"‘Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking." ~ Marcus Aurelius
Happiness springs from a wellspring of joy. Joy is not an easy treasure to acquire. As a matter of fact, I've learned that it must be earned.
In my conversations with what is now a global community, I meet many people who have clawed their way from the quicksand of Eckhart Tolle’s “dark night of the soul” and the Biblical “valley of the shadow of death.” They, might I say, "we," know what it is to be drowning in a state of despondency, dejection, despair, depression, gloominess, and misery.
I’m sure you can reach back into your own life experiences and make some very valid comparisons and contrasts. I need not belabor the point.
My intention is to drive home the exciting energy of joy by introducing you to people whose lives and perspectives resonate with mine so authentically that I must share them with you.
Let’s begin with Halona Black, a writer, meditation coach, and world traveler. She started a freelance writing business in 2018 and used it to fund her travels to 10 countries throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America.
Halona leads a weekly mindful writing group where participants have an opportunity to practice thoughtful self-expression. Outside of work, Halona is training for a half marathon, practicing her watercolor and pastel techniques, and making colorful salads.
I am a member of her Wednesday AM Mindful Journaling session and enjoy the many insightful conversations we have in that group setting. One of my favorite sessions is the one where Halona asked us to identify a limiting belief and where it came from. We were then charged with deciphering what part is true and what part is made up—possibly rooted in fear.
Next, we had to imagine what our lives would be like if we shifted to a more empowering belief.
It is very easy to fall into the trap of the behaviors borne from the beliefs that were planted during childhood by other wounded people. A deep and complete self-evaluation is required in order to rise from the ashes of past disappointments and traumas.
The repetitive thoughts and concerns that occupy your mind matter. Halona suggests that you create a list and determine which ones are priorities and which ones can be deferred, or even eliminated.
Very often, these exercises in retrospection will cause negative emotions to arise. Known as psychological reversals, this subconscious condition instigates self-sabotaging behaviors (avoidance, addictions, persistent illness, etc.).
Flower essences improve negative thoughts and emotions because they are believed to contain the vibrational energy of flowers. For instance, Star of Bethlehem is used for childhood trauma and shock.
In order to make room for healing, it is important to resolve the pain incrementally, at best.
Joe Dispenza, the author of Becoming Supernatural: How Common People are Doing the Uncommon puts it like this:
“If you focus on the known, you get the known. If you focus on the unknown, you create a possibility.”
Creating possibilities is a clear path to healing. Envision what you need in your life and work towards achieving that goal. For me, it was peace.
Plant medicines are gentle, kind allies. So are beautiful people.
Wendy Henry, LAc is a licensed acupuncturist who I am proud to embrace as a teacher, healer, and friend. I am always excited to be included in her clinic activities. She loves what she does, evidenced by her bubbly personality which spills over into her work and her gentle touch. We work together to improve the quality of health for senior citizens at the Flatbush Gardens Community Center; and, most recently we enjoyed serving the community at the annual Harlem Pride Wellness event. There was music, dancing, auricular acupuncture, reflexology, aromatherapy, and so much more. Attendees received giveaways from the HWB Healing Project Mobile Clinic, donated by Herbalists Without Borders International, Inc.
In this photo, Wendy is teaching Prince, my 7-year-old great grandson how to correctly apply ear seeds to our beloved Walter Bosque .at a Wellness in the Park event, organized by the one and only Juan Cortez, holistic services manager at OnPoint NYC. I am so delighted that Prince also got to meet Juan at this community gathering.
As I review my life as a certified acupuncture detoxification specialist, I am realizing more and more that Wendy's presence in my life has had an astounding affect because of the people she has introduced me to over this past year. Our mutual friend, Cristian Conscientizado Aponte hosts wellness clinics at the People’s Church and the New York Restoration Project: Herb Garden in East Harlem. In June, he brought reiki, massage, herb therapy, sound therapy, and auricular acupuncture to the community, creating a sanctuary that offered a respite from the busyness and harshness of inner city living. Pure magic!
A weekend wellness event hosted by OnPoint manager, Juan Cortez, was a blast-in spite of torrential rain. The sun emerged and so did smiling faces. I had the privilege of doing hand reflexology and gifting rose-scented string bracelets. The stories of healing and recovery were deeply touching and insightful. Touch therapy opens a portal of love that cannot be denied.
I also enjoyed serving a group of women at OnPoint by hosting an aromatherapy workshop where we discussed natural skin care and the overall benefits of essential oils.
While engaging with the community at a Wellness in the Park event hosted by Juan, I had the pleasure of meeting Matthew Sherman, a dynamic and dedicated business executive. Matt kicked off my relationship with Free Food Harlem, an organization that engages world class culinary masters and friends who share the love of preparing meals with the freshest ingredients from farms and partners.
