February 2006 Magazine PDF - FTP Directory Listing

1126 Soquel Ave.Santa Cruz,near the Crepe Placeand Rio TheatreFree Public Parking at Cayuga & Soquel ❖ (831)429-9600Wed. Feb. 8 at 7 p.m.Paul Nison"The Raw Life"Discover the healing recipesand the benefits of raw foodThurs. Feb. 9 at 7 p.m.Steve & VeraBodansky"To Bed or Not to Bed"(Hunter House)Fri. Feb. 10 at 7 p.m.AlexandraLeclere"Seeing the Dead, TalkingWith Spirits"(Inner Traditions)Awaken the gift of healingthrough the spirit worldSun. Feb 12: 12 to 4 pmCrystal VisionEssencesPresenting samples from theirfull line of gemstone infusedbody care products.Mon. Feb. 13 at 7 p.m.James Jarvis &Leigh WunceThe Heart of RelationshipFind out how venus influencesyour relationshipsTuesdays:Feb. 14, 21 & 28Joan RoseDivination and JoyWorkshop seriesUse pendulum to doclearings, create loving relationshipsand give intuitive readings.Thurs. Feb. 16 at 7 p.m.Trebbe Johnson"The World is aWaiting Lover"Explore the eternal Beloved(New World Library)Beautiful and affordable home ownership starting at$2,220 per month (based on lenders current rate quotes).2 BR/1 BA 800 SF $359,0002 BR/1 BA 800 SF $369,0002 BR/1 BA 900 SF $399,0004 BR/2.5 BA 2060 SF $599,000Fantastic location in heart of Soquel Village.Rare opportunity in tenants in common property.Visit our web site: 4530WestWalnut.comFri. Feb. 17 at 7 p.m.LuciaCapacchione"Art of Emotional Healing"(Random House)Learn to express your emotionsthrough creativityThurs. Feb. 23 at 7 p.m.Amy Racina"Angels in the Wilderness"(Elite Books)A miraculous story of DivineInterventionTues., March 21 at 7 p.m.KrishnaDasKirtanDevotionalchanting at FirstCongregational Church.Tickets available at Gateways.Events by email: www.gatewaysbooks.comBella Wella, ink!(831) 239-0223Web sitesGraphicsWriting4530 West Walnut S t, SoquelTerry Cavanagh(831) 471-2424, ext 105(831) 345-2053 Cellhttp://terrycavanagh.netterry@pacificsunproperties.comShane Scott(831) 471-2424, ext 110(831) 239-2044 Cellwww.shanescottproperties.comshane@shanescottproperties.comCo-listed by Alex Johnson of David LyngPacific Sun Properties, 734 Chestnut Street, Ste. A, Santa Cruz, CA 95060Now Santa Cruz County hasTenants in CommonHome Ownership OptionAffordable HomeOwnershiprequires thinkingoutside the box!by Terry Cavanagh,RealtorIN SANTA CRUZ’S challenginghome ownership market forfirst time buyers, there are newopportunities arising all the time. Ihave been involved in Real Estatefor 20 years and have seen manytypes of market conditions. Today,it is still possible for first time buyersto own a home, but it takessome critical thinking and determination.Making a commitment totransfer rent dollars into equitybuilding dollars takes a clearunderstanding of the profound longterm value of equity invested dollarsover rent-spent dollars. APage 4 ▲ The Connection Magazine ▲ www.theConnect.com ▲ February — March 8, 2006Realtor or professional mortgageconsultant can provide this essentialperspective.Tenants In Common (TIC)is a great option for entry-levelbuyers in the pricey Santa Cruzmarket. Tenants in Common is away for two, three, or four partiesto jointly purchase and sharethe equity in a multiplex property.A thorough TIC agreementoutlines the parties’ rights andresponsibilities, providing clearcontract guidelines and understandingas to who gets use ofwhich living areas, yard space,parking, etc. It’s similar to a condominium,in that folks share acommon area, but have exclusiverights to their specified privateareas. TICs have been utilizedfor a long time in other veryexpensive markets. The legalpaths have been well paved, andthe viability of this form of ownershipis strongly established inareas like SanFrancisco. Now theTIC concept isgaining recognitionand popularity inSanta Cruz. Forexample, there is amultiplex propertyavailable in SoquelVillage that containsfour distincthomes each pricedsubstantially belowthe comparablemarket.One key reasonto buy into a TIC isaffordability. Agroup of peoplejoining forces canleverage their combinedfinancial circumstances forpurchasing power and mortgageadvantages. For example, one personmay have great credit but notenough cash for a down payment.Another may have cash but weakercredit. Pooling resources canovercome home ownership hurdlesthat people find insurmountableindividually and bring themmore affordability. But, it doestake good communication skillsand a commitment to being a successfulhome owner, instead of arenter.Many people are also drawnto TICs for the element of community.For a group of friends or familywith strong connections a TICcan add the convenience of livingclose by as well as economicempowerment through the groupacquisition. In the San FranciscoBay area many TIC co-ownersmeet in the home purchasingprocess and learn that in fact thereare many others like them whosimply want and need affordablehomes. Excellent alliances can bediscerned and formed throughmeeting, getting acquainted, carefulscreening in the mortgageprocess and well thought-out TICcontracts.The bottom line is that TICsare opening previously lockeddoors for people wanting to own ahome. There’s every reason tocheck it out, and see if a TIC isyour key to that door!For more information abouttenants in common home ownership,please contact: TerryCavanagh or Shane Scott,Realtors, Pacific Sun Properties, at(831) 471-2424.

▲Dear Readers, This is a verbatimquote that George W.Bush gave on Dec. 13, 2005at a Press Conference in response to awoman in the audience who said, “Idon’t really understand. How is thenew plan going to fix the problem?”George W. Bush, “Because the— all which is on the table begins toaddress the big cost drivers. For example,how benefits are calculated, forexample, is on the table. Whether or notbenefits rise based upon wage increasesor price increases. There’s a series ofparts of the formula that are being considered.And when you couple that,those different cost drivers, affectingthose — changing those with personalaccounts, the idea is to get what hasbeen promised more likely to be — orcloser delivered to that has been promised.Does that make any sense to you?It’s kind of muddled. Look, there’s aseries of things that cause the — like,for example, benefits are calculatedbased upon the increase of wages, asopposed to the increase of prices. Somehave suggested that we calculate — thebenefits will rise based upon inflation,supposed to wage increases. There is areform that would help solve the red ifthat were put into effect. In other words,how fast benefits grow, how fast thepromised benefits grow, if those — ifthat growth is affected, it will help onthe red.”By the way, no, this is not a SaturdayNight Live routine (nor is it a sickjoke), this is a verbatim quote from thePresident of the USA.Getting Back to Basicsby Sylvia Skefich, D.C.Sometimes a “cure” for an acheor pain can seem elusive. Wewant to look at the most obviouscause first. The saying goes: “Ifyou hear the sound of beating hooves,think horses, not zebras or unicorns.”Bad alignment of the joints is one ofthose basic things that is hard to diagnosefor oneself, but until it is corrected,can continue to wreak havocon other seemingly unrelated systemsand structures.Today I was hiking in NisseneMarks State Park. A woman jogged by,and she had a foot pronation problem.Easy to say, as a chiropractor! An averageobserver probably would nothave noticed that the jogger had aproblem at all; What I noticed, pointbypoint, was that her left foot pointedoutward when she ran, and thewoman’s left knee was hypermobile (amild buckling with each step), her leftand right hips were very stiff, as washer low back. Her overall body flexibilitywas diminished (as her upper bodyneeded to constantly brace against theunstable foundationbelow).I wondered ifshe had any symptomsyet, or if herbody had done agood job compensatingfor the situation. I guessed that sheprobably suffered from a tight hip andside of the thigh, and I wondered abouther digestion and elimination due tothe stress put into the nerves in thesame region that feeds nerves to thegut.When structural problems createa problem in an organ, it is called “somatic”.Let’s think of the segments ofthe spine as separate telephone operators,each with their own businessbuilding to run. If business buildingnumber L5 has a business that is concernedwith the hip muscles, and thisbusiness is just brimming with phonecalls and complaints and requests formore service and suggestions, then theoperator can have a hard time dealingwith the normal daily calls that arecoming and going from the businessof the gut. Mishaps, mistakes andstress bleed over from business “hip,”and interfere with business “gut.” Andit can go the other way around just aswell. It is all in the realm of somaticreferral. In fact, not only may one business“feel the pain,” of the other, butmay even freeze up or be less efficientdue to the confusion in the wiring.But back to the jogger… In hercase, a simple orthotic arch supportand heel stabilizer would be the firststep in correction. (I prefer over-thecounterSuperfeet for most people, andthat is why I carry them in my office.)This would straighten the crookedfoundation, and allow her strained ligamentsin the foot to tighten up and heal.Some muscle work and chiropracticalignment to the feet, knees, hips andlow back would improve this jogger’smobility, reducing or eliminating pain,and increasing function of multiplesystems. At minimum, getting correctionwould prevent buildup offibrousness in the muscle and osteoarthriticchange in the joints (as both ofthese problems are due directly tostrain in the muscle and pressure in thejoint, respectively).Dr. Sylvia Skefich is a chiropractorwho is certified in Orthopedic Massageand is an instructor of Cranio-Sacral Technique. She has an office at115 Maple Street in downtown SantaCruz. www.vital-you.com ,(831) 459-6001.day. Thousands of hours of continuingeducation later, many of them devotedto learning Page 13The Root Canal Dilemmaby David L. Biles, D.D.S., M.A.What happens if you are facedwith the following decision:lose a tooth or retainit, albeit in a preserved state? What ifyou are in killer pain? What if you arein no pain? Root canal or extraction?If extracted, what do you replace themissing tooth with? Bridge, implant,or flipper? Let me help walk youthrough the decision process.To begin, my philosophy overroot canals has changed dramaticallyover the past 23 plus years in practice.In my early years I was far more eagerto suggest root canal treatment as thesolution to stopping the crippling paina suffering human being can experiencefrom a painful tooth. Pain? Rootcanal. Save the tooth.Severe dental pain? Save thetooth. Root canal it. No nerve, no pain.Save the tooth. Dental dogma in action.Pain? Save the tooth. Root canal.Stimulus-response.While I am oversimplifying tosome extent, the solution was easierthen… I knew far less than I know to-Page 5 ▲ The Connection Magazine ▲ www.theConnect.com ▲ Febuary – March 8, 2006

