Dear Reader,

It’s hard to believe the holiday season is about to begin! The past few months have been a whirlwind of transition for me, and I must admit, I am ready to slow down and focus on the beautiful sights and sounds that will begin popping up all around us—candles, carols, festive foods, lights—no matter the celebration, I love it all!

       I will try not to get caught up in the frantic hustle bustle that also comes with this time of year. Instead, I will choose to be more intentional with how I spend my time and money. I plan to give more of both to help make a positive difference in this community. There are so many local nonprofits that can benefit from donations of all kinds—financial, new and gently used items, volunteer hours… If you’re looking for ways to share your blessings with others, please check out HandsOnRVA.org, ChrysalisInstitute.org, CaritasVA.org and ProjectYogaRichmond.org, to name just a few of the wonderful organizations you can support.

        In addition to giving more, I will also take cues from Mother Nature and find ways to slow down, eat less, sleep more and go within to cultivate a sense of calm and inner peace. This is an excellent time of year for contemplation and self-reflection. And the better we can care for ourselves during this often busy season, the more likely we will stay healthy—in body, mind and spirit. The feature article, “Supercharge Your Immune System”, offers natural ways to help you stay healthy and prevent colds, flus and other immune disorders.

        I wish you a happy and healthy holiday season. May your days be filled with compassion, grace, courage and love as 2018 comes to a close. I hope you find ways to take advantage of some slower, quieter moments to, as Danna Faulds so eloquently puts it, “Go in and in…”

 

Go in and in…
Be the space between the cells,
the vast, resounding silence in which spirit dwells…
Be sugar dissolving on the tongue of life.

Dive in and in… as deep as you can dive.
Be infinite, ecstatic truth.
Be love conceived and born in union…

Be exactly what you seek,
the Beloved, singing Yes, tasting Yes, embracing Yes until there is only essence,
the All of Everything expressing through you as you…

Go in and in…
and turn away from nothing that you find…

 

Happy Holidays and Happy Reading!

Jessica