Holistic Networker

Allergy Clean Environments
1387 W. Campbell Rd.
Richardson, TX 75080
972/503-9688; 800/882-4110
Mon-Sat 10-6
www.allergyclean.com
If you’ve been diagnosed with allergies (or asthma) your doctor may have given you a catalog from this company. They’ve been providing customers with allergy-proofing products since 1990 and have worked with thousands of allergy and asthma sufferers. From home to work environ-ments, they test and use every product they sell. So take a deep breath and relax..they’ve tested each and every product and they work. They sell a terrific selection of products specifically designed to eliminate or reduce those things that you might suffer from. You’ll find their information helpful. There’s also a good section on control-ling common household irritants. They have some custom-size products available for special order, too. Samples: Anti-allergy cotton gloves, Asthma educational books, Box spring and mattress protectors, Compressor-driven nebulizers, Disposable pillow and comforter encasings, Dust and pollen masks, Filters and filter system, HEPA air cleaners, Humidity gauges, Mattress encasings, ULPA and HEPA vacuums and bags and more. They are the sister company to the Allergy, Air and More chain of retail stores with locations in Dallas/Fort Worth and Austin. Unlike other mail order or Internet companies, they interface with asthma and allergy sufferers daily. So whether you’re ordering by phone, online or in person, they have the background and experience to deliver relief. They know how to clean up your act…and your home or office.

Halo Leaf of Life
8528 Davis Blvd., Suite 134-175
North Richland Hills, TX 76180
24/7
817/788-2468
www.haloleafoflife.com
What do you get when you meld a PhD in chemistry, who might be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, who also sings karaoke every Friday night? A scientist who has many talents, that’s for sure. His name is Dr. William Clark (Dr. Bill to his friends). He has developed a high quality anti-oxidant drink as well as a nutritional drink, but the main ingredient is “antioxidant”! He holds a patent on the formulation. Though there are other products made from the olive leaf, theirs is the ONLY one made fresh (and that’s a big deal in olive leaf circles). Based on scientific research by this chemist, it’s manufactured at the highest industry standards. Want to live the good life for a lot longer than any of your neighbors? What about competitors? There is none. Their big claim to fame is that there’s over 140,000 ORACS per liter. Don’t worry if you don’t know what an ORAC is. Go to their website for further scientific education.
Dr. Bill co-owns the largest olive tree grove in the world. Check to see if their introductory offer is still in effect. Current introductory offer is “Buy two get one FREE.” Then Consider Halo…the leaf of life from Dr. Bill (Clark). One ounce serving is equiva-lent to the anti-oxidant potency of 10+ servings of fruits and vegetables, but it doesn’t stop there. Its other active ingredients include aloe, pomegranate, Caucasian blueberry leaf, arctic root, kombu sea vegetation and green tea. Talk about a wonder sip. Buy two, get one FREE. Now that’s my kind of drink. And looking and feeling great is just what Dr. Bill intended for all underground shoppers who want to live the good life…for less. It’s afford-able and oh, so delicious.

Rainforest Oxygen Spa
717 Lingco, Suite 203
Richardson, TX 75081
972/761-0303
By Appt.Only
www.islanddayspa.com
Talk about an Oooooooooooh and Ahhhhhhhhhh experience. Sherrie Kreger, staff and crew, (and husband, too) have created one of the most unique healing Nirvanas that takes you away to an island in the South Pacific — only it’s right off Central Expressway. Get away from it all and take in the full spectrum of day spa procedures that are offered at this talented oasis. Since the early ‘90s, Steve Kreger (Sherrie’s husband) founded the Island Day Spa and has been a massage therapist of world renown since 1992. His clientele reads like a “Who’s Who” in the Metroplex. From celebrities to high profile executives, he has been a sought after therapist from hospitals to physical rehabilitation centers. Check out your insurance policy and see if massage is covered. If so, ask your doctor to write you a prescription for what ails you. Three other therapists at the spa provide an entire menu of massages, from chair massage to “hot rocks,” there’s none better. But it’s the exclusive Rainforest Oxygen Spa that sets them apart from the crowd. In fact, Sherrie is the one that trains others how to use the Steam Cabinet in their spas. This Russian steam cabinet treatment takes 30 minutes and boy, does it give a person a boost — from relaxing those muscles, to speeding your metabolism. (Did I say that? You mean sitting in a steam cabinet and sweating will burn calories? I’ll be right back. I’ve got to get an appointment now!) Are you suffering from being in the “pore” house? This will be the best $40 you will ever spend. It will set you free. Free from many of the aches and pains we suffer on a daily basis. And while you’re sweating it out, Sherrie will be talking to you about taking baby steps into making some lifestyle changes—and teaching you how to do it. There are fully-equipped private therapy rooms, a spa treatment room with an aromatherapy steam cabinet, scrub table and shower. Try it today and forget taking two aspirins and going to bed. It may be better than what the doctor ordered.

