Len and Laurie Buchanan are proud to announce the marriage of their son Evan Buchanan To Maureen Murfin The ceremony took place at the UnitarianChurch in Woodstock, Illinois On February 29, 2008
April Events Due to the size of our space, seating is limited. As such, registration is required. You may register for an event up to 30 days prior to its occurrence. This insures equal opportunity registration for everyone. Please call holEssence at 815-276-7173 to reserve your seat. Registration is not available via email.
Because of their popularity, events tend to book up quickly. Please call early to secure your seat. Once an event is full, we start a waiting list in the chance there are any cancellations.
Spiritual Book Group Read any good books lately? My friend and colleague, Dr. Michelle McClellan, hosts a Spiritual Book Group on the last Friday of every month. Many of you will remember Dr. McClellan from last year's event, 'Writing the Soul' that she presented at HolEssence. The monthly gatherings are casual. The current book is Neale Donald Walsch on Relationships - Applications for Living, by Neale Donald Walsch. The monthly discussions take place from 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. on the last Friday of every month at Dr. McClellan’s office located at 271 CountryCommons, Suite G2, Cary, IL60013.
Speaking of good books ...
New Arrival at HolEssence
In The Third Jesus, bestselling author and spiritual leader Deepak Chopra provides an answer to this question that is both a challenge to current systems of belief and a fresh perspective on what Jesus can teach us all, regardless of our religious background. There is not one Jesus, Chopra writes, but three.
First, there is the historical Jesus, the man who lived more than two thousand years ago and whose teachings are the foundation of Christian theology and thought. Next there is Jesus the Son of God, who has come to embody an institutional religion with specific dogma, a priesthood, and devout believers.
And finally, there is the third Jesus, the cosmic Christ, the spiritual guide whose teaching embraces all humanity, not just the church built in his name. He speaks to the individual who wants to find God as a personal experience, to attain what some might call grace, or God-consciousness, or enlightenment.
Mutant Message Down Under My friend, Bonnie A., recently loaned me an excellent book - Mutant Message Down Under. This is the account of an American woman's spiritual odyssey through outback Australia. An underground bestseller in its original self-published edition, Marlo Morgan's powerful tale of challenge and endurance has a message for us all.
Summoned by a remote tribe of nomadic Aborigines to accompany them on walkabout, the woman makes a four-month-long journey and learns how they thrive in natural harmony with the plants and animals that exist in the rugged lands of Australia's bush. From the first day of her adventure, Morgan is challenged by the physical requirements of the journey — she faces daily tests of her endurance, challenges that ultimately contribute to her personal transformation.
By traveling with this extraordinary community, Morgan becomes a witness to their essential way of being in a world based on the ancient wisdom and philosophy of a culture that is more than 50,000 years old.
Crystal of the Month - Apache Tear Apache Tears are said to especially relieve grief and sadness as well as assisting in giving and accepting forgiveness. They can help release negative emotions, and they also can balance one's emotional state. They are good luck stones, said to bring good luck to anyone who has one. They are excellent meditation tools, especially for clarifying issues and gaining insight. Apache Tears are a gently grounding stone.
Physically – Apache Tears alleviate muscle spasms and eliminate toxins from the body.
Apache Tear is associated with the base (root) chakra.
The Legend of the Apache Tear One day a party of Apache Indians was ambushed by an enemy tribe. The Apaches fought bravely but were greatly outnumbered and driven to the top of a high bluff. Their arrows gone and unable to fight and unwilling to be taken captive, they leapt from the cliffs to their death. Their women were understandably grief-stricken and wept over the bodies. Their teardrops froze when they hit the ground to become the lovely stones we know today as Apache Tears. It is said that whoever owns one of these stones will never cry again, for the Apache women shed enough tears already.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question Is Devil's Claw effective for combating arthritis pain?
Answer Bottom line on top - for natural pain relief for arthritis, I first recommend combination products that contain ginger, turmeric and other anti-inflammatory herbs, which work very well with few or no side effects.
Devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) is a desert plant that grows in southern Africa and is named for the miniature claw-like hooks that cover its fruit. For centuries, the native people of the Kalahari Desert dried and chopped up the roots for use in remedies to treat pain and indigestion and for topical applications on sores and other skin problems.
However, despite promising findings, study results have been inconsistent. One paper in the February, 1999, European Journal of Anaesthesiology reported a slight improvement in low back pain among patients treated, but other studies have shown no such effects.
While devil's claw does seem to provide some pain relief and anti-inflammatory effects, no one knows yet exactly how it works. However, it certainly does seem to be popular in Europe. Dr. Low Dog says that in 2001, devil's claw sales there amounted to 30 million euros and accounted for 74 percent of prescriptions for rheumatic complaints.
There's probably no harm in trying devil's claw for arthritis pain. The study showing that the herb helped relieved arthritis pain in the hip and knee found that it was most effective when taken along with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), and devil's claw may enable you to reduce the amount of NSAIDS you may be taking.
Devil's claw is safe at recommended doses, but we don't know the effects of long-term use. Reported side effects include headache, ringing in the ears, loss of taste and appetite, and diarrhea. Devil's claw can also affect stomach-acid levels and should be avoided by people with ulcers. Another potential problem with this herb: it may lower blood sugar levels, so it probably isn't for you if you are hypoglycemic or are taking any medications or supplements that affect blood sugar.
The adult dosage used in research for treatment of joint and muscle problems is 600 to 1,200 mg three times a day. Look for products standardized to contain 50 to 100 mg of harpagoside, the presumed active ingredient. Devil's claw also is available as a tincture, liquid extract, and dried root (for use in making tea which has been used traditionally to treat appetite loss or upset stomach).
A good portion of April is ruled by Aries. To learn more about this Zodiac sign, simply click on the link.
Looking Ahead You may register for an event up to 30-days prior to its occurrence. This insures equal opportunity registration for everyone. For details, simply click on the links. The month of May has two events:
