Spirituality & Health Magazine: January/February 2006

January/February 2006

Spirituality & Health Magaine

Features

	Alive with Passion Mandi Caruso
	A former "white coat" medical professional confronts her cancer by going surfing. Hear her call to joy, spontaneity, and fearlessness.

	Solitude in the Faith Traditions Clair McPherson
	Some of us dread it; some of us can't get enough of it. Learn the basis of solitude in the faith traditions, as well as a modern approach to experiencing positive and meaningful time apart from others.

	PLUS: The Joy of Solitude Raphael Cushnir
	Having too much or too little time on your hands can be symptoms of the same problem: an inability to have positive and meaningful time apart from others. Use these four steps to reap the gifts of solitude.

	The Seal of Good Earth-Keeping Louise Danielle Palmer
	Look for this seal from businesses that meet the "triple bottom line" -- taking into account people, planet, and profits.

	Awakening through Caregiving Susan Seliger
	How being thrust into the role of caregiving can reshape lives in positive ways.

	PLUS: the Caregiver's Home Companion newsletter Sharon Palmer
	How to care for someone you no longer care for. Learn more.

	The Birth of Conjure David Carson
	Travel deep into the beating heart of the Earth on this Native American journey.

	Magical Mem-Brains? Jill Neimark
	A conversation with cell biologist Bruce Lipton, author of Biology of Belief.

Columns

Letter From The Editor
	The Exchange Stephen Kiesling
	A letter from Spirituality & Health's editor to the readers.

Care of the Soul
	Theology and Ecology Thomas Moore
	Religious institutions and spiritual communities are often either unconcerned about nature or positively against any efforts to protect and sustain it despite the fact that a relationship with the natural world is essential for a spiritual life. Learn more.

Open Mind, Open Heart
	Learning from Those I Wanted to Serve Mimi Guarneri and Rauni King
	It was not in medical school, but through my patients, that I learned about the complexity of the seemingly straightforward organ known as the heart. Learn more.

Body Practices
	Sit Tall, Feel Better Jennifer Derryberry Mann
	Yoga poses can ease aches and pains even when you're stuck in a chair all day. Learn more.

Unwavering Spirit
	Ripening over Time: The Art of Becoming a Wise Elder Lama Surya Das
	As we become the elders, we become the ancestors for generations yet to come. We must awaken the sage and leader within, gathering what wisdom we can muster and passing it on to the next generations. Learn more.

Soul Boosters
	Quotes from Recently Published Books Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

O P E N I N G
	Louisiana Wetlands Ronnie Shushan
	Photographer and naturalist C. C. Lockwood wants to save these vanishing marshes. He hopes his photos will inspire you to help.

Poetry
	I Dare You to Come Have a Good Time! Kathleen Norris
	This issue's poems: "Trying to Pray" by Margaret Gibson and "Dimensions" by Linda Hogan

Updates & Observations

Soul/Body


	This Hospital Has a Laugh Track Joan Conrow
	Although numerous studies point to the health benefits of humor, laughter is conspicuously absent from most hospital hallways and prescription pads. But there is a way for patients to medicate themselves safely by tuning in to the new comedy channel on this hospital's in-house television. Learn more.


	Why Giving Feels So Good Jill Neimark
	Why help a stranger who stumbles in the street? Why send money to faraway victims of tsunamis? A Now study suggests that altruism may be partly guided by genes that regulate the neurotransmitter dopamine which is linked to craving, pleasure, and reward. Learn more.


	Pronouns of Improvement : To Better Your Future, Reflect on What She Did Last Year Ann Stapleton
	A new study finds that viewing your past in the third person, as if you were a stranger watching a movie of your life, can help you acknowledge the positive changes you've made. Learn more.


	Why a Rose Is Not Necessarily a Rose to Your Nose Monika Rice
	What would your favorite perfume smell like if it came in a plastic bottle labeled bug spray? Probably not as sweet, says a team of researchers from the Department of Experimental Psychology at Oxford University, U.K. Learn more.


	Herbs for Joint & Muscle Pain James Mattioda, Ph.D. arcanapharmacy.com
	A pharmacist offers natural alternatives to Vioxx and other drugs. Learn more.


