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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

Palo-Santo-Candles

Gaia’s Gifts in Washington, NJ Celebrates Its First Anniversary

[dropcap]G[/dropcap]aia’s Gifts at 76 East Washington Avenue, Washington, NJ, is celebrating their one year anniversary this month with added week day hours. Everyone has a gift; this is the place where you can find local, handcrafted items including wall art, fiber art, jewelry, small furniture, leather work, soaps, lotions, local honey, loose tea and flower vibrational essences. There is also a variety of rocks and crystals in personal size or display pieces.

Always in stock is sage, palo santo sticks, singing bowles, incense, orgonite and Himalayan salt lamps to keep your home, office or personal space “feeling” just right. A growing selection of tarot cards and hand-made tarot bags are also available.

“I try to get at least one new item in a week, even if it’s a new batch of tumbled stones or a new scent of incense. I want a reason for you to keep checking back to see what’s been added. If you don’t see something, just ask. I will try to get it in, if possible,” says owner Ellen Perkins.

Gaia’s Gifts also offers workshops and readings several times a year presented by experienced healers.

Gaia’s Gifts is open Wednesday-Sunday. Gaia’s Gifts is on Instagram and Facebook. 908-223-1331. GaiaisGiftsNJ.biz.

News Briefs
Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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