Years to Your Health
503 E. 2nd Street
Irving, TX 10-5
972/579-7042; 800/860-7042
www.yearstoyourhealth.com
Cheers to Years to Your Health. They’re alive and well, after more than 20 years, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. You will get an education because owner Lonnie Redd and her colleagues are very knowledgeable about vitamins, herb, and other natural healing alterna-tives. Open your eyes to more than 500 botanicals at 30 to 40 percent less than traditional health food stores. Serve up one of the largest selections in the country of bulk herbs, pot-pour-ris, spices, teas and candles. Herbs are their spice of life and they carry powdered versions to capsules. They also have homeopathic aids, tinctures, essential oils and flower remedies, cosmetics and environmentally-safe products. A selection of quartz crystals and gemstones, tissue-cleaners, massage oils, astrological charts, flower essences, vibrational medicine, mysticism and herbs for health and spiritual use. You never know what may work. Tea blends are intriguing especially for those that induce sleep like their “Night-Time Tea” for $2.60/ounce. Check it all out! And if you want to get help with your addiction to chocolate or sweets, take it from one who’s been there and done that…gymnna works and if you are having trouble sleeping, withania is another alternative. My what potions are available to insure you have many more years of good health. Try them. They just may help.

Since 1972, Sue Goldstein has written over 75 books on where to get the best buys and how to live the good life for less. She is a frequent contributor to local television and a regular on The Today Show. She also is the host of her own radio show on 1160 AM from 10am-Noon each Saturday as well as a frequent guest speaker and consultant to the off-price industry nationally. She is an expert on the subject of self-publishing and how to get free promotion of which she is well-known. Remember the 99 cent wedding? Come hear Sue’s talk at the October Wellness Expo on “Wellness for Less”. Visit her website at: www.undergroundshopper.com

Tags: Spa

What is the KVAR device and what problem does it solve?

Well KVAR is defined as reactive (non-working) power. The KVAR unit itself is an energy controller device and it solves many problems, but the number one thing it does is it slows down the electric meter legally. It reduces the wasted energy in our homes and stores that energy in order to be used in your home more efficiently later on. It decreases the kilowatt usage in your home and a customer starts saving the instant it is installed in their home. In essence your meter (what I like to call the cash register for the power company) starts showing your actual kilowatt usage and you start paying less on your electric bill.

Studies conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency determined that the Electro Magnetic Field (EMF) emissions we are exposed to daily in and around our home and work places that are emanating from regular household and office appliances have a very dangerous affect upon the human body. In one of those studies they found a connection between exposure to electromagnetic fields and human cancer. The KVAR unit will drastically reduce the amount of EMF of up to 40% after installation!

I’m passionate about helping our environment and it feels so good knowing that this product does just that! Electricity is one of the biggest producers of carbon emissions, so every time you make a cup of coffee or turn on the television you are adding to global warming. With the KVAR unit installed you will prolong the life of the motors in your home, reduce your electrical bill, and provide a safer environment in the reduction of the EMF (Electro-Magnetic Field) emitted by the motors by up to 40% and reduce your carbon footprint factor that contributes to global warming. As an added benefit, your home or business is also amperage surge protected.

How does it work?

