Heart 2 Heart Creative Healing Services,
Inc.
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The White Lotus
The Heart2Heart
E-Newsletter
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Creating Unity Consciousness By Unfolding the Potential
Within Each Of Us
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20
March 2009
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Welcome
Spring!
Celebrate
the Spring Equinox
We are at the point in the yearly
cycle when complete balance exists between the light and the
dark. The day of the Spring Equinox has equal times of
daylight and darkness. As the sun moves from Pisces
to Aries, it will cross the earth's celestial equator, and
momentary balance of day and night is achieved. Thereafter,
the hours of light will predominate and the hours of dark will
fade into the background.
The Spring Equinox then, is a time
for us to examine our own balance. Does a balance exist
between our poles of yin (Feminine energy) and yang (Masculine
energy), or are we prisoners of images of how we think we
"should" think and behave? As we move towards our outer
nature (the light), are we honoring our inner nature (the
dark)? It was Carl Jung who reminded us that without the
darkness, we could not see the light of a candle
flame. At the
Spring Equinox, the flowers announce the promise of
fruit.
Learning and practicing the ancient healing art of
Ayurveda can facilitate the creation of unity within
ourselves, with each other, the earth and the universe. - Dr.
Joanna Carmichael
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Spring
Cleaning
Now that the spring is here, many
people are beginning to Spring Clean their homes - getting rid
of the old and making room for the new! This is a
great idea and applies to our body, mind, heart, and
spirit as well. Now is an ideal time to do an internal
cleanse and/or fast. This strengthens and rejuvenates
the internal organs to facilitate healing and elimination of
toxins from heavy foods and beverages we may have consumed
all winter. Reduce your intake of highly processed,
canned or fried foods. Instead, begin to favor locally
grown fruits and vegetables. Eating homemade soup, broth
or stew can be settling if your digestion is feeling
especially sensitive. A one-day liquid fast is also
beneficial for cleansing the body of accumulated wastes.
For a day, take everything in the form of liquid, including
water, juices and soups. If you are feeling lightheaded
or otherwise uncomfortable, eat some solid food. This
process creates clarity and lightness in your mind/body
physiology.
All
disease starts in our digestive tract when toxins are not
properly eliminated and nutrients are not properly
absorbed. Before starting any cleansing or
fasting program, be sure to check with a certified
healthcare professional. For additional information on
internal cleansing programs to suit your individual
constitution, please contact Heart 2 Heart to make an
appointment.
Some simple and readily available
cleansing aids can also be taken on a daily basis to improve
digestion and increase overall well-being. Do not
underestimate the power of these simple remedies. From
an Ayurvedic perspective, the early stages of disease are very
easily and simply corrected before minor symptoms become major
abnormalities on a lab report or diagnostic test.
- Sipping
warm water throughout the day hydrates and cleanses bodily
tissues.
- Ginger tea,
made by simmering one teaspoon of fresh grated ginger root
in a cup of hot water promotes
detoxification.
- 1-2
Tablespoons of Aloe Vera juice may be taken twice daily to
improve digestion and enhance elimination.
Remember that cleansing is not
limited to the body. Begin to watch your thoughts
and feelings and simply notice how the quality of these
things can be nourishing or toxic to your
physiology. The process of simply observing, without
judgment, brings increased awareness so that you can start to
change any programming that may have just become a
bad habit. With this increased awareness, you can
make more nourishing choices that contribute to health and
healing rather than discomfort and dis-ease. Try this
releasing exercise to clean out toxic thoughts and emotions
which can be at the root of illness without our even realizing
it.
Releasing exercise:
This is an exercise
that can help you gain further clarity into the areas of your
life where you might be holding toxicity. Choose a comfortable and quiet place
to sit or lie down. Close your eyes, take a deep breath,
and call forth an image of your physical surroundings.
Imagine your home, your car, your clothes, and your
body. As you reflect upon these aspects of your life,
see if you can identify those things that are not nourishing
to you. Are there any habits or substances that you would like
to release? Have you accumulated things in your body or
your environment that you really don't need? Just
observe (non-judgmentally) any images or sensations that come
to mind.
