Month: September 2024
Deities of Autumn: Gods and Goddesses Who Embody the Season of Change
As the leaves turn golden and the air grows crisp, autumn unfolds a time of harvest, reflection, and transformation. Throughout history, cultures around the world have celebrated this season by honoring deities who symbolize the cycles of life, death, and renewal. These gods and goddesses are the very essence of fall, embodying the bounty of the earth, the balance between light and dark, and the profound shifts in nature. Demeter and Persephone: Greek Goddesses of the Harvest and the Underworld In Greek mythology, the story of autumn is told through the lives of Demeter and her daughter Persephone. Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, is a central figure in the harvest, ensuring the earth’s fertility. However, her myth is deeply intertwined with the coming of autumn through Persephone’s jo...
A Boost for Doula Care in Monterey County
Helen Diallo, a Monterey resident, intimately understands the mix of emotions that come with pregnancy and childbirth, having experienced both joy and heartache. As an African American woman, Diallo empathizes with the fears and anxieties that many expectant mothers of African ancestry face. Drawing from her own experiences, she has been supporting pregnant and postpartum women through a WhatsApp group, connecting them with experts and each other. Now, Diallo is taking her passion a step further by pursuing certification as a doula through a program at the Parenting Connection of Monterey County (PCMC). Studies have shown that trained doulas can significantly improve birth outcomes and reduce anxiety for pregnant women, leading to fewer C-sections. The road to recruiting doulas for Medi-Ca...
Weekly Horoscope 9-22-24
Aries (March 21 – April 19)Let’s talk teamwork, Aries! You’re usually a solo warrior, but this week, the cosmos say it’s time to partner up. Whether it’s in love or business, collaboration is your new superpower. Remember, sharing the spotlight doesn’t dim your shine—it just makes the whole stage glow brighter! Taurus (April 20 – May 20)Time to organize that chaos, Taurus! The Sun in Libra wants you to take a good look at your routines and work-life balance. Are you hustling too hard? This week is perfect for some pampering and organizing. Clean up your calendar, sip some herbal tea, and get your groove back! Gemini (May 21 – June 20)Love is in the air, Gemini! Whether it’s a new fling or spicing up your current romance, this week has fun, flirtation, and creativity written all over it. Le...
Mindfulness Meditation for Pain: Unveiling Neurobiological Insights
A recent study, featured in Biological Psychiatry, has unraveled the distinctive neurobiological mechanisms at play when utilizing mindfulness meditation to alleviate pain, indicating that its effects surpass the placebo response. Led by researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, the study employed sophisticated brain imaging technologies to compare the impact of mindfulness meditation, a placebo cream, and sham mindfulness meditation on pain reduction in healthy individuals. Findings from the study revealed that mindfulness meditation triggered significant decreases in both pain intensity and unpleasantness ratings, accompanied by a reduction in brain activity patterns associated with pain and negative emotions. In contrast, the placebo cream solely impacted...
A Journey of Laughter and Healing
Ginger Joy Johnson’s path to becoming America’s 2024 laughter champion was as unconventional as it was transformative. The 45-year-old Pacific Grove native, now a massage therapist and life coach in Monterey, found laughter as a means of healing after a painful divorce. Her spiritual journey, which included studying with a guru in Taos, New Mexico, and traveling to India in 2019 to learn “laughter yoga,” led her to the unique practice of using laughter to enhance both physical and mental health. In 2022, after returning to Monterey to care for an ailing relative, Johnson co-hosted the first American Laughter Championship and became a competitor herself. The event, held over Zoom, challenges participants to showcase contagious and diabolical laughs, with rounds judged by viewers and fellow ...
Exploring the Impact of Out-of-Body Experiences on Empathy
Dr. Marina Weiler from the University of Virginia, alongside her team, delves into the intricate connection between altered states of consciousness and empathy. Their research not only sheds light on this complex relationship but also offers a potential avenue to bolster empathy at a time of societal division. According to Dr. Weiler, empathy serves as a cornerstone of human interaction, fostering deep connections and mutual understanding among individuals. She emphasizes the importance of investigating techniques to enhance empathy, whether through out-of-body experiences triggering ego dissolution or through alternative methods. This pursuit holds promising implications for both individuals and society on a broader scale. The study conducted by Dr. Weiler delves into the impact of out-of...