It is a box of capacitors. A capacitor is a device that stores electrical energy and releases the power to an engine or system as needed. Once the KVAR is installed, an electrical motor draws energy from the KVAR instead of directly from an electrical circuit fed by a utility company.

Capacitors have been around for over 150 years. That’s nothing new. Utilizing the use of the capacitors within this invention allows the KVAR unit to store the energy directly coming in at the power source until it is needed. That energy, which is constantly being drawn from by the amount of electricity being used to run the home or business is regulated by the capacitors within the KVAR unit giving you 100% optimization of what you need versus the amount of energy you currently waste when pulling your electricity directly from the power source. That excess waste of electricity that you currently receive from the power company is expelled off from the motors in your home or business in the form of heat and makes the motors work harder and shortens their life span. The KVAR unit actually extends the life of your appliances.

How has this technology been proven?

This technology has been tested by NASA, Canadian Standards Association, Honeywell, Underwriters Laboratory, Lakeland Electric, US Department Of Energy, and Washington State University. Each one of these entities has performed extensive testing on our units and have certified that it does what we say it does.

Our certifications include:
Cleaner and Greener Certified, NASA tested and approved, U.S. Green Building Council, UL Listed, RoHS Compliant, and CSA certified.

Cleaner and Greener also certified us because none of the products used to make the KVAR harm the environment in any way. Even down to the smallest screw, everything that is used to make this device is very environmentally friendly.

Where is it used?

These units are used in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. They are installed right next to the breaker box in your home or business between the panel and the electrical meter. One KVAR unit is usually all you need for your whole house unless your home has two panel boxes and a lot of square footage. In businesses, the KVAR units are custom fit to each motor in order to optimize the electricity to its fullest capacity and usability.

What kind of results have people had?

People are seeing great savings on their electric bill. We have seen people save even 50% on their electric bill, though the average savings tend to be about 17-20%. The trend seems to be that the older the home, the bigger the savings. We have had large companies such as Budweiser and NASA install these in their facilities and see large savings, along with school districts and thousands of residents who are all saving on their electricity.

What led you to develop the KVAR device?

My experience and training in the Electrical Engineering field led me to develop this. I worked for the power company for some time and I saw that they were using this technology all of the time to benefit them and send energy back to their facilities, but they weren’t doing this for the consumer. I wanted to do something that would help and benefit the consumer and empower them and take away the power and the control from the power company. I knew it would be something that would be for the good of our environment and for the good of mankind.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

Many people wonder how they can go green, but sometimes those options tend to be kind of pricey and people are finding that this product has such a great return on investment (usually 6-12 months) that it is one of the least expensive ways to do it and start benefitting from it immediately. In fact, after getting the U.S. Green Building Council stamp of approval, we have had many builders who are now putting these in their homes that they build. I love that it is a Made in the USA product and we are so confident about the benefits that we give them a 6 month money back guarantee—if they see no savings on their electric bill in that time, they can return it for a full refund. It is so exciting to hear one customer after another comment on how thrilled they are to be saving on their electricity. It really comes down to the consumer deciding if they want to keep the money they are being billed every month for electricity they don’t even use, or do they want to keep giving their hard earned money to the power company?

Gregory Taylor has a degree in Electrical Engineering. He began working on the KVAR® EC in the late 80’s. He completed it in 1995 and received a patent on his invention at that time. For more information contact Go Green Energy Savers at 972-838-7383. Give discount code: SF444 for special pricing. Or visit EnergySaver.tv for more detailed information on the KVAR EC.

 

Tags: EMF, energy saver, green product, kill-a-watt, KVAR

Why do we cheat on ourselves?
As I was writing this weekend, my ten-year old son approached my desk and said he had “a confession”. That always peaks a mother’s interest. He said, “I was really looking forward to my friend’s slumber party so I could celebrate by having cake and soda. Then I realized that it might be a dumb thing to do, celebrating by putting garbage in my body.” Out of the mouth of babes comes the truth!

Fanaticism in any pursuit, including our diet, would be against Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) principals and guidelines, but we do reach a new level of gratitude, awareness, and health when we relish all our nutrient-rich meals and don’t look forward to cheating on ourselves as a reward for all the good we’ve done prior.

