05 - MARCI Winter 07

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by

LINDA MITCHELL-DOMINGUEZ Founder, HMN

ay good-bye to another year; store the memories with

struggle with balance and slowing down so we can bring

The HOLISTIC MENTORSHIP NETWORK

This is a perfect time of year to gather with family and friends and to remember the small and simple treasures of life. We should look into the eyes of a young child and discover our own inner child that is yearning to play.

So, put away your to-do list, even if it’s for just this moment, listen for the small, still voice that is calling

pages of MARCI dur-ing the past year, and the Winter Edition is no different. I believe MARCI continues to bloom beautifully into an expression of what this Alternative Field holds closest to their heart. And yet, even though we talk the talk of yin and yang, if you are anything like me, you’ll find that we

you home to the most valuable gift you can give or receive. Like all the other seasons, the arti-cles that fill the pages of our Winter Edition have inspired and touched me in a way that has helped me to remember the im-portance of not only the work I am here to do, but my presence in this world.

S those of other years gone by. How much time do we spend chasing our dreams, to only find that, if we stood still long enough, our dreams would have a chance to catch up with us?

I have been so inspired by the articles that have graced the

more “good stuff” into our lives and into the lives of others.

My husband has shared a poem from one of his own such moments from years ago...

Winter Campsite

The sun rises on a fresh woodland snowfall,

Glistens like a silver sequined Blanket of Silence.

The animals whisper, the crows behave.

A red squirrel sits quietly In wonderment. . . .

Morning Vespers done, The Hemlock shakes it’s

shoulders, Sheds it’s white blanket,

Stretches. The red-bellied woodpecker starts

his work; Tap Tap Tap…Tap Tap Tap

I roll the snow from my bag and rise,

Make ready to walk. Perhaps West today with the Sun.

May your Holidays and New Year be

filled with such simplicity and wonderment.

Love & Peace

Always~ Linda & George

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Our Vision To strengthen and support the community of holistic professionals.

Our Mission Statement To create a unified community of compassionate holistic practitioners that will contribute to enhancing our profession and ourselves by providing a supportive space to share, learn,

teach, grow, and lead.

Our Purpose

The Holistic Mentorship Network supports the Holistic Professional, as well as the Community by providing the space to network, build a referral base, mentor and support

our colleagues, promote community awareness and education of alternative services, meet clients, and hear a great Guest Speaker.

A Community of Holistic Professionals

Newsletter Contributors

Charlie Behm, CMT Theresa Flynn, NCTMB, LMT Tamsin V. Metzler, BSW, CSW

Mirinisa H. Myers Susan Read

Linda Reiher, APNC William Seifried, MA, LPC

Ernie Torres Anelyn Tortorello

Stephen Tortorello

Gregg Taylor (Editor)

Inside This Issue:

Reflection of Our Fall Issue....................................

Winter Provides the VISUAL..................................

Philippine Christmas Memories............................

The Silva Method and THE SECRET.....................

Looking Back .........................................................

A New Old Tradition...............................................

A Year in Review....................................................

3 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues, Naturally.........

“Reflections”..........................................................

Literary Corner (Poetry and Verse)..............................

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A Reflection of

Our Fall Issue

I just have to sing the praises of Cranial Sacral therapy.

My child Henri has learning disa-bilities, and has ADD. I have had him on every medication for the disorder. He has also had every severe side effect from these medicines. It had even come to a point when he developed a neurological tic ---- so severe that it disrupted the classroom. The neurologist prescribed another drug to calm down the tic. This drug dropped his blood pressure so low that he could not stand up. Needless to say, I decided to take him off all the medication for his ADD and treat through diet and more holistic methods instead. It was the best thing I could have done. I had heard about Cranial Sacral therapy from a Holistic Nurse, and then

read an article on it, and even did some research on the inter-net. Through the Mind and Body Institute at Morristown Memorial Hospital, I was introduced to Linda Dominguez, a wonderful therapist trained in this special technique.

I was skeptical at first, but then realized that I had to give it a try. And, after the second session, I could see the difference in Henri. He had always had trouble put-ting his thoughts on paper, and I would have to be constantly over him, encouraging his writing. This time, I left him alone and he filled up the entire paper with his thoughts (without me having to be there to redirect him.) Since then, his teachers have also not-iced he is better focused. With regular therapy treatment, he did well on tests and assignments.

I highly recommend Cranial Sacral therapy treatment to parents who have children who suffer from ADD, and want an alternative to the traditional medication.

