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Oneness - Relationships Causeless Peace - Yoga, Meditation, The Outdoors Healthfulness - Food, Nutrition, Exercise Joyfulness - Music, The Arts, Photography Unconditional Love - Nonprofits, Selfless Acts Mindfulness - Science, Medicine, Technology, Psychology Conscious Living

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Are you ready for an entirely online magazine with a new focus on Central Oregon? The outdoors, breathtaking photography, healthy food, healthy living, transformative ideas and intelligent local conversations covering a wide range of topics. Care to contribute? Visit our website at www.simplycentraloregon.us or mail [email protected] for more information.

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Page 1: Simply Central Oregon

Oneness - RelationshipsCauseless Peace - Yoga, Meditation, The OutdoorsHealthfulness - Food, Nutrition, ExerciseJoyfulness - Music, The Arts, PhotographyUnconditional Love - Nonprofits, Selfless ActsMindfulness - Science, Medicine, Technology, Psychology

Conscious Living

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Page 3: Simply Central Oregon

Table of ContentsHealthfulness …………………………………. 3

Leek & Brussel Sprout SoupA report on the supplement magnesiumGMO - Weird ScienceMixed Fruit Crumble w/Basil

Causeless Peace- The Outdoors ………………… 9

Fort Rock State ParkAn overview of the Patgens Lakes Loop Train

Oneness - Relationships …………………… …. 13

Self Care: Body ScrubPersonal Perspective: I am Baba Yaga

Simply Central Oregon is a product of DhyZenCreative Services (www.dhyzen.com).

All content is the property of DhyZen CreativeServices and may not be reproduced without writtenpermission.

Story ideas may be submitted to editor Dhyana Kearlyfor consideration at [email protected].

Published October 1, 2013

Simply Central Oregon is thenewest online-only magazinewritten and produced exclusivelyfor people who think.

The goal of this publication is tocreate a whole new online exchangevenue aimed at those who are morepurposefully engaged in the world.As such, we tend to be spirituallyundefinable, outdoorsy types whoprefer to grow our own food,volunteer our skills and we likelyhave a dog or two. We take ourhealth care personally and strive toincorporate self-care into ourroutine as much as possible. Aboveall we are in the process of evolvinginto a better version of ourselves.

If that sounds familiar then SimplyCentral Oregon is for you!

Thank you for reading!

Advertising opportunities areavailable! Please contact usat [email protected] details.

Are you an expert in yourfield? We are looking forcontributors on subjectsincluding health, science,urban gardening, organicfoods, spirituality,psychology, the arts andmore! Photography is alsowelcome! Email us today!

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Conscious Living

Healthfulness

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Ingredients

3-4 leeks; washed, trimmed andsliced2 large white or red potatoes;peeled and quartered12 fresh brussel spouts; thinlysliced1/2 pound bacon; thinly sliced1 cup white wine2-4 cups chicken broth1 cup half-half

Garnish & Finishing Touches1/2 cup sour creamsalt & white pepper to taste

Directions

Place quartered potatoes in a steamer and let cook untiltender.

In a large skillet cook bacon until crispy. Remove from pan(set bacon aside for garnish) and sauté sliced leeks andbrussel spouts in reserved drippings on medium heat untilalmost tender but still slightly crispy. Pour 1/2 to 1 cup ofwhite wine into vegetables, heat through until tender.

Combine steamed potatoes, cooked leeks and brusselsprouts in a heavy Dutch oven pot, add chicken broth tocover. Using a submersible blender mix soup until blendedto liking (or combine above in a blender and puree todesired texture). Heat through. Add salt and pepper totaste.

10 minutes before serving stir in half-half and sour cream,stir until heated through. Serve with bacon garnish. Enjoy.

Using locally growningredients alwaysmakes a better soup.

Leeks, like garlic andonions, belong to avegetable family calledthe Allium vegetables.Since leeks are relatedto garlic and onions,they contain many ofthe same beneficialcompounds found inthese well-researched,health-promotingvegetables.