In this article, Part III in our series Eating with the Season, we’ll look at what TCM nutrition recommends as the best foods to eat in summer for those wanting to reward themselves with the most appropriate, nurturing foods possible. But first, let’s take a look at this time we call summer.

Summer time = Fire Time

The sun emits short-wave radiation that enters the Earth’s atmosphere in the form of UV (ultra- violet), visible light, and infrared radiation. In the Northern Hemisphere, summer occurs in June, July, and August and that is the time when we experience the longest and warmest days of the year—more hours of and more intense radiation than any other time of year. Thus, the word most associated with summer in TCM is “heat”. In 2008, our longest day will be June 20 (but that won’t be the hottest day—since temperature lags heat input). In Texas, the hottest day on record was 120 degrees on August 12, 1936, and August is the month we usually experience the most extreme heat.

We see the obvious affects of heat in our external world: grass seems to grow a-foot-a-minute and then burns to a crispy brown; trees at the extreme of their energy expansion are heavy, laden with fruit; and animals of all kinds reduce their energy output and flock to shade and watering holes.

With our air conditioners and iced tea, humans believe we’re less subject to the effects of sum-mer, but TCM acknowledges our place in nature and how people are also strongly affected by the seasons, and in this case, the effects of summer heat.

Summer Afternoon

Our “Fire Element” and its organs, the heart and small intestine, are associated with and strongly affected in summer. The emotion associated with the heart is joy, and with the expansion of energy and increased circulation and heat of summer, we can experience joy in the desire to spend more time outdoors, more time playing with friends and family, and by completing projects started in spring. To test the point, just say the word “summer” to a friend and ask them what comes to mind!

The Effects of Summer Heat
Summer heat occurs from the combination of heat and humidity of summer and manifests in an uprising and spreading out of the body’s internal heat, causing thirst, red face, headache, heat stroke, allergies, digestive upset, sluggishness, heart palpitations, and many other ailments. People with excess heat in the body are often irritable, impatient, and restless.

What to Eat to Beat the Heat
Perhaps the first thought when eating to counter summer heat would be: eat all the cold you can. While cold foods are on the list, it’s not that simple.

Excess of any kind in TCM leads to disharmony and ailments. In general, lighter foods that are cooling and easy to digest are at the top of the menu in summer. This list includes eating fruits, greens, grains, legumes, and drinking room-temperature or warm herbal teas (not hot and not iced). Some of the recommended herbal teas are mint, chrysanthemum, and hibiscus; and green tea is a cooling, refreshing summer drink, as well.

Meats, particularly beef and lamb, are very warming and should be significantly reduced or avoided in summer. Alcohol, frozen foods, hot spices, and fried greasy foods are not going to do you any favors either. Texans sure do love to sit in the summer sun with chips & salsa and a frozen margarita, but take heed: that’s a recipe for southern dis-comfort. Why not frozen drinks? Though they are cold, the body must increase metabolic action to digest them and the net result is more internal heat. An excessive amount of cooling foods can harm digestion and lead to reduced immunity, fatigue, and loose stool. While they are on the list, don’t over-do salads, raw foods, or juices and smoothies.

Two foods at the top of the list for beating summer heat are watermelon and mung beans. Since everyone is familiar with watermelon, we’ll just add one point here. TCM does not recommend excessive juice consumption, but big fans of juicing recommend that you include the rind to take advantage of the great nutrients in watermelon.

In the States, many people are unfamiliar with mung beans, and since they are one of the most valuable gems in our TCM culinary treasure, below you will find an introduction and a few delicious ideas for preparing them. Mung beans are small, round, and have a green skin and yellow inside. They are eaten whole, split, hulled, with skin on, and sprouted. They are used in TCM to quench thirst, detoxify, and clear heat. They are native to India and if not in your local grocery, they can be found in Chinese, Middle Eastern, and Indian grocery stores as Moong Dal.