Now,
taking another deep breath while bringing your attention to
the realm of your emotions. Think about the people in
your life; your family, your friends, neighbors, co-workers,
etc.. Are you holding on to any feelings that may be
restricting your full expression? Are you involved in
relationships that you would like to transform? Are there any
relationships, behaviors or tendencies that you would like to
release?
Now,
remain with your eyes closed, bringing with you any insights
as you slowly open your eyes. You may want to write or
journal about any insights that came into your awareness
during this exercise. From this place of increased
awareness, you may then commit to releasing that which no
longer serves you so you can make room for anything new and
nourishing to enter your life.
Please join me at my Health and
Wellness Round table on Wednesday 15 April 2009 at 12:00 Noon
to continue the discussion on Spring Cleaning for the body,
mind, heart, and spirit. Learn more about what you
can do to maximize the energy of the spring season to
achieve the health and vitality you want to be able to
accomplish your goals with effortless ease.
For more information about
cleansing, new beginnings and rejuvenation for your health and
well-being, you may go to my website at www.heart2heartcreativehealing.com and
download a free copy of the "White Lotus" where you may also
sign up to receive this newsletter regularly. Your
questions and comments are always welcome. Please
feel free to contact me at drj@heart2heartcreativehealing.com or (610)
993-3357.
We welcome your comments and
testimonials on how an Ayurvedic treatment or recommendation
worked for you. Please email them to sandy@heart2heartcreativehealing.com.
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Spiritual Law of
Karma
Karma simply means
action. It is both action and consequence of that action
simultaneously. Although you may have heard that karma
is good and bad, the truth is that karma is neither good or
bad - it simply is. What goes around comes around and
what we sow, we reap. And what sometimes may be judged
as "bad karma", many times ends up being a blessing in
disguise or serving a higher purpose than what we may
initially have experienced through the five senses which is a
very limited viewpoint.
From this perspective it
is the act of conscious choice making. Since everything
is a choice (even our seemingly unconscious choices), we must
learn to bring consciousness to all of our choices so that we
can make better ones in the future. We do this through
meditation where we break the pattern of samsara, or action
that generates memory which creates desire and generates
action again. This is the software of the soul and the good
news is that we can choose to upgrade the software at any
time. :-)
To practice the law of Karma, we consciously
begin to witness the choices we are making in our lives,
consider the consequences of those choices, and listen to the
body for messages of comfort or discomfort. A choice
that results in peace and happiness for yourself and others
will generate feelings of comfort in the body. A choice
that will hurt yourself or another will generate discomfort,
many times in the area of the heart or the solar plexus. By
becoming more fully aware of all of our choices, the result is
spontaneous right action in all situations, thereby making our
lives more happy and satisfying for ourselves and each
other.
To connect with this law more deeply, repeat the
mantra, "Om Kriyam
Namah" : translation - "my actions are
aligned with universal law." This is the law of
the Root Chakra or Muladara Chakra. The color of this
energy center is red and the primordial sound associated with
it is Lam.
In this time of Spring Cleaning, it is also an ideal time to
bring awareness to all of our choices and see where we can
create more peace and happiness for ourselves and others by
cleaning up habitual thoughts that no longer serve
us.
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Featured Crystal -
Clear
Quartz
Clear Quartz is one of the most
powerful healing
crystals in the world. As an energy
amplifier, it can regulate, release, store and absorb energy,
as well as help unblock it in both the physical and mental
dimensions. It also amplifies psychic abilities and
enhances psychic awareness, attuning one to their spiritual
purpose. This is an excellent crystal for meditation, as it
can filter out distractions.
On a spiritual level,
this crystal raises energy to the highest level
possible. Containing every color possible, clear quartz
works on all levels of being and acts as a deep soul
cleanser. It harmonizes all the chakras and aligns the
subtle bodies.
On a physical level, clear quartz
stimulates the immune system and brings the body into
balance. It also protects against radiation, generates
electromagnetism and dispels static electricity.