	Typoglycemia
	Believe it or not, you can read this. Take a read.


	Don't Like Anesthesia? Add Music to Your Operation Sheldon Lewis
	Researchers found playing music reduced the need for sedatives during surgery. Learn more.


	Grandpa Donated His Body Jason Love
	We can give our bodies over to science quite in an unforseen and unintentional way while we are quite alive. Learn more.


	The Greening of Therapy Monika Rice
	What do we do when the stresses of life become too much? We go for a walk, sit in the garden, or escape to the sea. There's a reason for that. Learn more.

Expanding Universe


	How Many Americans Attend Worship Each Week?
	Numbers of American worshipers on any given week.


	A Message from God? Bill Gorgus
	Think God doesn't have a sense of humor? Learn more.


	Lasting Gifts: How Your Body Can Help Preserve an Old-Growth Forest Hilda J. Brucker
	Through death, a cemetary is helping to heal a piece of property. Learn more.


	Institute of Noetic Sciences: Transformations and Health: Take the Survey Marilyn Schlitz
	As cures are found for many infectious diseases, the overwhelming causes of suffering -- such as addictions, violence, intolerance, inequality in distribution of resources, and damage to the environment -- are the maladaptive ways that humans view and interact with our world. Learn more.


	Survivor, Fear Factor, and now...The Monastery!
	The next step in the evolution of reality TV is here. Learn more.

Connections


	Are You What You Listen To? Hilda J. Brucker
	If we are what we eat, are we also what we listen to? Learn more.


	Birds of a Feather: Our Friendships Reflect Us
	You probably already knew that we become accustomed to the ways of relating that we learn at home and then repeat them in our intimate relationships. Now psychologists report that the same is true of our friendships. Learn more.


	How We Reach Out
	A brief summary of daily communication in the 21st century. Learn more.


	Real Support for Virtual Workers
	People who work for themselves or from their homes need the same kind of support as people in standard office environments but often lack the infrastructure to help them. That is changing - learn more.


	Silver Linings: If Your Parents Divorced, You May Be Better at Choosing a Partner
	The skill of children of divorce in assessing their partners' ability to relate to another is often better than those whose parents remained married. Learn more.


	Why We Need a More Natural Definition of Beautiful StrategyOne with Dr. Nancy Etcoff
	What percentage of women describe themselves as beautiful? Too few. Learn more.

Right Livelihood


	In Search of a Sacred Subtext @ Work Nancy Noelke
	A Human Resource worker in charge of helping people find out the value of their work finds herself on the receiving end of job burn out and finds new ways to find the sacred in every day life. Learn more.


	Is Oil a Spiritual Issue?
	Oil dominates headlines on a daily basis. Is it a spiritual issue or not? Learn more.


	The Best Way to Restore Your Reputation David Batstone
	Admitting you have problems and have made mistakes is the best way to repairing a damaged reputation. Learn more.


	The Way of the Jet-Set Napper Julia Rosien
	People who nap for 15 minutes after lunch feel more alert than those who don't. Sleep, and naps in particular, is good for you. Learn more.


	IBM Adds Fairness into Its Supply Chain
	Big Blue takes a big step in holding its suppliers accountable to obeying hosts of fairness laws. Learn more.

Enlightened Diet


	Havdalah: Sabbath Practice with Sacred Scents Deborah Kesten
	Sacred scents capture the senses and provide a mindful pause which empowers us to hold on to the peaceful, meaningful memory of the Sabbath. Learn more.


	Would You Prefer Natural or Free-Range Chicken? (Guess Again.) Amanda Ursell
	"Free range" and "Natural" don't always mean what you think they do when it comes to your food. Learn more.


	Ancient Plains Indian Beans Had 10 Times More More Antioxidants than Today's Jennifer Pedalty, M.N.
	Food used to be better for us. Why? Learn more.


	Entertainment for National Eating Disorders Awareness Week ... Really Betsy Robinson
	One woman's honest discussion about her struggles with eating disorders and other issues is touching - but also funny. Learn more.