How to Prepare Mung Beans
There are dozens of easy, quick combinations to make a delicious meal of whole mung beans. They do not require soaking and can be boiled or cooked in a pressure cooker. If you boil them, use 3 cups of water for every 1/2 cup of beans and cook for 30-40 minutes. Stir occasionally while cooking and add water if necessary. If foam forms while cooking, skim off and discard. Your beans are done. That’s faster than getting in the car and fetching fast-food!

You can now do one of hundreds of things such as:

• Add cooked white or brown rice (1:1 or 2 parts rice to 1 part beans)
• Add any of these chopped herbs: parsley, cilantro, rosemary, sage, thyme, tarragon
• Add chopped and steamed greens (spinach is especially tasty)
• Add spices such as turmeric, cumin, and coriander. These can be lightly sautéed in a small amount olive oil or ghee (clarified butter) to release the flavor and then poured over the bean mixture.

What to Eat in Autumn
Come autumn, our energy will begin receding back into the body and our focus will turn from the heart to the organ of fall—the lungs. Foods that have an “inward” energy and that support the lungs are recommended. To find out what those are, look for the fall issue of The Holistic Networker and Part IV of our series, Eating with the Season. If you missed Part II in the series that offered a TCM nutrition guide for spring, visit: holisticnetworker.com/wp/234/

These are general guidelines for people in a state of balance and good health. Though season is considered, when there is any disharmony, a person’s individual constitution and current state take precedence over time of year when making food recommendations.

Allison Ellis is a Certified TCM Nutritionist and can be reached at 626.497.9195

Tags: nutrition

Like grocery stores stocking organic food and fitness fans flocking to yoga, medicine is going back to the future—with biofeedback.

Biofeedback uses modern technology combined with meditation and relaxation to provide real-time information about automatic processes in our bodies—such as heart rate or brain waves—that we normally are not aware of. It converts this information into sound or a picture that a patient can use to regulate her body. Eventually the patient learns to use her mind, thoughts, and emotions to alter her biological process. This puts the patient in control of her body. It may also help to reduce or eliminate the need for medication, or treat conditions that don’t respond well to medication. Because it is non-invasive, biofeedback is very safe, with practically no adverse reactions on record.

A typical biofeedback session begins with a detailed patient history and a discussion of treatment goals. The setting is usually a quiet room with soothing light and comfortable seating. A therapist instructs the patient throughout the session to focus on making the desired change. A computer provides feedback in the form of a videogame or musical pitches. Sessions last from 30 to 60 minutes and the number of treatments varies from five to 30 sessions, depending on the complexity of the condition being treated. In between sessions the patient is encouraged to practice the techniques at home to maximize the therapeutic benefit.

There is no license needed to practice biofeedback in the United States. Currently the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America is the only certifying agency for healthcare professionals. It requires supervised clinical hours and a passing score on the certifying examination.

The first clinical use of biofeedback was in the 1960s, for urinary incontinence. Now biofeedback is being used to treat high blood pressure, headaches, chronic pain, stress, heart disease, Raynaud’s disease, constipation, stroke, asthma, and other chronic issues.

There are six basic forms of biofeedback. All of them can lead to a path of self discovery by uncovering the power that our thoughts and emotions have over our health.

Electromyography (EMG) uses electrodes to measure and provide feedback of muscle tension. It has been used to treat back pain, tension headaches, jaw pain, joint pain, and blood pressure.

Electroencephalography (EEG) measures brain waves. Different frequencies of brain wave activity are associated with mental states such as light or deep sleep, concentration, wakefulness, and relaxation. It is used to treat anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, insomnia, epilepsy and addiction.

Heart-rate-variability biofeedback measures small beat-to-beat changes of the heart rhythm. The variability can be altered by deep breathing or emotional states, and it is theorized to be an indirect measurement of the “autonomic” nervous system, which controls processes in our visceral organs and blood vessels that are not under our voluntary control. This kind of biofeedback is used to treat cardiovascular disease, stress, pain, headaches, and blood pressure.

Thermal biofeedback uses a sensor to measure skin temperature. The temperature fluctuates with emotional states such as stress or relaxation. This is another indirect measure of the autonomic nervous system, and it is used to treat headaches, blood pressure, stress, anxiety, pain, and Raynaud’s disease.

