Joining Youth Hungering for Justice

  • Posted on December 9, 2009 at 5:20 pm

Many of you know that some 10-7 years ago in my other vocation, I worked on Climate Change issues. My position lead me to many locations and Boards, one with the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Working Group, I was graced to represent the Antiochian Orthodox archdiocese of North America, the faith of my birth and cultural, ethnic heritage.

As a priest daughter fasting was a normal part of living faith refraining breakfast every Sunday morning, meat every Wednesday & Friday.  During lent abstinence included other fare: sound (TV & Radio), speech (quite time for reflection) but also included engagement in other forms of sustenance – caring for neighbors, sick, elderly. Today it seems strange, and harmful, which it can be if done by those frail, or if done with ego or detached from spirit. Intention is important with this…it is important to fill oneself when emptying with nourishment from love, joy, and spirit for strength.

Fasting has an ancient tradition, all faiths practice some form of it, the intention of it being a Self Sacrifice as a Petition to Source on behalf of self or others. Hunger Strikes are public political pleas demanding justice, seeking compassionate resolution; in essence open hearts of the oppressors affording liberation for all parties. Many practices overlap.

So when our children, some literally, others we created by our social constructs, gathered now in Copenhagen, for the [Climate] Conference Of the Parties (COP 15), are intentionally Hungering themselves for authentic leadership, I could not deny my participation in this profound opportunity to join our hearts.

Pictured here: Matthieu Balle’ of France, Sara Svenssen of Sweden & Anna Keen of Australia in Copenhagen COP 15

While one might think they are validly concerned for their own future, the economy, environment, health – yet what they are sacrificing self for are those without voice, those whose present is already witness to the linage of greed, those whose “foot prints” are the smallest yet will bear the heaviest burden.

Ravenousness for Authentic Leadership, from the governments, from the corporations, it matters only that the heart rules.

Standing witness with and for our children… will you join me?

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Super Size Inspirations!

  • Posted on October 29, 2009 at 5:05 pm

Changing perceptions, apathy, or anything worthwhile takes effort & time but once we reach a pivotal point the change occurs seemingly effortlessly. Being the lead contact person in NYS on Climate Change issues nearly a decade ago engaging people, communities, and corporations in the conversation it was amazing to see the day the world came together on Sat Oct 24th for a global action on climate change sponsored by 350.org

With as much excitement, and almost as much fan fare, I am deeply moved to see young women taking back their persona. With gratitude to Glamour Magazine for being unafraid, our sisters sense of self is secure and poised to be “Plus” size. I have browsed the links in this blog, eyes, brain, and heart feasting on their exquisiteness, wisdom and promise of a new modality.

Our Daughters are Amazing!

Glamour Magazine Plus Size Models

More women than not are unsatisfied with their appearance. I know, as I am one of them, but also because in my beauty boutique they share their frustration with me. We remember when eating didn’t translate into fear and guilt which turns into stress which turns into cortisol which turns into the front tummy or all over; Some were born Plus and never knew otherwise. Some had children, significant others needing to find compromise and common ground, work, house, community, vigilance on political fronts, and then save the planet all in a day, every day, and have to be a size 0 to be worth something, or be considered “beautiful”.

When consulting with my clients, words I heard from my mouth are, “anyone would look beautiful if clothes were tailored.” When money became God, the corners cut were too deep – we lost creativity, quality, thoughtfulness, and yes love; and joy is not separate from love. When we create from the bottom line only, we loose love and joy in our creating and creations, extending to other areas of life. It’s easy to fit to flat; but curved bodies in cookie cutter clothes is like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole – no one is going to look or feel appealing; so it resonated with me when plus-size model Jennie Runk, 21, stated “the true sign of a great designer is someone who can fit the curves.”

The label “Plus Size” for some has negative connotations, but as always we can take ownership of a term rather than letting it limit or be our master, it then becomes our liberation. “Plus” is more, is positive, is advantages, assets, is pro to the con, are our benefits,bonuses & perks! I choose to see plus as positively liberating. Thank you younger sisters and daughters for being such an asset!

