March 2009 Newsletter

E SSENTIAL H EALING

AND

M ASSAGE

M ARCH 2009 N EWSLETTER V OLUME 1, I SSUE 5

N EWSLETTER D ATE

M ARCH T HE G REEN M ONTH OF MANY POSSIBILITES

B Y H ELEN

M AR 1 2009 S PECIAL POINTS OF

F LOYD

M

arch ,That “almost Spring”

month where we chafe to be outside feel the sun on our skin. The sun has already shifted higher and there is more light each day, yet we can still be caught in the blast of heavy snow and freezing drops in temperature . We are so ready to move forward with new sprouting ideas and plans; seeing ahead such promise in the first sprouts of crocus and snowdrop that help us to imagine something past the bleak white and dormant landscape. The first day of Spring is March 20, when the Spring Equinox occurs to mark the official change of season. March is also international Mirth month, it is appropriately Gardening, Nature and Ecology Books Month , and Foot Health Month. I’ll bet you did not know it was Noodle Month, and my favorite: the second week of March is Procrastination Week. This is a green month, and the color green is associated of course with growth and change. Another aspect of this is expansion and making SPACE for the new. What better energy to assist us While we are getting our feet under ourselves during these challenging times. We are at our best when faced with challenge, because we then use our creative imagination to see from a different perspective, and to consider new possibilities we may have dismissed.

We live more fully-feel more alive- in those moments that we tap into our true creative genius . If we can imagine for a moment that there is NOTHING standing in our way, and you have a clean 360 degree view, then it is possible to replace " I can't ever do that” with something we would NEVER have thought of before.

For Animal Lovers— Search and rescue 

The DOGPILE search engine at www.dogpile.com is on a mission to help pets in need. They call it their Search & Rescue program. When you search with Dogpile, a portion of the revenue generated will be donated to the pet charity ASPCA®.* The more you search, the more are rescued. Their goal is to raise $1 million for pet rescue by the end of 2009.

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See video of the famous piano playing cat Nora at http:// www.ravenswingstudio.com

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Reiki Spring (Vernal) Equinox Healing Attunement Sunday March 22 11:00 Am to 5:00 PM (By Appointment)

Garden and Heirloom seed initiative: It is the time to consider the Garden and what we will plant in the warming soil. We have become members of the Seed Savers Exchange (www.seedsavers.org). A dedicated non-profit organization in Iowa with access to thousands of nearly-lost varieties of seeds. We will be attempting to start several flats of heirloom seeds to be available for those who might want to experiment with growing these older treasured varieties of garden vegetables and herbs. Nebraska Wedding tomato, Amish Pink, and authentic Italian Plum, in addition to Grandma Enk’s dill are some of our picks. We will have a limited number of plants in April, free to those who want one. April 15 is usually considered the last frost date here in the Midwest, and it is best to keep plants indoors till then. Heirloom seeds allow the gardener to grow the same variety again from seeds off of the plant, unlike the limited hybrid stocks available in most catalogs, so you do NOT need to buy seeds again. For the next year.

IN

THIS ISSUE :

M ARCH M ONTH

1

OF MANY THINGS AND

G ARDENING

INITIATIVE

M ARCH S PECIALS 2 2 R ECIPE : S WEET P OTATO AND KALE SOUP

P EPPERMINT

2

ESSENTIAL OIL

Spring Equinox Healing Attunement Event

3

P AGE 2 S WEET P OTATO AND K ALE S OUP This sweet, creamy soup is power -packed with nutrients: betacarotene from the sweet potatoes; calcium minerals, and fiber from the kale. It is strengthening for both the spleen and liver.

Ingredients:



1 tablespoon olive oil



1 sweet onion, chopped



1 shallot, chopped

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2 carrots, chopped

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1 stalk celery, chopped

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4 medium (about 2 pounds) sweet potatoes, peeled and cut in chunks

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1 bay leaf

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2 branches of fresh thyme

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Sea salt

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1 bunch kale, chopped in 1inch strips.