Leek, Brussel Sprout & Potato Soup

Leeks are not only deliciousthey are notable for the factthat they supply folatewhich is a key B complexvitamin important for thecardiovascular system,helping to keep the body’slevels of homocysteine inproper balance.

Leeks contain importantamounts of the flavonoidkaempferol, which isrecognized for its ability tohelp protect blood vessellinings from damage.Interestingly, one of themechanisms involved inthis blood vessel protectionmay involve increasedproduction of nitric oxide(NO), a naturally occurringgas that helps to dilate andrelax the blood vessels.

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Ever since I can remember I’ve noticed women aroundme complaining of ‘power surges’ or ‘hot flashes’ andthe closer I myself got to the wise woman era of life, themore these same woman would ask me if I am botheredby them, too. And honestly I can say that I’m not – atleast very seldom and only for short periods of time. Itruly believe that the reason I don’t have hot flasheswhile other women my age are plagued by them is dueto the fact that I take magnesium supplements. It’s assimple as that.

And before I launch into why magnesium is so good foryou, let me ask you a question; do you suffer from theterrible twitching eye syndrome? You know … thatannoying moment when you’re talking to someone andout of nowhere your left (or right) eye will begin totremble and flicker like crazy and for no reason?

It’s only a minor tremble to be sure, but it makes youfeel so self-conscious you immediately slink off to thenearest ladies room to try and get a handle on thesituation before you embarrass yourself all to pieces.Well, long story short – twitching eye syndrome is asymptom of low magnesium levels and to be sure, if yousuffer from hot flashes you may also suffer from twitchyeye … and vise versa. Just sayin’ …

Magnesium, one of the four most important minerals inyour body is important for the proper functioning ofmore than 300 different chemical reactions, according tothe Office of Dietary Supplements. Magnesium isimportant for muscle and nerve function, regulatingheart rate, promoting a healthy immune system andsustaining bone health. It also helps to regulate bloodsugar and blood pressure and works to build protein. TheNational Institutes of Health has several researchprojects underway to study magnesium and how it worksto prevent hypertension, heart disease and diabetes.

More and more experts are coming to the conclusion thatwe aren't eating enough of the right foods to gain theproper amount of magnesium in our systems. Adultswho consume less than the recommended amount of

magnesium are much more likely to suffer from symptomsof inflammation which is also associated with major healthconditions such as heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers,osteoporosis and high blood pressure.Magnesium deficiencies are most likely to occur in peoplesuch as those who:

� Suffer from kidney disease

� Have digestive issues including Crohn's disease, Celiacand gluten intolerance

� Are taking antibiotics or drugs to treat issues such asdiabetes and cancer

� Are seniors

� Drink alcohol in excess

� Have parathyroid problems

Good places to find magnesium naturally include:

· Green leafy vegetables, like spinach, kale, beet greens,etc.

· Nuts such as almonds

· Beans, peas, and soybeans, brown rice

· Whole-grain cereals, bran

Adequate levels of magnesium are essential for theabsorption and metabolism of calcium and vitamin D.Magnesium converts vitamin D into its active form so thatit can aid calcium absorption.

Magnesium also stimulates the hormone calcitonin, whichhelps to preserve bone structure and draws calcium out ofthe blood and soft tissues back into the bones, loweringthe likelihood of osteoporosis, some forms of arthritis,heart attack and kidney stones – all important issues forwomen.

Reclaiming your right to …Supplement Report:

Magnesium: The Wonder Supplement

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According to Dr. CarolynDean Medical Director ofthe nonprofit Nutritional

Magnesium Association, there is agrowing amount of scientificevidence pointing to high calcium–low magnesium intake leading tocalcification, or hardening, ofarteries (atherosclerosis—thenumber one cause of death in theUS), osteoporosis and osteoporoticbone fractures.

To top all of that off, there isgrowing evidence that propermagnesium levels can lead toincreased brain power. But, like allsupplements you take, it’simportant to know the healthylimits.

HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCHMAGNESIUM?

