So-called normal people say one thing and then do another. They say they are interested and open from the heart and mind, and then demonstrate they are not being honest with another or their own Self and demonstrate it by their actions and choices.

It is easy to be open, loving and accepting of a “Special Needs Person” because of what they are to us. So I present to anyone who reads this: Is this not another example of “Pay It Forward”? So my question to each person is: “Are you paying it forward?” If you are not, what are you waiting for?Be the example, and demonstrate it in your life, in every moment! The buck stops with you. If all you do is receive and keep it for your Self, pay if forward, even if another looks at you like you are crazy or out of your mind. “Special Needs People” live genuine and authentic lives. Do you? —Rick Schuster, Oakdale, MN

Copyright © 2012 Staff Reports. All Rights Reserved.

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Find these, and other articles like this at: http://edgemagazine.net/2012/04/letters-to-the-editor-4/

FREE Workshop: Ancestral Hawaiian wisdom teachings

Workshop: Ancestral Hawaiian wisdom teachings

By Staff Reports 

Inette Miller 'Imaikalani and 'Iokepa Hanalei 'Imaikalani

When Inette Miller — a single mother, former war correspondent, nice Jewish girl, and respected journalist — traveled to Hawaii for a week’s vacation, little did she dream that she would stay for a lifetime. And not a lifetime of luxury in paradise, either, but a grueling physical and spiritual journey that would tax every desire and concept she ever held dear.

For on that vacation she met ‘Iokepa Hanalei ‘Imaikalani, guardian of the Aboriginal Hawaiian Culture, who was “living rough” on a beach in Kaua’i and seeking a way to bring his deep insights to his own people and to the world.

‘Iokepa, she soon learned, had given up all trappings of his former life — an upscale home, fancy cars, and multi-million-dollar construction business — to heed the inner call of his ancestral Grandmothers to assume his role in an ancient prophecy.

“What do you mean, your dead grandmothers spoke to you?” Inette asked him, initially incredulous. But as ‘Iokepa related his own story, Inette felt similarly called to join him.

Perhaps you feel called to hear the rest of their remarkable story? Inette Miller ‘Imaikalani, the author of Grandmother’s Whisper — Ancient Voices, Timeless Wisdom: A Modern Love Story, will be joined by her now-husband, ‘Iokepa, for an evening of authentic and experiential teachings of the Hawaiian Grandmothers, ‘Iokepa’s traditional matrilineal culture.

The event will be from 7-9 p.m. Friday, April 20, at Eye of Horus Metaphysical, 3012 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis (just south of Lake Street on Lyndale Avenue). Admission is free.

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Read the full article at: http://edgemagazine.net/2012/04/workshop-ancestral-hawaiian-wisdom-teachings/

Tomorrow :: Moonlight & Magic! -- Workshops, Demo's & More!

Certified Medical Intuitive

Incubating Your Dream…

By Meredith Smith 

Is there a dream tugging at your coattails in which you are having a hard time connecting or communicating with? Do you feel the dream offers a message you are unable to receive? Or maybe there is a question or issues you need an answer to and you are hoping your dream world will provide you guidance.

I have been a passionate vivid dreamer since childhood; it is an intuitive gift I lovingly embrace. However, there are some nights I wake up from a dream when I have lost a detail or two I feel is very important; or there is a question which startles me left unanswered from a dream. When I am feeling this way, I know I need to sit with the dream and let it wash over my body, mind and spirit. After a day of embracing the pieces of the dream, I take it into incubation to unravel the missing images or questions left unanswered.

I have developed my own ritual of incubating a dream; I am not reinventing the wheel, rather I am manifesting a style that works with me. I have accepted this as my sacred ritual whenever I am given a dream too overwhelming for me to translate.

To incubate your dream, I suggest sitting with the dream from which you need or want more answers. You may have to do this several nights in a row, and maybe up to two weeks for those who do not recall their dreams often. If your question is not being answered or a resolution for an issue is not appearing for you, I suggest you take time some down time after a week before continuing on with the other steps.

Some dreams have clear meanings; some dreams take longer to interpret only because there is healing involved, or because messages given to a dreamer are not being received openly. Do not get discouraged! All dreams have a translation special to the dreamer; sometimes the meaning comes in pieces and belongs to a larger puzzle the dreamer needs to spend time fitting together.

Set your Intention. The most important part of dream incubation is setting an intention. Be clear on your intention, not vague; the clearer your intention, the more likely your dream will be easier to translate. What would you like your dreaming mind to weigh in on? Example intention questions: “What is it I need clarity about?” And, “What in my life needs attention?”