Naturopathic Medicine:Holistic Primary Care MedicineWhyWait?If you have been strugglingwith feeling less than your best,come in ready for transformation.Remember what it was like to have a nervous system free from“static" and blockage? Dr. Skefich has been trained in twolineages of healing work that specifically removesneurological blockages of the musculoskeletal andnervous systems. Why be less than yourbest when you can free yourself with atreatment plan with Dr. Skefich?(831) 459-6001Welcome to our Free Demo Energy-Healing Nite1st Wednesday of every month. 7 to 9pm. Reservations required as seating is limited.Sylvia Skefich, Doctor of Chiropractic7 years chiropractic experienceHello again everyone and welcometo the 2nd edition of“Ask the Naturopathic Doctor”.This is the 2nd article of what isto be a monthly column here in ConnectionsMagazine. We are very excitedabout this opportunity for you topresent your health questions to local,licensed Naturopathic Doctors.It seems to be cold and flu season. Idon’t want to get the flu vaccination.What’s the best way for me to avoidgetting sick?Thankfully, there are many waysto prevent getting sick and even preventthe flu without having to get avaccination. The first thing you can dois to simply wash your hands. Studieshave shown that frequently washingyour hands with soap and water cangreatly decrease your chances ofcatching the cold and/or flu virus.Botanical medicines (herbs) arealso a highly effective way of boostingyour natural defenses against gettingsick. Some beneficial botanical medicinesinclude:Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) isantibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatoryand an immunomodulator. It enhancesthe resistance of the immunesystem to infections.Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) isuseful to inhibit the growth of viruses.It is also an anti-inflammatory and anSuccess Stories -Reclaiming Health forBody, Mind, and Spiritby Maghi Thurlow R.M.T.Developed by osteopathic physician Dr.John Upledger, CranioSacral Therapy isa safe, gentle, holistic form of bodyworkthat addresses a wide range of issues includingpain relief, improvement of function and movement,and the calming of physical and emotionalstress.A female client of mine, a professionaldancer and dance teacher, gained many benefitsfrom her CranioSacral treatments. She had re-115 Maple St., Downtown Santa CruzPage 6 ▲ The Connection Magazine ▲ www.theConnect.com ▲ Febuary – March 8, 2006immunomodulator. Licorice is verysoothing on inflamed membranes of thethroat, lungs, stomach and intestines.(*Licorice is contraindicated in individualswith high blood pressure, kidneyor liver disease. Consult yourNaturopathic Doctor for proper use.)Goldenseal (Hydrastis Canadensis)is antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial.It has immune stimulatingqualities and increases the blood supplyto the spleen. Goldenseal is usedin colds, flu, sore throats and ear infections.High dose Vitamin C is also usefulif you think you’ve been exposed toa virus or bacterial infection or are startingto come down with an illness.All that said, prevention is reallythe best cure. Eating a healthy, wholefoods diet, getting adequate rest anddrinking lots of water (at least 64 ouncesa day) are important to boosting yourbody’s natural immune system.Is it safe for children to takeEchinacea and other herbs for colds?Yes. It is safe for children overthe age of one to take herbs, however,the doses need to be adjusted accordingto age and weight.Most botanical medicines are safeand can be very effective when dosedproperly. But there are importantcontraindications and you should informyour doctor of all drugs, herbs andsupplements you are taking. For themost effective and safe natural treatments,consult your Naturopathic Doctor.I eat a healthy diet. Do I still need totake vitamins?Even when eating the healthiest ofdiets, it’s difficult to get all the nutrientsthat your body needs to functionoptimally. Over the years we’ve managedto deplete the nutrients in our soil,resulting in foods that have a lower nutrientdensity than they did in the past.Additionally, exposure to environmentaltoxins and stressors increases theneed for nutrients. Simply taking agood multivitamin twice daily will supportyou in maintaining optimal health.Stay tuned! Next month we’ll discusswhat supplements you really needto take, as well as how to determine ifthe vitamins you are taking are actuallyhelping.To have your health questions answered,please submit them to:TFleckND@peoplepc.com.Dr. Tonya L. Fleck graduated fromthe Southwest College of NaturopathicMedicine, one of four accredited postgraduateNaturopathic Medicalschools. She received her Bachelor ofScience degree from the State Universityof New York at Buffalo and completedgraduate work in Marriage andFamily Therapy at the University ofMaryland. After moving to Santa Cruzin 2004 and practicing in Monterey, Dr.Fleck realized her dream to practice inSanta Cruz and teamed up with Dr. Bar-Shalom at the Holistic Medical Centerin Aptos.Dr. Ruth Bar-Shalom graduatedfrom the National College of NaturopathicMedicine, one of four accreditedpost-graduate Naturopathic Medicalschools, in 1987. Dr. Bar-Shalom hasbeen an Associate Professor of Rheumatologyand Geriatrics for TheSouthwest College of NaturopathicMedicine. She has presented workshopsat Bastyr University and heralma mater. She served as presidentof the Alaska Association of NaturopathicPhysicians from 1992-1994.Dr. Bar-Shalom has over 18 years ofpractical and clinical experience innaturopathic medicine. She recentlymoved to Santa Cruz and founded theHolistic Medical Center, where she inpractice with Dr. Fleck.Contact the Holistic MedicalCenter, 9053 Soquel Drive #202,Aptos, CA 95003, (831)688-6666.ported neck and chest stiffness froma whiplash injury 25 years before.After a series of CranioSacral sessions,she felt her whole upper bodyloosen up in a way that she hadnever experienced with other typesof bodywork. While watching a video of herselfdancing, she was very pleased to see that her upperbody had gained much greater mobility.Another time she came to see me after rootcanal work that had left her with a headache andlow energy. By releasing the physical trauma leftfrom the dental work, one session cleared theheadache, she slept well that night, and her energyreturned to normal the next day.With the CranioSacral treatments, she wasalso able to release old emotional trauma fromabuse, an abortion, and the end of a marriage.Page 13 ▲

The Blue Sun Art Caféby Melanie GendronThe acquisition of the Blue SunCafé by Mixed MediaMercantile’s proprietor ConnieStrawbridge has merged the two businessesinto The Blue Sun Art Café.Located in downtown Boulder Creekon Highway 9, this art café exudes theambience of an artists’ communitycoffeehouse.The natural foods bakery and cafécontinues its proud tradition of usingonly the finest organic and natural ingredientsin the kitchen. Breakfast andlunch are served deli style with counterservice; dinner is sit-down.On the extensive lunch menu,entrees include specials of the day,Lasagna, Tamale Pie, Stir Fry, TacoPlate and Tofu Pot Pie. There aresoups, sandwiches, salads and more.The chef, Joseph Harkanson, hada gourmet restaurant in Hawaii. Heprepares delicious, mostly vegetariandishes. I sampled the lasagna andhighly recommend it. The portions Ishared with a friend were generouswith salad and garlic bread included.We sampled salads including potato,green, etc.; but my favorite was theArrame Seaweed Salad. It is not onlyvery tasty, but beautiful too.My friend and I also shared aVeggie Melt Sandwich with sauteedmushrooms, onion and roasted bellPage 8 ▲ The Connection Magazine ▲ www.theConnect.com ▲ February - March 8, 2006pepper, avocado, tomato, and mozzarellaon grilled garlic sourdough bread.Just writing about it makes me hungry!You could order the TempehRuben with grilled tempeh slices,sauerkraut, swiss cheese and thousandisland dressing on grilled rye bread.Or try the Pecan Paté Melt.But then, you may just want tostop in for an espresso, drink, orsmoothie with one of Baker YvanSmith’s amazing bakery creations. Thelemon bars would take a prize in anycompetition. They are not too tart orsweet, but just right. The blueberrycheesecake muffins are delicious.There are scones, cookies, cakes, andbreads to tempt your palet.The Breakfast menu offers egg ortofu scrambles and omelettes, servedwith homefried potatoes and toast orEnglish Muffin. There’s also Frenchtoast, flapjacks, fruit, coffee and more.The cafe opens at 6:00am, servinglunch through 4:00pm, with coffee andbaked goods available until 5:00pmevery day.Dinner is served on Friday andSaturday evenings from 6:00-10:00pm, with live music until9:30pm. The entrees include freshMahi Mahi, Rosemary ChickenBreast, Fettuccini Primavera, and TofuPecan Sage with Orange Sauce.While enjoying your meal,browsing or shopping for a gift, enjoythe creations of local artists on thewalls and in the gallery/gift shop.Some of the many local artists representedinclude my Visionary and God/dess Art, Gourds by Boulder Creekartist Kris Mangliers; Pottery by PaulaPrekowitz of Boulder Creek andJeannine Niehaus of Santa Cruz; andAcrylic Paintings by Giles Parish ofCampbell.For dinner reservations, information,and excellent fare, call or drop into The Blue Sun Art Cafe at 13070Highway 9, Boulder Creek, (831) 338-2105.Please tell them you read aboutthem in The Connection Magazine.Thank you and enjoy!

