Archive for February, 2006
New Visions Magazine
February 9th, 2006
Summary
New Visions Magazine is back and becoming a favorite of mine. There are interesting articles by famous names, local names, and some famous, local names. Regular features include “Ask Dr. Meyer”, an advice column; Astrological interpretations; Profiles of contributors and advertisers; Calendar of Events; Holistic Directory; Coupons; and Humor from the world of Mullah Nasrudin. The pictures are beautiful. Ads are tasteful and nicely placed throughout the magazine. The table of contents is easy to find. There are book reviews, music reviews, interviews, and the latest in health news, all nicely packaged. I’m enjoying it immensely.
Advice Column
There aren’t any guidelines mentioned for the types of questions he’ll take but the topic in the first issue is on relationships. The first question is related to office romances, a topic near and dear to my heart. I met my current husband on the job. We weren’t working in the same department when we first started dating so we figured we were safe. We got to know each other very well via email (we didn’t get much work done some days) where we weren’t bogged down by facades, or physical attraction. It was just us, pure as could be, on the email. It worked for us; our 10th anniversary is this year. Anyhow, Dr. Meyer is a psychiatrist who’s been working with individuals, couples, and families since 1975. Send your questions to drohtbart@newvisionsmagazine.com and you might see them answered in the magazine.
Astrology
Robert Currey’s astrology forecasts are very insightful. They are relevant for the time spanning the current issue of the magazine. So if the magazine is January/February, the forecasts are for January/February. I really like Robert’s work. Some people think that following astrology takes your destiny out of your hands by influencing your thoughts of your future and thereby creating self-fulfilling prophesies. This can happen if you are very susceptible to other’s influence and blindly believe what people tell you without realizing you still have a choice. But we’re not like that, are we? This is where Robert’s readings are different. I’ve had a couple of Year Forecasts done by him and I didn’t read them until after the relevant dates had passed. I wasn’t going to be influenced. Guess what, his readings were accurate anyway. How’s that for not being influenced?
Profiles
The profiles offer a more in-depth look at the medical doctors, holistic practitioners, energy and vibrational healers, intuitive and metaphysical, coaching and self-improvement, Feng Shui, and massage therapists that have chosen to support this magazine through advertising themselves and their services here. It’s a neat idea and more insightful than a simple line in a directory. I’ll look here when I’m considering someone’s services because it not only tells me a little about the person it also gives me more insight into the service they are offering. I’ve already discovered some healing modalities that I hadn’t heard of yet and want to investigate further.
Calendar of Events
These are laid out nicely and provide all the information you need to know and who to contact for these events. Web addresses and phone numbers are provided if you want to more information or to sign up. Free classes/events are listed and there are even discounts to some of the classes/events for mentioning New Visions Magazine. How’s that for an incentive to take the course you’ve always wanted? I find it helpful to have the events laid out this way so I can pick and choose which ones I want to go to. We’re all busy and this makes it easier to find the things I’m interested in.
Advertisements
The ads aren’t overwhelming, just informative of the services and products being offered. Advertising in this type of a magazine is very focused to its audience so the ads are just as relevant as the articles and I read them just like I do the articles. There are great services, events, volunteer opportunities, stores, and products advertised here. Sometimes this is where I find the next step on my journey.
This is a worthy magazine to advertise in. The intention of the magazine is pure, the articles and ads are relevant to the interests of the audience, printing quality is exceptional and the audience is right for the local holistic community. There are a variety of advertising options, so there’s probably one that will work for you. You can have a regular ad, coupon, profile, classified, event listing and a listing in the directory.
Holistic Directory
You can start your search here for a practitioner in the area.
Coupons
What a great idea. I’m definitely going to use some of these coupons.
Magazine’s History
Edie Weinstein-Moser and Michael Moser started Visions Magazine with its premier issue, in May 1988. It featured an interview with Alan Cohen. Visions Magazine was in its first incarnation for 10 years and one issue, the last one being May of 1998. In 1998 Visions Magazine became New Visions Magazine with the June 1998 issue. Astrid and Barry Detwiler published the magazine until just last year when they retired. I missed it when it was gone but now Anne Khoury (director of Health Connections and the Mind-Body-Spirit Expo) is publishing New Visions Magazine for our community. I’m so glad to see it back.