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Read the full article at: http://edgemagazine.net/2012/04/incubating-your-dream/

Grandmothers Whisper Talk, Book Signing & Chanting!

Spirit and the Personal Trainer

By Catherine Ayano Nixon 

Can working with a personal trainer not only improve your health and body image but also contribute to spiritual development, leading to continual peace and happiness?

“Oh, absolutely,” says personal trainer, Holly Margl, who trains at Flex Appeal in St. Paul. “The key is to be in the moment, while you’re running or exercising…not to dwell on negatives but to be aware of the good things going on in the present, like how good your body feels or your beautiful surroundings. That’s when those moments of enlightenment come.”

But for many people, it’s hard to get started on the path to physical health. Motivation is lacking even when we recognize that we’re not happy with our present physical state. Our society suffers from chronic low self-esteem and lack of confidence, says Margl. A lot of us think that we don’t deserve to feel good about ourselves. Many of us are overly critical of ourselves and never feel we are good enough. For many people, Margl recommends therapy to jump start motivation. To be overweight, chronically ill and unable to enjoy physical activity is not merely a physical problem, but it has deeply rooted causes in hurts and habits just below the surface of consciousness.

Margl’s education, training and personal history qualify her to make these observations. She was not a physically active child in her youth, being the skinny kid who got picked last in team sports. She hated physical education until she was 14 years old and had to take a weight-training class at school. That activity awakened a new confidence in her. From then on, she continually sought that feeling through exercise, taking her weight training to competition levels.

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Read the full article, and others like it at: http://edgemagazine.net/2012/04/spirit-and-the-personal-trainer/

Connect with Loved Ones on the Other Side

We have answers to your health challenges

Hormones for a Healthy Heart

By Gregory Pippert, M.D. 

Improving Your Heart Health with Bioidentical Hormones

You probably don’t have to be told that your heart health is important. But what exactly can you do to reduce your risk of heart disease — or even take steps to improve your cardiovascular health? And what effect do hormones have on your heart?

Hormones have potentially beneficial effects on the heart for both men and for women. For men, low testosterone has been found to be an independent predictor of increased risk of heart disease. That means that, for men, if you have a low testosterone level, then your risk of developing heart disease is greater than men who fall within a normal range. And that’s regardless of any other risk factors you may have. So, that alone — having a balanced testosterone level — is certainly an advantage towards cardiovascular health.

Testosterone has other, indirect advantages for heart disease in men, as well. If a man has an adequate testosterone level, he is likely to have more energy and improved lean muscle mass. He’s also more likely to exercise, more likely to maintain a healthy weight and lose that mid-abdominal fat, which, in turn, decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease. So, there seems to be both direct and indirect effects of hormones on the heart for men. But it’s not just for men. There are now studies which have shown that both men and women with congestive heart failure can benefit from testosterone therapy.

Hormones also have direct effects on heart health for women, as well. Bioidentical estrogen seems to decrease the risk of plaque formation in the coronary arteries — a leading cause of atherosclerosis. Estrogen and progesterone also increase cardiovascular health by decreasing cardiovascular ischemia, which is basically heart straining. Several studies have shown that when women use bioidentical estrogen and have symptoms of heart disease, their ability to exercise without creating that heart straining is increased. And that means they can exercise longer without causing the heart to strain. That effect is increased even further when you add bioidentical progesterone, as well.

Cholesterol and hormones
Hormones also have an effect on cholesterol, especially in women. What we’ve seen is that, with women, bioidentical estrogen has shown beneficial effects on both the good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. That means that when you use bioidentical estrogen, your bad cholesterol (LDL) tends to decrease, and your good cholesterol (HDL) tends to increase. And that effect is also shown with bioidentical progesterone.

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Read the full article, and others like it at: http://edgemagazine.net/2012/04/hormones-for-a-healthy-heart/

Colon Hydrotherapy

HU can heal your heart!

23 (Cheap!) Activities for Your Loved One with Alzheimer’s

By Nataly Rubinstein Leave a Comment

Many caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia think that they have to spend a lot of money to occupy their loved one’s daytime hours. Not true. There are inexpensive and effective alternatives.

If you are a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, you have a lot of responsibilities, ranging from cook to nurse to housekeeper to chauffeur, and more. While those tasks aren’t always easy (far from it!), you know how to handle doctors’ appointments and how to assist your loved one with getting ready for bed. Sometimes, it’s actually all the unscheduled time in between that presents one of the biggest challenges! Because many caregivers find the roles of “entertainer” and “social coordinator” to be the most difficult, they tend to shell out quite a bit of money for options like adult day care.