y Pamela Ticoulat“The Dog That Saves Its Master”The Year of the Dog in the Hsia calendaris symbolized by two elements: fire andearth. This year the inner relationshipbetween these elements is in the cycle of birthrather than the destruction we have experiencedin the last two years. In 2006, fire gives birth toearth or sits on earth, symbolizing support andharmony. This combination may bring less internationalconflict with more domestic oversight.The fire element in 2006 is yang fire, symbolizingopenness, optimism and care, whichmay translate into more honesty and peacefulsettlements in all aspects of life. This will be awelcome change from the turmoil since 9/11.The earth underneath, representing the dogbranch, is associated with the “gate of hell” or“storage of fire”. This aspect often carries morespiritual and religious implications,which may lift globalconsciousness as more peopledialogue and find solutions tothe hatred causing so much destructionover the last decade.Yang fire, known as thebig fire and earth (dog’sbranch), known as “the storageof fire,” could bring more earthdisturbances, such as volcaniceruptions, and energy relateddisasters, such as nuclear explosion. Nuclearsafety may dominate world focus.The Chinese calendar year is based on a 60-year cycle and therefore 2006 reflects 1946,when the United Nations held its first meetingand created the United Nations Nuclear Agency.Likewise, more cooperation among countriesinvolving the environment, natural disasters, religiousdifference and preventionof epidemics is expected.My feng shui teacher,Grand Master Professor LinYun calls this year, “TheDog That Saves Its Master”.This nomenclature callsupon the Dog to guide usthrough a year full of conflict,warfare, explosions,eruptions, economic instabilityand extremes inweather, with summermonths colder than normaland winter months muchwarmer than thoughtpossible.In 2006, the Dogand Dragon clash, bringingserious earthquakedisasters. In the flyingstar system, the Star 3,representing earthquake,is in the center of thePamela Ticoulat & Professor Lin Yun Bagua/earth. This couldimply earthquakes in central areas of the worldor in places with center or middle in their names.The central coast of California should beware.Other disasters may include mining, landslideand collapse of buildings. The Ox and Goat areat greater risk for the above disasters because thedog forms earth penalty with these signs. TheDog, Dragon, Ox and Goat should wear a rabbitpendant or bracelet to minimize this negativeclash. While traveling, avoid going straight towardsthe NW direction, wherethe Grand Duke is located.In relationship to the body,fire relates to blood circulation,heart and the shoulder area. Theearth element relates to stomach,spleen, muscles and cells. So thismay be a year of shoulder problemsand cell related diseases likecancer. Since fire and earth destroywater, there is also kidneyailment risk.Feng shui energies that need some attentionthis year are in the West/Children Gua, whichbrings misfortune. Hang metal wind chimes todissolve these influences. The worst months willbe April, July and September. In the SE/WealthGua we find the star symbolizing sickness, sohang a string of six metal coins in this area toassist in balancing your health. The Grand Dukeis in the NW/Benefactors, so it is not favored todo any construction or digging in this area. Inthe North/Career, the Three Shars resides, so donot sit with your back to the North. The star ofconflict and robbery is in the center of the house,so place a piece of red paper in this area. TheScandal star is in the South/Fame causing havocwith your reputation, so place 3 or 4 lucky bambooin a clear glass vase in the south.If you would like to know more aboutfeng shui, contact Pamela Ticoulat at Shelterfor the Soul, (831) 459-0153 or e-mail:fengshui@cruzio.com. She is available forprivate consultations, workshops, trainingsand lectures.An Institute of Feng Shui& Design Since 1989● Feng Shui Consultations● Chinese Astrological Readings● Eco-Friendly ArchitecturalDesign & Consulting● Wellness products; Including:BioEnergetics for EMF& Radiation ProtectionFull Spectrum Lighting for SAD'sand Feng Shui Products831-459-0153 ● Santa Cruz, CA ● fengshui@cruzio.comPage 10 ▲ The Connection Magazine ▲ www.theConnect.com ▲ February – March 8, 2006

Pet Portraits by Melanie GendronGendron Studios (831) 335-9064PO Box 1438, Felton, CA 95018gentarot@pacbell.net, MelanieGendron.comBecome a Master Lover!Discover the secrets of sexual intimacy and ecstasy in one fun weekend!Santa Cruz WeekendSeminarMarch 17 th - 19 th , 2006Attend a Free Preview Evening:Friday, Feb. 17 th 7:30 PM ORSaturday, Mar. 4 th 7:30 PMBest Western Inn6020 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley(Off Hiway 17 at Granite Creek Exit)Tantra: The Art of Conscious Loving ®‚This seminar teaches skills that will enableyou to transform sex into a 21st Century artform - a way to more intimacy, passion andemotional connection than you can nowimagine!It is time to study sex as an art form. Sexualloving is a skill to be mastered by everyconscious individual. Sexual energy is a vitalsacrament that, rightly used, awakensconsciousness and will bring great harmonyand joy into one’s relationship. Love willcontinue to grow over the course of alifetime, deeply bonding partners in joyousspiritual union.Open to Couples and Singles“The best place to meet conscious,successful people.”by Dr. Laurie Moore, LMFT , CHTWelcome to the worlds ofmiracles and animal communication.I have developeda miracle producing program,Unconditional Awakening. UnconditionalAwakening assists people byspiritually enlightening in the contextof creating miraculous practical resultsin all areas of living: health and vital-Instructors Charles & Caroline MuirAuthors of Best Selling BookTantra: The Art of Conscious LovingThey share Tantric wisdom with profoundinsight, gentleness, humor and Love.Just some of what you will learn:• Quadruple The Length of Your Orgasm• Secrets of Erotic Kissing and Touch• Female Sacred Spot (G-Spot) toAwaken & Release Unlimited OrgasmicEnergy• Male Ejaculatory Choice: Key toMaximum Health, Creativity and Power• Advanced Lovemaking Techniques$12 Introductory Cassette or CD Free to First 50 People to CallWe are so sure you will benefit from knowing more about the Muir’s revolutionary work that wewill send you our $12.00 introductory audiocassette for free. FOR YOUR VALUABLECASSETTE OR CD AND FREE BROCHURES ON THE MUIR’S SEMINARS AND HOMESTUDY COURSE, CALL NOW. SUPPLIES ARE LIMTED!Call Teresa Brumfield (831) 425-3232Visit our award winning website for educational articles, video and audioclips and beautiful artwork: www.sourcetantra.comDr. Laurie Moore Welcomes You with the Love That Lives in All Heartsity, relationshipswith others, abundanceand success,and overall fulfillment.My methodologyteaches youto develop a newand evolved way ofcommunicatingwith yourself, other humans, animals,nature and for those who feel inclined,spiritual helpers, whomever those maybe for you.The Unconditional AwakeningScholarship package entitles you to attendThe Miracles Seminar on May 6 thfrom 10:00-6:00 pm in Soquel, CA,plus the May 13 th Animal CommunicationSeminar from 10:00-3:00pm inSoquel, CA, plus the 10 week Miracleteleconference (the next opening beginson March 28 th from 5:30-6:30PST), plus the final Aloha Circle Gatheringon May 13 th from 4:00-6:30pmin Soquel, CA.Because it is my intention toshare this methodology with one millionpeople from all walks of life, manycountries, many ages, all religions andIn Joan Rose’s eloquent new book,Catching You, Catching Me,Catching Fire, love’s ecstasytumbles out in sheaths of poetry. Setin Santa Cruz, we meet two unexpectedlovers who act upon the mostintimate of impulses. Under brightgeraniums at the Union, practicalitysuccumbs to enchantment, whose musicis stronger.In the poem “Lost” she hints atthis passion and conflict:LostA path through the parkleads to a creek where teenagersat midnightcrawl out of their windowsto meet beneath the dark oak,smoothing down their mothers cleanblankets.At noon we find the nest,and finally, on the soft flannelin the cool shadows,you press your body down on me.Though lost,we discover a good neighborhood.no religions, and all political partiesby 2015, I am offering scholarshippackages. This makes my work availableto EVERYONE.In the core of every human heartis one love. World Love is a possibility!Each person who chooses to createa life in line with his or her heart’sgreatest desires contributes to the creationof World Love. I invite you tocome and change from the inside out.Please share this information witheveryone you know who will benefit.“Ask and you shall receive” is the natureof life. These scholarships are inharmony with that perspective, sentthrough the voices of birds, the sun,the dolphins and other teachers.To register for the $1333 Scholarshipsfor Miracle and Animal communicationSeminar Package: Emailmiraclescholarship@DrLaurieMoore.comMay All beings Be Joy. May AllBeings Be Peace. May all be creatinglives that come to fruition via deepestheart Yearnings, May it be so for you!Dr. Laurie Moore, LMFT, CHT,Animal Communicator, (831) 477-7007,www.animalintuitivereadings.com.witnesses the fighther lover cannot takeon for himself.DrowningYou tie your handsbehind your backwith good knots,then your lungsfill with water,your chest burstswith the unsaid and the undone.Pants carefully zipped,you sew up the emptiness,hope no one will notice,that deep in the core of you,is a good great god drowning.Forty-six short story poems ofone woman’s life. Joan Rose givesan authentic account of her searchfor love in whimsical, juicy detail.Tried in the crucible of a daring affair,her words set your own worldon fire.A book to share, Catching You,Catching Me, Catching Fire is theperfect Valentine’s Day gift. Comejoin Joan Rose and Friends for a pre-Valentine’s Day release party at JavaJunction, February 11 th (7:00-8:30PM) located at 519 Seabright Ave.Copies of Catching You, CatchingMe, Catching Fire, can be purchasedeither at Bookshop Santa Cruz orGateways Books or atwww.writestarpublishing.com. CallJoan Rose at (831) 251-0866 for fur-The writing is breathtakingly personal.The author lets you into a privateworld of tenderness, pain, joy, lossand ecstasy that is somehow universal.Joan Rose writes to the lover ineach of us, revealing to us our ownhidden fears, longings and desires.Joan Rose immediately establishesherself as a significant poet for ourtimes, chartering the depths of humanexperience. In “Drowning”, the author ther information.Page 12 ▲ The Connection Magazine ▲ www.theConnect.com ▲ February – March 8, 2006

