A Quest for Well-Being

— "Make room in your heart for all of you. The loving, kind, doubting, fearful you. The angry, caring, silly you. The messy, daring, relaxed you. The brave, sad, adorable you. Make room in your heart for all of you. The forgiving, wise, impatient you. Make room in your heart for you, all of you." – Susan Lax Valeria Teles interviews Susan Lax — the author of " A Heart's Landscape: An Invitation to the Garden of Moments." Susan, like each one of you, has a story. The chapters of her story continue to add pages, presenting an ever-growing passion for sharing the healing gifts of awareness. Susan offers spiritual coaching and care for many, including those touched by illness and loving someone through death. She leads workshops and guided meditation sessions. In 2010 she began writing Morning Inspiration—and email for your soul. In addition, Susan is a certified Reiki practitioner. The co-owner of Naot Footwear, Susan spends her moments between New York and Tel Aviv together with her partner in life and love. They share the joy of three daughters and five grandchildren. Meet Susan at susanplax.com

— Energy Medicine helps rebalance the imbalances at the root of physical, emotional and mental issues, because the energy systems are foundational to our health on every level. Physical and emotional symptoms lessen greatly and often disappear completely as we peel away layers of traumas, emotions and limiting beliefs, allowing you to experience an increased level of wellness and vitality. These improvements are wonderful, but there is something else, something infinitely more beautiful, happening on a deeper level. Paige Apgar has worked with clients for extended periods, she observed that as people release old patterns, and the stuck emotions around experiences that have shaped their perceptions of life and of themselves, many subtle foundational shifts take place simultaneously. The process can best be described as a gentle unfolding of the self, not unlike a flower that slowly opens to the sun, and reflects back the light that it absorbs. As her clients move through this process of unfolding, they become more in touch with who they are at their core, more attuned to their own higher consciousness, and more at ease with themselves and with life. Peaks of joy are experienced, sometimes for the first time, and the little stresses of life don't have as much impact. People who had once walked in with visible tension in their faces and their bodies move with a relaxed ease, and tension is replaced with smiles and laughter! Valeria Teles interviews Paige Apgar — She is Eden Energy Medicine Advanced Practitioner, Certified Transformational Coach, And Speaker. Paige Apgar has spent the past 24 years exploring healing and consciousness and how to fully align with soul-level expression. Through her own extensive personal healing work and life transformation, she gained the experience and insights she now draws on in order to lead her clients along a path of deep healing that unblocks the flow of their soul's desires. Using a multi-faceted, co-creative energy healing process, Paige assists her clients in accessing their deepest healing, their highest wisdom, and opening to the fullest expression of their soul's light. Meet Paige at soulslightenergyhealing.com

— "Applying the 'Human Awakeness' to the Soul Awareness was quite fascinating. Nothing in the house belonged to me. I had absolutely no bond with anything (I even 'forgot' I had my own family) yet I had everything I 'needed' within me. The Soul has access to zillions of realities (think strings of choice) whilst also fully present and detached — un-emotional but not 'cold' — in each 'choice'. Stating that a lesson was complete meant the string/path was released and a new path followed. Never was 'incarnation' used but it was always 'path' - to access the lessons required. Each path was in a new vehicle (form as tree/human/animal) I also loved the *FACT* of a Soul's knowing that 'we are all well' - I wasn't asking but merely stating a truth from a Soul level. My strongest message from this: ***The Soul has no doubt or dependency. The lack of attachment felt whole*** " — Writes Nitya Valeria Teles interviews Nitya Lynda McIntosh — She has decades of experience working with Energy Healing and Multi-Dimensional Living founding a pioneering Wellbeing Centre in Scotland focusing on Multi-Dimensional and heart-based living. She has early childhood memories of channeling and telepathy, is an Energy Healer Practitioner and Teacher Trainer, Crystal Healer, Yoga Siromani, and Reflexologist. She learnt Transcendental Meditation (T.M) in 1986. Spiritually she works as an empath, channel, psychic, medium, is a Lemurian elder, works with Ascended Masters, Angels, Archangels, Galactic Beings, brought a new vibration Trovak (TM) energy to people, works with Lady Gaia, Stone Circles, ancient monuments and any other landmarks which connect with her. She continues her energy work transforming fear-based living into healing, connected, loving vibrations – within herself, her business and her clients. Her formula to wellbeing, over decades of experience is: — Integrity to fearlessly live the authentic truth of who we are; — Empowerment to be true to who you are, which, by nature opens opportunity for others into empowerment; — Growth in all areas as we embody these practices Nitya works with the 'Spirit' of the person, aiding conscious, heart-based living; making life more meaningful and fulfilling. There's enough to go around in the world; the old 'dog-eat-dog' paradigm has no place in wellbeing. Nitya goes to the 'seed' of the issue, not papering over the cracks for it to appear somewhere else in the future Her methodology helps people understand and heal themselves in a compassionate manner, with clients finding relief from anxiety, depression, inner child issues, trauma, addictions, low self-esteem. Meet Nitya Lynda at thenaturalwellbeingacademy.com