Too much magnesium in the bloodstream can cause nausea, crampsand diarrhea. Magnesiumsupplements often cause softeningof stool, which can be helpful forpeople who have trouble going, butcan be a problem for folks withcompound digestive issues.Magnesium in excess may not besafe for people who are currentlytaking prescription diuretics, heartmedicines or antibiotics.

As always, if you are taking anymedication or if you have anychronic health issue be sure tocheck with your health careprovider before taking magnesium.Signs of a magnesium overdose caninclude nausea, diarrhea, low bloodpressure, muscle weakness, andfatigue. At very high doses,magnesium can be fatal.

Reclaiming your right to …

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The genetically engineered food we're eating today has neverbeen safety tested for human consumption, using reliable,independent long-term testing methods. Yet the InternationalFood Information Council (IFIC), which opposes the pre-market safety testing of GMOs, insists that the lack of safetytesting is evidence of safety.

According to the American Medical Association (AMA),GMOs have been "consumed for close to 20 years, and duringthat time, no overt consequences on human health have beenreported and/or substantiated in the peer-reviewed literature."So, no scientist has proven that GMOs are causing disease inhumans. Does that mean that GMOs don't cause disease? Is itproof that GMOs are safe?

Here's how two different doctors' associationsanswer that question:

The AMA has a glass half-full approach, but theyacknowledge that the reason we think everything's fine is thatwe haven't adequately addressed the potential harms ofbioengineered food. The AMA wants U.S. regulators to dosomething they've never done before: require companies tosubmit to mandatory pre-market safety assessments instead ofrelying on the current voluntary notification process.

The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM)has a glass half-empty approach. While the AMA talks about"potential harm," the AAEM talks about "probable harm." Justlike the AMA, the AAEM supports a change in U.S. law torequire mandatory pre-market safety testing. But in themeantime, rather than wait another decade or two for federalagencies to require pre-market testing, the AAEM encouragesdoctors to recommend non-GMO diets.

Despite the difference in policy positions between the twogroups of doctors, there's one thing they can both agree on:GMOs haven't been safety-tested yet. And they need to be.

IFIC says: "Consuming foods produced through biotechnologyis safe for children and women who are pregnant or nursing."Wow, that's reassuring. Wouldn't we all love for that to betrue? But now that we know that to IFIC "safe" just means"hasn't been safety tested," let's look into this.

IFIC's reference for that statement is: U.S. Food and DrugAdministration (FDA), Genetically engineered plants for foodand feed, 2012. I wasn't aware the FDA had issued a statementon GMOs in 2012, so I clicked the link.

I found the old FDA statement of policy that hasn't beenupdated since 1997. I had read it before. But I read it again,and found that it says absolutely nothing about the safety ofbiotechnology for children or women who are pregnant ornursing. But I did notice something I hadn't before. A littleasterisk at the bottom of the page that says, "Effective June 18,2001, the Office of Premarket Approval is now the Office ofFood Additive Safety."

Once the FDA had decided against putting GMOs throughpremarket safety tests, the agency could no longer claim tohave an office of premarket approval. I suggest an additional

entry to the IFIC's GMO Newspeak Dictionary, on behalf ofthe FDA: "Lack of premarket safety testing is food additivesafety."

So what do we know about the safety of GMOs forchildren and pregnant or nursing women?

According to a study published in 2011 in the , geneticallyengineered DNA survives in our bodies and is passed on to ourchildren before birth. The study found that 93 percent ofpregnant women and 80 percent of their babies havegenetically engineered DNA in their blood.

Is this causing disease? We don't know yet. The researchers inthis study said that babies developing in the womb are highlysusceptible to the adverse effects of xenobiotics, chemicalsfound in an organism which are not normally produced orexpected to be present in it. In this case, they're talking aboutcrops that are genetically engineered to produce their owninsecticides inside the plant. The researchers warn that GMOscould disrupt the biological events that are required to ensurenormal growth and development. They say we need a newfield of multi-disciplinary research, combining humanreproduction, toxicology and nutrition.