Comments from readers are exciting, so take your time browsing the articles and comments, leave some of your own! Check out the wisdom in Body Confidence Secrets by Crystal Renn! and watch the story on TV!

I want to know, are you as thrilled and moved as I am??

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Motivation to Manifestation

  • Posted on September 20, 2009 at 6:51 am

Today was cool and sunny. The morning dew was thick and chill, an indication the season is shifting to autumn. I wore pants, long sleeves and a jacket for the first time after a summer of dresses and skirts despite the stubborn rain that seems only now to be dissipating with the approach of fall. Steve laughed because I still had my beaded sandals on my feet. “I put shoes on first” he said smiling in his jeans and t-shirt. My feet love being open – they would not think shoes until later in the evening, and they compromised saying I should bring a pair of sandals with me where ever I go for those, just in case days of warmth… for spontaneous liberation… Before I can manifest shoes on my feet I have to have motivation!

At this time I am witnessing a Motivation/Manifestation impulse in my life that is amazing me. One that affirms what quantum physics claims – make an intention and it appears; it doesn’t always appear immediately. When I have experienced these types of “manifestations” there is often a delay from the intention made.

It makes me wonder though if I have intended/manifested or, have I sensed what was becoming… are these mutually exclusive since what we know as reality is less solid than we think?

Many years ago when my daughters were girls I bought a braiding book we loved to learn from. Years later I purchased Naturally Healthy Hair and again sometime after that, a workbook for beauty industry professionals, Body of Knowledge. Mary Beth Janssen is the author of all these books; I loved her style, perspective and her broad range of experience. Personally certified by Deepak Chopra, M.D. and David Simon, M.D., Mary Beth is a Mind Body Health Educator for Deepak’s organization, The Chopra Center for Well-Being. She is also a certified massage therapist, herbalist, aroma therapist, and registered yoga teacher (Yoga Alliance). I wanted to be her when I grew up! (Little did I know I was older than she!)

Mary Beth wrote “Real beauty begins with health, and true wellness is directly related to how we nurture our mind, body and spirit. A profound sense of well-being will enhance one’s self esteem and resiliency. When we feel good and have effective coping strategies in place, our true beauty is able to radiantly shine through.” I wanted more!

“My goal, through retreats, educational seminars, on-site visits, and one-on-one consultations, is to engender a paradigm shift within these professions [beauty/spa/caregivers] at the grass roots level. I have seen first hand the creative energy that is released as individuals begin to internalize the value and power of what they do when they serve others though their work, or right livelihood. My role is to help them recognize and enhance that value. And in transforming their own lives first, they are better able to serve their cherished guests and clientele that visit them every day.” OK where to I sign up!!??

Deep motivation ensued searching online for workshops and/or trainings unsuccessfully – the closest I came was a yoga website in Chicago that stated, “if you are looking for Mary Beth Janssen do not call here” ok … won’t do that!

I had to let the external search go, but held inside that one day there would be a workshop or training with Mary Beth.In an adventure story of it’s own, two and a half years ago I was able to meet her at a special event sponsored by my former boss now girlfriend.

How elated am I to be bringing MBJ, as she signs her emails, to Little Falls, NY on October 17th & 18th for a Meet & Greet and Tutorial on PLEASURE HEALING, the title of her newest book and workshop, where she will reveal techniques that will inspire you to treat your body and soul to the ultimate in Health Care ~ Self Care.

Pleasure Healing Info

Pleasure Healing

A star in all ways, yet accessible, joyful, loving, healing, enthusiastic, and contagious, Mary Beth lifts all those around her to that cosmic universal space where we meld into one.

THIS is a not to be missed event! You will leave knowing you have shifted from who you were on your way to who you are becoming! Whole, holistic, embracing the multiple expressions of the one you!

For Event Details & Tickets: http://pleasure-healing.com

QUESTION: How do we know if it’s the Deep Motivation that brings Manifestation or that Kismet is at work? Would love to hear YOUR thoughts on it!