— We humans create beauty through love, gratitude, appreciation, wonder, poetry, dancing, stillness, music… Yet it may be that in order to be able unhesitatingly to give that "Yes!" answer, we need to step outside of our human selves. Did not the sun, the wind, and the water come joyously together to produce sparkling wavelets today, as they have for uncountable years? Are not flowers continuing to open their leaves and blossoms, birds to sing, and the moon and stars to light the sky? Are not the crows and ravens still playing and tumbling above us? The world around creates a depth and breadth of beauty that is awe-inspiring in every moment, if we will only pay attention. All of life conspires to create beauty. It is our privilege, even our divine responsibility as humans, to perceive and appreciate that beauty. One of the ways that we do this is to acknowledge that this is indeed the most beautiful day of all time. Acknowledgment brings us to place of gratitude. When we express that gratitude, we create more beauty. So as you proceed through your day and offer your gratitude for the tiny or grand examples of beauty that you see, know that you are contributing to this most beautiful day that ever was. Valeria Teles interviews Wes Gietz — the author of " BORN WHOLE: Heal Your Pre-Birth Trauma. Guide And Protect Your Baby From Conception To Birth." After four decades of wondering why humans were so strange, Wes Gietz got his formal start on the path of natural shamanism some thirty years ago, studying ancient survival skills, spirituality, and shamanism with Tom Brown Jr. During that period, he also worked with an Anicinabe medicine man who trained and authorized Wes to conduct traditional sweatlodge ceremonies. Wes Gietz offered sweats and guided Vision Quests for more than twenty years. The scope of his journey has included many aspects of human existence, from working with the spirits in rocks and water to gardening and Earth-based shamanism, being in the Realm of Souls and learning from the entities of that domain, and expansion to experiences of near-infinite consciousness. Wes' currently work as a writer and personal/spiritual mentor and guide. He guides Past Life Regressions and Life Between Lives meditations. Wes has practiced and taught Emotional Freedom Techniques for 25 years. He teaches the physical and spiritual skills of the shamanic path. Wes is a wanderer and sometimes a channel. He has published numerous articles on topics such as spirituality, healing, edible and medicinal plants, tracking, and Coyote Mentoring, and he is also a contributing author of Peak States of Consciousness, Volume 2: Acquiring Extraordinary Spiritual and Shamanic States (Grant McFetridge with Wes Gietz). Three years ago, Wes published his first book, Born Whole, the personal story of healing his pre-birth emotional traumas through meditative regression to the womb. These days Wes published a blog and newsletter of stories, observations, and occasional poetry. Book #2 is in the works; with the tentative title My Name is Dancing Fire. It is the story of his ongoing journey into awareness. In 1999 Wes initiated the Firemaker Gathering, an annual week-long learning and celebration of ancient skills and community held on Vancouver Island. He is acknowledged as a storyteller and elder, and as a man who embodies the qualities of patience, wisdom, compassion, and understanding. Meet Wes at windwalker.ca and firemaker.org

— A loving, and encouraging relationship with yourself, your body/mind/heart/spirit, and self-care is essential to heal, to cultivate a life of joy, and to reach your personal and professional goals. Linda Tumbarello brings decades of experience as a Psychotherapist, Bodywork Practitioner, Educator, and the founder of her own integrated approach to healing, to help you to embrace the wisdom of your body, mind and heart to support the life you want. Valeria Teles interviews Linda Tumbarello — the author of " The Heart of Self-Care: A Woman's Guide to Joyful Living and Well-Being." Linda Tumbarello is a pioneer in the body-mind field she has developed her own approach to healing from trauma and abuse, and cultivating the wisdom of body, mind and heart. Linda integrates body-centered psychotherapy, therapeutic bodywork, Body-Mind Centering®, embodiment practices, and movement. She has helped many to heal from physical and emotional issues, trauma and to live more joyfully. Linda is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Certified Body Mind Centering® Practitioner and Teacher, and a Life/Self-Care Coach. Linda conducts workshops, advanced trainings, private retreats, self-care support groups for cancer survivors, and is a speaker. For 30 years, Linda was a faculty member in The School for Body-Mind Centering® Practitioner Training Program, and has taught in the Dynamic Embodiment Training Program with Dr. Martha Eddy since 1992. Her new book "Joyful Sexuality for Women: A little book on a big subject" will be published soon. She is currently writing on Self-Care in the Hard times: Recuperating from injuries, illness, surgeries and loss. Meet Linda at lindatumbarello.com

— Forgiveness is a radical way of living that openly contradicts the most common beliefs of this troubled world. It is radical because it involves a transformation of our thinking from thoughts of "an eye for an eye" to compassion and understanding. Forgiveness is the science of the heart, a discipline of discovering all the ways of being that will extend your love to the world and discarding all the ways that do not. Forgiveness is the accomplishment of mastery over a wound. It is a process through which an injured person first fights off, then embraces, then conquers a situation that has nearly destroyed him or her. Forgiveness restores our hearts to the innocence that we once knew—an innocence that allows us the freedom to love. It is the means for taking what is broken and making it whole. Valeria Teles interviews Dr. Eileen Borris — the author of " Finding Forgiveness: A 7-Step Program for Letting Go of Anger and Bitterness." Dr. Eileen Borris is a clinical and political psychologist specializing in international conflict resolution, multi-track diplomacy, and peace building. Since the 1980s, Dr. Borris has worked internationally to help rebuild more than fifteen of the world's most volatile and war-torn countries including for USAID, UNIFEM and for UNDP. Most recently as part of a USAID and Thunderbird for Good program, Dr. Borris went to Kabul to train Afghan women to have a political voice and help change their societal norms. Dr. Borris has spoken to the United Nations General Assembly on "Forgiveness and the Healing of Nations," and to members of the UN, UN agencies, and nongovernmental organizations worldwide. She has shared the podium with such prominent people as Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland at the Aspen Institute and facilitated an Interfaith Dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other prominent religious figures. On invitation by Marianne Williamson, Dr. Borris spoke at the Sister Giant Conference on "Can Political Forgiveness be the Answer"? She is currently writing another book on political forgiveness, "Healing the Heart of Humanity." Meet Dr. Eileen at dreileenborris.com and drborris.com

— Creating companionship and community with others invites a sense of belonging and a genuine feeling of being valued. These are core aspects of social-emotional development that, when cultivated, awaken the blossoming of being and becoming human. With an awareness and understanding of our interdependent, human nature, collaborative relationships can be attained without anyone's compromising of values. Gentle Teaching is rooted in this understanding that is referred to as a psychology of interdependence. The relationship itself becomes the classroom and the key for developing companionship and a sense of community. Constructed with a framework of Gentle Teaching, it becomes the vehicle of mobility for exploring and discovering quality of life possibilities. Valeria Teles interviews Anthony McCrovitz — the author of " Return to Gentleness: Journeying With Gentle Teaching." Anthony (Tony) M. McCrovitz, Ph.D., is a licensed mental health counselor and psychologist, with clinical training and specialization in child development and the integration of approaches that are rooted in a holistic, biopsychosocial model. In 1996, he co-founded Globe-Star, an agency that provides accredited quality of life services and programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He continues to serve as director and is a consultant, mentor, and provider of training in a Quality of Life ModelTM of services. He holds a doctorate in I/O Psychology from Walden University, a re-specialization in Clinical Psychology from Adler University, an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University, and a master's degree in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola University of Chicago. Dr. McCrovitz currently serves as President of Indiana Counseling Foundation (IPCF), has served as a Past President of Indiana Counseling Association (ICA), and continues actively serving as a Board Member. Meet Anthony at qualityoflifeinstitute.org

