Sat, 05 Jul 2008 09:00:00 -0400 http://alternativeapproaches.com/pnuke1/ News Of Interest To The Magickal Community As It Happens en-us http://alternativeapproaches.com/pnuke1/images/logo.gif http://alternativeapproaches.com/pnuke1/ chall@alternativeapproaches.com http://alternativeapproaches.com/pnuke1/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4548 A load of antioxidants, nutrients and vitamins are available in the produce aisle from white and brown fungi, commonly known as mushrooms. Mushrooms are low in calories, cholesterol and sodium, and they provide plenty of fiber and flavor when cooked. But the big news is that they are high in antioxidants, selenium, riboflavin and other healthful substances that protect the immune system and fight cancer. Mushrooms: The Hidden Superfood Several scientists addressed the health benefits of mushrooms in a session Monday at the Institute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting and Food Expo in New Orleans. Sat, 05 Jul 2008 09:00:00 -0400 http://alternativeapproaches.com/pnuke1/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4547 The Weather Channel's "Forecast Earth" has beed redesigned, offering expanded environmental coverage on how to "live smart" and stay green Learning To Live Smart and Green Visitors to Forecast Earth, the interactive broadband site dedicated to climate change issues created by The Weather Channel Interactive, can now find new content on how to "live smart" and stay green in an entirely redesigned and easy-to-navigate site. The redesigned Web site contains practical information to help consumers live well, reduce waste, save money and sustain the planet. Additionally, a roster of new bloggers provides perspective and commentary on environmental issues. Eco-friendly lifestyle tips and features can also be found directly from weather.com. Fri, 04 Jul 2008 13:00:00 -0400 http://alternativeapproaches.com/pnuke1/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4546 Can you hear what a person looks like? A growing body of research suggests so. We Hear What People Look Like “The mere sound of a person’s voice contains important, embedded biological information,” says Susan Hughes, assistant professor of psychology at Albright College in Reading, Pa., who has researched vocal attractiveness and body symmetry. In her latest study, she finds a relationship between voice quality and another important biological marker: digit ratios. “The ratio of the second (index) finger to the fourth (ring) finger – the 2D:4D ratio – is an indirect measure of prenatal sex hormone exposure,” she says. Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:00:00 -0400 http://alternativeapproaches.com/pnuke1/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4545 Development company Ferrumar has discovered that George Putnam, the future husband of aviator Amelia Earhart (who vanished in the Pacific Ocean 71 years ago), directed the killing of a polar bear and capture of her cubs on behalf of the Manhattan-based American Museum of Natural History. Mother Polar Bear Killed By Order of Amelia Earhart's Future Husband Privately-held development company Ferrumar has discovered that George Putnam, the future husband of aviator Amelia Earhart , directed the killing of a polar bear and capture of her cubs on behalf of the Manhattan-based American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). Wednesday marked the 71st anniversary of Earhart's disappearance in the Pacific Ocean. Article Continues After Illustration George Putnam, 3rd from left. Fri, 04 Jul 2008 09:00:00 -0400 http://alternativeapproaches.com/pnuke1/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4544 In this tongue and cheek look at the Harry Potter phenomenon the question is asked: why find evil and darkness lurking in what is, essentially, children's literature? The Potter, The Witch and The Druglord by Ba Kiwanuka While the Harry Potter juggernaut bulldozes merrily along, just about everybody has stepped into the cauldron of hot, churning action. And that includes drug dealers no less! Heck, they know a good thing when they see it! Article Continues After Illustration Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:00:00 -0400 http://alternativeapproaches.com/pnuke1/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4543 In a follow-up to research showing that psilocybin, a substance contained in “sacred mushrooms,” produces substantial spiritual effects, a Johns Hopkins team reports that those beneficial effects appear to last more than a year. Spiritual Effects of Hallucinogens Persist Writing in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, Johns Hopkins researchers note that most of the 36 volunteer subjects given psilocybin, under controlled conditions in a Hopkins study published in 2006, continued to say 14 months later that the experience increased their sense of well-being or life satisfaction. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:00:00 -0400 http://alternativeapproaches.com/pnuke1/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4542 Our egos hold us bound. The ego uses fear to control us. Our false ego identity keeps us separate from each other. Spiritual leaders from Deepak Chopra to Eckhardt Tolle have admonished us to overcome our egos so that we may find our True Self and re-connect to everything around us. David K. Banner's "Frameshifting" finally provides practical tools to break the ego's hold. "Frameshift" to Overcome Ego and Achieve Spiritual Wholeness David K. Banner wants to open us up to the possibilities of life. Too often, we are trapped in a single, fixed set of beliefs and attitudes that operate out of fear. Fear is generated as a weapon by the ego because it fears its own demise. The ego wants to keep us separate from everything else. But when we change our outlook on life, we can overcome the ego and know wholeness with the world around us. Spiritual teachers such as Deepak Chopra, Eckhardt Tolle, and Ken Wilber all emphasize the need to overcome ego. Banner's new book, Frameshifting: A Path to Wholeness, lays out a variety of tools to dissolve the dominance of the ego. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:00:00 -0400 http://alternativeapproaches.com/pnuke1/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4541 While organic branding is seen my many businesses as a way to up the price tag, some organic retailers are marketing to and pricing for us working stiffs. Organic for Everyone: Retailers Can Make Green Clothing Affordable & Accessible Today, many products including food, clothing, and furniture, are made in a sustainable and organic way. However, not all of these products are accessible and affordable to the average American. Prohibitively priced and largely limited to exclusive boutiques, organic products have been stereotyped as luxuries. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:00:00 -0400 http://alternativeapproaches.com/pnuke1/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4540 Speech by Sylvia Boorstein addresses the importance of spiritual growth and a lifetime of community service. Buddhist Teacher Delivers Commencement Address at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology Noted Buddhist teacher, author and psychotherapist Sylvia Boorstein, PhD, addressed the 2008 graduates of the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology (ITP) on Saturday, June 14 at the Bayside Performing Arts Center in San Mateo, California. Her speech, "Connecting to the World as the Cause of Happiness," addressed the importance of spiritual growth and a life of community service. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:00:00 -0400 http://alternativeapproaches.com/pnuke1/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4539 Purchase of Plum Creek land in Montana will protect working forests, promote public access, protect wildlife habitat and continue sustainable forestry. 320,000 Montana Acres to be Purchased for Conservation On Monday, The Nature Conservancy and The Trust for Public Land announced they have reached agreement to purchase approximately 320,000 acres of western Montana forestland from Plum Creek Timber Company (NYSE:PCL) for $510 million. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:00:00 -0400 http://alternativeapproaches.com/pnuke1/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4538 The United States Ambassadors of International Happiness Day, Jeanna Gabellini and Eva Gregory, and the Happiness Vanguard Panel are inviting everyone in the world to celebrate happiness on International Happiness Day, July 10 2008. Their goal is to inspire over one million people worldwide to intentionally celebrate happiness on this one day. Celebrate International Happiness Day on July 10, 2008 Happiness is a choice that is available to everyone. This is the message of International Happiness Day, which takes place on July 10, 2008. Initiated by Liberto Pereda Romera of Barcelona, Spain, International Happiness Day is a day in which people from all over the world intentionally choose to be happy while inspiring the happiness of others through simple acts of kindness, expressions of joy, gratitude, optimism, and forgiveness. Jeanna Gabellini and Eva Gregory - Master Law of Attraction Coaches and the U.S. Ambassadors of International Happiness Day - have joined forces with six other happiness experts and coaches in order to spread the word about International Happiness Day and inspire at least one million people worldwide to celebrate happiness on July 10, 2008. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:00:00 -0400 http://alternativeapproaches.com/pnuke1/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4537 The latest release in the Fairy Houses Series, "Fairy Houses and Beyond!" by Barry and Tracy Kane, proves that fairy houses are as varied as a child's imagination and as limitless as the wonders of nature. The book takes readers on a magical pictorial tour of the evolving world of fairy house neighborhoods, coastal communities, intricate interiors and even a fairy house spa. A Tour of the World of Fairy Houses and Communities Fairy Houses and Beyond! by Barry and Tracy Kane proves that fairy houses are as varied as a child's imagination and as limitless as the wonders of nature. The latest release in the popular children's book series takes readers on a magical