Creating A Garden Sanctuary NEW!
by Trish Whynot, D.C.Ed.

"Sanctuary is where we take care of our soul. It is both a place and a state of the mind and heart-a refuge to hold dear and to reverently give." suggest Christopher Forrest McDowell and Tricia Clark-McDowell, owners and stewards of the Cortesia Sanctuary. Intention to designate a space as sacred is what transforms it to sanctuary status.

When we raise a location in nature to sanctuary status, we gift it with elements that bring delight to our heart and soul. A sacred space is a place where we allow nature to touch our humanity and where we allow our humanity to touch nature. The intent is not to control nature, nor for nature to control us, but rather a place where we as people and nature can come to know and enjoy each other.

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Herbal Healing: Back to our Roots
by Stephanie D. Harper, MH
 
Herbal healing has been the universal healing science since ancient times found in all cultures. This article will give you a brief overview of the history of herbal healing along with what separated the Science & Nature of Healing. This article is by no means complete, but it will give you an idea and hopefully peak your interests to delve into you’re culture’s roots of natural healing, as well as bring you closer to the earth. 

As a small girl with a belly ache, I thought my grandmother was silly for going outside and “making” me eat a mint leaf from the blanket of green that exploded in her back yard. Now, I understand, all of our cultures and ancestors had a Healing Garden. 

Coming Clean: The Truth About Soap 
by Chere Deshayes 

What Is Soap?

Soap is the oldest cleanser around.  It is created by a chemical reaction between oils, water and lye. Although lye is used to make soap there is no lye left after saponification (the chemical reaction that makes soap) is complete. There is no such thing as a bar of soap that was made without the use of lye. Different kinds of soap are made using a variety of different oils. Both animal and plant oils can be used in the soap making process, each adding different qualities to the soap.

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Aromatherapy: Developing A Friendship With Essential Oils 
by Roslyn Whetzel

While employed as a buyer for a moderately sized health food store, I had the opportunity to learn, as well as teach, much about essential oils and aromatherapy. I involved myself with our collection of oils, which was a large and diverse assortment of brands and qualities, (for sale and store use) and created a working knowledge of my own experience as well as the experiences from customers and co-workers. Through it all, I had some great discoveries, and I always enjoyed (and still do) living with essential oils.

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Aromatherapy For Stress Relief At Work
by Susan Stewart

Most people work a 40 hour week so we can estimate that we typically spend about 2,000 hours at work each year. And many people work even more than this. Yet we often don’t take the time to ensure that our job setting is a pleasant place to be. Our jobs are often very stressful and stress is a known trigger for many common ailments and diseases. 

Many studies have been done on the relationship between job stress and a variety of ailments. Mood and sleep disturbances, upset stomach, headaches and disturbed relationships with family and friends are examples of stress related problems that are quick to develop.

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More Articles & Education

Using Aromatherapy to Calm Your Frazzled Fido 
by Kristen Leigh Bell, Certified Master Aromatherapist

The use of nature’s most concentrated botanical substances- essential oils, is an excellent way to calm dogs who are fearful, agitated and hyperactive. The very nature of these substances is such that they work quickly and do not leave the animal in a drugged or listless state, as common tranquilizers such as Valium do. Unlike herbal calming tablets, which take time to digest, aromatherapy essential oils are inhaled and quickly begin their work.

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The Secret To Eliminating The Root Of Your Problems: Physical, Social Or Financial
by Bob Olson, OfSpirit.com Editor

Every few years, I stumble upon something so powerful and enlightening that it rocks my world, totally changing my perception and understanding of life. Recently I had one of those rare life-altering experiences. I couldn’t wait to get home and write about it.

It began with an interview I had arranged with a counselor named Dr. Trish Whynot in Middleton, Massachusetts. I had heard some incredible testimonials from her clients, so I was intrigued. Still, I could not imagine what would possibly be out-of-the-ordinary about a counselor. So I showed up at the interview with great curiosity.

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The Rose: Love, Healing, Symbolism And Alchemy
by Anja Heij