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Issue 4 - May ~ Spring Cleaning for the Mind, Body and Spirit
"I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life."
- Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
As Spring fever burst forth on the East Coast, several urgent
requests for grassroots action have come to us via email alerts - it can almost make your head
spin! Everything from the food we eat, to the environment, to our children's education, to the
news we see and hear is at risk. Since these upcoming votes have the potential to impact our
health and/or our lives in profound ways, we decided to consolidate the most pressing email
alerts - with links to online petitions and additional information - so you can also consider
taking action if so moved.
Also in this issue, Rev. Laurie Sue offers some spring cleaning relationship advice. Julianne Koritz, RD
helps us ease into Spring with healing salad recipes containing nutritious edible flowers! Environmentalist Judy
Morgan provides us with insights and suggestions concerning the greatest threats to the global environment.
You'll also find a resource for sympathy quotes, poems and prayers to uplift those coping with the
death of a loved one.
Prayer and meditation remain core to peace and healing - both our own and the world's at large. So
this issue concludes with some prayers of hope. And one for mothers - Happy Mother's Day to all
you moms!
Blessings for Peace and Health,
June Soyka Cook, Founder
Self-Healing Expressions
"The Mother Earth provides us with food,
provides us with air, provides us with water.
We, the people, are going to have to put our thoughts together, our power together, to save our planet here.
We've only got one water, one air, one Mother Earth."
~ Corbin Harney, Spiritual Leader of the Western Shoshone Nation
The Greatest Threat to Global Environment: The American Life Style
By Judy Morgan
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The single greatest threat to the global environment is the American life-style. While constituting 4.5%
of the earth's population, United States citizens consume 25% of the earth's annual oil production. Per
capita, we are far ahead of any other country in waste produced, toxic chemicals emitted into the air,
raw materials consumed. And we are actively exporting this life-style. United States business interests
and entertainment media are encouraging people everywhere in the world to aspire to the United States
high-consumption model of the "good life."
In trade relations we are pressuring other countries to
adopt an American-style economy reliant on aggressive competition, and aggressive marketing of consumer goods,
with weakened labor protections and reduced job stability.
[continue reading]
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"Nature abhors a vacuum."
Spring Cleaning for the Heart and Soul
By Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway
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It may seem wacky to think that a pile of old magazines or relics from relationships past that are
collecting dust can keep new love at bay, but clutter and memorabilia can impact your love life. For
single goddesses who are standing by for love, and even those of you who are in relationships, I want
to suggest that you utilize this stir of springtime to clean house in your life, on all levels, and get
yourself even more tuned-up for love! A good, soulful spring-cleaning will bring you a fresh start for
the season of love.
[continue reading]
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"...I understand that a proper diet is crucial for self-transformation and for the transformation of
society."
~ Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, Fifth Mindfulness Training
Spring Salad Greens and Edible Flowers
By Julianne Koritz, RD
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Spring is the time of the year when your garden begins to take shape and you can grow your
most prized vegetables. Starting in early spring, you can grow your cool weather vegetables
such as lettuce, spinach, musclem and broccoli.
The month of May is the time to begin to
harvest these nutritious greens (for town and city dwellers, you can now find these greens in
great abundance at the local farmers markets or green grocers) and serve them with your meals.
You can also include organic flowers for color, as well as nutrients with these greens.
[continue reading and find recipe here]
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"In three words, I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on."
~ Robert Frost
"Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing
that does."
~ Margaret Mead
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Online Petitions: Urgent Issues in Need of Your Support
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- Last fall, genetically engineered (GE) pharmaceutical crops contaminated corn and soybeans intended for
the food supply...
- Have you heard about the Climate Stewardship Act? It's a bipartisan bill in Congress to stop global
warming...
- Across the United States, schools are suffering. Tens of thousands of teachers have received pink
slips and looming budget deficits only promise worse to come...
- On June 2, 2003 an important Federal Communication Commission vote is scheduled. If the federal
government weakens the rules for media ownership, a few, powerful media companies could gain greater
influence over the news...
The above issues are to be voted on over the next days or weeks! The outcome of these votes could have
profound implications on our health and/or lives. Most of these online petitions literally take a minute
to complete, a small price considering what's at stake. Take a minute to review and complete the online
petitions, which call to you.
[ Review online petitions.]
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Last month's raffle winner was Phyllis
From Vancouver, BC, Canada. Phyllis won
Laughter For The Healing Heart
by author Lynn Shaw. Upon notification, she emailed us: I am very happy. Cheers PS < see my grin from ear
to ear >
"Why is it that when we talk to God we're said to be praying, but when God talks to us we're
schizophrenic?"
~ Lily Tomlin
This Month's Featured Products
Are You Facing The Loss Of A Beloved Pet?
In the email course
A Different Grief: Coping with Pet Loss,
bereavement counselor Marty Tousley helps you examine why pet loss hurts so much and how it differs from
other losses. She offers suggestions to explain death and euthanasia to children, how to plan ahead for
the death of a pet while honoring your own values and spiritual beliefs, and ways to memorialize your
faithful friend.
Do people and things in your life leave you feeling drained, invalidated, unappreciated?
Based on the teachings of Thoreau, author Marianne Parady thoughtfully guides you on a journey of emotional
healing, self-examination, and discovery in this Self-Healing Expressions email course entitled
Living Deliberately ~ Guided by the Wisdom of Thoreau.
COMING UP IN JUNE 2003!
Dreams For Healing: Using Dreams As A Pathway To The Soul,
a new Self-Healing Expressions email course by author Laura Hyde's will be launched next month!
Author and Self-Healing Expressions instructor
Lynn Shaw,
The Laugh Lady, will have a featured
article in the Inspirational Line's June 2003 newsletter. Visit
www.InspirationLine.com
for a free newsletter subscription.
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Closing Thoughts
"The wise man who meditates on the goodness of all that exists in the sky, in the earth, in the lakes,
and in the sea becomes whole."
~ Mayan Proverb
This Month's Healing Prayers
Dear God
This season,
may I be reborn
washed clean
made new
forgiven
spectacularly loved.
Remind me who I am.
Forgive me for my shadow sides,
please heal my broken wings
that I might fly
with You.
Amen
~ Marianne Williamson ~
Earth, ourselves,
Breathe and awaken,
Leaves are stirring,
All things moving,
New day coming,
Life renewing.
~ Pawnee Prayer ~
A Mother's Prayer
Dear Lord, it's such a hectic day,
With little time to stop and pray,
For life's been anything but calm
Since You called me to be a Mom.
Running errands, matching socks,
Building dreams with wooden blocks,
Cooking, cleaning, finding shoes
And other stuff that children lose,
Fitting lids on bottled bugs,
Wiping tears and giving hugs,
A stack of last week's mail to read
So where's the quiet time I need?
Yet, when I steal a moment, Lord,
Just at the sink or ironing board,
To ask the blessings of Your grace,
I see then, in my small one's face,
That you have blessed me all the while
And I stoop to kiss that precious smile.
~ Author Unknown ~
Peace, Love and Light,
Your Friends at Self-Healing Expressions
If you find value in "Holistic Expressions," we invite you to forward this newsletter on to others.
Disclaimer
About Self-Healing Expressions
Self-Healing Expressions
provides self-paced email courses on holistic and personal growth topics. Site features
guided meditation and healing prayers. Course topics include Romantic Resumé, Grief Healing,
Pet Loss, Nutrition, Laugh Therapy, Healing the Earth, Wisdom of Thoreau, More Power to You
and more. Its popular (free) Holistic Prayers email course contains interfaith prayers,
worldwide prayer vigil announcements and inspiring quotes.
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