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 Featured Essential Oil -
Purification
This wonderful oil
can be used directly on the skin to cleanse and soothe insect
bites, irritations, cuts and scrapes. When
diffused, it helps to purify and cleanse the air from
environmental impurities including cigarette smoke and other
disagreeable odors. This is not about simply masking the odor
with another fragrance (the way air fresheners do), but
literally purifying the air to address the first cause of the
odor.
It is one of my personal favorites for
meditation because of the very pleasant blend of oils
including lavender, rosemary, lemongrass, and myrtle, and the
purifying quality it has on the mind and emotions in
preparation for meditation (no thought).
This oil is
great to use on pulse points and the bottom of the feet as
well as by direct inhalation. Find out more about this
and other Young Living essential oils and products at www.
youngliving.org/jcarmichael.
It is also contained in our insect and tick repellant
in our Sama line of Ayurvedic essential oil
products. |
 Featured Young Living Product - 5 Day
Nutritive Cleanse
Have you
been looking for an effective and gentle cleanse that will not
upset your stomach or disrupt your busy
schedule?
The 5-Day
Nutritive Cleanse™ facilitates gentle and effective cleansing
to improve overall health and well-being. A minimum of
four, easy cleanses a year with our 5-Day Nutritive Cleanse
and continued nutritional maintenance will help balance the
extremes of the modern diet.
This nutritive
cleanse includes the following: Ningxia Red, an energizing,
replenishing, whole wolfberry nutrient infusion (1 liter );
Balance Complete, a
super-food-based, daily, superfood energizer and nutritive
cleanse (26.4 oz.); Digest +
cleanse, which soothes gastrointestinal discomfort and
supports healthy digestion (30 softgels).
Find out
more about this and other Young Living cleansing, nutritional,
weight-management and immunity-enhancing products at www.youngliving.org/jcarmichael.
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 Your
Rasayana
A rasayana
is something that nourishes the connection between
consciousness and physiology. They can be herbal or
mineral, a remedy, food or a practice or feeling that elevates
consciousness to promote the body's self-healing
abilities.
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Featured Ayurvedic Herb -
Triphala
Triphala was formulated
thousands of years ago by Ayurvedic physicians and has
literally been used by billions of people.
Triphala is
made from the three rasayanas, Amalaki, Bibhitaki, and
Haritaki which have rejuvenative,
anti-aging, and
strengthening effects to the digestive power. It is
considered one of the most effective colon tonics by many
holistic health care practitioners. Many other colon
tonics or cleansing systems are depleting to the physiology,
but triphala is mild, non-habit forming and rejuvenating.
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Your
Meditation Practice
Setting an
intention before you begin to meditate can be a useful
practice to help focus and quiet the mind in preparation for
meditation. In Primordial Sound Meditation, we ask ourselves
three questions before beginning to repeat our primordial
sound mantra. The questions are: Who am I? What do I
want? What is my Dharma or purpose in life?
(How can I help? And how can I serve myself and others?)
The purpose of asking these questions is to put the
intent out into the universe to have the questions answered
without attachment to how or when they will be answered as we
remain open to all possibilities. The purpose is not to
think about these questions in meditation, but merely to
repeat your mantra or observe your breathing after the
questions are silently asked. I like to go about this
practice with the innocence and curiosity of a child.
You may be very surprised about what comes up for your
consideration when you cultivate the openness to receive the
insights and guidance.
If you are struggling with
issues of life purpose in particular, this practice can be
very helpful in leading you to your Dharma or purpose here on
earth. We are meant to be using our gifts and potential
to the fullest while we are here and to help as many people as
we can.
If your life, particularly your career, is not
bringing you joy, fulfillment, and a sense of being of
service, then it is something you might need to examine.
Part living a life of health, vitality and balance includes a
fulfilling work life - looking forward to our work, knowing
that it is providing an important piece to the collective
puzzle. When you are unhappy in your job or career, this
has an effect on our health and can lead to imbalances that
cause disease.