y Jesse KorenIn the last edition, we coached youto “just ask.” If you don’t askpeople to schedule appointmentswith you, the answer is automatically“No.” But what happens when youask, and the answer is “I’d like to, butI can’t afford it?”Those 8 words used to drive menuts. “God, why do you keep sendingme people who can’t afford my services;Why MEEEEEEEEE???”Then, I found out what “I can’tafford it,” really means. And I startedto view my selling conversations (wenow call them HeartSelling conversations)as a dance. Instead of lettingthe sentence “I can’t afford it” stop themusic, I started to see them as the beginningof a new dance. My businessliterally doubled.Want to know what “I can’t affordit really means”? ”I can’t affordit” really means. “I don’t see the valueof your services yet.”Makes sense, because if theirmother was in the hospital and theyhad to come up with 10x, what youwere charging in order to save theirmother’s life, they’d come up with themoney.The Root Canal Dilemma▲Page 5 and mastering quicker,better, more profitable root canal techniques,I no longer perform the procedure.I gave it up many years ago.Why? I finally realized my drive forperfection was compromising my abilityto make a living. Translation: Ispent far too much time performing theprocedure to be profitable. I didn't quitbecause I felt I was not performing toor above the community standard, orfor some other noble reason, but ratherbecause in order to achieve or exceedthe standard of care, I was abysmallyslow. So… I don't perform any formof root canal therapy today.Has that been a problem for mypatients? Particularly for those in severepain? No. Not at all. For thosepatients who need a root canal andNow, you can’t force anyone tosee the value you offer. They will eithersee it or they won’t, there is nothingyou can do about it. It is your jobsimply to remain curious and to staycommitted to an intention that they winand you win.Here are 4 easy steps to handling“I can’t afford it.” 1. Fully hear them.Tell them what you heard, and checkout if you really understood what theysaid.2. Say: “Can I ask you a questionabout that?” By asking permission toask a bold question, you respect theirboundaries.3. Ask the magic question: “If itweren’t for the money, is this somethingyou’d like to move forwardwith?” a. If they say “yes” with conviction,then it probably really is themoney. In that case, you can eithernegotiate compensation that works forboth of you or not. b. If they say,“well… yeah…” then they are probablyusing money as a way to avoid adeeper truth.4. If ‘b’ is your answer, you’re inluck! Get curious. Say: “You soundhesitant. Do you have any other concerns?”desire one after evaluating a body ofinformation my office educator provides,I make a referral to an endodontistwho has consistently demonstratedclinical excellence and patient managementskills. I believe in maximizingthe odds of success, if my patienthas elected to retain a tooth. For thosewho decide to not pursue the root canaltreatment alternative to extraction,I guide them in achieving an alternative,but suitable solution.What if the patient is in agonizing,excruciating pain? No problem. Ihave never met a patient yet who refusedan offer of a dental injection toeliminate pain temporarily while goingthrough the process of getting aprescription filled for an antibiotic and/or pain medication in order to buysome time in deciding if a root canalis, indeed, how they want to invest theirSuccess Stories - Reclaiming Health for Body, Mind, and SpiritJesse Koren & Sharla JacobsDo you see how a new door justopened? Now, (assuming you havebuilt trust with them) they might sharewith you fears that are hiding behindthe money smokescreen.The magic of these HeartSellingconversations is that they can bevery intimate and healing. And regardlessof whether your potential clientsays “yes” or “no,” you’ll both walkaway feeling inspired.But it takes courage to ask bold,respectful questions that allow peopleto go deep into themselves and findout what they’re most committed to…Most people don’t go there. So, becausewe want you to be successful,we’d love to support you to have effectiveconversations with your potentialclients.That’s why we are offering theRejuvenate Your Practice 2 Day Intensiveto help you take yourHeartselling conversations (andyour business) to the next level. Andwe’d like to offer you a FULLSCHOLARSHIP to our February 18th& 19th workshop.Call now to get more informationand register for your FULLSCHOLARSHIP, (831) 421-1147,time and money. There is absolutelyno need to let pain motivate you intomaking a hasty decision you may laterregret – particularly when you learnof the potential long term consequencesof retaining dead dental tissue millimetersaway from the structures that regulatethe healthy functioning of yourbody… the topic of our next article.Dr. Biles questions conventionalwisdom while performing ideal dentistrywith a holisticphilosophicalapproach groundedon scientificprinciples. He haslectured nationallyon Biocom-patibleBioesthetic Dentistry.Call (831)423-0121, visitwww.DrBiles.com.▲Page 6 This helped her to learn to trust from some falls and a car accident. She neededtouch again, and to view her past with acceptance.to wear a cervical collar and had been diagnosedShe says that my CranioSacral treatments with three herniated discs. She would getsoften and strengthen her at the same time. The “surges” like electrical shocks in her neck andsoftening comes from the profoundly deep relaxationhead, and had to sleep on her back with neckthat allows the body to open and expand. support on both sides. She felt like she mightThe strengthening comes from empowering the “blank out” when she leaned over, experiencedbody’s natural healing mechanisms, by removingringing in her ears, and frequent vertigo. Afterblockages.consistent treatment, the neck pain is minimal,A concerned mother brought her 13 yearoldshe no longer needs to wear the cervical collar,twin sons to me for treatment. They both were can sleep on her side again, seldom gets ringingexperiencing a lack of concentration and focus, in her ears or vertigo. She is also breathing muchfrustration with school work, low self esteem, easier, despite a history of asthma and chronicand stress. After just one CranioSacral session, bronchitis. Her moods are more balanced and shethey both showed improvement in school work, is able to work in her garden, which is her passion.were more focused, organized, thinking clearer,and communicating feelings better. Their Maghi Thurlow R.M.T., advancedmother was happy to report that they had higher CranioSacral specialist, has 24 years Upledgerself esteem and a brighter outlook towards Institute trained CranioSacral experience. Sheschool. CranioSacral Therapy usually works provides a safe, nurturing environment for clientsvery quickly for children and can help with learningin her serene office conveniently located indisabilities and self-image issues.Capitola near 41st Ave. For more information,A woman client in her late 70’s received appointments or gift certificate special (buy a giftgreat relief from CranioSacral treatments. She certificate for a new client, get a free session forhad experienced four years of severe pain and yourself!); call (831) 425-3109 or visitrestriction in her neck since receiving injuries www.qued.com/maghi.Page 13 ▲ The Connection Magazine ▲ www.theconnect.com ▲ February – March 8, 2006www.RejuvenateYourPractice.com.Jesse Koren and Sharla Jacobsare business coaches and cofoundersof Rejuvenate Training,www.RejuvenateYourPractice.com,and www.RejuvenateSantaCruz.comTheir training programs havehelped hundreds of holistic practitionersincrease their business success.Whether you are just starting out orstarting to burn out, we’d love to helpyou double, triple, and even quadrupleyour income. Call us today for yourFULL SCHOLARSHIP to the RejuvenateYour Practice 2 Day Intensive.(831) 421-1147.

