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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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Celebrate The Light

Dec 01, 2020 02:48PM ● By Janet StraightArrow

Every year we celebrate the Winter Solstice as the day that awakens the light. December 21 is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. As the sun moves into Capricorn, the winter season begins, often bringing cold weather for us in New Jersey. 

This year, a special planetary alignment at the Winter Solstice occurs when planets Saturn and Jupiter join at zero degrees Aquarius. These two planets meet in the sky every 20 years bringing a new phase for the world to experience. 

A theme for Aquarius is all for one and one for all. Both a personal and collective focus at the same time. Aquarius awakens us to collective responsibility as our true selves. For this to occur on the 2020 Winter Solstice portends a big shift point and change coming.

As we gather on the Winter Solstice, it is good to explore a grander purpose for all of us to be self-sustaining and productive. Discovering who we are and what our place is, on the whole, is an important theme to explore. Living our true self with clarity and peace serves all.

Aquarius is represented by the planet Uranus which is known for lightning bolt change. What changes do we need to make to improve society now? What is our part in this change? 

How might Saturn (structure) and Jupiter (expansion)inspire a new era? Both of these energies joined in Aquarius offers opportunities to work together. The adventure continues as we try to work through the divisions in thought and resistance to cooperation within our part of the world.

On the solstice, join with family, gather on Zoom with a spiritual community or alone to meditate, pray, celebrate and set your intentions for the New Season, Year, and 20-year cycle opening. Reach for the stars, the highest truth, and love. Let’s say a collective prayer for this next cycle to advance the best change for all. 

Janet StraightArrow, founder of Be The Medicine, is a shaman, healer and sage. Join Janet StraightArrow on December 21, at 7 p.m., on Zoom. Sliding Scale donations. For details visit BeTheMedicine.com. 



In-Print December 2020
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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