Closing Thoughts
Visions and New Visions Magazine has always been an important resource for those of us in the new age community. There are so many publications out there focusing on so many different interests; it’s just nice to know there’s one relevant to our local holistic community.
Share Your Feedback
Once you check out the magazine, which you can find at many health stores, yoga studios, or online, let the editor know what you liked, didn’t like, and any suggestions you may have. Since it’s their first issue (January/February 2006) they are looking for feedback and praise.
Locate New Visions Magazine Near You (It’s free if you pick it up at a location)
Advertise in New Visions Magazine
Visit the New Visions Website
Hypnotherapy
February 8th, 2006
One healing method that worked for me
As one of my self-healing efforts in 1997 I decided to try hypnotherapy. I don’t recall what brought about my decision but it turned out to be a timely one.
The set-up
I had started a new job six months earlier and recently had gotten a new supervisor. Together we were planning the relocation of our corporate headquarters. She was very demanding and not very forgiving when mistakes were made. I was under tremendous stress.
Hypnotherapy
I started hypnotherapy with a local hypnotist, who had a doctorate, and began her program. I would come into her office, sit in her comfy chair, and tell her what was going on in my life and body. Using hypnosis to get my mind into a receptive state and positive affirmations similar to the ones in Louise Hay‘s book Heal Your Body we would have our session. I would then listen to the tape once a day until our next session. The hypnosis put my mind in a receptive state for the positive affirmations that were designed to heal both my mind and body.
Since the affirmations were designed to correct errors of thinking that created physical problems I started to see changes in my body as well as my mind. I became more confident and less stressed. Work became easier. I even noticed that a ganglion cyst I had for years, one that the doctors weren’t able to do anything about it, reduced to almost nothing and stopped causing me problems. There’s a connection between mind and body that most people overlook but it just can’t be ignored. Addressing physical symptoms on the level of the mind can bring about dramatic results. Emotions can also play a very important role in our wholeness.
I didn’t think it would be used for this
The sessions were comprised of different themes including anger and fear. It was a complete program designed to bring about wholeness of body, mind and spirit. Each week focused on a different theme and she included affirmations for whatever life issues I was having at the time. Once, between sessions, I had a migraine headache. I’m not prone to migraines but this one was a doosie. I called my hypnotherapist for advice. And what was the doctor’s prescription for natural headache relief? She suggested listening to the anger tape she had made for me and asking my husband if he was up for making love. (Right, like he was going to say no.) The tape and a little nooky later, and the headache was gone! So, there goes the old excuse, "Not tonight dear, I have a headache." We’ll have to change it to, "Can we fool around tonight dear? I have a headache."
Back to the job story
I was with that company for five years, longer than I had ever been with any one company. (The only reason I left was to raise our daughter.) I started as an administrative assistant then moved up to an executive administrator then to the office manager and finally to the office and facilities manager running the shipping department, the front desk staff, the administrative staff and having many other responsibilities as well. It really gave me the confidence to take on and perform those subsequent roles with ease.
Moral
I truly believe I wouldn’t have kept that job past the relocation had it not been for the hypnotherapy sessions. It changed me and my path for the better.
Hypnotherapy sources
If you feel drawn to try hypnotherapy you don’t have to find your own hypnotist. There are many pre-recorded hypnotherapy programs out there for a healthy mind, body, spirit and pocketbook. Dr. Karen Frank, now of North Carolina, was the hypnotist I saw all those years ago. She has pre-recorded hypnotherapy programs on her site. You can also find hypnotherapy programs at Amazon
Additionally
Hypnotherapists are now offering their assistance to create more successful medical procedures. Dr. Frank also has success in healing people of chronic health problems as well so the mind-body connection is really getting a lot of recognition. She offers CDs for everything from weight and wealth to stuttering and fingernail biting.