It’s safe and effective... and there are no side effects like those you get with drugs. ------------ LR


from LINDA REIHER

APNC

by SUSAN READ How often have we sat back and lamented, “Ah, if only this life came with a manual!”

As I ponder the idea myself, I think of all the manuals I’ve tried to read. I recall how often they have left me doubtful, discour-aged, and dubious of their nature. I question their usefulness. Chock full of extraneous details, scary warnings and rigid rules,

(not to mention the deluge of actual instructions written in some techie lingo that you have to read fifteen times before final-ly arriving at the conclusion that you need to already know how to do something before you look up how to do it.) So…an actual ‘manual for life’? Thanks, but I’ll pass; I’d probably wind up arguing with the author, anyway. Yet, deep down inside, where truth becomes tangible, I

feel life does come with a man-ual, (of sorts)...a novel destined to become a classic...open and vulnerable in its simplicity; not a single superfluous detail, and yet one which we are free to edit ourselves! We are born with the title on our tongues and, although the choice of when to read it is up to us as individuals, bound in time, it remains universal and omnipresent. Like the air, it surrounds us outwardly, but yet it’s deeply internal, grounded through millenniums of exist-ence, and yet transient, chang-ing with every beat of our heart,

continued on next page

WINTER PROVIDES THE VISUAL

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WINTER PROVIDES THE VISUAL continued

every thought and feeling we have, and with every season of our being. But some of us (like me) need the ‘visual’. I need a manual with pictures! And winter (a recurring chap-ter) provides some of the best! To the human eye, pictures are made visible only through contrast. Without contrast, how would we know one color from another, distinguish near from far, dark from light, or brilliant from dull? Our minds may play the major role in our emotions, but without contrast it would be difficult to deter-mine if something makes us happy or sad, empty or full, depressed or downright giddy. Contrast is a gift in the world of the material----- a tool with-out which we’d likely wind up being a tribe of colorless, one-dimensional, robotic beings walking the planet (with an attitude) and tripping over our own feet.

Like any great work of art, winter paints with contrast, and is capable of affecting us both externally and internally. On its palette, a thousand colors----so vivid in their naked-ness, that our minds filter them as black and white. Envision, if you will, the trees in winter...somewhat somber looking, stripped bare of their leaves, dark and skeletal in appearance…almost depres-sing. Now, recall the artistry present in the contrast of these moody, unadorned

trees standing tall against the backdrop of a deep blanket of the purest white. There’s a cer-tain beauty there, and perhaps those lines are meant to be read between.

How often have we despised the winter for its bitter cold and then stepped outside only to be refresh-ed and energized by the crisp northern air? A heavy storm can cripple our frantic pace for sure but how often do our souls get the time to totally absorb the exquisite symmetry of a single snowflake?

We curse the season’s dark-ness. Like a rude houseguest, it comes too early and stays too late! But we don’t cherish the nights when we were awakened by the moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow, giving the luster of mid-day to objects below?


And let’s not forget the sheer inconvenience of having to take a day off from work be-cause we‘re snowed in and given the chance to curl up in a blanket with a good book, or just be in the moment, and hear the utter silence of snow falling?

Winter also brings the holi-days, complete with stars and lights that twinkle...we’re often stunned at how quickly they arrive (apparently, time does fly ---- even if you’re not having fun.) But ready or not, holidays always get here right on sched-ule, and regardless of which holiday a person chooses to embrace. It’s usually a time for celebration, for remember-ing loved ones, for peace and inner reflection. But alas, it also seems the time for fight-ing crowds, frustrating traffic, and a rip-roaring undercurrent of impatience smack-dab in the middle of the supreme pinnacle of consumerism. More mildly put, it becomes a time when we often forget continued on next page

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continued

who and what we are, the proverb-ial fall off the choo-choo train to tranquility. And what about the New Year? We get to start over! The chance for a new beginning! Finally, we get to rid ourselves of all those nasty little personal habits that irritate us. Whew!-----What a relief!-----out with the old, and in with The New. And all the wintry visuals can af-fect us internally, as well. They can stir up an actual conflict in our emotions. The question is (as it always is with emotions), which one will we allow to take over? We do have a choice. That is a great gift…the ability to choose. At any point in time, we get to decide how we feel, and, beyond that, how we react. We either feed a feeling, or we push it down deep where we don’t have to deal with it at that moment. Upon examina-tion, sometimes we realize the feeling wasn’t very useful in the first place, so we release the energy and it evaporates. We make all these decisions in an instant, mostly without total aware-ness. The point is, if we allow it, winter lets us view from many angles and often in slow-motion ...the contrasts (conflicts) present in the ways we want to live our lives versus the ways in which we actually live them, and these soft reminders can often become sharp reflections, especially if we have been sidestepping our options to choose differently. So, with manual in mind, I ask myself…which thoughts will I allow to engulf my being this winter?