WendyBallen,Chang I-Chungand SidFontana in 2005The Martial ArtsDirectoryRod Sanford's Traditional Martial ArtsInstructors (by order of seniority): Rod Sanford, Lou Jemison, DanWakefield, Sean Sanford, Jennifer Farley, Diego Simkin.Shorinji-Ryu Karate-Do, Okinawan Weaponry, T'ai Chi Chuan & Aikijujutsu(831) 475-9676 • questions@mydojo.com4626 Soquel Drive, Soquel CA 95073Green Forest TempleInstructors: Robert Ripke and Linda Darrigo Ages 12 and olderTai Chi, Long Fist, Praying Mantis, Weapons(831) 688-6934 • www.greenforesttemple.org5901 Freedom Blvd., AptosSchool of Sword and StaffInstructor: Dov Nadel SenseiTeens to Adult, Weds. eveningsIaido, Tanashigiri & Sport Combat with padded weapons(831)426-6609 release@cruzio.comwww.schoolofswordandstaff.com • www.sportcombatfederation.comValley Tae Kwon DoInstructors: Cathy & Paul Rotes Ages 5 - 16 & Adult KickboxingTae Kwon Do, Fitness Kickboxing & After School Program(831) 336-204310090 Hwy 9, Ben Lomond, CA 95005MINORSAN Self Defense Training ServicesInstructors: Dio P. Santiago & Clara E. Minor All AgesMANOSAMIN self defense-based martial art, KickAeroBix, Bully Breakers,Weekend Self Defense Workshop for all ages.(831) 458-0900 • info@minorsan.com • 1515 Mission St., Santa Cruzwww.minorsan.comSanta Cruz Academy of WingChunInstructor: Jericho BroekAges:14 to adultWingChun Kung Fu and Escrima(831) 588-8432 • wingchunsc@yahoo.com • www.santacruzwingchun.comLouden Nelson Center • 301 Center St. • Santa Cruz • CA 95060North Bay AikidoChief Instructor: Linda HolidayAges: 6-AdultAikido(non-competitiveJapanese martial art - “The Way of Harmony”)(831) 423-8326 • info@northbayaikido.org • 306 Mission St., Santa Cruz 95060Tai Chi Natural Health ClubInstructors: Wendy Ballen L.Ac. & Sid FontanaTai Chi, Acupuncture, Chinese Herbs, Nutrition, private lessons in ChiKung and Ba Gua(831) 423-2037 • wballen@taichisantacruz.comClasses held at Oceanview Park in Santa CruzDaniel FeldmanTai Ji Ch'uan (Yang, Chen, Wu, Hao, Wu Dang Styles), Six HarmonyXin Yi Ch'uan, Qi GongPrivate instruction by appointment only.(831) 325-3233 dfeldman@cruzio.comContact Daniel Feldman at (831) 325-3233 or dfeldman@cruzio to getyour school listed in the Martial Arts Directory for only $20 a month.Tai Chi Natural Health Clubby Wendy BallenTHE TAI CHI Natural Health Clubis an umbrella organization thatincludes exercise in the form ofTai Chi Chuan and Chi Kung, acupuncture,herbs, meditation, and nutritionaland lifestyle counseling. I started thisbusiness in 1985 as a Tai Chi instructorunder the inspiration and guidance of myteacher, Chang I-Chung.I came to UCSC in 1976 to study art. Igraduated with a BA in 1980 and got ajob as a “specialty baker” at Staff of Life.I spent the next 4 years studying naturalfoods and health. There, I often noticed aChinese man with his student, carefullyexamining everything. He studied products,then sat down in the deli and hadlunch. I was drawn to him but too shy tointroduce myself. One day, I told acoworker that I would love to meet him.She turned to him and yelled Helloooooo.That broke the ice. Another month of visitsincluded many tips from him on howto improve the baked goods by makingthem healthier. I learned that they camefrom San Francisco weekly to teach TaiChi. One Monday they gave me a businesscard. I signed up that night. Duringthe first class, when I bent my legs slightly,aligned my posture, and stood relaxedlystill, I felt like I had come home.Chang I-Chung, the teacher, wasborn near Shanghai and devoted his life tothe study of Chinese martial arts, bothinternal and external styles. After WW IIhe met Wang Shu-Jin in Taiwan, whotaught Chen Pan-Ling’s integrated TaiChi. Chang later moved to Japan andopened a martial arts school. He wantedto show that force and aggression wereyoga teachertraining200 and 500 hour certificate programsDebra Chamberlin-Taylor and George TaylorPassionate Journey - A Valentine’s Retreat for Couples - Feb. 10-12Going 200 hour Deeper certificateA Focused Meditation Retreat - Feb. 10-14June 24-July 20Vasant D. LadAyurveda - Nutrition in Relation to Body, Mind and Spirit - Feb. 17-19Dr. Spring Sarita Intensive ShresthaTenshin Bhagavad Reb Gita Anderson – Support for Daily LifeZen May Teachings 19-26 on Fearlessness and Nonviolence - Mar 31-Apr 2 &Mar 31-Apr 4Coeleen Upasana Kiebert Yoga RetreatMay 26-30Ayurveda - The Science and Art of Longevity - Mar 31-Apr 2 & Mar 31-Apr 9Personal Shrines - Sacred Geometry in Our Bodies and Lives - Apr 7-9 &Apr7-11may be taken as part of the 500 hour certificate program orAnna for personal Halprin growthDance for Life - Apr 28-3010th Annual Spring Retreat for WomenAyurveda and Yoga: Rejuvenation - Apr 28-30445 Summit Rd. Watsonville CA, 95076408-847-0406 www.mountmadonna.orgnot superior to suppleness and refinement.He believed in teaching the “Sage Arts.”Chang came to California in 1979and chose to teach the Nan KingIntegrated style (also known as ChenPan-Ling style. His lessons were infusedwith finesse, humor, profound life lessons,spontaneous poetry, dietary guidelines,and occasional chewing outs. TheSanta Cruz class was small but dedicated.Our larger Bay Area group, whichChang called the Tai Chi Natural HealthClub, got together for yearly retreats atthe Mount Madonna Center. There in1985 I met a student from Los Gatos,Sid Fontana. Sid and I became Tai Chisparring partners. We developed a closefriendship, using the foundations of TaiChi push hands as the basis for our relationship.In 1985, Chang moved to LosAngeles and asked me to take over theSanta Cruz class as instructor. I wasunsure of my ability but had his supportand guidance. I held my first class atOcean View Park, and I’m still there.Soon after, Sid started teaching. He nowteaches 25 classes weekly, mostly privatelessons. We were married in 1995, solidifyingour business and personal partnership.Mr. Chang continued to come toSanta Cruz quarterly for seminars until acouple years ago when he retired.In 1990 I advanced my professionalcareer by studying Chinese medicineat Five Branches Institute. I earned amaster’s in Traditional Chinese Medicineand began practicing acupuncture andChinese herbal medicine.In the summer of 1999, somefriends asked if I would go to Italy withthem to perform their marriage ceremony.I had never been to Europe and was overwhelmedby the beauty and the art ofVenice. I had an epiphany. I had stoppedmaking art 20 years before, but there thefloodgates opened. On my return I gotinvolved in making art, studying metalsmithingand sculpture at Cabrillo. I haveintegrated my many activities so theyenhance each other. The art I do is figurative.I fabricate sculpture in metal withinternal organs and skeletal systems.Integrating my career with my artworkhas strengthened both; studying andresearching for my patients gives meinsights into the structure and functionneeded to build my sculptures.In the beginning Tai Chi was myart form — human sculpture, finding theinternal armature of the bones, movingthrough graceful shapes with one’s bodywith the added benefit of a quiet mindand calm heart. I’ve found the principlesof Tai Chi are tools for optimizing myhealth, clearing my head, keepingfocused and balanced. It is the fuel andfoundation that allow me to fulfill myinspirations, my family life, friendships,art, and joie de vivre.Sid and I have learned (1) self-cultivation— never stop refining oneselfthrough study and exploration; (2) allowingone’s individual nature to flourish (3)pursuing health and finding ease in one’sbody; (4) allowing for the abundance andfree flow of chi — in movements, events,and relationships. Aging is unavoidable;the ability to stay comfortable as long aspossible is worth the effort.For information on any servicesoffered by the Tai Chi Natural HealthClub contact Wendy Ballen at (831) 423-2037. TCNHC website is www.taichisantacruz.com.Wendy’s art website iswww.wendyballenart.com.Page 14 ▲ The Connection Magazine ▲ www.theConnect.com ▲ February — March 8, 2006

IS ALL YOU NEED’may sound like a cliché or a‘LOVEconcept that is too simple tobe true. I believe that Paddy EastonGraves clearly educates us everymonth (in her column, The Call toAwaken), and perhaps even challenges usat times, with the understanding that ‘love is always truly theanswer’. If we’d just believe in that, have the faith and surrender topracticing; then living it—we’d be kinder, gentler, happier people.Though we ourselves (The Connection Magazine) are not religiousfolks, we are certainly spiritual beings—and unconditional lovebelongs in each of those perspectives. It belongs in all viewpoints.The theme this issue is LOVE. We have presented different perspectivesfrom some of this country’s and the world’s leading mentors,who we are so proud to have as our columnists: Paddy EastonGraves, Barry & Joyce Vissell, John Robbins, Hugh & GaylePrather, Dr. Wayne Dyer and Arianna Huffington.Love is a many splendored thing—we all have it, we all need it,we all are it. It is free—it costs nothing to have or to give (though itcosts a lot when we don’t have it). The more we give it, the more wereceive it—all that I give, is given to myself! Sometimes, it starts witha simple smile . . .In Love,Pattie & ThomHappy Valentine’s Day!by Joyce and Barry VissellWHAT ARE THE mostimportant ingredients ofa great relationship –whether it is romantic, parent-child,sibling, or good friends? What reallymakes the difference between anordinary and an extraordinary relationship?From almost 40 years ofloving one another in our own relationshipand 30 years of studyingand helping others in our counselingand workshops, here is what wehave found to be crucial to both healailing relationships and make solidrelationships even better.Seven Pathsto theShared Heart:1. Cultivate a DeeperRelationship with Yourself. Thiscomes first. There can be no fulfillingrelationship with another untilyou come to peace with yourself.There are many ways to nurtureyour own heart and soul: prayer,meditation, time alone in nature,inspiring reading or music, singing,dancing, etc.2. Express Your Gratitudeand Appreciation Every Day. Theopposite, taking your loved one forgranted, is a sure path to relationshipstagnation. Doing things toshow your love is great, like bringingflowers or hugging, but speakingwords of genuine appreciation orgratitude right from your heart is aprecious gift. Look deeply at yourlover or friend, feel what you lovethe most, are most grateful for, orwould miss the most if this personwere not in your life, and then say itwith all your heart’s feeling.3. Reclaim Your Projections.Every day we see couples blamingeach other, and thus feeling likeinnocent victims. Rather, what is itthat you are doing that is hurting therelationship? Take responsibility foryour projections, both negative andpositive. If you don’t like your partner’s“neediness,” have you reallylooked at your own neediness. Ortheir anger (and thus your ownanger)? How about the positive projections,like your loved one’s beauty,kindness or intelligence, reflectingthese same qualities in you?Reclaiming your projections is thecentral theme in Light in the Mirror(aka The Heart’s Wisdom ).4. Apologize for the Ways YouHave Hurt Your Loved One. Goahead, swallow your false-pride.Make time with your loved ones toapologize for hurtful words oractions. What if you aren’t sure howyou hurt this person, humbly ask.Let them know it’s important to youto make amends for any pain you’vecaused, whether inadvertently ordeliberately. This is another way totake responsibility for your actionsand words.Love is All You Needby Paddy Easton GravesWITHOUT LOVE WEare nothing but a shadowof a thought; with love,we are the light of the universe.Love is the perfect, infinite,and eternal force that weavesthrough and is the source of allthings. Joined with love as essenceand form, we are the creator and thecreated. All life and healing comesof this. When attuned to the infinitespectrum of the non-manifest, weknow that all that is of us, and allthat is of eternity ride on the sameradiant beam of light, set apart onlyby the variation in the length oftheir waves. On this current ofresplendence we are separate fromnothing. From the pure vibration oflove comes a perfect ray of lightthat is spirit, and out of this masterpieceof perfection comes life.Love is the effect of nothing—it is the source, and never can therebe a force more powerful. Theforms that love takes as it manifestsalong its beam of radiant light are5. Share Your VulnerableFeelings. When something is said ordone, usually inadvertantly, thathurts (even a little), most people doone of two things: they ignore thehurt feeling or they get angry. Oftenthese two choices produce a tensesilence or expressions of sarcasm,lectures, criticism, or outright anger.This is not just a men’s issue. Wesee just as many women makingthese two choices. The courageous(and honest) choice might soundlike this: “You probably didn’t meanto hurt me by saying (or doing)__________ , but it did hurt me.”Now here’s the catch. This kind ofstatement works best if spoken withreal vulnerability . If there is angerin your voice, and you may not evenbe aware of this, your loved onemay become defensive. So how doyou know you are truly vulnerable?Most of the time, you will be metwith vulnerability in return, and possiblyeven an apology. If not, thenseek professional help.6. Come to Know and LoveYour Inner Parent and Your InnerChild. Most people have difficultyunderstanding these two parts ofthemselves. But it’s true, we eachhave an inner parent that longs tonurture, protect, and surround anotherwith love and safety, as well as aninner child that longs for love in theform of acceptance, cherishing, orprotection. Relationships commonlymany, and they are all good. Love isthe living force that governs all thatis real. The source of love is itself,existing as eternal, infinite, andomnipotent light. We need only oneinstant in which to know love—theone we are in now.Love is impervious to change,Love has no limits,is whole in and ofitself, and is relativeto nothing.time, thought, or any darkness madeby mind. As the force of love flowsfrom its source through us, all itsgifts are offered at once. Love cannever leave us, yet we, with our willcan turn from it. The offerings oflove ride on the wave of light thatflows through our being like a musicalinstrument, joining us with ourmother earth and our true self, andmaking our life here a gloriousreflection of the music it plays.For the Love of Relationshipsget into trouble by ignoring these twoinner parts of each person. If youignore your inner parent, you maybecome too fixed upon getting lovefrom others rather than giving love.In other words, you may be unconsciouslyacting out the child part ofyou. If you ignore your inner child,you may burn out on giving toomuch and not receiving enough love.In other words, you may be unconsciouslyacting out the inner parent.When you make both the inner childand the inner parent conscious and inbalance with each other, your relationshipsachieve balance as well.7. Discover Your SharedSpirituality. Although it is importantto develop your own daily spiritualpractices that feed your own soul, itis just as important to discover spiritualpractices that can be shared withyour loved ones. A shared religion orfaith is an obvious solution, but manycouples or families don’t have this. Itis even more important to find thatcommon spiritual thread that unitesyou on a daily basis. The two of uslove to sit side by side, each doingour own silent meditation, but enjoyingthe closeness. Then we love totouch our foreheads together, andeach speak a prayer of gratitude orasking for help from a source of wisdomand love greater than our personalselves. This is just what welove to do together. Your challenge isto discover your own shared path,Page 15 ▲ The Connection Magazine ▲ www.theConnect.com ▲ February — March 8, 2006Love has no limits, is whole inand of itself, and is relative to nothing.It attracts and emits only itself,and there is no force that can create,destroy, or act upon it. In a world ofconstant change and unpredictableevents, love is the only certainty.Love need not conform to ourdesires and fears, yet, to fulfill ourdesires and have freedom from fear,we must conform to love.The power of love is beyondmeasure, yet it does not belong to us– we belong to it. Love is the onlymaster to which we can bow, neverfearing that we are bowing to a falseimage. Love is the only leader wecan follow with the certainty that weare not being led astray. It is theguiding light that we can trust completelyas a world made real by fearis eclipsed by a new world made byour thoughts of peace, compassion,and silent knowledge.Paddy Easton Graves is anauthor and Green Builder. She canbe reached at sga@cruzio.com.practices that tune you both to thehighest love, acts of kindness thatyou can do with your loved ones, acommon gift (no matter how small orlarge) that makes this world a betterplace. Mother Teresa says, “It’s notthe big things that matter to God, it’sthe little things done with love.”If you can truly practice evenone of these principles, you will beamazed at the difference in both yourselfand your relationships. If youtake to heart all seven of these principles,you will enjoy abundant loveyourself and in all your relationships,you will heal and transform stuck ortroubled relationships, and you willdeepen your connection with all thosewho really matter to you.Barry and Joyce Vissell arerenowned relationship counselorswho can be reached at the SharedHeart Foundation at (800) 766-0629.

A PersonalCredo Page 16 ▲ The Connection Magazine ▲ www.theConnect.com ▲ February — March 8, 2006 Love John Robbins

For the Love of Tolerance,Kindness & Gentle Opennessby Hugh PratherNOTHING EXCEPT PERHAPS thedeath of a child is more painful or confusingthan the failure of a marriage orlong-term relationship. The one person wethought loved us and would always be there, isnow betraying us in a hundred little ways, andit just makes no sense.Because relationships aresymbolic of God’s lovefor us, a failing relationshipcan feel like Godabandoning us.As the signsbecome clearer that therelationship is ending,Hugh Pratherthere is often considerableinner conflict overhow to respond to one’spartner. Nothing seems to work and althoughwe try to approach this from a spiritual standpoint,we are not even sure we would want therelationship if it could be saved.At this stage, the couple may still be incounseling and that in itself can be a problem,because some therapists stress protecting andstrengthening the individuals’ separate egos. Myexperience is that once one or both partnersstart reading co-dependency books or going to acounselor whose main focus is co-dependency,that is that, and the marriage ends soon after.The reason for this is that the goal of codependencytheory is to lessen pain throughestablishing stronger boundaries and clarifyingindividual rights, whereas love can only thrive inan atmosphere of tolerance and gentle openness.However, if any couple reading this columnis in therapy, they should forget everythingI say and follow the counselor’s advice.Unless you trust your counselor and adhere tothe instructions you are given, the counselinghas no chance of succeeding.Assuming that you are not in therapy,there are several guidelines that can be helpfulin gaining inner peace as circumstances unfold.First, you should try to remain in thepresent as much as possible. This is difficult,but every effort made helps. Whenever youfind yourself projecting into the future orregretting the past, say to yourself, “I put thissituation in God’s hands,” and take a momentto really do just that.Second, it is vital to be kind to your partner.Without kindness, peace will not be experienced.Even if you don’t feel like being kind, itis more beneficial to act gently than to confrontor attack. “Honest confrontation” is impossiblebecause it is conflicted. It goes against ourdeeper nature to oppose or try to thwart andthus it splits our mind and turns us against ourselves.Page 18▲Page 17 ▲ The Connection Magazine ▲ www.theConnect.com ▲ February — March 8, 2006