Better nutrition from foods with no nutritionalvalue?

Now, one question you might have is, if we label GMOs, andmore people start eating non-GMO diets, could we be steeringpeople away from healthy food? Is there nutrition that onlyGMO plants provide? IFIC says: "Food biotechnology is beingused to improve nutrition."

Not really. Unless you think high fructose corn syrup, partiallyhydrogenated vegetable oils and refined sugar providenutrition.

Genetically engineered crops are used to make the worst junk-food ingredients. GMOs are primarily used to produce high-fructose corn syrup made from genetically engineered corn,refined sugar made from genetically engineered sugar beets,and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils made fromgenetically engineered corn, soy, canola and cotton. If youdon't think you're eating cotton, look at the ingredients on abox of Ritz crackers.

Beyond talking about what genetic engineering might producesomeday in the future, there's really no way for IFIC to spinthe fact that genetic engineering hasn't produced any uniquelynutritious foods. IFIC's list of "Foods from Crops & AnimalsRaised Using Biotechnology" is "sweet corn, papaya, dairyproducts [from cows given genetically engineered growthhormone], sweeteners (e.g. corn syrup, sugar), vegetable oils,corn starch, soy protein, and more." By "more" they meanmore processed food ingredients made from corn, soy, cotton,canola and sugar beets. Where's the "improved nutrition" onthat list?

Alexis Baden-Mayer is the political director for the OrganicConsumers Association. More information is available at:

http://www.organicconsumers.org/

GMO - Weird Science

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Topping:

7 T. unsalted butter, softened,plus more for the baking dish1/2 cup rolled oats (optional)3/4 cup all-purpose flour1/2 cup packed dark brown sugarPinch of salt

Filling:

6 cups (about) mixed fruitchopped to bite sized pieces.Include any combination ofapples, berries, peaches,cherries, blueberries, etc.3 T. granulated sugar2 T. all-purpose flour2 tsp. vanilla extract¼ tsp. nutmeg¼ tsp. cinnamon

Pinch of salt2 T. cold butter, cut into smallpieces½ fresh lemon squeezed &zested6-8 fresh basil leave gentlychopped

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degreesF. Butter a 2-quart shallowbaking dish or eight 6-ounceramekins.

Topping: Whisk the oats (ifused), flour, brown sugar andsalt in a bowl. Work in the butterwith a fork or your fingers untilevenly moistened.

Filling: Peel the apples and cutinto 3/4-inch chunks. Toss withthe other bite sized fruits, lemonjuice and zest, granulatedsugar, flour, vanilla, nutmeg,cinnamon and salt in a largebowl.

Transfer the filling to theprepared dish or ramekins anddot with 2 tablespoons buttersquares. Top with freshchopped basil. Squeezehandfuls of the crumble mixtureand scatter on top of the fruit.Bake until golden and bubbly,40 to 45 minutes.

Cool for at least 10 minutesbefore serving. Top with vanillaice cream, if desired.

Basil is used by some intreatment of diabetes,respiratory disorders,allergies, impotence andinfertility mostly likelybecause basil containscinnamanic acid whichhas been found toenhance circulation,stabilize blood sugar,and improve breathing infolks with respiratorydisorders.

Mixed Fruit Crumble With a Hint of Basil

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Causeless Peace

The Outdoors

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Fort Rock is an awesome place visit, and a particularly funplace to hike if you enjoy wide open spaces with few people tomar the landscape.

Whether you’re a roadside geologist or just someone wholoves Oregon’s high desert landscapes this is one spot youwon’t want to miss. Fort Rock is essentially a big, old, dried upvolcano - and certainly still hot in the peak of summertime..Getting there is not difficult but it does require some drivetime. The turn-off is from Hwy 97 (the Fremont Hwy 31) at LaPine and Fort Rock is about 27 miles east from the junction.