Which emotions will I make soup stock out of? And I won-der…couldn’t I at least mimic the way I truly prefer to live my life, even if it may feel disingen-uous, or phony at first because I’ve gotten comfy in my old ways? The choice is mine. But, I’ve a favor to ask. If you should see me soon in a crowd-ed place, and it seems as if I’m flustered and ignoring you, or if you’re behind me on some express line and I have twelve items instead of ten and you find yourself quickly approach-ing the self-imposed limit of your patience, I’m asking that you forgive me. It’s not all that hard, really. Look into my eyes and understand that I may have forgotten who or what I am. If I should notice you and smile, will you smile back? Will a moment of silent knowing, an instant of extending and receiv-ing Light pass between us? I’m willing to bet my last dollar that it will.

This season, please also remember (and in doing so, remind me) that deep down inside, where truth really is tangible, that all I really want is for both of us to grasp the opportunity to actually hear the silence of snow falling and ex-perience the deep, quiet peace in a glorious winter so willing to provide the pictures.

Perhaps we DO know how to do something before we look up how to do it. Perhaps the simple knowledge that we are all co-authors of the book of life gives us not only the ability,

but the foresight to choose our words, our thoughts, and our actions with awareness.

Namaste*, my fellow scribes! ------------ SR

Susan Read, a life-long seeker, is co-owner of Peaceful Paths, an interesting little store dedicated to Oneness and finding the peace within all paths.

Peaceful Paths is located at 7 High St., Butler, NJ 07405 and can be reached at 973-283-9444 or by email: [email protected]. You can also visit them on their website: www.peacefulpaths.com. Peaceful Paths is a HMN Member

below (from left) Susan, Vic, and Pari.

*Namaste: noun, ancient San-

skrit. Commonly used in Hindu culture as both greeting and part-ing, profoundly conveyed through a simple bow with hands clasped at the heart, meaning, “I honor the place in you where the entire Uni-verse resides. I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace. I honor the place within you where, if you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.”


WINTER PROVIDES THE VISUAL

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.peacefulpaths.com/

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Philippine Christmas Memories by MIRINISA H. MYERS

is at home, where members of the household make the parols, or in schools where children were taught the craft. The parol symbolizes the Star of Bethle-hem, which led the Three Wise Men to the Christ child.

In certain parts of the country, parol contests are held each year, and the lanterns judged most beautiful, in their respec-tive categories, are awarded prizes and exhibited. Aside from the five-pointed star, other parol shapes include hexagons, cubes, and spheres. In December, one can see them hanging outside houses, or prominently display-ed in churches; they also decor-ate poles lining the streets of cities and provincial towns. During this time of year, the mornings are cool and the nights are clear. Everywhere a cozy, festive mood pervades, bringing with it the promise of joy and contentment. As the season progresses, the flurry of city life increases, while in the country, hopeful farmers watch as the

In the Philippines, the Christmas season begins on December 16th and ends on January 6th. December 16th is the first of the nine-day simbang gabi (night mass) devotional that culminates on noche buena (Christmas eve). January 6th is the religious ob-servance, commemorating the magi, Melchor, Gaspar, and Bal-thazar. Christmas preparations draw families together, and those who have the time and inclination make their own star-shaped parol (from the Spanish word farol, meaning lantern).

An assortment of thin, translu-cent paper, glue, a generous length of twine, and different lengths of bamboo sticks are ingredients needed for the task. The gathering of kinfolk to pro-duce this wonderful work of art has become, in a number of families, an honored tradition.

Parol-making is a folk art with roots in the Mexican piñata. The practice, imported from Italy by Spain around the 13th century, was first brought to the Spanish colony of Mexico, and then to the Philippines. For most Filipinos, the first exposure to parol-making

rice stalks lengthen and grow heavy with grain.

Hours before daybreak, devotees of simbang gabi (celebrated at the predawn hour) drowsily pre-pare for mass. Alone, or in groups, they journey to church; the chilly temperature outdoors wiping away the last traces of sleep.

Within the church, votive candles in red glass jars cast a warm glow as the priest recites the invocations. At the front altar, can be found antique, hand carved wooden figures of Mary and Joseph, the angels, the shepherds, and the lambs looking upon an empty manger.

Around the church grounds, enterprising vendors sell puto bumbong, a glutinous cake

made from grated purple yam steamed inside small bamboo cylinders. The rolls, laid on rectangles of banana leaves, are continued on next page


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Philippine Christmas Memories

continued

smeared with margarine and then topped with sugar and freshly shredded coconut. Served with newly brewed salabat (ginger tea), the cake always proves a perfect early morning repast.

During the day, the young and the old attend to their various duties. At night, Christmas songs drift across towns sung by merry carolers. The melodies are fam-iliar, some recalling the ancient villancico of Spain, or the glad-some carols of America. If you happen to peek through a win-dow, you may see the belen (nativity tableau) gracing the most important room of the house and, underneath the Christmas tree, the gifts lay waiting.

In the open markets, parol of all shapes and sizes are on sale. And in many stores, native and imported foods are offered, like luscious red grapes, golden deli-cious apples, Japanese pears, Chinese chestnuts, hard candies from England, chocolate from Holland, and homegrown fruits and delicacies.

The morning before Christmas, harried mothers and grandmo-thers prepare leche flan and other sweets, and dishes reserved for special occasions: adobo, mor-con, and relleno. In the backyards roast the fatted pigs on red-hot charcoal fires. Inside dwellings, the rooms are dusted and cleaned, and the floors waxed and polished. At dusk, the parol light is turned on, as a beacon in the dark.

On Christmas Eve, parents and children, in their finest garments, attend the midnight mass of sim-bang gabi. The church, over-flowing with the faithful is ablaze with colors and light. The manger now holds a Christ child with a golden halo above its head. The priest, in golden vestments is at-tended by acolytes in red and white robes. The censer jingles, and grayish-black smoke ascends and dissipates, leaving the heavy, fragrant smell of incense. The choir sings the most beloved and sacred songs of Christmas as the congregation joins in. In every home, the holiday fare is spread on the dining room table.


All the relatives gather around a banquet prepared with love and thanksgiving for blessings received. There are those who partake of bread and white cheese (made from carabao’s milk), while others dine on lechon (roasted pig). Yet, the sentiment is uni-versal-----family togetherness and the celebration of a peace on earth and good will towards men.

The young ones try to stay awake, thinking of presents to be opened. The grown-ups sip their tea or coffee, and I, sitting amongst the people I love, think, here, on this wondrous night, is the fulfillment of that promised joy and contentment.

------------ MHM Pictured below, from left to right: My sister’s husband (Emilio Naz-ario) on the bass, our good friend Bayani de Leon with the guitar, my sister Amor holding a bandur-ria, myself with the laud, and my husband (Stewart Myers) with a bandurria.

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THE SILVA METHOD and THE SECRET

by ERNIE TORRES

During the past few months, there has been a tremendous uproar on television about a DVD called “The Secret.” Even Oprah Winfrey dedicated two of her shows to this topic. The core of this secret is the use of the Law of Attraction which, in es-sence, states that you attract into your life whatever you think about.

Interestingly enough, forty-one years ago, Jose Silva, the found-er of the Silva Method, brought to light sixteen specific tech-niques that enable ordinary indi-viduals to make use of the Law of Attraction.

the techniques worked, I became an instructor.

The concept of The Silva Me-thod focuses on the functions of the brain’s right hemisphere. While the left hemisphere is the one that handles logic and ration-al thought, the right hemisphere deals with abstract thinking, ima-gination, creativity and intuition. We all have had, at one time or another, glimpses of extraordin-ary occurrences; such as, when

a basketball player imagines the ball going into the basket-----then happening exactly as envisioned ...or, when thinking of someone, that person just happens to call you on the telephone...or, when we think of the taste of a lemon, our minds make our physical body go through the sour tasting experience-----as if it was real.

These are all examples of the brain’s right hemisphere at work. Athletes and others, when func-tioning at their peek perform-ance, will state that they have found themselves “in the zone.” This is a state where their physi-cal actions are directed by a my-sterious force emanating from their mind and apparently beyond their conscious control. According to Mr. Silva, these events are normal, triggered by the brain work-

ing at a lower frequency, a range called Alpha.

In the medical world, two words have become synonymous with the role of the mind directing the physical body: placebo effect. The mind’s language is made up of images, and does not know the difference between what is real and what is not. Therefore, when a patient is given a sugar pill, the mind takes up on its own to fix what the so-called medicine was supposed to cure.