Free Food Harlem is always looking for volunteers. Free dinner is served to the community every Wednesday and Friday at AME Emmanuel Church, 37 West 119th Street, New York, New York 10027. Click the link for details.
Matt also invited me to lead a workshop at Exodus Transitional Community, also in Harlem. My presentation, “Stress to Strength: Vibrational Healing,” complemented his topic of turning poison into medicine and moving from victim to victor. I was received with an abundance of loving kindness -- a warmth I will always cherish.
I am a firm believer that flower essences can help us navigate our emotional challenges, so I have put that conversation at the forefront of my presentations. Earlier this year, Tara Baklund, a natural health entrepreneur and media professional with Matthew Wood Institute of Herbalism invited me to join her for a conversation about Juneteenth: Heritage, Herbs, and Healing to speak about flower essences as they relate to 21st century health concerns and the residual trauma from American chattel slavery as explored by Joy DeGruy Leary in her book, Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America’s Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing. I also made mention of Carol Taylor and her publication, The Little Black Book: Black Male Survival in America.
I believe that the following flower essences should be utilized as a natural trauma-informed therapy, especially for the emotional conditions that have arisen from ancestral wounding.
Yarrow: Supports a luminous and strong auric field, compassion, and inclusive sensitivity.
Star of Bethlehem: Unity with deepest part of the Self; sense of inner divinity and wholeness.
Rock Rose: Grounding when facing adversity; ability to assume control in catastrophic situations.
Honeysuckle: Being fully in the present; acceptance of current life conditions.
Willow. Acceptance, forgiveness, taking responsibility for one’s life situation, adaptable to changing fortunes and circumstances.
Walnut: Freedom from limiting influences, making healthy transitions in life, accumulating inner strength to follow one’s own path and destiny.
Motherwort: Works on and resolves old family problems, especially when they are related to love and support.
Thankfully, trauma does not define us. As a matter of fact, it can serve to catapult us into the destiny of our wildest dreams.
Corrine Cashin, a member of the Black Farmer Fund knows that to be a fact. She serves the community as a financial literacy educator, urban farmer, and a person living with a disability. She holds a dual degree in Finance and Socially Responsible Entrepreneurship from Alfred University and a Masters in Industrial Organizational Psychology from Brooklyn College. She currently works for the Research Foundation of CUNY as the Assistant Director of Operations and Special Projects and is o the Advisory Board for a study at Columbia University for financial literacy and mental health.
I am intrigued by her approach as a financial literacy educator. She teaches wealth building through food and finance, acknowledging that spices were an early form of currency.
Corrine volunteers at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden to teach science and nature to special needs children and Gallop NYC to provide children with rehabilitation services with horses.
Side note: Gallop NYC also has a program for senior citizens (65+) at Sunrise Stables. They learn to leadwalk and sidewalk during therapeutic riding lessons.
Adept in vermicomposting, Corrine uses worms as a teaching tool.
In this excerpt of a recent Black Farmer Fund blog, she offers insight on these fascinating invertebrates:
“Vermicomposting is an amazing activity for everyone – the worms are essential for all the growth in the garden and they have no eyes and no ears. They are mute and according to current Western standards they would be considered disabled. I think I was drawn to the worms because my mother was legally blind until I was 19. Also, my grandmother has no sense of smell. There was never a conversation about them on belonging in the world. I always point out that when composting for all the children whether they have full vision or complete blindness because I want the children to see themselves in nature and to understand that incredible value is created by living creatures completely different that they are.”
To read the full article, click here.
As someone who is still trying to negotiate and overcome my fear of insects, I still find the little creatures fascinating.
As you can see, humans fascinate me, too.
Let us all turn up the volume on our personal commitments to take care of ourselves and each other.
If you want to learn more about the many paths to heal your physical, emotional, mental, and/or spiritual wounds, please feel free to join our community of compassion-driven practitioners to support you as you repair, restore, and resurrect your passion for a quality life.
The HWB Healing Project Mobile Clinic Apothecary serves the community every second Saturday, 11am-2pm. The offerings include, but are not limited to: herbal teas, tinctures, flower essences, lotions, and salves. Mini-workshops about self-care will also be scheduled starting in 2025. Visit us at Flatbush Gardens Community Center. 1404 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11210.
Click to donate.
You will also be able to receive free acupuncture and reiki treatments from Peter Panken, LAc and his team.
Let’s learn, grow, and heal together. See you soon!
“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” ~ Bishop Desmond Tutu
“Every day is your birthday!” ~ Bishop Desmond Tutu
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