pictorial tour of the evolving world of fairy house neighborhoods, coastal communities, intricate interiors and even a fairy house spa. Article Continues After Illustration Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:00:00 -0400 http://alternativeapproaches.com/pnuke1/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4536 If you or someone you love suffers from mild to moderate depression, there may be a completely natural way to treat it, says Denise Coates, author of the new book, "Feel it Real!" Coates claims this method of curing depression is totally safe with no side effects and is completely free of charge. Author Offers A Natural Cure For Mild Depression On her website, www.denisecoates.com, Denise Coates provides eight tips a person with mild depression can follow to cure themselves naturally. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:00:00 -0400 http://alternativeapproaches.com/pnuke1/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4535 How to most sensitively and effectively live with those experiencing menopause revealed by Hale Dwoskin, author of the New York Times bestseller "The Sedona Method" and featured teacher in "The Secret." How to Live with Those Experiencing Menopause Revealed by Teacher in "The Secret" Hale Dwoskin, featured teacher in the blockbuster book and film The Secret and author of The New York Times bestseller The Sedona Method, has revealed how to most sensitively and effectively live with those experiencing menopause. Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:40:53 -0400 http://alternativeapproaches.com/pnuke1/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4534 Gay and transgender families and allies reflect on six Sundays spent at America's most influential churches. Their journey, titled the American Family Outing, initiated dialogue with a new generation of evangelical leaders. Gay Days at America's Mega-churches On Father's Day 2008, a group of LGBT and straight-ally families attended services at Rick Warren's Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. The next day, a smaller group of about 8 families met with pastors and other staff of the influential mega-church for lunch and an emotional conversation about faith, family, and the status of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the church. Article Continues After Illustration American Family Outing clergy leader Jay Bakker officiates at the California wedding of Paige Schilt and Katy Koonce, two moms who participated in the 6-week outreach to mega-churches. Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:02:18 -0400 http://alternativeapproaches.com/pnuke1/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4533 The growing body of evidence that marijuana may be effective as a pain reliever has been expanded with publication of a new study in "The Journal of Pain" reporting that patients with nerve pain showed reduced pain intensity from smoking marijuana. Marijuana May Be Effective for Neuropathic Pain The growing body of evidence that marijuana (cannabis) may be effective as a pain reliever has been expanded with publication of a new study in The Journal of Pain, reporting that patients with nerve pain showed reduced pain intensity from smoking marijuana. Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:00:00 -0400 http://alternativeapproaches.com/pnuke1/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4532 Here are a few natural herbal remedies that you can cook-up at home for some honest-to-goodness pain relief. Manage Your Pain by Herbal Remedies at Home by John K. Crawford For decades, people have used herbal preparations and natural remedies for the relief and management of moderate to severe pain, and with some pretty good success rates. Sun, 29 Jun 2008 18:53:57 -0400 http://alternativeapproaches.com/pnuke1/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4531 A few weeks ago, when we read "How to Hear the Voice of God" for a review, we were impressed. So much so, that we arranged an interview with Susan Shumsky, the book's author. Susan Shumsky's Divine Connection interview by Christine Hall Several weeks back, when I reviewed Susan Shumsky's latest book, How to Hear the Voice of God, I was impressed. Although Ms. Shumsky has written and published at least four other books, and is quite well-known on the upscale side of the New Age circuit, as a lecturer and teacher, I had never before been exposed to her work. Article Continues After Illustration Susan Shumsky at work teaching. Sun, 29 Jun 2008 15:05:50 -0400 http://alternativeapproaches.com/pnuke1/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4530 An extra daily dose of vitamin D can help to relieve chronic back pain for many sufferers. A new peer-reviewed research report from Pain-Topics.org tells how, by reviewing the clinical evidence and providing helpful guidance for practitioners and their patients. Vitamin D - A Surprising Champion of Back Pain Relief Up to 8 out of 10 persons will have back pain in their lifetimes. In many cases, such pains are chronic – lasting more than 3 months – and there is no evidence of any injury, disease, or bone problem like a slipped disk. An extensive review