In my Silva Method class, I guide my students into mastering the mind to their benefit, beginning with very simple exercises that make them aware of their minds’ potential. Then, as they master these exercises, I steer them into more complex ones, and by the end of the class, they are confi-dent enough to successfully car-ry them out on their own. It is obvious that the brain is underutilized. The Silva Method teaches you the techniques that will help you exercise the brain and improve its performance to its full potential. ------------ ET Even though Ernie's background is in the exact sciences (computer, math, and phy-sics) he has, throughout his life, been in-trigued by the non-physical. As a father of four grown children, he has maintained a well balanced lifestyle that includes family, profession, and spiritual path. He dedicates 100% of his time to giving seminars about The Silva Method, teaching EFT and giving Reiki treatments. Ernie Torres, located in Somerville, NJ, is a member of HMN, and can be contacted at 908-722-8600 or [email protected] Visit his web site at: ErnieTorres.com



I had read his first book, The Silva Mind Control Method and became fascinated with its concepts. I took the class and, when I realized that


http://www.ernietorres.com/

http://www.ernietorres.com/

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Looking Back...


At that time, I never gave it a second thought. I had a job, a daughter, a home, and a dog to take care of; changing careers never even entered my mind.

After I moved to Louisiana, I thought about what she had said, and, after Katrina, I went back in October to start my new career as a massage therapist. As much as I loved living in New Orleans, after receiving my National Certification and Louisiana State License, I felt it was time for me to come back to New Jersey-----to be close to my family and friends and work on my new career. Since I’ve been back, I have become a member of The Ho-listic Mentorship Network. This has given me the opportunity

to meet other practitioners in the alternative healing field, co-facili-tate meetings at various chap-ters, help organize street fairs to promote the opening of new chapters, and have fun working with my friend and mentor.

As I look back on my life, I have been truly blessed, and for this, I am forever thankful. ------------ TF Theresa (pictured below with Cortney), specializes in Deep Tissue, Swedish, and Neuromuscular Massage, Shiatsu and Reflexology. She resides in Palisades Park and can be contacted at 201-919-5688 or [email protected]

by THERESA FLYNN,

NCTMB, LMT Whenever someone asks me where I moved here from, and I tell them New Orleans, the next question is, were you there dur-ing Katrina? I answer yes, as I look back to that devastating time in my life, which has made me realize just how strong I am; If I could live through that experi-ence, I can do anything.

During the seven days of waiting to be rescued, (and not even knowing if we were going to be rescued), I remember giving thanks for all the love and support I had received from my family and friends. I was especially thankful for my daughter Cortney, who has brought so much joy and love into my life.

Looking back, if it wasn’t for my daughter, I wouldn’t have met my closest and dearest friend Linda, who gave me my first, desperately needed massage. After my session with Linda, I went home and tried to duplicate the massage on my daughter. During one of my sessions with her, she said, “Mom, you should get a job doing this.”


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AA NNEEWW OOlldd TTrraaddii tt ii oonn by STEPHEN and ANELYN TORTORELLO

eration to the next and each tra-dition can be as unique as the families who pass them on. As autumn matures, and signs of winter's advent unfold, many an-ticipate with great delight (and sometimes great distress) the multitude of family gatherings and celebrations that occur in this season that epitomizes tra-dition.

Growing up, we viewed winter as a season of eating, storytelling, and more eating, which often led to Auntie Connie's passing out on the couch. We were among the youngsters in our families, awed and reassured by the cer-tainty that events would play out according to a master plan that was never written or spoken, but inherent in the very fiber of what it meant to be a member of our families.

With the passing of time, things have changed as they always do. As a twosome, we adapted well, harmonizing our diverse back-grounds, creating new traditions for ourselves, while still honoring

the old ones with our families. Since couplehood, our roles have further evolved; as alter-native health care practitioners, our work challenges our fami-lies' conventional norms and traditions because we question the past and propose new inter-pretations of what we have always taken for granted. We are also no longer among the youngsters of our families for, we now have youngsters of our own.