Glavanic skin response is an indirect measure of the autonomic nervous system that monitors sweat gland activity. It is used for anxiety, emotional disorders, blood pressure, and pain.

Slow controlled breathing biofeedback is used to treat blood pressure and for relaxation. It regulates heart rate variability and the autonomic nervous system.

Prior to the modern era of medicine, our mind and thoughts were inseparable from our body. This interconnectedness was observed by many cultures and played a central role in the diagnosis and treatment of ailments. In western medicine, as science and technology rapidly advanced, our mind was perceived as separate from the rest of our body in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

Science requires quantifiable observations and reproducible experiments. Thoughts and feelings are difficult, if not impossible, to measure and thus they were discarded as irrelevant. In contrast, medical and surgical diagnosis and treatment outcomes are easy to record and measure.

Biofeedback is difficult to study because of the variability of how it is administered. Still, the medical literature over the past several decades has been accumulating with some favorable results. Although most of the studies are small, there are enough of them to be statistically evaluated in meta-analyses. This is a way to group several studies together to see if there is an overall trend or common outcome.

A meta-analysis in the Journal of Pain found strong evidence of the effectiveness of biofeedback as a treatment for migraine headaches. It examined 55 studies with a total of 2,229 patients. The authors concluded that biofeedback can be used to prevent migraines. Specifically, they found that the frequency and duration of headaches were reduced more than with medication- intake and that it reduced anxiety and depression. This suggests a prophylactic potential of biofeedback. These effects were not only immediate but were maintained and somewhat enhanced over time.

The literature of biofeedback’s effectiveness in treating chronic back pain is mixed, although a recent study by Flor found that biofeedback reduced pain, interference with activities of daily life, distress, and health care use. Biofeedback is also being studied as part of the treatment of fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a syndrome of widespread pain that usually affects women between 20-60 years of age. Several small studies have found a reduction in the number of tender points, pain intensity, morning stiffness, and depression.

Biofeedback has been studied more extensively for the treatment of high blood pressure than for any other cardiac condition. Yucha’s 2001 review of 23 randomized control trials found that biofeedback lowered systolic blood pressure by 6.7 mm Hg and diastolic by 4.8 mm Hg. Nakao’s 2003 review of 22 randomized controlled trials also found similar reductions in blood pressure, and Kranitiz’s review in 2004 found that in general larger and more consistent blood pressure lowering effects have been observed in biofeedback therapies that involve slow controlled breathing guidance.

The relaxation techniques used while performing biofeedback are similar to those commonly used in Eastern disciplines. They involve slow, controlled breathing with a focus on a mantra or on various parts of one’s body. Extensive research by Lehrer and Vaschillo found that slow breathing between three and nine times a minute can increase heart-rate variability, which is a reflection of a balance of the autonomic nervous system. This increase in heart-rate variability has been shown to decrease anxiety and ease depression as well as lower blood pressure.

Although these relaxation techniques can be done without biofeedback, the use of a biofeedback machine helps to individualize the techniques. The machine helps the patient achieve the correct breathing rate and guides them to the most efficient way to mentally relax.

Biofeedback is a form of mind-body medicine that has its roots in meditation and relaxation techniques, but uses modern scientific instrumentation to help guide a person to a desired state of balanced mind and body. Studies overwhelmingly conclude that it is safe. It empowers patients to take a more active role in treating disease and maintaining health and can lead to a path of self-discovery by uncovering the power that our thoughts and emotions have over our body.

Web Resources
www.mayoclinic.com/health/biofeedback/SA00083
www.bcia.org
www.aapb.org

Tags: biofeedback, meditation, mind

Welcome summer with the promise of heat, fun and economic rebuilding. July starts with a New Moon on the 2nd, just in time for America’s annual birthday party. The economy struggles with inflation and there is fear of foreign dollars. However, there is an excitement for what is to come through the Presidential Election. That collective enthusiasm is part of the spark of resilience that this nation and her economy are known for. Change is in the air and in the heavens.

Jupiter, the optimistic guru, slows to a halt; resiliency is the word this summer. Look to the sky and if your eyes are very sharp, you can see the planet Jupiter in the constellation Sagittarius. He’s so close to the Earth; he appears to move backwards. From July 1st until October 1st he moves just 6 degrees! Jupiter lingers in a lunar mansion that deals with goading or prodding the self or soul to a perspective greater than the self. Here, Jupiter is the proverbial push off the collective couch. Jupiter is the high minded-coach who motivates us to pull for the team to something greater. Sure, you can choose to ignore lofty ideals in favor of cynicism, but the latter is so full of isolation and inertia that it really does pay to reach for more. Jupiter is the planet of society and collective civility. We can give civility to each other, but we may need a gentle reminder from our mentors, Founding Fathers and Presidential candidates. Will you reach beyond your desires? Are you ready to play a part in the future?

Look to the constellation Leo. There you’ll find Saturn, the planet of structures and tenacity. Jupiter governs gold, but Saturn governs lead. Saturn is everywhere. He is the tick, tick, tick of time on the mortal clock of life. Resiliency is born from Saturn’s obstacles and shared through Jupiter’s broad soulful excitement for the future. One by one, Mars, Venus, Mercury the Sun and Moon will cross Saturn, then receive the gift of opportunity from Jupiter. Simply put, we are tested by mortal fears of lack or mortality. We come to appreciate each other and want to share that. The knowledge that we are all in this home, job, town, nation or world offers an inspired resiliency. The Conventions fall just as these aspects, or potential, moves through.

The Summer begins with the sense we are somehow alone. That is the frustration of Mars on Saturn. It feels in some way like having one foot on the brake and another on the gas. However, as the Summer comes to an end, We the People are working together. The momentum is palpable. Those of you who are really tuned in will feel it first. In fact, you’ll only feel the Mars Saturn as a call to determined spiritual awareness and inner action. The first planet to cross Saturn is Mars, the Planet of action, service, competition and even war. This is how we start the Summer that begins with separation, but ends with unity. The Presidential Election really is different this time. The Conventions will be lively and the Democrats will be compelled to be more Democratic. Even those disinterested by politics will tune in. Both Parties are challenged to meet the needs of their constituents and both candidates are wild cards. Jupiter is politics and Saturn is structure and order. The USA is making a shift, but you might not notice if you don’t think it’s possible.

July: Jupiter faces Venus as the month begins. They are both big spenders and there is plenty of money flying around during the holiday weekend. By the 8th economic bad news could send a little shudder through you, but it will not last. July starts off filled with enthusiasm, but the Market is not as fearless as we thought. Soon, Mars, the planet of action, will cross Saturn, the planet of responsibility. We the People are challenged to take responsibility as July comes to an end. This is the perfect month to develop a business idea. You see what we “need.” The 2nd and 3rd weeks are great to tackle a big task. Put your head down and chip away at it until it becomes a work of art. By the 25th, things are looking up. The last week of July is most interesting for relationships. Talk about destiny! Venus, the planet of love, crosses through the eclipse path as July comes to an end. There is no better time to use positive faith, love and heartfelt love to heal. That does mean you do the loving as well as expect it. It’s better to turn the cosmic plan for love over to a higher source. This month it truly does feel like destiny. Great Smiles

August: A Total Solar Eclipse comes on the 1st. It covers the Northern Hemisphere and should be most visible in the far Northern regions of Canada, The Arctic and partially visible across Europe and the Eastern Block. The big news will be about Arctic drilling and Global Warming. Expect surprising news and actions. This Eclipse falls on the planet Mercury and “news” is part of communications. However, Mercury also deals with business. The big talk will be the international market place with an emphasis on the areas illuminated by the eclipse. This is a cooperative lunar mansion that deals with enlightened action and prosperity. There is plenty of talk about global business, however, the near future is all about local business. The Lunar Eclipse on the 16th finds the planets Mercury, Saturn and Venus all together. Jupiter, the big picture planet, offers the big picture to all who will look. This should translate into peace talks from the boardroom, to the bedroom, to political power brokers. We truly are greater when we work together for a shared ideal. Politicians aren’t the only ones who know we have to cooperate to get things done. By the end of August, the Presidential Race is teaming with energy again. The Lunar Eclipse on McCain’s chart suggests that he is unusually lively this month. Just as the visible planets cross Saturn, the Conventions are held. The Democrats have theirs the 25th-28th. Expect surprises everywhere. The only thing certain is it will make history. The convention falls in the dark, slow phase of the Moon. This should calm the crowds and help them reach for inspired, spiritual union.