Preparation: In a large saucepan warm the olive oil over medium heat. Sauté onion, shallot, carrots and celery until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add sweet potatoes, bay leaf, thyme, and enough water to cover by 1 inch. Bring soup to a boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are very tender, about 30 minutes. Discard bay leaf and thyme branches and puree the soup with a vertical blender. Add sea salt and kale, cover, and cook an additional 10 minutes. Serves 6

M ARCH 2009 N EWSLETTER

For our March Specials: Thai Yoga Massage $10.00 off

Thai Massage has roots in the ancient healing traditions of Ayurveda and Thai Buddhism. The practitioner uses hands, feet, arms, and legs to guide the recipient through a series of yoga postures involving fluid movements, gentle stretching, and breathwork. Performed on a floor mat in comfortable clothes, this assisted yoga creates a therapeutic "dance" leaving the recipient feeling both relaxed and invigorated.

(in honor of Foot Health month ) Foot-Soak and Reflexology Treatment : $50.00 A 10 minute soak for muchdeserving feet with essential oils and therapeutic salts followed by a foot reflexology treatment. Approx 45 –50 minutes . Reflexology is an ancient art that promotes balance ( homeostasis) in the body by stimulating all of the internal organs and energy meridians of the body. As the old saying goes “everything goes to the feet”. Give yours some loving care this month!

Peppermint Essential Oil: (Peppermint piperita) The humble peppermint plant has quite a list of attributes, and is an essential oil we’ll highlight this month. The herb peppermint is a perennial originally from the Mediterranean region. The P. Piperita species is a natural mix or hybrid of watermint and spearmint. The essential oil is distilled from the plant just before flowering. Among its properties are these of an analgesic, making it useful in sore and swollen tissue combinations, it is anesthetic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, cephalic ( clears the head), cordial, decongestant, expectorant, febrifuge (fever reducing), hepatic, nervine (relaxes the nerves), stimulant, stomachic (aids digestion), and helps nausea. It also has the attribute of making other essential oils it is mixed with more potent. In double blind studies, both peppermint and lavender essential oils proved to be more effective at treating migraine headaches than prescription drugs. The combination of the two is especially effective, and the anti -nausea properties of peppermint are of double value in this regard. It may be used to ease the stomach during travel and ward off headaches by simply smelling the essential oil, and a drop or two of diluted peppermint oil rubbed onto the soles of the feet or at the back of the head for headache already in motion.

E SSENTIAL H EALING AND M ASSAGE 2100 Manchester Road Suite 610 Wheaton Il 60187

Phone: 630-863-4712 E-mail: [email protected]

W W W . E SSENTIALHM. COM

HEALTH AND WELLNESS ORIENTED

Essential Healing and Massage is a family-run private practice designed as a spa alternative approximately 30 miles west of Chicago, IL in the suburb of Wheaton. It is for individuals interested in maintaining health and well-being, as well as those who simply want relief from muscular discomfort. Therapeutic massage for pain relief is our specialty- we love our jobs and take great pride in our work, and hope you'll see the difference that makes in your massage. Therapeutic massage, Lymphatic Massage, Hot Stone Massage, Reflexology Thai Yoga Massage Myofascial Release Therapy, Reiki Corporate Chair Massage

Spring (Vernal ) Equinox Reiki Healing Attunement Event sons we may effect tremendous “new growth” and changes in all avenues of our lives. The keynote for this season is creation and expression of the new .It is the drive to move our lives upward , like a seed pushing out of the earth. These energies propelling us are excellent for initiating a new order in ones life, and for balancing the masThe Actual Spring Equinox occurs on March culine and feminine energies within 20 this year when the sun crosses the true us. The overseer of this season is celestial equator – or the line in the sky symbolized by the Archangel Raphabove the earth’s equator – from south to ael , appropriately known as the annorth. . We move from the quiet inward gel of brightness, beauty, healing -focused time of winter associated with the and life; and associated with science inner purification symbolized by the overseer and knowledge . Gabriel, to the vibrant energy of spring. This is a time to focus upon conscious trans- Please email [email protected] or call mutation in our lives, If our previous cleanus at 630) 863 4712 for an apsing and preparedness have been accompointment. plished via our efforts in the prior two seaOur Spring Equinox Reiki Healing Attunement event will be held Sunday March 22nd from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM and is by appointment. Each session is approximately 20 minutes and is $25.00. Helen and Melissa are both Reiki Master Teachers in the Usui Tibetan tradition, and will be facilitating this event.

Quote: Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being