In parenthood, tradition has become a topic of heated con-versation mostly because there is a paradox that it seems to carry. On the one hand, tradi-tions may give rise to a sense of comfort and safety since they are a common and often predictable language among families who wish to celebrate them or have them endure----- (think ham and eggnog on Christmas.) On the other hand, in their predictability, traditions may be the very things that cause angst for those family members who find their mean-ing less relevant in subsequent generations-----(think ham and eggnog on Christmas for your brother, the new vegan athe-ist.) Looking back, we were content to embrace traditions

ones with the intent of under-standing their significance in our lives. This can be a painful pro-cess as we watch some of the traditions of yesteryear fade into obsolescence. In our search to continue bridging the past and the present to enrich our child-ren’s' lives by creating meaning-ful practices that ignite the same sense of tradition we experienc-ed when we ourselves were children, our family has adopted the practice of yoga.

Derived from the Sanskrit root yuj, yoga by definition, means to yoke or unite. If past and pre-sent are connected by orally recounting stories or physically bequeathing artifacts from one generation to the next, then by practicing yoga daily (or as close to daily as we can get with a one and two-year old), we engage in a universal custom that is both oral and physical. A tradition of sound and movement passed down for approximately five thousand years, the study of yoga connects our family with innumerable yoga practitioners from all over the world and across a number of generations. continued on next page


without knowing their origins, or why we practiced them, but now we mindfully ex-amine those same

Family traditions can conjure up images of heirlooms or customs, stories or beliefs, in-herited from one gen-

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We have welcomed an ancient tradition that is new to our family and inclusive to an entire world. We look forward to sharing sad-hana with our little ones and watching our family mature in strength, balance, and flexibility despite the fact that our children are more flexible now than we will ever be.


A Year in Review by TAMSIN V. METZLER, BSW, CSW

NNEEWW OOlldd TTrraaddiittiioonn continued

Entering this winter season, there is an amazing comfort----- knowing that we participate in something that transcends lang-uage and distance, nourishes the body, mind, and spirit, and has pertinence in our family life.

And Auntie Connie can still join us with savasana from the

couch. Namaste! ------------ ST, AT

Stephen, a member of HMN, is a Struc-tural Integration Practitioner, and Anelyn, a Yoga Instructor, co-founded Balanced Bodyworks, LLC to provide individuals with an integrative approach to wellness. Together, they are working to create a business founded on the belief that a healthy life is a balanced one. They strive to educate their minds, stimulate their bodies, and nurture their spirits both in their careers and in their lives.

This year, let us look for the con-tentment in simpler joys; appre-ciating our physical abilities while we still have them, or our connections with those we love while they are still here with us, or maybe just the fact that we have safety and love for our-selves, relatives and friends.

These are the gifts that are right at our fingertips-----we just have to recognize them, and to allow our hands to grasp them and take them in.

Written in appreciation for my family, both immediate and ex-

tended-----for the love and support given during a medically and

emotionally difficult year.

------------ TVM

Reiki Practitioner and HMN Member

strength even yesterday to do so. Often times, we go about our lives striving for the big moments;

promotion, a new home, material possessions, or lavish trips, without recognizing that it’s those little moments in our lives which allow us to really experience human connection at its best. Until we can experience the loss or absence of these simpler ex-periences, either through illness of our own or of those we love, or merely being caught up in the larger parts of life, we cannot appreciate what it means to know the joy of simpler things.

When you speak with people, often heard said is, “This year flew by...where did it go?” But one must ask, did it really fly by? Were we that disconnected to the moments that filled our days to make our weeks, that chang-ed into the months that filled our entire year?

I’ll bet that if you take a moment to reflect on this past year, you’ll find that it was made up of tiny, simple moments that maybe we took for granted, or didn’t see them for what they truly were; simple pleasures really-----perhaps a look of admiration from your child as you worked hard to pro-vide for their needs-----maybe a loving hand from your spouse, if you were physically, emotionally, or medically dependent for a time-----perhaps the acknowledge-ment from an aging parent, that they understand your life’s demands, and appreciate all that you give of yourself-----or maybe a simple smile from a sick friend or relative that didn’t have the

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3 Ways to Beat The Winter Blues...Naturally by WILLIAM SEIFRIED, MA, LPC

We are all liable to get a case of the blahs during these gloomy winter days, but some people suffer a persistent wintertime de-pression called Seasonal Affec-tive Disorder, or SAD, which is related to, and most likely caused by the relative scarcity of light in winter. 1.7% of the population experiences SAD in Florida, 9.7% in Maine, and 20% in Sweden. Fortunately, there are natural preventatives you and your family can incorporate to stay well this winter.

SAD symptoms are much like those of other forms of depres-sion. You may feel lackluster, not taking pleasure from normally enjoyable activities, and simply not being your normal self. SAD is not to be confused with feeling blah for a day or two, nor with other types of depression. It de-scends for weeks, if not, months at a time during the darker per-iods of the year, and then lifts with the return of increased sun-light.