To learn more about the Primordial
Sound Meditation Course, visit www.heart2heartcreativehealing.com
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Your
Yoga Practice - Knee to Head Pose -
Pavanamuktasana (1st Chakra - the Muladara or Root
Chakra)
Begin lying
on your back in Savasana, allowing your awareness to float
through your body. If you notice any areas of tension in
this resting pose, have the intention to release it.
Taking a deep breath, bring your right knee up to your
chest. Hold your leg below the knee with both
hands. Hold this pose and breathe into your hip.
Then gently bring your chin to your knee while
exhaling. As you inhale rest back down and again on the
exhale, raise the head towards the knee and inhale rest back
down. On the third exhale, raise the head and hold this
position for a few moments, breathing easily, and feeling the
sensations in your body. After several breaths exhale,
slowly straightening your leg and head to the floor.
Repeat the pose with your left leg. As you
exhale, bend the left knee to your chest while raising your
chin to your knee. Again breathe easily for a few moments,
then slowly lower your head and left leg to the floor while
exhaling. Now on the
exhale, lift both knees up to your chest, grasping both legs
with coupled hands. Hold for several moments, easily
inhaling and exhaling, aware of the sensations in your spine.
Now holding
both legs below the knees, gently rock side to side several
times. Returning to your center, gently begin bicycling
motions with your legs. Placing your hands by your sides,
extend first one leg, then the other. Inhale and exhale
in rhythm with each leg extension. After about 30 seconds,
return both legs to the floor.
Benefits: This pose is
beneficial to assist with elimination by stimulating the
ascending and descending colon. It mobilizes energy in the
body, releases tension in the deep muscles that go from the
sit bones through the hips and sacrum and relieves low back
pain. Contraindications would be for neck injuries and
if you have had hip replacement
surgery.
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Your
Mudra Practice
Prithivi Mudra
The tips of
the thumb and ring finger are joined and the other fingers are
extended. It recharges the root chakra aligning it with
earth energies.
Mukula Mudra
All fingers
and thumb are joined together and pointed upwards. It
represents the bud of a Lotus Flower and is symbolic of
New Beginnings.
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Your Home
Why stop at the body when
cleansing and detoxifying? Your home and car might be
able to use a little cleansing of its own. Removal of
clutter is the first rule of Feng Shui, the environmental
balance aspect of Chinese Medicine.
Clutter is
detrimental to the Chi or Prana (energy) that runs through
everything including our home. When you remove it,
energy can flow freely and the "feel" of your home will
inevitably change, leading to improvements in health,
well-being, finances, relationships and more.
Go
through your closets and drawers and see what you don't need
any more. You don't need to do it all at once as that can be
too overwhelming if there is a lot to do. Clean out a
drawer a day or a closet a weekend. Don't forget the garage
and the basement (foundation). Donate things you no longer
need or want to charity and let these items be utilized to
help others.
Your cleaner, lighter, fresher space will
make you feel good inside and out as well as support your
cleansing efforts for your body-mind. The energy of the Spring
season also conspires in our favor to help us want to Spring
clean. Take advantage of it. The new can't come in if
the old is still there, stagnating and stale. This
includes nourishing relationships, new opportunities, money,
inspiration and creativity.
Find out more about making
your home a magnet for good Chi by visiting Dr. Anna Maria
Prezio's website: www.fengshuiharmony.com
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Your
Relationships
Since this is an issue about
cleansing, new beginnings and detoxification, the issue would
not be complete without addressing toxic relationships.
I recently had an experience where a relationship of mine was
becoming increasingly toxic. While the situation was
quite painful emotionally because it occurred with a seemingly
close friend, the continuation of the relationship the way it
was would have most likely eventually contributed to illness,
had I allowed it to continue.
