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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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Immerse Yourself in the Emerging Self Festival ~ Sept 17-19

Sep 01, 2021 11:12AM ● By Kristy Mayer

Imagine a weekend filled with live music; African, Aztec and Native American drum and dance classes, performances and ceremonies; workshops; yoga and qi gong; sacred song and story circles around the fire; cool vendors, healthy food and community while surrounded by nature. This is the journey of discovery you will find on September 17-19, at The Emerging Self Festival, held at Eagle’s Landing Day Camp in North Brunswick. 

Presented by Touch Mother Earth, a 501c3 non-profit, this outdoor festival invites attendees to emerge from the cocoon of limitation and expand into the butterfly of new self…and Self…awareness. This is a prime opportunity to explore the mind, body, spirit, and Earth connection while safely mingling in a open-minded community. The transformative experience of the festival draws from a collection of organizations, workshop leaders, musicians, dance instructors, herbalists, yogi, education specialists and others, working together to allow one to open the inner door to:

Express joy through music and dance, art and nature, and friendship,

Improve the self with workshops, yoga, circles, ceremonies, diet and practice

Give back to the community, build trust, and volunteerism.

The festival is perfect for all ages. Children can explore nature, write songs, make shakers, and more. Plus, Day Sanchez will lead a program for kids called Turning Fear into Safe Action. Jacqueline Hyacinth will be signing her new children’s book Celebrate the Magic.

SOMETHING FOR EVERY AWAKENING

From 3 p.m. on Friday to 4 p.m. on Sunday, come for the day (doors open 10 a.m.) or share a weekend of community in a large open space with live music and performances, workshops, hiking on marked trails, camping, healthy food, classes, circles, kid-friendly activities, vendors, ceremonies and more.

FRIDAY ACTIVITIES

Aztec Ceremony of the Elements with Qigong and Water Blessing led by Cheryl Glover and Leticia Gutievaz 

Dave Miller of EarthMovers Drum Collective leads a public drum circle

Faye Adinda leads as we get quiet around the fire, sharing songs and stories. Bring acoustic percussion, guitar, and/or flute.

Come early afternoon and tune up your djembe with Jim 

On Stage Friday

Gypsy Funk Squad performs with Ana belly dancing + night of hooping + flow toys


SATURDAY ACTIVITIES

Breathe in the morning with a Kundalini Lymph-Stimulating BreathWalk with Bharati Carla or dance to Zumba with Rosalba Mendoza

Join Reiki Healing for You & The Planet with Rayki Love from RAYKI School 

Go on a Wild Food and Herb Walk with Stephen Hoog

Take African drum and dance classes with Yahya Kamate, Karen Miles, Jim Dav

Enjoy Native American Dance and Culture with Delwin Fiddler—Native American Ambassador/Cultural Artist

Take Partner Yoga with Lynne Christopher

Assist Tree Planting and Blessing: Why Do We Plant Trees? with Joseph Resch and Antinanco

Learn Buddhism 101: An introduction by Jeff Eisenberg

Join the Sound healing chant and Fireside Heart Share with Faye Adinda Music

On Stage Saturday

The Mystical Music of Mirabai Moon

Music with Faye Adinda and Robert Aum

Jeff Eisenberg and the Rock & Ram Kirtan Band

JourneyDance and Sound Sirens Ecstatic Dance with Joy Okoye & Serenity Entity

Dalien 13 Hands an evening of Sound Healing, Chant, and Song


SUNDAY ACTIVITIES

Start off with Sound Journey with Lois Harrison

Join the Silent Bikram Yoga with Jaimie L. Adkins 

Take the Medicinal Plant Walk with Jim Furey of Integrative Herbalism

Aikido Demonstration and Class with Renseikan /Aikido of Raritan Valley & Integrative

Belly Dance Performance and Class with Anadonis ‘Ana’ Nephilim & Luis Manuel

Learn about the Mayan Calendar as Synchronicity Engine with Jason Berube

Relax with The Emerging Self Moving Meditation with Inna Shapiro

On Stage Sunday

Jason Berube’s Medicine Show with singer/writer 

Dennis Mc DoNoUgh (aka) of JUNG WOMBATS!

Triune Entity, a tribute to Barry Blues Holmes with some R & B, Funk, Soul


CLOSING CEREMONY

Led by Nganga Akinyele Onishigun Karade and Tom Vasile


Special Notes:  To avoid allergies, the grounds are nut-free. Do not bring or sell anything containing peanuts or any other nuts. You may bring food or purchase from our food vendors. All materials brought in must be removed from the premises—we are a leave no trace event. Only certified service dogs are allowed (no pets). Smoking is in a designated portion of the parking area. No smoking on the main grounds. 

Location:  74 Davidson’s Mill Rd, North Brunswick Township. For information and tickets, visit TouchMotherEarth.com. See ad, page 9.

In-Print September 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

 

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