The depression resulting from SAD varies in severity, and can reach a point where some pat-ients must even be hospitalized; therefore, the wisest line of def-ense against the condition is early intervention and prevent-ative measures. Determining with certainty that a person has

Seasonal Affective Disorder, rather than another type of de-pression, might take several years. If, for example, you suf-fer darker season depression for three years in a row and feel well during the spring and sum-mer then, quite likely, the prob-lem is SAD. However, none of the standard measures taken against SAD harm a person suffering another sort of depres-sion, and in fact, can do them a great deal of good.

I believe in three main preven-tive lines of defense against SAD: exercise, a balanced diet, and light therapy. Many people reduce the amount of exercise in winter, which alone makes them more vulnerable to seas-onal depression. What's most indicated is outdoor exercise on nice days. The increased expo-sure to sunlight can reduce or even eliminate the problem.

There can be no exaggerating the role a balanced diet plays in keeping you and your family in a consistent state of health. Some people try to alleviate their winter blues with comfort foods------full of sugars and starches that give them a quick high, which is followed by a nasty crash, leaving them more vulnerable to depression than before.

For patients who are indeed already experiencing SAD,



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3 Ways to Beat The Winter Blues...Naturally continued

Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B complexes, and minerals do much to alleviate symptoms. Along with striving to get those nutrients from wholesome food sources, taking supplements helps insure a steady supply of them to the body. Micro-filter-ed fish oil capsules are an excellent, mercury-free source of Omega-3. Vitamin B com-plexes, as well as mineral drops are readily obtainable in vitamin stores.

The most effective actual treat-ment for SAD is light therapy. Bright light boxes designed for this purpose are available and have a success rate of about 85%. You must remain near the bright light box for around one hour per day, but do not have to stare at it; you can read, or do other activities while ex-periencing the therapeutic exposure to bright light. Exercise, a balanced diet, and light therapy are certainly sug-gested for overall health and brain function but may not al-ways cure all cases of SAD. Some individuals have also found Melatonin helpful in treating SAD.

People with seasonal affect-ive disorder experience a shift in their melatonin levels as the seasons change, not unlike the hibernation cycles of mam-mals. Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland, and may help readjust this bio-logical clock. However, you should seek professional coun-sel prior to taking Melatonin. I do not recommend prescrip-tions of psycho-pharmaceuti-cals for Seasonal Affective Disorder. Prevention and pro-per attention will, in most cases, provide adequate relief without having to run the risk of experiencing the medica-tions’ side effects. Whether you or a family mem-ber suffer from SAD, you should know that a combina-tion of exercise, dietary balan-ce and light therapy could well leave you H-A-P-P-Y this winter. ------------ WS William Seifried, MA, LPC, a mem-ber of HMN, is a Licensed Profes-sional Counselor with a holistic counseling practice in Newton, New Jersey. You may visit his website at www.MyHolisticMind.com.


http://www.myholisticmind.com/

15

gths as well as our weak-nesses.

True reflections help us to clear-ly see that we are not alone in this world, but we are connect-ed through our relations. Look for that in the faces of those you encounter...in the rainbows... the flocks of flying geese, or even a beautiful song.

Ultimately, we see each other through reflection, I in you, you in me and we in us.

In reflecting on the fact that we are not alone, but are connect-ed to a greater force, we can see that sometimes life drives us down hard roads because we need to discover new mean-ing, or awaken into a new dimension of our lives. During these times, we can encounter intense feelings and become paralyzed and powerless. We search and try to understand the inexplicable, or answer thousand of questions, sometimes not getting anywhere.

In these moments, when we can feel so small and alone, it’s amazing how the universe comes through to remind us that we are not alone.


bbyy

CCHHAARRLLIIEE BBEEHHMM,, CCMMTT

REFLECTIONS


Conjuring this idea of reflection, one might see reflec-tion gazing into clear still water; or looking into another person’s eyes, we again can see our-selves reflected through the light in their eyes. When the light reflects at just the right angle, we see our own shadow reflected before us. Then there is always the renowned moon’s reflection!