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Nobel Profit & the Earth is Hiring

  • Posted on June 16, 2009 at 9:01 pm

Steve’s garden is in – the weather was at first a wonder, soaking or dry, hot or freezing all within a day. Now there is some consistency and the peas are already high on the fence. The grape vine that shades our dinning nook is now full. Summer Solstice is approaching, I am just thawing out…

My last two writings were of Sustainability: My experience at the Salon/Spa Sustainability Summit, and Earth Day the Interdependence of a steady economy with a sustainable environment.

Our collective condition of depleted resources, toxic footprints, and plastic oceans some say is a result of our lifestyle – which cannot be separated from our livelihoods.

Here is the conundrum (a riddle with an answer in the form of a play on words) that holds the predicament and the solution to present day conditions.

Looking up the word livelihood I found it originated from an Old English word for “way of life”, also “lode”. The word changed in the 16th century due to an association with lively and -hood . Other definitions included: source of income, means of support, living, subsistence, keep, maintenance, sustenance, daily bread, job, work, employment, occupation, vocation; informal bread and butter.

I noted it was a noun and most of the single word descriptions stagnant, not creative or empowering.

My heart holds it a verb, “ life”, “course” speak of action to me…
I searched the web “verb of livelihood” the reply was… no verb.

My heart nagged “this is the problem” there is no passion, there is no action, there is no movement in this “livelihood” – it has become a noun. I dissected the word; Lively – living, animate: imparting spirit or vivacity. Lode – way, course, variant of load; a lodestone in the early 16th cent. Hood –Old English hōd; related to Dutch hoed, German Hut ‘hat,’ also to hat and currently a neighborhood, esp. one’s own neighborhood : 1970s: shortening of neighborhood.

Livelihood has become intertwined with “Business”; Old English bisignis (busy, -ness) was “anxiety and the state of being busy” used from Middle English down to the 18th century, is now differentiated as busyness.

So we have come from making our “way” in the world with “spirit and vivacity” to now being “busy” a product of “anxiety”.

Collectively from home to corporate halls more of us are making subtle changes in our lives bringing more “spirit and vivacity” and less “busyness” having bought into a model and standard that gave us emptiness – no job, no environmental, no economic security – no contentment, no accomplishment, nothing to show for – so why put more energy into the illusion?

We are witness to a transitional economy one from money to support me and mine to one of “Nobel Profit”.

Dr Michel Bernard Beckwith, Founder of Agape International Spiritual Center, in his book Spiritual Liberation states, “ Those who go into business simply for money have yet to realize how business for profit alone has caused tremendous damage to our planet and its people. Such individuals are behind the times and have not yet realized that today people seek to align their personal values with their livelihood and purchases. When you work just for profit, this is an unevolved approach to livelihood. Nobel Profit is defined as that which is used not only to support our livelihood but to help create a kind and just society”

There is another piece of Sustainability – personal sustainability – recognizing the interconnection of body, mind, and spirit acknowledging that in any venture, true success is realized only with an integrated approach.

Just like ignoring the value of a sustained, nurtured environment impacts positively our society and economy, so too ignoring any aspect of our being, creates a breach in our ability to function wholly and harmoniously. Care for the body gives care for the mind and spirit; and care for the spirit creates a whole mind and body.

There is a connection between our spiritness and that of our planet – the “Green” Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew states the desertification of the planet is a reflection of the desertification of soul, we seek always to be satisfied outside of ourselves – we surround our self with our own creations and have little of Creation which feeds us; what we seek can only be found inside, and when full, our soul, we will see the deserts lessen…

Care for our planet body, creates care for our societies which contribute to our spiritual well being…we are inseparable, we are one, the ages have declared it – we are witness to this realty.

There is no “other” – there is only one struggle, the summon of our times which environmentalist, entrepreneur, journalist, and author Paul Hawken stated in his Commencement Speech at University of Portland: “YOU ARE BRILLIANT AND THE EARTH IS HIRING”.

Livelihood is a “way of life ” or a “life course”.

Imbue your life with spirit and vivacity, be it in your organic garden, your skills after a long day at work to help someone else, or changing your course all together… the whole world is waiting and depending on you!

