Skip to main content

Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

Palo-Santo-Candles

Keeping The Faith in 2021

Jan 03, 2021 03:40PM ● By Janet StraightArrow

As we begin this New Year, we might be a bit shy to be so excited about a New Year ahead. That is a very good thing as the excitement for 2020 was an extreme that created a big letdown of disappointment and hurt. So how do we begin 2021?

Lots of good times are ahead with positive possibilities and with challenges to help the planet wake up, take action, and heal. We are continuing to wake up and experience major change on the planet. The astrology is showing ongoing challenges to create correction in ourselves and our planet for another four years. 

How can we be excited, and also be present to the changes and challenges, and stay positive, and productive?

As we lift up into our spiritual awareness, we can see purpose and meaning that help us move through change productively. It is a choice to focus on the positive. Positive supports life. Negative focus and fear negate life and create more negative situations that do not help us or anyone. 

Break any habits of complaining, stay present to what is occurring. We are not victims we are co-creators. So, when challenged, ask yourself, “How can I look at this from a higher perspective?” And, “What do I want to create from this?” 

Spiritual practice seeking meaning and positive outcome allows us to move through these times with wisdom and strength. 

Life is earth school for each one of us to experience gifts and challenges, loss and gains, fun and sadness, all helping us to become more humble and real. When we are humble, we are not feeling entitled to have what we want. We surrender to the best that can be from here and watch new opportunities to show up for us to enjoy, grow, and heal.

Life is a magical mystery. With a positive, generous, loving attitude we can climb the mountain to see the big picture and move gracefully into our next chapters over and over again.

Our attitude is the one thing only we can change and be in control of. Attitude can make us happy and productive, or miserable and depressed. Go for positive, curious, and looking for the best.

Bring you and yours into this New Year looking to live fully and freely and full of hope and love.

Happy New Year All!

Janet StraightArrow, founder of Be The Medicine, is a shaman, healer and sage. For more information on classes, retreats and one-on-one sessions, visit BeTheMedicine.com. See ad, page 7.



In-Print January 2021
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

 

Upcoming Events Near You
Follow Us On Facebook