Editorial
Volume 22 Issue 6 — March/April 2017
by Melva Armstrong

Welcome to this March/April 2017 issue. It completes 22 years of publishing WHOLifE Journal. It feels like quite an accomplishment in my life. It has always been a labour of love and I have enjoyed creating a new issue every two months. I trust the journal is serving our community in ways that are educating and informing people about a wide variety of topics that can help everyone lead healthy, happy lives.

I love that I get to meet so many fabulous people who are trained in a wide variety of natural and holistic disciplines so they can serve the people all over Saskatchewan. When I look through the back issues, it amazes me how many people have had a presence in the journal. Some advertisers have been with me since the first year and I am truly grateful for all the support I’ve had since day one. Thank you one and all!

In February, I had a booth at the Saskatoon Wellness Expo. It was really thrilling to have people stop by and tell me how much they enjoy the journal. Then there were others who just discovered it, and they would gather up an armful of copies and off they would go to discover all the neat things contained inside each one. I enjoyed seeing those I have known for years, as well as meeting many new folks. Living in the country now, I don’t get to connect with people in person like I used to living in the city. I do love the country life, though. Thank you to all the people who took the time to stop by my booth. It was lovely chatting with everyone.

As many of you know, our temperatures this winter have been from one extreme to the other. The cold spells called for lots of wood splitting to keep our house warm. Then one of the ponies had very sore legs and was kept separate from the herd, so I had to carry pails of drinking water to her. I think these two things qualify me for the Zen philosophy that says, “Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.” According to Tom Barrett’s Interlude Retreat blog, this quote is all about being in the moment, which is what I was during those two activities, and they were absolutely delightful. I’m trusting both of these experiences have brought me closer to an enlightened state.

There are lots of changes happening on our planet, and because of the connections most people have through their electronic devices, we can be bombarded with news every few minutes. And it is hard to know what is accurate and what isn’t. Sometimes it takes a lot of vigilance to stay centred and to see the positive things in life. No matter what is happening, I think it is imperative to listen to one’s own inner self for answers and advice in order to maintain a sense of well-being amongst the chaos and uncertainty. I think meditation is one of the best ways to keep a positive attitude, which then allows people to be able to share their gifts with the world. The majority of folks on our planet are kind and loving and contributing in miraculous ways for the highest good of all. We all know people who are full of love and light, so just think about them and it will bring a smile to your face and put joy in your heart.

We have lots of goodness and light on the pages of this issue, so dig right in and enjoy the many gifts from all the contributors. Carol Marriott’s years of knowledge and experience working with the healing power of horses is highlighted in her article, Coaching with Horses… A New Kind of Horse Power (p. 10). She says, “Horses have many delightful qualities that encourage the horse and human bond.” Spring is on the way, and that has excited Stacey Tress to share her expertise in her article, Permaculture – An Introduction to Food Forest Design (p. 8). You’ll learn the meaning of permaculture and much more.

Be sure to read on as there are many more things to discover and delight you­—Reconnective Healing (p. 12), Forever-Young Qigong (p. 14), A Pathway to Health (p. 26), Wellness in 2017 (p. 30), and Community Healing Initiative (CHI) Update (p. 16). There are also lots of events for you to check out.

May you enjoy the return of the light and the spring solstice! It’s a time of renewal and reawakening!

Namaste
(The spirit in me honours the spirit in you)