Beauty & Blessings!

christine

Paul Hawken Video

Patriarch Bartholomew

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Earth Day 2009 Sustainability the Eco-Economy

  • Posted on April 20, 2009 at 6:59 pm

April 22 2009 the 39th Anniversary of Earth Day, it is important to remember that as we look to the natural world for healing, eating, and caring for our bodies because it is a better choice for us and the planet, we can just as easily be part of the problem using natural modalities if we make choices that are not “sustainable”.

Sustainable Development is a way of thinking that sees economic and environmental health as interlinked, mutually supportive goals. Sustainable Development “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. Since the 1970s “sustainability” was used to describe an economy “in equilibrium with basic ecological support systems”. The field of sustainable development is put into three constituent parts: environmental sustainability, sociopolitical sustainability and economic sustainability.

“Unsustainable situations” are a result of nature’s resources being used up faster than replenished. Sustainability calls for human activity (dominion if you will) to ensure nature’s resources are able to be replenished naturally. The idea is that long-term environmental degradation is the inability to sustain human life, on a global scale could imply extinction for humanity.

Based on the three types of capital: natural (ecological), social, and economic, for which thoughtless use could be irreversible. While it may be possible to find ways to replace some natural resources, it is unlikely to replace eco-system services due to the multi-functionality of many natural resources. For example, forests not only provide raw material for paper, which can be substituted easily, but also maintain biodiversity, regulate water flow, and absorb CO2.

Natural capital, social capital and economic capital are often complementary and interrelated. The benefits of natural or social capital depletion are usually privatized but the costs are externalized; they are not borne by those responsible but by society in general. Natural capital is undervalued by society due to the lack of understanding the real cost of natural capital depletion, cause and effect is masked, making it difficult to make informed choices. Our natural resources are our money in the bank, only there is no overdraft protection.

Eco-efficiency and socio-efficiency lend themselves to increasing economic sustainability. In this process they utilize both natural and social capital to benefit win-win situations. So when considering purchases remember: natural, organic, local and Sustainable.

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SSSS Sustainable SalonSpa Summit

  • Posted on April 6, 2009 at 3:03 pm

There are times in a life when there is no apparent explanation for the profound responses we have, and yet they create a shift in perception, and direction.

Such an experience happened when I attended the Sustainable SalonSpa Summit (SSSS) a side event at America’s Beauty Show (ABS), in Chicago IL last week, an imperative, intelligent, inspiring, occasion, coordinated by Mary Beth Janssen.

Mary Beth is someone I have held in high esteem from afar for many years before our recent amity. I first “met” Mary Beth reading her books Naturally Healthy Hair and Body of Knowledge; I was inspired to know more about her; a Master Herbalist, Certified Chopra Center Wellness Educator, and leader in the beauty industry, she became a demigoddess to me.

From the outset, my “place” in the salon/beauty industry has been an independent owner practicing natural methods; offering safe healthy products for people and planet, then as eco-activist, then as educator and creator of a product grading system, and back to owner of a small natural consulting business.

Over the years I attended only a few local beauty shows; their product offerings were not the direction I had intended, therefore industry events were not where I put my energy. I attended henna, herbal, aroma therapy, and reflexology seminars and incorporated these into my practices.

When Mary Beth extended me the invite to ABS, and SSSS in particular, I looked forward to it all year, putting aside all other offers and events not knowing what was in store.

So, when colleague Syed and I stepped into the McCormick Conference Center with divas on display, runway music blasting, crammed in line waiting entry, I was shocked at my emotional and yes physical response of “home coming”. There was something, still unexplainable, that spoke to my deepest self. An industry blamed for creating low self esteem through unrealistic role model images, for contributing to eating disorders, for empty vanity and I was “coming home”… seemed unsettling.

Mary Beth greeted the 100 participants in the Sustainable SalonSpa Summit saying that we would be taking the “S” word, “Spirit”, out of the closet. Spirit is the foundation of salons and spas because we are the care givers to the care givers. The nurturers must be nurtured to nurture; can we be nurtured or nurture if we use unhealthy products in our services? What about nurturing planet & space? Replenishing Self with Mediation.