I have found that it’s easier than you think to help your loved one to feel happy and fulfilled at home.

Everyone needs stimulation, as well as to feel that they’re contributing to society and the family — especially a person who is suffering from memory loss. These individuals often appear to be disinterested…but that’s because there’s nothing productive for them to do!

Personal experience
I speak from firsthand knowledge. As a licensed clinical social worker and geriatric care manager, I have more than 26 years of professional and personal experience. I was my mom’s primary caregiver for 16 years after she was diagnosed with dementia.

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Read the full article and others like it at: http://edgemagazine.net/2012/04/23-cheap-activities-for-your-loved-one-with-alzheimers/

Therapeutic Coaching

Sciatica? Back Pain?

The Joy of Collaboration

By Psychics in the Cities 

Working with others can be a challenge, as well as rewarding. Working and owning a company with three women can be even more challenging and rewarding.

Having worked together for more than four years, Psychics in the Cities does just that. Challenges are being able to lead three separate lives, as well as finding time for meetings, events, classes and appearances. Agreeing on wording, color schemes, prices and what color of lipstick to wear are never ending.

You start out from scratch.

We were given a vision of who we were to be. The Universe guided our thoughts to the dream — our business. Coming up with a name. Putting together funds. Endless gatherings at coffee houses and restaurants. Business cards and logo needing to be created. Our first gig at a Psychic Fair at Lake Harriet Spiritual Community. Getting to know each other, forgiving shortcomings, understanding our individual strengths and weaknesses as we flew forward into the business world. Falling in love with who we are and what we do.

As in all things in life, we experience changes, shifts. We were not immune to this. As time went on, we dropped petals in what we thought was a perfect flower. We started out with five lovely ladies, dropping down to four and then to three. What was the universe telling us? We could move on as The Power of Three. We could still exist and still have what we started out with. Sadness in losing a part of us is real, but we continued and remained strong.

We have found when we work together as The Power of Three that we bring more compelling and exciting messages from Divine to enlighten the journey of those who seek us. Such are the rewards of being a collaboration of three.

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Read the full article, and others like it at: http://edgemagazine.net/2012/04/the-joy-of-collaboration/

Achieve Harmony between your mouth & body

Community Building through Collaboration

By Deanna Reiter 

While staying at my friend’s house in California, I overheard her daughter’s friend on the phone saying, “Collaboration is over, Mother!”

I thought, Wow, that’s a big word for a high school junior! And then I thought, Too bad she’s not willing to work with her mom anymore.

I laughed long and hard when I later found out that “Collaboration” was an after-school study hall program that the girls participated in once each week. It had ended about ten minutes before the phone conversation I’d overheard.

The story sticks with me years later not only because of the humorous twist it took in my mind, but also because it reminds me of how much I enjoy collaboration with others. I enjoy the subtle ways we collaborate — with other drivers as we navigate the highways, with friends and colleagues on new ideas and projects and with neighbors to maintain a safe community.

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Find the full article, and others like it at: http://edgemagazine.net/2012/04/community-building-through-collaboration/

Lead. Influence. Heal mind, body, spirit.

Reiki by Bev

Creating Collaboratively

By Michelle Glaser and Snow Angel 

Michelle Glaser and Snow Angel

Michelle: I first met Snow Angel (Sarah to me and her friends and family) in 2008 and first learned of the chakra mirror math at the Forgiveness Festival she held that April at Lake Harriet Spiritual Community (LHSC).

Snow Angel: Yes, that night we learned that we share a love of Michael Jackson and moonwalking, so we often break into “Man in the Mirror.” Michelle actually can moonwalk!

Michelle: At that time, I knew that I wanted to do something with my classical piano training but wasn’t sure what. My wife, Rowan, encouraged me to compose original music, and my first album, … And the Piano Fell in Love, was born in January 2009.

Snow Angel: I went to the live performance of the album at LHSC that same month and it was fantastic. While Michelle played the song “Daybreak,” it felt as though waves of light and sound were washing over me, like an auric shower of cleansing, healing light — and sound. I realized she was a conduit for divine love expressed as sound waves and that her music could open the heart chakra.

Michelle: I went on to record three more albums, Between Time and Dance, Trance & Romance in 2010, and Co-creating with the Divine: Piano Improvisations in 2011. Both tracks on that last album were recorded in one take as I co-created with the Universe for twelve minutes, letting the divine come through my heart and into my hands.

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Find the full article, and others like it at: http://edgemagazine.net/2012/04/creating-collaboratively/

Hypnotherapy works on Body, Spirit & Mind!

Raising the Consciousness

Experience Insight, Growth and Healing by finding your own inner wisdom