Reflecting back on a given day, we can see many people or situations that we faced-----the beeping horn from an angry driver behind us, who is urging us to move faster-----the joy you may feel from a hug of a small child, or the tender energy of a loved one who comforts us when we are upset. Reflecting back over the past several weeks, one might see many things they experienced. The fear and distress of a loved ones serious illness-----Is this really happening? Will they be ok? How helpless we can feel. Then there is the outpouring of well wishers and prayers. How tiring it can be to deal with, and respond to all this energy. Reflections continue back and one can see all our relations.

We can see our evolution, and appreciate that a light hearted moment-----the innocent gaze of an infant, a sunset, or a soft breeze can be special, even humbling moments for us.

Life offers many opportunities to reflect, to look deeper and feel gratitude for the many blessings we have: to be healthy, to feel good, to have work we love to do and people in our lives that we love and that love us. Reflections are like the ripples of a pebble dropped into a pond, each one blending into the next small wave. All of the ripples have meaning about who we are, what is important, and what we can learn to give more meaning to our life.

Reflecting into the eyes of anoth-er, we see ourselves in them. Both the good stuff as well as the rough edges is reflected back to us. We understand our vulnerability by seeing that in others. We can see our stren-

16


continued

It can be in the form of an un-solicited hug, smile, loving expression, or any form of com-passion, protection or comfort. This energy is often intriguingly proportional to our pain, which allows us to remain in balance and because of this, we can handle what we need to in order to get through a tough time.

If we are open, we are holding a fortune in each other.

...to know that there are people walking along with us, making our lives lighter by offering protection and relief, solidarity and hope.

Thanks to our relationships, we stand again and are propelled onward. We are privileged to be able to reflect and truly comprehend that we have much to be grateful for!

REFLECTIONS

Advertise in MARCI CLASSIFIEDS!

Have your professional holistic service reach the ones who need it the most!

Charlie Behm, CMT (pictured below) is a member of HMN, and has been involved in the Holistic Health field since 1975. He has extensive training in Massage, Trager and Watsu Therapy. He teaches Massage Therapy at Essex County College. He is also involved with National AMTA as the Chair of Grievances.

17


MARCI’s Community Corner

Be Still Thy Soul Music and Lyrics by Bradfield Be still thy soul Relinquish this hold Make thee again whole Be still thy mind Let thee unwind And seek out a shrine

Harvest the gold That's planted around you Strand by strand You'll be somewhat more certain Carve out your role And reach for the heavens All you can dream What you can be Know that the sky will deliver

Bestir thy heart With journeys afar And rivers of stars Bestow thy love On all that ye touch On all that ye may

Hence, let it be told That rhyme will be reason Paint your world With shades that will uplift you And break, break from the mold Shake off the illusions Never again lost in dismay All that you need is within you

Be still thy soul And fix on the goal Thy tale will be told Be still thy mind Make thee one With the source of life.

The Optimist Creed

Promise Yourself... To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet. To make all your friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them. To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best. To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own. To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achieve- ments of the future. To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature you meet. To give so much time to improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others. To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble. To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud word, but in great deeds. To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side, so long as you are true to the best that is in you. Many have found inspiration in The Optimist Creed. In hospitals, the creed has been used to help patients recover from illness. In locker rooms, coaches have used it to motivate their players. It was originally published in 1912 in a book entitled, Your Forces and How to Use Them. The author was Christian D. Larson, a prolific writer and lecturer who believed that people have tremendous latent powers, which could be harnessed for success with the proper attitude.

(to experience the Optimists Creed click on this link:) http://thesecret.tv/optimists-creed/

Do you have a heartfelt message of spiritual growth and alternative healing that you’d like to share with our readers?

Feel free to submit your own story, poem, or verse and maybe we’ll publish it in upcoming editions of MARCI!

send your submissions to:

[email protected]

http://thesecret.tv/optimists-creed/



mailto:[email protected]?subject=For%20MARCI%20Literary%20Department

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CONTACT US AT:

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PHONE: 973-300-1184

FAX:

973-300-1189 email:

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or Visit Us on the Web!

www.mentorshipnetwork.com

The Holistic Mentorship Network Board of Trustees has defined a holistic practitioner as... Any practitioner who offers a therapeutic approach intended to treat health issues or conditions through a process that views the physical,

emotional, energetic, and spiritual aspects of existence as co-equal in addressing health and illness…Any practitioner who

seeks to address health conditions in terms of the "whole person" rather than as disorders affecting or confined to only

specific functional parts, systems, components, or organs could be considered a candidate to become a member in our

Holistic Mentorship Network.

Board Members George Dominguez

Linda Mitchell-Dominguez Pam Capaci Donna Price



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05 - MARCI Winter 07