This forum for Salon and Spa associates was one of the best eco informative sessions I have witnessed having witnessed more than most, from participant to presenter. Leaders in the industry including international designer Clodaugh, Horst Rechelbacher, founder of Aveda and Intelligent Nutrients, Organic Spa’s Mary Bemis  and Ted Ning of LOHAS mentioning a few. Organic Beauty, Sustainable Living, Business Profit Mentors guided us on: why/ how to be Green, from product to facility design, how to find Real Green amidst “green washing” efforts, about labeling, certifications and yes some deep breathing and shoulder massages!

After two decades in the eco-activism field, the last 8 years voiding 40 years of advances, this dynamic summit showcased, using language from poet Khalil Gibran, “Work is love made visible”. Each of these esteemed panelist’s work is their love made visible; and my love has brought me here…home.

Thank you Mary Beth and Panelists! Looking forward to next year!

Photo credit: Dan Rest for 2009 America’s Beauty Show

Photo credit: Dan Rest for 2009 America’s Beauty Show

short bio of panelists

2009 SalonSpa Sustainability Summit panelists pictured left to right:

Tamara Jercho, National Association of Eco-Friendly Salons & Spas; Kate Leydon, The Ruby Room; Frederic Holzberger, Aveda Fredrics Institute; Ted Ning, LOHAS; Mary Beth Janssen, 2009 SalonSpa Sustainability Summit chairperson; Tamara Wills, Allyu Salon; Luz Segovia, President of Cosmetologists Chicago; Mark Wuttke, Wuttke Group, LLC; Max Simon, Get Self Centered; Mary Bemis, Organic Spa Magazine; Horst Rechelbacher, Intelligent Nutrients; Clodagh, International Design Leader; and Gary Howse, Gary Manuel Salons.

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Earth Day Network

  • Posted on April 2, 2009 at 5:06 pm

Earth Day Network

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Beauty & The Beast

  • Posted on January 10, 2009 at 8:52 am

I have been avoiding this page – maybe avoiding is too harsh – there were campaigns, an election, significant collective growth, the holydays, family gatherings, business responsibilities and opportunities…and then…more madness than should be allowed. The blog running through my head for the New Year has been usurped by what I am compelled to write now.

Collectively, we have been dealing with insanity and madness since our incarnation it seems – so many wars…so many lies…and the weird thing is, we keep falling for the same lies and lines for an eternity – are we really that naive?

I know something about personal insanity; my cousin Steve created a slogan for our extended family – “The Shahin’s don’t suffer from insanity, we revel in it.” It makes us smile a smile and chuckle a chuckle that reminds us from whence we came and also the amazing human spirit that allows us to grow, morph, and evolve from challenging conditions.

My husband always told our children that it’s pressure that turns coal into the diamond. Aren’t we diamonds yet? The pressure sure feels strong enough; but then, I remember being in labor for our first, feeling “pain” and telling my RN mother-in-law that I was having contractions. She looked at me knowingly smiling and said “next contraction come see me “- when I did, she felt my womb and affirmed “yes dear this is a contraction…but they are going to get much stronger” that’s when I realized that my experience was going to be much more profound than I imagined. And indeed, it was.

That’s where we are with the current collective stressors; we thought we had enough pressure with these wars in Afghanistan, Iraq… now the over the top situation of occupied Palestine – the pressure is more profound than we imagined ~ Question is, can we use it to propel us to evolve?? That’s what significant situations do – they impel us to change, take a leap or we stagnate…

WAIT, isn’t this a blog about Non-Toxic Beauty? What does WAR have to do with this… For one, WAR is Toxic on so many levels but here we will look at its environmental health impacts which return to us in human health issues.

The legacy of contamination that War leaves after the cease-fires or Peace is accomplished, continues to wreak health havoc on “losers” but also on “winners” as well for decades or longer!

Often “environmental hot spots” (industrial sites, oil refineries, power plants, chemical plants etc.) are military targets, which intensify the toxic burden. Add to this oil & chemical spill impacts.

Wars have always been about domination and expansion no matter what the rhetoric or who the created enemy is; the Victors stole more resources, be they human, animal, water or land. Today’s Victors also receive the hidden casualties of their wars: contaminated water, forests, soil and air, cluster bombs, impacts of depleted uranium all harm human health; what spoils of war is this?

