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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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Women’s Vision Quest 2023 in the Catskills

For a gift that is magical, deep and transformative, join with like-minded women in the Catskills on July 21-23 for a retreat that will awaken new levels of inner wisdom and truth, and release anything in the way.  Participants will enjoy a gentle, deep journey in nature and experience Shamanic tools and practices to support reconnecting to all of nature and one’s life under the guidance of Shaman Janet StraightArrow.  

“A vision quest is an opportunity to be in a sacred space to hear your heart speak, receive the fullness of who you are, and open up to the next stage of your life path,” shares StraightArrow. 

This is a natural process without drugs held on a beautiful space on sacred ground with privacy and safety. For the fullness of experience, attendance is limited to 8 participants. Attendees may camp or stay inside a spacious lodge. 

Fee: $800; payment plan available. Location: Art Farm, 31 Fawn Rd., North Road, Accord. For information call 973-647-2500 or email [email protected] to set up a time to speak and discover if this is the retreat that will meet your needs, and visit BeTheMedicine.com


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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