— Over the long-term history of humanity, there have been four cognitive revolutions which jumpstarted our human evolution and success. About 70,000 years ago, primitive, stone-age Homo sapiens were beset by climate change and unable to compete successfully on the harsh African savanna. They almost became extinct. Then our big-brained ancestors discovered art and ceremony, and presumably dance, music, and song. And these puny two-legged creatures thrived and proliferated. It is essential to understand that it was art, not sophisticated tools and weaponry, that was the driving force behind the first cognitive revolution: the Consciousness Revolution. Moving forward through history, we fostered the Agricultural, the Industrial, and the Computer Revolutions. But, today, storm clouds rise on the horizon again. Climate change threatens, and we as a species, beset by anger, division, and frustration. Yes, we have the most marvelous technology imaginable. But that is not sufficient. We need a second Conscious Revolution – based on positive thinking, love, cooperation, dance, music, and art – to provide us with the human power to endure and prosper. – Writes Jon Turk Valeria Teles interviews him — Jon Turk — the author of "Tracking Lions, Myth, and Wilderness in Samburu , The Raven's Gift: A Scientist, a Shaman, and Their Remarkable Journey Through the Siberian Wilderness — among other titles. Jon Turk earned a Ph.D. in organic chemistry in 1971 and was nominated by National Geographic as one of the Top Ten Adventurers of the Year in 2012. Between these bookends, Jon co-authored the first college level environmental science textbook in North America, followed by 30 additional texts in environmental, physical, and earth sciences. At the same time, he kayaked around Cape Horn and across the North Pacific from Japan to Alaska, mountain biked across the northern Gobi in Mongolia, and made numerous first ski descents and first rock climbing ascents around the globe. During extended travel in northeast Siberia, Jon's worldview was altered by Moolynaut, a Siberian shaman, and his later books reflect these spiritual journeys. Jon has published four trade books: Cold Oceans (HarperCollins), In the Wake of the Jomon (McGraw Hill), The Raven's Gift (St Martin's Press) and Crocodiles and Ice (Oolichan Press). Tracking Lions, Myth, and Wilderness in Samburu delves more deeply into a "mind-body-spirit" theme, supported by adventure storytelling, integrated with an anthropological view of the role of art and mythology in human development. Meet Jon at jonturk.net

— Young people and adults alike are bombarded with information about COVID-19 and they need to know how to tell science-based facts from fiction. To beat this pandemic, they need to understand the ways in which the virus spreads and prevent it from proliferating. Because SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is host dependent and must attach to and live inside the cells of other organisms to survive, it's possible to outsmart and inactivate the virus by first understanding the ways in which it spreads and then by engaging in measures to avoid, inactivate, and suppress its spread. Asymptomatic infections contribute to more than 50 percent of the spread of COVID-19, making transmission hard to control. More alarmingly, "recent increases in COVID-19 associated hospitalization rates and the potential for severe disease in adolescents reinforce the importance of prevention strategies," writes the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Giving both young people and adults the knowledge for how to recognize how the virus spreads and how to suppress it through individual actions can help thwart infection of the insidious virus. Through understanding and individual responsibility, young people can shield themselves from the grip of the pandemic and move confidently toward a safe return to everyday life. Valeria Teles interviews Sabbithry Persad — the author of " What Is Coronavirus?: How It Infects, How It Spreads, and How to Stay Safe" Sabbithry Persad is a writer who tackles issues we face in the global community. Persad is the author of the Garbology Kids® waste management series for children, which includes Where Do Recyclable Materials Go?, Operation: Reuse It!, and We Can Reduce: Precycle It! She is the founder of Firewater Media Group and Green Solutions Magazine. Meet Sabbithry at firewatermediagroup.com

— May the precious awakening mind Take birth where it has not been born before; Where it has been born May it increase forever without decline. May spiritual teachers appear in the world May teachings shine forth like the rays of the sun May the upholders of spiritual traditions be in kinship and harmony And may those traditions long and beneficially endure. As long as space remains, And as long as sentient beings remain, Until then, may I too remain And help dispel the misery of the world. — Prayer for Healing — Emaho! Valeria Teles interviews Ritu Kapur — the author of " Teach Yoga Touch Hearts: A Guide to Creating Inspirational Yoga Practice" Ritu Kapur was born in India. At the age of twenty-two, she moved to the United States where she attended Boston University completing her Master's degree in Occupational Therapy. In the years following, she met her husband, settled in the Boston area and raised her young family while working as an Occupational Therapist in various healthcare settings. She fell in love with yoga in 2009 and pursued two different yoga teacher trainings to learn different approaches. She has been sharing her love of yoga with people of all ages and abilities ever since. In 2014, encouraged by her husband, a long-time meditator himself, she opened her yoga and meditation studio, SOHUM. Teaching yoga was rewarding and fulfilling, and she eventually left her job as a Rehab Director to manage the studio. For seven years, SOHUM was a space that made yoga practices accessible to many; it nourished and nurtured the love of yoga for teachers and practitioners alike. Ritu is currently teaching yoga classes online, planning local and international retreats, and working on her second book. She finds much joy in her ongoing studies in Indian philosophy, Vedic chanting, and Hindustani classical music. Her first book, Teach Yoga Touch Hearts has been received very well by yoga enthusiasts in many countries. She hopes that the messages from this book manifest as inspiration, guidance, and empowerment to many. Meet Ritu at sohum.org