Fort Rock is simply out in the middle nowhere, in the land ofopen sagebrush fields and farmland. It appears as a low humpout on the horizon as you drive towards it, but the closer youget, the larger it becomes. The actual lava formation issomewhere between 50-100,000 years old depending on whichgeological source your read, and from the wear on the rockystructure, it looks to be at least that old. If you can just imagine900 miles of lakes, 150 ft. deep surrounding the currently aridlandscape of Ft. Rock, you’ll get an idea of how much theterrain has changed since this volcano tuft was born.

As you drive up to the Ft. Rock parking lot (complete withpicnic area and nice restrooms) Ft. Rock starts to lookimpressively monumental as it juts out of the ground 325 feetinto the unobstructed blue sky.

There are several hiking and walking trails into and around theextinct volcano, and they’re all worth exploring. It’s pretty

much mandatory in my mind that you walk into the center ofthe structure and plan to stay awhile, even just a short while.There is a quiet calmness at the center of this old beast that justcan’t be explained – but is certainly felt once you get there.Several trails lead into and up to the rim where you can get agood view of the surrounding flatlands.

What you’ll see: Hikers and hiker-dogs, volcano and geologicenthusiasts, tourists and a camp host in the summertime. Thereis a variety of wildlife at Fort Rock including pigeons, birds ofprey, and commonly prairie falcon as well as antelope andsmaller ground animals such as jackrabbits and squirrels andan assortment of lizards.

If you plan a trip to Ft. Rock you can fill up your day byscheduling a tour of the local Ft. Rock Cave open April 1 toNov. 1, but you need to make reservations in order to take thatin. There is also the Crack in the Ground which is nearby andcertainly worth touring if you want to make a full day ofadventure.

Don’t miss the Fort Rock Homestead Village Museum whichyou will pass on your way to the volcano, just down the roadfrom the park. The local historical society has preservedhomestead-era structures which they moved from their originalmore or less nearby locations to the museum site just west ofthe town of Fort Rock. The tours are self guided and there’s asmall admission fee to pay before visiting the village, but it’swell worth the price and time.

Ancient Landscape: Fort Rock State Park

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Patjens Lakes Loop Trail begins at Big Lake in theMt. Washington Wilderness Area – 5.6 miles.

Wear lightweight pants as you’ll need to do somebushwacking to get to these tiny lakes. Carry plentyof bug spray unless you are hiking when there’s stillsnow on the ground because there are loads ofmosquitoes out there. Pack water and lunch or alight snack to enjoy during the 2nd half of yourwalk. Wading is possible in the smaller lakes asthey are so shallow and not much good forswimming (save that for your return to Big Lake onthe loop back).

This is a dense pine forest leading into some rather‘refreshing’ elevation gains along the way. The leftfork just after the trailhead takes you to thelakeshore, the right leads to Patjens (hidden)Lakes.

Patjens four smaller Lakes will be hidden in thepines as you venture along the trail and you’ll wantto keep on your toes in order to not miss them.Watch for openings in the forest and prepare tomash through the bushes to glimpse these hiddentreasures.

This trail is moderately challenging and at certainpoints you’ll wonder where those lakes went to, but

Patjens Lakes Loop Trail

Get out!

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Patjens Lakes Loop Trail

Get out!

after you get over that first elevation gain and beginto loop back around the trail you will catch someglimpses of water. Head in that direction.

Again, if you visit this trail after the snow has meltedand after the bugs have bloomed, you’ll be verygrateful you did not forget your bug spray. And, inwhich case, now is a good time for a quick picnic orjust a pause to take in the views and snap a fewphotos.

The trail back offers some great view of Big Lakeand nearer to the trailhead some spectacular shotsof Mt. Washington, back over your shoulder.

What you’ll see: a few trail hikers, a few fellow traildogs, lots of bugs, great views of Patjens Lakes, Mt.Washington and Big Lake, tons of forest pinesincluding lodgepole pine, western hemlock, andalpine fir. At Big Lake you’ll see loads of boaters,water skiing, campers and fishermen, depending onthe season, of course.

Overall, it’s a pleasant hike, somewhat challengingand the dogs will enjoy the experience. You willneed to be watchful of deer and keep your pooch incheck. And be sure to pack water for the caninesand keep your leash handy for potential fellow-hikerencounters.

