Editorial
Volume 31 Issue 1 — May/June 2025
by Melva Armstrong

Hello! Welcome to the 30th Anniversary WHOLifE Journal issue!!! I find it very exciting to have reached this milestone. I never thought about publishing it for 30 years when I first started. In 1995 I was guided by spirit to create a natural health and wellness magazine in Saskatoon, that could be beneficial for many reasons. One way was to provide a magazine where practitioners of every kind could promote their work to a large audience. A second way was to be a venue to help healers and wellness businesses to connect with each other. Thirdly, was to provide articles and advertising with health-conscious information for the readers. Initially it was just to be circulated in Saskatoon. However, it wasn’t too long after getting started, I met some very kind and loving folks from Regina, who offered to drive to Saskatoon to get copies that they could distribute down there. That was the beginning of circulation and it just expanded from there to include many parts of the province.

Right from the start I had helpers along the way—whenever I needed them, they just showed up. It was kind of magical and mystical. And before I even got started, I did my research and had lots of input from family and friends. I’ve been blessed with several graphic designers who make each issue look so attractive. My long-time friends, Brian Smith and Mike McCoy at Articulate Eye Design, started the whole thing rolling. They were my first helpers who taught me a lot about the magazine business, and in fact, Brian created the masthead that I still use today. I have much gratitude for the other designers, Dean Sobchishin, Ed Pas, and the current long-time designer, Cheryl McDougall at One Olive Design.

I would say that creating every issue provides memorable moments, because I get to meet and work with so many interesting and kind people. I love all the people who are drawn to be part of WHOLifE, and new folks show up in every issue. I love those first meetings and helping them navigate through the advertising and article requirements, or if they’re signing up for a subscription, or wanting to know the nearest location for picking up their copy. I see them as all part of my WHOLifE family. Other memorable moments are when I have a booth at a wellness expo. That’s a time when I get to see, in-person, many of the subscribers, advertisers, and writers. It’s enjoyable to have a gentle handshake and a warm smile, as we reminisce of times gone by, or meeting someone new and introducing them to the journal for the first time.

In the beginning months, I had help from a number of mentors who were from magazines already established in other provinces, including Shared Vision and Common Ground in Vancouver, Issues in Kaslo, BC, Synchronicity and Life Rhythms in Alberta, The Acquarian in Manitoba, Vitality in Toronto, Tone in Ottawa, and The Source in Nova Scotia. I was able to call on those publishers/editors with my many questions, and they were always happy to help me. It’s interesting to note that none of these magazines exist any more in print format. Vitality in Toronto is online.

I want to give a shout out of appreciation to some of the advertisers who have been with WHOLifE since the beginning: Samantha Kane-Kennedy (astrologer), The Devic Centre (Michael Stodola), Atlantis 2000, Sephira Healing (Pam Fichtner), and Argyle Natural Health Centre. I am ever grateful for all the contributors, advertisers, readers, and community support over 30 years. It’s phenomenal!

For this May/June2025 anniversary issue there is a wonderful group of articles touching on many different subjects. I trust you’ll find them all interesting and educational. I’ve featured Nancy Tam’s article, The River of Homeopathy: We Share the Journey (p.12), in which she encourages more people to discover the amazing healing benefits of this 18th Century modality. Nancy, a well-known and long-time Saskatoon homeopathic practitioner, is excited about a new film called Introducing Homeopathy: The Film by Kim Elia, that will give viewers an excellent overview of exactly how homeopathy works on the body, mind, and spirit.

May you enjoy the return of spring days and spend time out in Mother Nature, the great healer and nurturer! We honour the mothers in May and the fathers in June. May you also get out and enjoy the many events going on around the province! We have a beautiful province and wonderful people living here, so let’s get out and explore all that we can.
 
 Namaste 
(The spirit in me honours the spirit in you)