From an Ayurvedic
perspective this is a perfect example of how the body's wisdom
lets us know when something is not right, physically,
mentally, emotionally or spiritually, and this includes our
relationships. When I would think of seeing or speaking with
this person, I would get a knot in my stomach and a feeling of
dread would come over me. When in this person's
presence, in my heart, I felt sad, judged and betrayed. Do you
think this was telling me something? Of course it was,
and many of us have felt exactly this way and continued in the
toxic relationship anyway - ignoring the signs that this was
not nurturing to their physiology and spirit.
We
sometimes use excuses to justify staying in a toxic
relationship such as the length of time we have know someone
or the meaning the relationship once had. While these
things are important, they are not reasons to continue when
the relationship is not nurturing, nourishing, or serving a
purpose. It's just not supposed to be that hard. How do
you feel being in someone's presence who is loving, kind,
compassionate and non-judgmental? How have you felt as you
were looking forward to being with someone who honors you as a
person and makes you feel good about yourself and others?
I was
eventually able to distance myself from my particular
situation and this proved to be the right decision.
Karmically, we sometimes need to move on from certain
relationships because we outgrow them, the persons involved
veer off on different paths and/or they become toxic.
When a relationship is no longer fulfilling, nurturing, or you
are being abused physically, mentally, emotionally or
spiritually, it is necessary to leave it and this is not
always easy. It takes courage, especially if the relationship
was an important one. We can and should ask for grace and the
highest good for all involved. It also does not need to
be done in a manner that is mean-spirited.
If you are in a toxic situation, meditate on it, pray
about it and ask for guidance as to what is right for you in a
given situation. Metaphysically, when a relationship is
not right for one person, it is not right for the other.
Toxicity goes both ways and is not good for anyone. Your
highest goal should be peace and non-violence. The
violence we see in the world started somewhere and the more we
can keep our thoughts and emotions clear and clean, the better
it will be for the world.
Anger and violence starts in
the mind and in our closest relationships. What we see
occurring in the world today is just a macrocosm of what goes
on in the microcosm of families and intimate relationships.
Start with yourself and your immediate relationships by making
sure they contribute to peace and not violence. You will
be a healthier, happier person and the world will be a better
place for it.
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Hank's Corner
Many people
ask my Mom if there is holistic health for pets, and the
answer is a resounding Woof! She has been taking care of
all of us, including my cat-brothers, Alf & Lion, with
holistic care since we have been with her and we all feel
great.
This does not mean that traditional
western veterinary care does not have its place - it does,
however, keeping us healthy with good nutrition (including
treats), exercise, play, and immune boosting supplements, like
Ashwaghanda (Yes, we have to do Ayurveda too!) makes trips to
the vet for illness and problems less frequent, and more
pleasant. And if you have any doubts as to the
effectiveness of holistic treatment, like acupuncture and
Chinese Medicine, remember, there is no placebo effect in
animals! This stuff really works.
For more information
on alternative medicine for your furry beloveds check out my
Vet's website at www.altpetdoc.com. Dr. Rose Di Leva
was just on the 11:00 News on Philadelphia's 6ABC talking
about alternative medicine for us pets. Yeah Dr. Rose!
Email me your questions about your pet's health at Hank@heart2heartcreativehealing.com. |
What
Dr. J is Reading - "Living an Authentic Life" Thomas Legere,
PhD
I highly
recommend this book for anyone who has the courage to know
themselves better. Tom Legere is one of my most beloved
teachers and friends from ministry school and this book is
like hearing one of his beautiful and heart opening lectures
in person.
In
his typically eloquent blending of psychology and
spirituality, you are invited on a journey of self-discovery
that can help you know and understand yourself and other
people with enhanced ease and grace. This cannot help but
raise the vibration of consciousness to new levels so that we
may know the Divinity that we all are.
A must-read in
this time of chaos that will lead to greater strength and
clarity! You can get this book from Amazon.com or use
the following link: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b_4_10?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=living+an+authentic+life&sprefix=Living+an+ |
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Ask
Dr. J
Dear Dr. J:
I plan on doing an internal cleanse soon to prepare my
body for Spring. I want my body to feel lighter,
rejuvenated and strengthened so that I can accomplish the
goals I have set for myself as we approach the warmer months.