y Arianna HuffingtonFor the Love of Courage & IntelligenceON FEBRUARY 1, 2006, JackMurtha delivered a mightyDemocratic response toBush’s State of the Union address,filled with passion, insight, perspective,and loads of specific details. It’s the onewe should have heard at the State of theUnion address.The president received sustainedapplause during his speech (at leastfrom the right side of the house) whenhe took a swipe at those who have criticizedhis handling of the war in Iraq:“Hindsight alone is not wisdom, andsecond-guessingis not astrategy.”GovernorTim Kaine, thedesignatedDemocraticresponder, dutifullysteppedArianna Huffingtonright into thepresident’s framing by asking, “Are thepresident’s policies the best way to winthis war?” and then failing to offer upany kind of alternative strategy. Instead,in a speech Harry Shearer described as“a motivational luncheon address at theRichmond Rotary,” he trotted out avapid phrase—”There’s a betterway”—and left it at that. (Bizarrely, thecall for “a better way” is straight out of“The Candidate,” where it was used tomock the mushy rhetoric of politicianswith nothing to say. And Democratswonder why they keep losing elections.)In contrast, Murtha’s response,presented at a press conference todayand in a letter sent to President Bush,contains a very specific, four-point strategyfor changing course in Iraq and“reinvigorating our global anti-terrorismstrategy.”After pointing out that the war inIraq has lasted longer than America’smilitary involvement in WW I, WW II,or the Korean War, Murtha directlytakes on Bush’s claim that the war inIraq has made us safer: “Iraq is not thecenter for the global war on terrorism. Ibelieve Iraq has diverted our attentionaway from the fight against global terrorismand has depleted the requiredresources needed to wage an effectivewar... Our country needs a vigorous andcomprehensive strategy for victoryagainst global terrorism. The architectof 9/11 is still out there but now has aninternational microphone. We must getback to the real issue at hand—we haveto root out and destroy al-Qaeda’sworldwide network.”Murtha then lays out the four keyelements of his plan: “Redeploy,Replace, Reallocate, and Reconstitute.”Redeploy. As he’s said since hefirst went public, Murtha believes weshould quickly withdraw our troopsfrom Iraq, leaving behind a mobile,rapid response force outside the country:“The war in Iraq is fueling terrorism,not eliminating it... A vast majorityof the Iraqi people now view Americantroops as occupiers, not liberators.” Hebacks this up with polls showing that80% of Iraqis want U.S. forces out ofIraq, with 50% favoring a withdrawalin the next six months. What’s more,60% of Iraqis believe violent attacks inthe country will decrease when weleave.“Our continued military presencein Iraq,” says Murtha, “is seen by Iraqisas interfering in Iraq’s democraticprocess and undercuts the chances forthe newly elected government to besuccessful...The longer our militarystays in Iraq, the more unwelcome wewill be.”Replace. Hindsight alone may notbe wisdom—but refusing to learn frompast mistakes is not wisdom either.That’s why Murtha wants to replacethose responsible for the litany of failuresin Iraq. In his letter, he urged thepresident to “hold accountable thoseresponsible for so many missteps andinstall a fresh team that demonstratestrue diplomatic skill, knowledge of culturaldifferences and a willingness toearnestly engage other leaders in arespectful and constructive way.” Inother words, kick Rummy to the curband stop protecting (let alone promoting)those that have given us the outragesof Abu Ghraib, the bungled occupation,and the failed reconstruction.Reallocate. Murtha also nails theprice we have paid here at home forBush’s imperial adventures abroad: “TheDepartment of Defense has been allocated$238 billion for the war in Iraq, withaverage monthly costs growing significantlysince the beginning of the war. In2003 the average monthly war cost was$4.4 billion; by 2005 the average monthlycost had reached $6.1 billion.... In theface of threats from international terrorists,we need to reallocate funds from thewar in Iraq to protecting the UnitedStates against attack. A safe and swiftredeployment from Iraq will allow us todo just that.”Reconstitute. Finally, Murtha, alongtime, diehard backer of the U.S.military echoes the concerns of JointChiefs of Staff chair Gen. RichardMyers, who in a classified report toCongress, worried that “the concentrationof American troops andweapons in Iraq and Afghanistan limitsthe Pentagon’s ability to deal withother potential armed conflicts.”That’s why Murtha wants to reconstituteour depleted forces. “On our currentpath, I believe we are not only indanger of breaking our military, butthat we are increasing the chances ofa major miscalculation by our futureenemies, who may perceive us as vulnerable.”It’s what Democrats need to besaying—and backing up—again andagain and again: Iraq has made us lesssafe here at home and less able to dealwith crises around the world.Last night on Hardball, ChrisMatthews asked Joe Biden to explainhow it is that the American people are“worried about abuse of this NSA spyingat home,” “want to bring the troopsIn contrast, Murtha’s response, presented at a pressconference ... and in a letter sent to President Bush,contains a very specific, four-point strategy forchanging course in Iraq and “reinvigorating” ourglobal anti-terrorism strategy.”home,” and “don’t think [the war] wasworth it to fight... And yet, when youask them ‘Who do you trust on terrorismand security,’ they say the president,who seems to lose on each particular,but somehow wins on the generalquestion of security.”Biden blamed it on the lack of aclear Democratic leader: “I think it’sbecause it’s the president versus whom?The president versus this amorphousCongress? This amorphous DemocraticParty? It would be a very different circumstanceif it was the president versusan individual Democrat who had a differentvision and was articulating it.”You mean like Jack Murtha? Theproblem isn’t that the Democrats lack aspokesman with a different vision ableto articulate it. The problem is that theDemocrats keep shooting themselves inthe foot–sending out Tim Kaine, whotoday told reporters “I’m not an expertPage 19 ▲ The Connection Magazine ▲ www.theConnect.com ▲ February — March 8, 2006on foreign policy or the war,” instead ofputting Jack Murtha (who is) front, center,and in prime time.When will they learn that in apost-9/11 reality, it’s the national security,stupid?Arianna Huffington, author of 10books, offers a scathing portrait of ourcontemporary political landscape witha bold, inspiring and practicalapproach to restoring America to thepromise envisioned by our greatestleaders. She serves on several boardsthat promote community solutions tosocial problems, including A PlaceCalled Home that works with at-riskchildren in South Central Los Angeles.She also serves on the Board ofTrustees for the Archer School for Girlsand the board of the Reform Institutethat works on campaign and electionreform issues.www.huffingtonpost.com

The Healthy WayCheri Bianchini, RNMeals on WheelsAmericans now eat one quarter oftheir meals inside their cars. Our multitasking,no-time-to-eat lifestyle hascaused the kitchen table of yesteryear tobe replaced by the car dashboard, andthe phenomenon is on the rise.Ever willing to meet the changingtrends, American businesses such asfast food outlets have developed laptopplace mats to prevent clothes from gettingsoiled. Automakers such as Volvohave developed cars with refrigeratedglove boxes and some models of Hondaprovide a pop-up table in the console.Typically, food consumed in vehicles isof a less nutritious, processed natureand is generally eaten faster than mealsconsumed at home or in restaurants.Our meals weren't always eaten aloneor on the fly. Fact is, our ancestorsspent most of their day hunting, gatheringand preparing food…it was basicsurvival. When it came time to eat, theywould do so in clans or tribes with anatmosphere of celebration. As babies,we were held while given milk andspoon feed by our caregivers. Indeed,connecting with others through foodoffers strong, nurturing social ties andis an integral part of our heritage.Psychologist and researcher JeanneAchterberg summarized the importancebetween social support and health asfollows: "Lack of social relationshipsconstitutes a major risk factor in health,one that is even greater than smokingand appears to be a strong predictor oflongevity and mortality."Research has also shown that childrenof families who sit down and sharea meal together have less delinquentbehavior and are better students.Without question, the busy demandsof home, family and career make forchallenging times. Here are a few suggestionsfor integrating more wholesomefoods and greater social contactinto your life.1. Develop the habit of a family sabbath.Plan one meal a week (or moreoften) that will be home cookedamongst family and friends. Share thestories of the day.2. Organize colleagues at work toparticipate in a weekly (or more often)potluck for lunch. Someone brings asalad, another brings sandwiches,pasta, whatever. Make it fun and set theprecedence of healthy, yet tasty foods.3. Brown bag it with friends once inawhile, rather than relying on fast foodat meal time.4. Investigate local restaurants anddelis near work and on your route homethat offer healthier cuisine. A chickenCaesar salad, Greek salad or bowl ofsoup to go is a far wiser choice thangreasy fries, burger and milk shake.5. If you must eat in the car…don'tdrive! Pull over where the atmosphereand view are pleasant (the beach, trees,kids at play). Turn off the pager and cellphone and turn on nice, relaxing music.Take ten or fifteen minutes to nourishyour body.The Healthy WayWeight & Lifestyle SolutionsFree ConsultationCall Now! 462-59003251 Mission Dr., S.C.(near Dominican Hospital)www.thehealthyway.usFranchise Opportunities Availableby Lois Robinand Patricia MatejcekRIVERS ARE PUBLICresources and residents andvisitors to California want tobe able to use the Pajaro and it’sbanks or streambed for protectedrecreational activities such as birdwatching, fishing, boating, swimming,picnicking, hiking, photographyand painting.In fact, rivers are public trustland, and people have a right to theiruse (with the exception of someSpanish land grant property). Morepublic access trails and paths to theriver need to be provided. At thesame time negative uses of theaccess right must also be prevented.In Gilroy, levees installed in1982 provide paved service roads ontop of the levees that are used forwalking and bike riding; theyembrace a channel sufficiently widethat many trails are available down tothe stream channel during the dry seasonfor public recreation and excellentbird watching. In Santa Cruz andMonterey counties, the public hasextremely limited access to the river.The levees do present a paved serviceroad but the public is discouragedfrom using them, as the river is veryconstrained into a small area betweenthe levees. All the adjoining lands areprivately owned with owners greatlyconcerned about trespass and liabilityon their property. The San BenitoRiver can also provide recreationaluse if and when mining operationsand off road vehicle use are replacedby a river parkway.River ManagementThe River collects water primarilyfrom the four counties of SantaClara, San Benito, Santa Cruz,Monterey and some from FresnoCounty. Twenty-four local, regional,state and federal agencies areinvolved in managing issues in thePajaro River watershed.The four counties and theirassociated water districts make upthe Pajaro River Flood ManagementAuthority, focusing on preventingdamages from high water flows.While most of the water comesfrom the upstream counties, there islittle risk to developments there, butin Santa Cruz and Monterey counties,homes and businesses are builtvery close to the river, and the riveris squeezed into a too-narrow channel.So far there has been considerabledisagreement between upperand lower counties over who shouldpay for what, but the solutions theypropose are inadequate to solve bothenvironmental, flood and waterusage problems. An agency is neededthat addresses the entire watershedand is empowered to create ahealthy, viable living river.Healthy PlanetChallenges to the Pajaro River WatershedWithout human interference, there would be tall trees (alder, cottonwood,sycamore) on the outer edges of the Pajaro riverbed and shorter shrubs, principallywillow, along the active stream channel. But agricultural runoff keeps thenormally dry summer streambed overly wet, encouraging excessive willow growth.Floodplain PreservationThe key to a healthy river is inthe preservation of its meanders,floodplains and vegetation. In thePajaro River watershed, four townshave already been built on thePajaro’s floodplains because theland is level, convenient and closeto water. While laws are in place toprevent continued building in theserisky areas, they are often ignoreddue to development pressures.Property owners are interested inconverting land into real estatedevelopments, pressure is brought tobear on officials to allow transactionsthat degrade the floodplainsbut provide benefits to privateinvestors. But when a flood comes,homes and businesses are lost, livesdisrupted, pollution occurs and thepublic pays for damages, cleanupand relocation.Asphalt and cement interferedirectly with the ability of the earthto absorb rainwater so that it canpercolate into aquifers. Theupstream areas of San Benito andSanta Clara counties are particularlyvulnerable to development, and itsriparian corridors and intact floodplainsmust be preserved.VegetationCentral Coast Rivers swell withwater in winter but dry out in summer.Native plants and animals areadapted to this cycle. Native vegetationdoes the important work ofcleaning river water and reducingerosion while providing food, nestsand protection for native animals.Without human interference,there would be tall trees (alder, cottonwood,sycamore) on the outeredges of the riverbed and shortershrubs, principally willow, along theactive stream channel. But agriculturalrunoff keeps the normally drysummer streambed overly wet,encouraging excessive willowgrowth. Willow roots may grow oldand big enough to prevent necessaryscouring of the streambed.The balance between restoringand maintaining sufficient nativevegetation to provide adequate habitatfor native species while providingsufficient active channel capacityto high volume winter flows hasyet to be found for the Pajaro.PollutionChemicals used in agriculture,on golf courses, lawns and gardensregularly flow into the river. Citiesin the upper counties discharge tertiarytreated water from sewer plantsinto the river. This water not onlymay contain pathogens but hormonesincreasingly used by urbanresidents. Sewage effluent still emptiesinto the River from septic tanks.Hollister is permitted to discard anoverflow of saline effluent into theRiver. Oil, anti-freeze, brake fluid,tire and brake residue drain into theriver from streets, roads and parkinglots with every rain. Homelessencampments leave human wasteand litter in the river channel. Litteris also deposited by property owners,citizens discarding bicycles andcars and by businesses disposing oftrash. Cattle grazing adds animal E.coli to the human sources ofpathogens and degrades the waterquality and poses health risks torecreational users.Mining OperationsSand and gravel operationshave been conducted throughout theupper Watershed counties for manyyears. They provide materials usedin road and building construction.Because these operations remove somuch material from the main stemand tributaries in the upper watershed,the river’s course is destabilized,accelerating erosion, generatingexcessive sediment whichsmothers fish and amphibian eggs,removes oxygen from the water,decreases visibility, and reduces theeffectiveness of the river’s historicfloodplain to contain high waterflows. Asbestos mining has also hadnegative impacts on the river.Some advanced companies aretaking an interest in restoring some ofthe damage done by their operationsHabitatThe Pajaro River has traditionallyprovided food and homes forbirds, mammals, reptiles, amphibiansand fish. Many places in theWatershed still support a rich diversityof wildlife. Several species arenow listed as threatened or endangeredincluding the steelhead trout,red-legged frog, western pond turtle,snowy plover and swainson’s thrush.The primary reason for the severelydecreased number of these animalsis loss of habitat.After the flood in 1995, nearlyall the trees in the Lower Pajaroabove Highway 1 were cut, leavingonly one every 75 feet. The complexriparian canopy required by birdswas destroyed, and the numbers andvariety of bird species declinedseverely. Trees also provided hidingplaces for migrating fish from predatorsand cooled the water. Now thelower river is too open and toowarm to encourage their passagefrom the ocean to their egg-layingareas in the creeks and providesinsufficient resources for the youngfish making their way to the ocean.Flood ProtectionFloods submerge agriculturalfields and damage valuable crops;businesses, homes and streets in lowlying areas fill with mud and areunusable for weeks. Fortunatelyfew human lives have so far beenlost in floods on the Pajaro. With thedevelopment of cities and towns onthe floodplains, flooding Isinevitable, and the prospect of futurefloods has created a strong demandfor flood protection which must bepaid for by public dollars and feesassessed on affected properties.Upstream activities have alsosubstantially increased the magnitudeof peak flood flows, adding tothe risk of flooding downstream.Ignoring these upstream problemseffectively prevents the success ofany flood control project implementedon the lower river. CongressmanFarr won reauthorization for theArmy Corps of Engineers to create anew flood protection plan for thetwelve downstream miles. Thatauthorization must be extended tothe upstream areas if the ArmyCorps’ plan for the Pajaro is to work.Text by Lois Robin and PatriciaMatejcek,Pajaro River WatershedCommittee of the Sierra Club.Page 20 ▲ The Connection Magazine ▲ www.theConnect.com ▲ February — March 8, 2006