September: We find ourselves in the Grasp of Destiny. All the visible planets are on one side of the ecliptic. The Moon stays with them through the 13th, then has two weeks on the other side. Expect the first half of the month to be filled with excitement and the passion of history unfolding before us. The next 2 weeks is all about trying to figure out the details of how to do it and the ramifications of our collective action. Whew! That is bigger than the office drama. The potential for positive change from the economy to the world stage is here. Excitement fills the air as the summer comes to an end. The faster moving planets have pulled away. This month we anchor what we’ ve learned. Saturn and Jupiter are both moving so slowly that they work as one. If Jupiter is the big picture, Saturn is the beauty of little details. If Jupiter is the ideals of a Party or group, Saturn is the foundation that the big ideas are built upon. Saturn shows us where we need to cut in order to finance Jupiter’s New Deal. Jupiter helps us reach beyond immediate gratification for a plan for the future. This isn ’t a given, but it is a powerful potential when we reach for something big like the ideas this nation was built upon. September is all about the future. Jupiter is expansion, Saturn contraction. We are giving birth. It’s the start of a school year and the big push for the Presidential race. The Republicans have their convention from the 1st to the 4th during a dynamic New Moon energy. They might offer an economic plan that the people can grab onto. I wonder if they hired an astrologer for some added astro oomph?

The Race: It appears that the candidates get some down time in July. McCain has some frustrating transits that suggest to me that he’s not overjoyed about his running mate. I still think it will be Romney. McCain is a bit of a wildcard. He was born with Uranus, the revolutionary, in stressful aspect to Mars, the planet of action and service. This will probably be his last run and he will make it memorable. August and September are full of action as the “old dog” courts “the People.” In the meantime, Obama and Hillary make history. As I write this, it sounds pretty crazy, but I’m betting that he offers and she accepts the VP slot. I don’t think it will happen soon, but perhaps in August, just before the Convention. With his charisma and her strength, they will continue to draw attention. I expect her to accept the VP slot after negotiating to be an unusually powerful VP. Obama gets to breathe in July, then he comes out onto the world stage. Obama has some tricky transits, however, the one thing that is certain about the Uranus transit to his natal Mars is that it is innately unpredictable. If folks are talking about his demise that’s not what will come. Uranus is revolutionary and playful in everyway. It’s difficult to relax when you have a Uranus transit because you desperately want to be free. However, when you represent a huge nation and a party you are never totally free from scandal, criticism and, of course, the pull of “the party.” What makes these candidates and this election so refreshing is their innate destiny to facilitate change. If you think things are going to be the same ol’ same ol’, just park your cynicism on the couch while you watch. Plenty of folks are ready to participate from the left and right. Both candidates have reached across party lines in the past. Are you ready for that stretch? Will you reach beyond party lines for the best candidate? I’ll bet that happens in many ways across the land this fall, and in September we watch history being made as the Race carries us with it.

Love and Money: July begins with a little reckless spending and romance. That quickly slows, but comes back in September. Then, Venus and Mars join Mercury in the heavens. There is plenty of talk and action in the areas of love and money. In fact, we will look back on the Summer of 2008 as the birth of something exciting. We are ready to reach out, too. This gets stronger as the month goes on, but if I were going to look for love and plan for more money, I would take action anytime, but definitely on the 10th of September.

Cynthia Novak is a professional astrologer. She can be contacted at metro 817-261-2984. Read Cynthia’s daily astrological message at www.HolisticNetworker.com/dailymessage/ or seen www.CynthiaNovak.com
Come hear Cynthia’s talk at the Wellness Expo on Sunday, October 19 at 11:30am entitled “Astrology and You”.

Tags: Astrology