However, I would really like my mind to feel just as
light, rejuvenated and strong as my body and I know a daily
meditation practice is key.
Do you have any tips
on how meditation "novices", like myself, can take steps
toward making meditation an integral part of our daily
routine, especially when our minds seem to refuse to stop the
deluge of dizzying thoughts?
Thanks,
Fidgety
in Ft. Washington
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Dear
Fidgety in Ft. Washington,
Great question and great
intention! The body and mind are not really separate
entities as in, the "mind/body connection". They are not
only connected, they are actually the same, as in, what
affects one, affects the other because of the infinite
correlation of activities that is occurring in both all of the
time.
The cleanse you are planning to do for
your body, will inevitably help to clear your mind because of
this connection, however, your meditation practice is an
important part of the ritual that you can continue after you
have finished your cleanse or fast.
I find that
the biggest obstacle to a meditation practice is finding the
time to do it. With our busy lives, if we say we will
meditate when we have time, that day never comes, and so we
must create the time and the discipline to bring it into our
lives and make it a habit, just like exercise. You know that
when you have been exercising for awhile, your body gets used
to how good it feels. Then you miss a couple of days,
and you find you really miss it because you don't feel as good
and you miss the movement. It is the same with
meditation.
Once you develop the discipline to
do it, your body-mind will start to crave it and so when you
don't do it, you will feel it. Look at it like this -
you wouldn't go a morning without brushing your teeth,
right? So you shouldn't go a morning without meditating
and connecting with yourself and/or the Divine.
After even a few days of a disciplined practice, you
will feel calmer, lighter and clearer in your mind, and more
connected with that part of you that is your soul or Higher
Self. This also helps with knowing that you are not your
thoughts, your emotions, or your body, and also helps you
connect with your Dharma or purpose as to why you are
here.
When I don't meditate, I get instant
feedback and need to get right back to it because life just
isn't as sweet and synchronistic and I am certainly not
calm.
When you get to that point, you will not
want to do without it. It also helps us to understand that we
are human beings, not human doings, and we have gotten to a
place collectively that is marked by busyness and consumerism
instead of true connection, healing and purpose.
We can do less and accomplish more when we bring
consciousness to all of our activities. A meditation practice
will help you do this and more. I hope this
helps!
Send Joanna your
questions regarding health, spirituality and relationships and
she will pick one or two questions to answer in each
issue!
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Upcoming Events
In the Media - Go to www.weeu.com and
click on "Straight Talk" to hear Joanna's latest interview
with radio talk show host, Nick Lawrence, as well as some
other very interesting topics and guests!
Philly
Earthship - Thursday, 23 April 2009 at the
Pyramid Club
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Perfect
Health Perfect
Health Introductory Lecture
- Saturday, 18 April 2009 12:30PM - 2PM
See Printer Friendly Brochure
Here
Learn Primordial
Sound Meditation
- Tuesday 07 April 2009
6PM - 9PM (sessions 1 & 2)
- Monday 13 April 2009 6PM
- 9PM (sessions 3 & 4)
- Saturday, 18 April 2009 9AM -
12PM and Sunday, 19 April 2009 9AM - 12PM
See Printer Friendly Brochure
Here
Monthly Satsang and
Meditation
- 11 April 2009 11AM
- 16 May 2009 11AM
Health and Wellness
Round Tables 15 April 2009
12PM - RSVP is
required
For
additional information or to register,
please contact Sandy
at
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A Final Note
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I invite you to
look forward with anticipation, curiosity and awe at the
wonder of the earth and how she rejuvenates herself each
year. Do your part to rejuvenate your body, mind, heart
and spirit by making the most nourishing choices and
eliminating that which contributes to toxicity and
illness. By taking care of ourselves we can better take
care of each other and the planet. In Ayurveda, it always
starts with you!
I wish you all
peace, harmony, laughter and love. Happy
Spring!!
Love &
Namaste,
Joanna
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| Contact Information |
Dr. Joanna
Carmichael
610-993-3357
drj@heart2heartcreativehealing.com
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