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Oneness

Relationships

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This body scrub is so easy to make and smells amazing. It leaves your skin feelingrefreshed but not too minty as the soft vanilla bean aroma lightly perfumes your skin.Honey is a luxurious ingredient that helps moisturize, nourish, and protect the skinwith its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and humectant properties. In fact, I love to usehoney alone as a face mask several times a month. If you’re collecting recipes for thisyear’s herbal handmade holiday gifts, this one will be perfect for the vanilla lovers outthere!

Ingredients

1 cup fine sea salt or fine organic sugar1/2 cup organic sunflower or sweet almond oil1/4 cup raw organic honey1 organic vanilla bean, split and scraped10 drops organic peppermint essential oil1 tsp organic vanilla extract (optional)

Self Care

Body Scrub

Since 1987 Mountain RoseHerbs has placed a priorityon our general health andwell-being, and in this timewe have completelyremoved all conventionallygrown materials from ourproduct line entirely. Moreinformation is available attheir website.

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DhyZen Creative Services� Original Customized Websites (including WordPress Hosted)

� Writing Services: Blog Posts, Website Content, News Articles

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No Monkey

Business!

Introspection is part of my daily routine, and as such theolder I get the more I find myself thinking about BabaYaga -- and the more I discover about her, the more Ithink she is whispering in my ear and has been doing sofor quite some time.

Who is Baba Yaga

A friend of mine once traveled to Russia, but beforeembarking on his trip he asked if he could bring me backanything from that part of the world. I immediatelythought about Baba Yaga and asked him to see if hecould find a small effigy of her to bring back. I laterfound out that when he asked local merchants where hecould find such a thing, they responded with a worriedlook and explained that Baba Yaga is much too ugly forany sane person to want to have a representation of her intheir home. Clearly Baba Yaga is a most misunderstoodcharacter, even in the region she would call home.My research reveals that Baba Yaga is the Arch-Crone,the Goddess of Wisdom and Death, the Bone Mother.Wild and untamable, she is a larger than life nature spiritbringing wisdom and death of ego, and through death,rebirth.

To give you a little background, let’s just say that BabaYaga is most commonly portrayed as a witch-likecharacter (Phyllis Diller without the sense of humorperhaps) with fantastic and terrifying powers. She isdepicted in folklore as a wilily old crone, but she alsoplays the role of helper and wise woman. As thedesignated Earth Mother, and like all forces of nature,she is often wild and untamed. In her guise as wise hag,she sometimes gives advice and magical gifts to heroesand those pure of heart. Heroes or heroines seek her outin search of wisdom, knowledge and truth. She is all-knowing, all seeing and all-revealing to those who have

the courage to ask. She is said to be a guardian spirit ofthe fountain of the Waters of Life and of Death.

The 21st Century Baba Yaga

From my perspective Baba Yaga is a rather flamboyantrepresentation of everything it means to become anenlightened mature female woman living on planet earth.My deeper sense of the character tells me that the reasonshe is so often depicted as repulsive has to do with thefear that kind of profound life-given knowledge cast intothe minds of early Christian leaders – all male, of course

I am Baba YagaPersonal Perspective: Aging in a time of youthful persuasions.

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background noise filled with sad feelings consumed withdeath and dying. And more recently, a concern over mygrandsons’ sinus infection had me waking up in themiddle of the night, completely and unexplainablycongested and unable to breath. In pondering thisphenomenon I realized that there have been many timesI’ve absorbed other people’s aches and pains as anautomatic extension of sharing healing energy, but I’venever really thought about how such a thing came aboutuntil recently.

Personifying the dark aspects of healing

Since I meditate on a daily basis, I began to notice thisold woman as she popped into my awareness during myquiet times. And as part of the overall experience ofputting my full attention on her I received informationthat the blind, crippled up old woman was a healer in herown lifetime – which was a very long time ago. Shechose her particular expression of life as penance forprevious lifetimes when she was overly cruel and hateful.As a way to karmically pay her ‘debt’ she chose tobecome a healer, and the way she healed people involvedphysically taking on every disease, affliction, pain andphysical suffering that she lifted from her clients.