of clinical research in a new report from Pain Treatment Topics found that help may be available from a surprising champion of pain relief – Vitamin D. Article Continues After Illustration Vitamin D is a surprising champion of relief from chronic back pain, research shows. Sun, 29 Jun 2008 09:00:00 -0400 http://alternativeapproaches.com/pnuke1/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4529 Even though the dollar doesn't seem to go very far these days, you don't have to live on a diet of potato chips and fast food burgers, according to Holly Scherer, a University of Michigan Health System dietitian. Cheap Eats: How to Find Healthy Food During Tough Economic Times Are you having a hard time stretching your grocery dollars during the current economic downturn? You’re not alone. But before you stop buying fresh fruit, meat, vegetables and other items often perceived as costing a lot, check out these tips from a University of Michigan Health System dietitian. Article Continues After Illustration If you buy fruit and vegetables that are in-season, the price typically is very reasonable, a University of Michigan dietitian says. Sat, 28 Jun 2008 09:00:00 -0400 http://alternativeapproaches.com/pnuke1/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4528 California's native plant species are so vulnerable to global climate change that two-thirds of them could suffer 80 percent reduction in their geographic range by the end of the 21st century. California’s Native Plant Species in Peril from Global Warming Two-thirds of the plants native to the state of California could suffer more than an 80 percent reduction in geographic range by the end of the century, according to a recent study. Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:00:00 -0400 http://alternativeapproaches.com/pnuke1/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4527 A major review by University of Adelaide researchers shows that the world is losing the battle over tropical habitat loss with potentially disastrous implications for biodiversity and human well-being. Looming Tropical Disaster Needs Urgent Action Published online Wednesday in the Ecological Society of America’s journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, a major review shows that the world is losing the battle over tropical habitat loss with potentially disastrous implications for biodiversity and human well-being. The review, by University of Adelaide (Australia) researchers, concludes we are “on a trajectory towards disaster” and calls for an immediate global, multi-pronged conservation approach to avert the worst outcomes. Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:00:00 -0400 http://alternativeapproaches.com/pnuke1/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4526 A Rockefeller University scientist and a colleague from Argentina believe they have found astronomical references in Homer’s "Odyssey" that provide corroborating evidence Odysseus returns home to experience a total solar eclipse. Celestial Clues Hint at Eclipse in Homer's Odyssey Among countless other debates about Homer's Odyssey - not the least of which is whether the entire poem can be attributed to Homer himself - is whether Odysseus returns home to experience a total solar eclipse. But a Rockefeller University scientist and a colleague from Argentina believe they have found astronomical references in the Odyssey that provide corroborating evidence of this celestial event. The finding is reported in this week's online early edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:00:00 -0400 http://alternativeapproaches.com/pnuke1/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4525 Celtic art, with it's mysterious symbolism and ancient history is capturing the interest of everyday Americans. This article reveals some of the meanings attributed to the most noteworthy Celtic symbols and gives some insight into the spirituality of these ancient people. Celtic Symbols: Finding Meaning in Celtic Art by Michelle Normand There is an undeniable aura that surrounds Celtic designs and Druid traditions. Although I have strong family ties to both Ireland and Scotland, you don’t need a Celtic heritage to be enticed by the culture. It’s been said that as long as you respect Mother Earth and feel an affinity with the Celtic people you too have a Celtic soul. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:32:35 -0400 http://alternativeapproaches.com/pnuke1/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4524 A riveting new documentary called "Food Matters," launched globally on May 30, jolts the trillion-dollar worldwide, 'healthcare industry', by declaring a range of scientifically verifiable natural solutions for vibrant health and wellness. "Food Matters" - Answer to Illness, Disease, Fatigue, Weight Loss and Chronic Pain? Nutritionists turned filmmakers, James Colquhoun and Laurentine ten Bosch, have produced a bold film, Food Matters, based on a challenging and potentially startling message of self-healthcare. This eye-opening documentary has viewers going "wow" as it asks then answers these thought-provoking questions: Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:00:00 -0400