Crystal Deodorant Stone
February 7th, 2006
Aluminum and Alzheimer’s
Did you know that aluminum chlorohydrate has been blamed for causing Alzheimer’s disease? Did you also know you can find aluminum chlorohydrate in antiperspirants? Talk about getting under my skin, and going straight to my brain. Aluminum can also be found in cooking pans. Yikes, that means it’s in the food I’m ingesting. And you know those handy, disposable baking pans at the grocery store? You got it, aluminum. What about aluminum foil? Holy smokes, how do I keep my food hot, and at what cost? (Actually I don’t use aluminum foil much at all.)
Aluminum and food
What’s to be done? Well, I can cook in glass. (Just remember to lower the recommended oven temp by 25 degrees when cooking in glass.) And eat my food while it’s still hot or cover the dinner plate with another plate when hubby gets home late. What else can I do? Hmm… Eat more raw food? Eat at home more and out less? Ask the chef what kind of pans the food is cooked in? Bring my own container to a restaurant instead of bringing home the extras in an aluminum take-out one? Wow, am I getting obsessive here? Sounds like it. I got it, let’s just share one meal then we won’t have any leftovers. Now I’m thinking. Okay, so the aluminum issues around food are solved.
Antiperspirants
Well, how about the issue of putting aluminum into my pores, leading directly to my brain (well, maybe not directly but they’ll get there eventually), where aluminum causes Alzheimer’s? Antiperspirants are made to keep human bodies from sweating. First, they hardly ever worked for me. And second, why would I want to stop my body from doing something it’s supposed to do like sweating? Sweat is how my body cools itself down. And if my body feels like it’s too hot, well, I want my sweat to cool me down. Besides, perspiration is WONDERFUL for the complexion. The problem is those nasty underarm stains and odor. Good point, but is it worth getting Alzheimer’s disease? I don’t think so.
Natural deodorant stone
So what do I do? I sweat, and I layer my clothes so I can cool off by lightening my load. (Hey, we could become a society of nudists, weather permitting, and not have to worry about any of this! It would also inspire us to be in better shape all year, wouldn’t it?) To keep from smelling I use a crystal deodorant stone like the Thai deodorant stone by Deodorant Stones of America International. Deodorant stones are made from Alum, which isn’t absorbed into the body yet inhibits growth of the bacteria that causes body odor.
My experience
I got my first deodorant stone through the mail. That was the only way to get it back in the late 1980s. It lasted forever! Well, it seemed like forever but I recall it lasting at least five years. It would have lasted longer if I hadn’t dropped it so frequently, losing large chunks in the process. I put it on my underarms, and anywhere else I sweat, while I’m still wet from the shower. It was slippery when it was wet so I dropped it a few times until I got used to handling it wet. You might try holding it in a washcloth when it, and your hands, are wet. You can also wet the stone under running water, just the part you aren’t holding, and rub it on your underarms. This gives me two days of odor-free underarms. So, if I have to miss a day of showering, unless I sweat profusely, I won’t have to use it on the second day. It also neutralizes any bacteria that have already formed.
The day I got my first stone I had a hot date. Well, I didn’t have time for a shower and checked my underarms. Yuk… I wasn’t going out smelling like that. I decided to try my new purchase. I wet the stone and ran it on my underarms. Within minutes, and I mean minutes, the smell was gone. Not just diminished, it was GONE. I was pleasantly surprised and have used them ever since. My husband even uses the same stone in a twist-up dispenser.
Options
They come in many varieties, sizes and names. I use the solid Thai Crystal Deodorant Stone. It also comes in a spray, which I haven’t used so I can’t attest to its efficacy. My hubby uses the same stone I use in a twist-up dispenser, like conventional deodorants. Just be aware that the bottom of the stone will dissolve as the water drips down into the dispenser, shortening the life of the stone. To mitigate this, if you choose to run this under water, just wet the end of the stone that projects out of the container and don’t pour water into the container. After you’ve finished using it shake off the last few drops or wipe it dry.
Keep in mind
Water dissolves the stone so make sure your stone is dry, and will remain dry, after use. Wet hands also make it slippery so use caution when your hands are wet.
Learn more about the Thai Crystal Deodorant stone
Posted in Healthy Body