The vision I have of her reminded me vividly of BabaYaga, only in a very dark sense. This person may havebeen a healer in life, but she was quietly filled with atwisted sense of ‘dutiful pain’ – something she seemed tosavor in a warped and almost perverted sense. Once Irealized this spirit had somehow become attached to me,either via a shared past life, or through some errant andunconscious vibration I was unknowingly transmitting –I became determined to cast her out of my field.

Casting out attachments is a fairly easy process – and oneI am sure any reader who is familiar with meditation andthe cutting of nonphysical cords knows about. So, mymorning meditation revolved around peeling this spirit’sattachments off and away from my energy field – andalong with the individual attachment came an even largervortex of energy filled with dark matter. It’s the darkmatter that continues to fuel this spirit’s insatiable lustfor sickness. Awareness is half the battle when dealingwith your own spiritual ‘stuff’ and so it was a prettystraightforward process to cast out these negativeenergies and watch them spin harmlessly out of myenergy field. After the dust cleared (so to speak) whatwas left was a healthy archetypal representation of thepowerful old woman character, and as a result, BabaYaga has come to life once again in my awareness.

I will no doubt continue to ponder the positive aspects oftapping into the archetype of a wildly wise old crone, andI willing and joyfully embrace the possibility that I toowill be able to express myself with abandon andpurposefulness – just like Baba Yaga in the forest of mydreams.

– and all terrified of what true female power might do tothem.So, similar to what was done to many archetypalcharacters at the time (such as turning Bacchus from thegod of wine and generosity into the cloven hoofed devil),Baba Yaga was cast into a likeness that would naturallyrepel good Christian followers (or those of a ‘pureheart’), hoping that her story soon would be lost. I mustalso say that there is a real sense of freedom coming fromthe mind set represented by Baba Yaga such that as awise woman you can just let loose and be wholly whoyou are – particularly appealing today in a society thatfavors glitzy ‘reality’ shows, youthfulness and ‘bodysculpting’ over a wise mind, craggy wrinkles and arthriticfingers.

How she speaks to me

Baba Yaga and I share a few key characteristics, evenmore profoundly now that I begin to inhabit an agingbody that morphs my sense of personhood on a dailybasis. I also personify a mystical frame of reference thatincludes an appreciation for the wildness of nature, anawareness of Gaia and a fondness for 2nd dimensionaldivas and elementals – ideas that don’t always quite fitinto the modern 21st century world of geeks, agingyuppies and Generation X&Y upstarts. My years spentcaring for the dying while volunteering for hospice gaveme the opportunity to peek into the deep well ofknowledge and understanding only a Goddess of Wisdomand Death can share. A personal and lifelong quest forspiritual equilibrium has taken me ever closer tosquelching the ego and brought me nearer to rebirthingmy true self - also Baba Yaga’s territory. And I would betthat my interest in herbals and vibrational medicinewould resonate with all of the earthy ideals embodied bythe classic Baba Yaga.

A visit from a Baba Yaga wannabe

Baba Yaga came to mind one morning recently as I beganto realize that the energy of a long dead, blind old cronehas been pressing herself into my nonphysical field ofawareness –and she’s been invading my space for severalyears now, though just under the surface andunbeknownst to me.

As an active though unofficial energy healer it finallydawned on me that for some weird reason rather thanflowing healing energy to people in need I have beenactually and physically taking on the ills and ailments ofthe people around me, though perhaps to a lesser degreeof severity. For example a friend of the family told me acouple years ago all about her painful breast ailment,which I dutifully and quite unconsciously absorbed intomy own experience. Another friend of mine mentionedsomething about ‘thinking too much about death’, andwha-lah – months later my life is consumed by

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Bowman Museum is located at the corner of Main and 3rd Street in Prineville. Call 541-447-3715 for more information.

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