Wellness Takes Center Stage at Smart Home Technology Expo
The recent CEDIA Expo in Denver showcased how wellness is increasingly influencing smart home technology. Industry professionals observed a significant rise in products aimed at improving health, safety, and overall well-being in residential spaces. 1. Wellness on the Rise: Attendees noted a growing emphasis on integrating wellness into home design, from air quality to lighting and shading systems. Technology is evolving to enhance homeowners’ daily lives by creating healthier living environments. 2. Resilience and Safety: Energy management, security, and environmental monitoring are key trends. Smart systems are designed to ensure homes are resilient during power outages and to enhance safety with AI-enabled cameras and cyber security measures. 3. Lighting and Comfort: Circadian lighting ...
The Spiritual Legacy of Frida Kahlo Still Resonates Worldwide
Frida Kahlo, despite her lack of religious affiliation, intricately weaved religious symbols into her artistic creations until her passing on July 13, 1954. Renowned art researcher and curator Ximena Jordán highlighted Kahlo’s self-portraits as powerful representations of individual strength and the innate ability to harness life’s gifts. Born in Mexico City in 1907, Kahlo drew inspiration from her life’s trials and tribulations, including a devastating bus accident in 1925 and her tumultuous relationship with renowned Mexican artist Diego Rivera. These personal experiences served as the artistic fuel that forged a profound connection between Kahlo’s paintings and her global fan base, even on the 70th anniversary of her death. Jordán delves into the essence of Kahlo...
The Great-Grandson of the Last Mutsun Full-Blooded Member Seeks to Reconnect Tribe with Its Ancestral Land
On a sunlit day in late June, a crowd gathers at Indian Canyon in California’s Gabilan Range for the 27th Annual Storytelling Gathering. Amid the cottonwoods and sycamores, a legacy of Indigenous preservation unfolds. This unique stretch of land is the only remaining Indigenous-owned property in the region, and serves as a refuge for ceremony and reconnection, led by artist and educator Kanyon Sayers-Roods. But it is Anthony Mondragon, great-grandson of Ascencion Solorsano—the last full-blooded Mutsun tribe member—who is on a quest to preserve his tribe’s history and establish a physical home for the Mutsun people. Mondragon, a Seaside resident, is not an academic or activist by trade, but he is driven by his deep connection to his great-grandmother’s legacy. Solorsano, who passed in 1930,...
Slow Down: A Buddhist Monk Shares His Path to Happiness
In an era marked by constant motion and an insatiable pursuit of happiness, Haemin Sunim, a prominent Buddhist monk and meditation teacher, offers a simple yet profound antidote: slow down. Sunim, the author of The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down, a bestseller with over three million copies sold worldwide, advocates that true contentment comes from taking life at a more deliberate pace. His message has resonated widely, particularly as the pressures of modern life intensify. The book, which topped bestseller lists in Korea for an impressive 41 weeks, has since become a global guide for well-being, addressing key areas such as relationships, love, and spirituality. Sunim’s rise as a voice of modern Buddhist wisdom is notable. A former professor at a small arts college in Massachu...
Clearing the Energy: The Growing Popularity of Incense in the West
Hyungi Park, a 25-year-old incense maker, notes the significance of incense in religious ceremonies and how it differs from candles or essential oils in terms of intention and mood. She has seen a 142% increase in sales from April to September compared to the same period the previous year, with her £45 ($56) incense-making kit being a popular item. Incense comes in many forms and has been used for thousands of years worldwide, often associated with mindfulness practices like meditation and yoga. Isabel Lee, 26, another studio director, reported a 130% increase in online sales, citing incense as an attractive alternative to candles for its ease of use. Incense is closely tied to ritual practices, especially in South Asian cultures, where it is often used in temples and homes. Shrankhla Hole...
White Lotus Day Honors the Controversial Pioneer of Modern Occultism, Helena Petrovna Blavatsky
Every year on May 8, followers across the globe observe White Lotus Day, commemorating Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, a figure as extraordinary as she was controversial. Blavatsky, who died in 1891, is remembered as a spiritual leader and co-founder of the Theosophical Society, an organization that sought to establish a universal brotherhood through teachings she claimed were passed down by mystical masters from the Himalayas. Known affectionately as “HPB” by her devotees, Blavatsky’s legacy remains a powerful force, with theosophical movements maintaining a global presence of more than 1,000 lodges and centers, serving a membership exceeding 25,000. Her influence, however, extends far beyond formal organizations, having sparked the late 19th-century esoteric spiritual revival that swept acros...
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