The thing is about these toxins and environmental/health impacts is they no know geographic or political boundaries. Remember Chernobyl? The banned pesticide DDT found in penguins in Antarctica and plastic permeating our oceans.

War doesn’t make any sense, even if there are deep-rooted differences; the impacts are just too great and grave. We know that hate hurts the hater not the hated…war hurts everything everywhere. Nature demands cooperation to work correctly and when we ignore those demands we pay.

The only ones who benefit from war are weapons manufacturers, but even this is short sighted because they are not immune to their own poison. Allowing others to manipulate our politics and ethics to the point where we succumb to occupation, oppression and war means collective suicide.

Through research, we are realizing that our beauty is a reflection of our underlying health! If our water, air, soil etc is unhealthy how can we be healthy? and therefore beautiful?

All the already existing toxic impacts we need to deal with are exasperated adding war into the mix.

After reading this you may feel overwhelmed and just give up on natural products all together but, as Frances Moore Lappe, one of my favorite authors says about the times we live in “It’s far too late & far too horrible to be hopeless”.

Yes we can live together honoring our similarities & differences! We really don’t have a choice~

There is much hopeful work happening all over the world and here are 10 amazing links for your information, inspiration, involvement

Daily Good http://www.dailygood.org/
Karma Tube http://www.karmatube.org/
Shalom/Salaam http://shalom-salaam.net/forum/
United Plant Savers http://unitedplantsavers.org/
Oceana http://www.oceana.org/
Organic Consumers Association http://www.organicconsumers.org/
Care2 http://www.care2.com
Environmental Justice Climate Coalition http://ejcc.org
Redefining Progress http://www.rprogress.org/index.htm
PowerShift http://powershift09.org/about

One Planet, One People, One Love – Christine

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Non-Profit & For Profit Activism

  • Posted on October 25, 2008 at 8:07 pm

Natural Products Expo ’08 picture taken by New Hope Media

Non-Profit & For Profit Activism are interdependent to make real change. My first time in the headquarters of the New York Public Interest Research Group or NYPIRG was profound. I was amazed that there was a whole floor of working paid activists – passion with grounded feet making a difference daily on issues such as the environment, energy, consumer protection, homelessness, higher education, health, social justice and more. I thought “Oh! There is a place for people like me and it’s called NYPIRG“. Grateful and honored to have worked along side the best there.

An incredibly profound occurrence in light of the “economic situation” last week was the Natural Products Expo in Boston MA, seeing a convention center full of 1,300 natural product companies (Supplements, Personal Care, Clothes, to Renewable Dinnerware from fallen palm leaves) and 26,000 participants!

The Boston Convention Center is a wonderful facility; their staff helpful and pleasant and we packed it! This personal/planetary health conscious commerce convocation of products and people reinforced what the polls indicate: the natural products industry is growing, 9.8% in ’07 with $62 billion in sales.

To me this indicates that even in recession “the people” are willing to create what is needed – voting with dollars, another vital form of activism, we claim the future through life affirming purchases now.

Consumers want purchases that are also productive:
• Protect the planet renew raw materials; there is no overdraft protection for these
• Product quality and efficacy which means it is nutrient rich internally or topically
• Provide a fair wage to those putting their life energy into the creation of their purchase.
Gone are the days of ignorance is bliss – we have the knowledge that all of us from planet to person are connected and what is reaped is what is sown, no matter the distance.

Speaking of distance – conference organizers (Natural Products Association, New Hope Media) implemented a creative mass transit incentive with a reimbursement of $100.00. Rickshaws were a fun carbon-free mobility option and of course this method, and walking, were the quicker ways to navigate dense city traffic.

Other creative Green Efforts include: Recycling, One Site Paperless Press Room, Green Energy Tags, & The Green Exhibitor Program. The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority implement Green Practices daily!

Presenters & Workshops are such an important part of the coming together, there were so many that I can only share those I experienced:

  • An empowering Keynote Address on coming home to our essential goodness was given by Frances Moore Lappé, author of the best seller Diet for a Small Planet, her newest book Getting a Grip: Clarity, Creativity and Courage in a World Gone Mad.
  • Women in Naturals, a support for women in the natural products industry, sponsored Kris Carr, author/filmmaker/and cancer cowgirl, shared her moving experience of how lifestyle impacts our health for ill or good. Kris’s rare cancer is in remission using diet & alternative therapies.
  • Organic standards and personal care products are my passion so it is no surprise that I attended the workshop: The Future of Organic Standards for Personal Care Products. My colleague and Organic Beauty Expert, Mary Beth Janssen has written a very comprehensive piece on organic standards in Organic Spa Magazine great piece Mary Beth!

Looking up the word Recession I see a variety of meanings

  • Economics: a period of an economic contraction
  • Noun: a return of ownership to a former possessor
  • Or my own … Recess – time to play during the slump – have some fun. Fun never depends on money just taking time for it.
Thank you Natural Products Association and New Hope Media!
OH and SAVE THE DATE!!! Next year’s Natural Products Expo is September 23-26, 2009 also at Boston Convention & Exhibition Center! HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!
christine

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Mundane Activism

  • Posted on August 4, 2008 at 5:29 pm

Slightly edited from my Post on Feminist.com

Having been on the front lines of environmental activism for nearly 2 decades, I know that the word activism describes the pace and urgency with which “activist” live. We are “called and compelled to act”. But often even activists don’t act out in the mundane what our lives demand of us on the front lines, sometimes we are constrained by monetary limits and sometimes we too are just overwhelmed by all the fronts we need to be vigilant on. A conversation some years ago with someone close to me on the spiritual path was frustrated with the demands of cleaning out her cans before putting them out for curbside recycling. Trying to relate this simple task to the spiritual, I commented that it was just an act of consciousness to which she exclaimed “Just how conscious do I have to be!?” A good question…

The tragic accident of a dear cosmetologist friend and the sighting of a regional landfill and incinerator in our small rural upstate NY village heightened my awareness to the fact that the cosmetic industry is one of the biggest polluters.

My goal of practicing, implementing and teaching non-toxic, non-invasive beauty methods will result in a difference made on the Beauty Industry and also its environmental impacts which impact people as well as the environment.

The skin is the body’s largest organ, our body’s first defense against disease and infection, and it protects our internal organs from injuries. Sixty percent of what is put on the skin is absorbed directly into the blood stream; digestion takes longer for absorption hence the development of nicotine and birth control patches. We are exposed to numerous toxins in multiple pathways from water, air, soil, food and product. It makes sense to control personal exposures where we can. The other side of this coin is the opportunity we have to create a just economy, a safe healthy environment and act from a space of compassion just through the purchase of clean, non-toxic health and beauty products.

Hurricane Katrina is being used as a litmus test for all “what ifs” and is a good lesson for the types of industries we as communities encourage living and growing among us. Personal Hygiene products such as shampoos, skin care, toothpastes, deodorants etc. may have “less than 1%” of a harsh preservative or “undesirable” ingredient, but we must learn to look at the accumulation levels in our homes on our bodies but as importantly in the manufacturing. What are the exposure levels to someone on the assembly line, or in the neighborhood where these chemical laden formulations are created finding their way into air, water and soil.

There are truly effective, all natural, safely preserved health and beauty products. They may cost a little more “up front” but a cost is borne somewhere in the equation – we just need to see the cost as it currently is – borne in contaminated water, soil, air, which comes back to ourselves in illness, disabilities, mutations, even higher health care costs.
Knowing that the “cost factor” is never nullified only misplaced, it becomes apparent that purchasing can be an easy act of expressing compassion! Just think of tithing, or donating towards “good works”. Most people see this as giving to places of worship or charities. When you see tithing as every act and purchase, you can see how purchasing a non-toxic shampoo not only benefits you directly but also others not able to move from toxic communities by building a demand for clean industries.

As I find myself today working in the retail world this very much overlooked, and equally important form of activism is revealed – the daily presence of “space holding”. Space holding is “being the change you wish to see in the world”. Be it maintaining peace and non-judgment, setting up an in store recycling program, or speaking truth to product reps. and/or customers, space holding is essential. It strengthens the power of awareness, as well as of the Self. We don’t need to change the world – just ourselves, and then the world changes.

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