y Paul Craig RobertsAPROVISION IN THE “PATRI-OT Act” creates a new federalpolice force with the power toviolate the Bill of Rights. You mightthink that this cannot be true, as youhave not read about it in newspapers orheard it discussed by talking heads onTV.Go to House Report 109-333 USAPATRIOT Improvement andReauthorization Act of 2005 and check it out for yourself. Sec. 605 reads:“There is hereby created and establisheda permanent police force, to beknown as the ‘United States SecretService Uniformed Division.’”This new federal police force is“subject to the supervision of theSecretary of Homeland Security.”The new police are empowered to“make arrests without warrant for anyoffense against the United States committedin their presence, or for anyfelony cognizable under the laws of theUnited States if they have reasonableby Cindy SheehanAS MOST OF you have probably heard, I wasarrested before the State of the UnionAddress. I am speechless with fury at whathappened and with grief over what we have lost inour country. There have been lies from the police anddistortions by the press(shocker). So this is what reallyhappened: At the People’s State of the UnionAddress in DC, I was joined by CongresspersonsLynn Woolsey and John Conyers,Ann Wright, Malik Rahim andJohn Cavanagh. Lynn brought mea ticket to the State of the UnionAddress. At that time, I waswearing the shirt that said: “2245Dead. How many more?” I metone of Congresswoman BarbaraLee’s staffers in the LongworthCongressional Office buildingand we went to the Capitol viathe underground tunnel. I wentthrough security once, then hadto use the rest room and wentthrough security again.My ticket was in the 5thgallery, front row, fourth seat in.The person, who in a few minutes was to arrest me,helped me to my seat.I had just sat down and I was very warm from climbing3 flights of stairs back up from the bathroom, so Iunzipped my jacket. I turned to the right to take my leftarm out, when the same officer saw my shirt and yelled,“Protester.”He then ran over to me, hauled me out of my seat, androughly (with my hands behind my back) shoved me upthe stairs. I said,”I’m going, do you have to be sorough?”He cuffed me and took me outside to await agrounds to believe that the person to bearrested has committed or is committingsuch felony.”The new police are assigned a varietyof jurisdictions, including “an eventdesignated under section 3056(e) of title18 as a special event of national significance”(SENS).“A special event of national significance”is neither defined nor does itrequire the presence of a “protected person”such as the president in order totrigger it. Thus, the administration, andperhaps the police themselves, can placethe SENS designation on any event.Once a SENS designation is placed onan event, the new federal police areempowered to keep out and arrest peopleat their discretion.The language conveys enormousdiscretionary and arbitrary powers. Whatis “an offense against the United States”?What are “reasonable grounds”?You can bet the Alito/Roberts courtwill rule that it is whatever the executivebranch says.The obvious purpose of the act is toprevent demonstrations at Bush/Cheneyevents. However, nothing in the languagelimits the police powers from being usedonly in this way. Like every law in theU.S., this law also will be expansivelyinterpreted and abused. It has dire implicationsfor freedom of association andHealthy PlanetUnfathomed Dangers in PATRIOT Act ReauthorizationCindy SheehanWhat Really HappenedBella Wella, ink!First Amendment rights. We can take forgranted that the new federal police willbe used to suppress dissent and to breakup opposition. The Brownshirts are nowarming themselves with a Gestapo.Many naïve Americans will writeto me to explain that this new provisionin the reauthorization of the “PATRIOTAct” is necessary to protect the presidentand other high officials from terrorists orfrom harm at the hands of angry demonstrators:“No one else will have anythingto fear.” Some will accuse me of beingan alarmist, and others will say that it isunpatriotic to doubt the law’s good intentions.Americans will write such nonsensedespite the fact that the presidentand foreign dignitaries are already providedsuperb protection by the SecretService. The naïve will not comprehendthat the president cannot be endangeredby demonstrators at SENS at which thepresident is not present. For manyAmericans, the light refuses to turn on.In Nazi Germany, did no one butJews have anything to fear from theGestapo?By Stalin’s time, Lenin and Trotskyhad eliminated all members of the“oppressor class,” but that did not stopStalin from sending millions of “enemiesof the people” to the Gulag.It is extremely difficult to holdsquad car. I was never told that I couldn’t wear thatshirt into the Congress. I was never asked to take itoff or zip my jacket back up. If I had been asked todo any of those things ... I would have, and writtenabout the suppression of my freedom of speechlater. I was immediately and roughly (I have thebruises and muscle spasms to prove it) hauled offand arrested for “unlawful conduct.”While in jail this enormity hit me. I have lostmy son. I have lost my FirstAmendment rights. I have lostthe country that I love. Wheredid America go? I started cryingin pain. What did Caseydie for? What did the 2244other brave young Americansdie for? What are tens of thousandsof them over there inharm’s way for still? For this?I can’t even wear a shirtthat has the number of troopson it that George Bush and hisarrogant and ignorant policiesare responsible for killing.I did not wear it to bedisruptive, or I would have unzipped my jacketduring Bush’s speech.I have some lawyers looking into filing a FirstAmendment lawsuit against the government forwhat happened. I will file it. It is time to take ourfreedoms and our country back. I don’t want to livein a country that prohibits any person from speakingup.Four hours and 2 jails after I was arrested, Iwas let out. Again, I am so upset and sore that it ishard to think straight.Keep up the struggle ... Ipromise you, I will too.Graphic Design(831) 239-0223even local police forces accountable.Who is going to hold accountable a federalpolice protected by HomelandSecurity and the president?Paul Craig Roberts is the authorwith Lawrence M. Stratton of TheTyranny of Good Intentions : HowProsecutors and Bureaucrats AreTrampling the Constitution in the Nameof Justice.Please call your representativesand Senators, write letters to the editorof Good Times, Metro, San Jose MercuryNews, Monterey Herald, Santa CruzSentinel, San Francisco Chronicle, etc.Call into KUSP, KPFA etc. and get thismonstrous fascist act stopped!! Don’ttake Roberts’ word for this see the actualtext at:http://thomas.loc.gov/cgibin/cpquery/R?cp109:FLD010:@1(hr333)TMTMTMPage 21 ▲ The Connection Magazine ▲ www.theConnect.com ▲ February — March 8, 2006

Your Father ForeverWritten by Travis GriffithIllustrated by Raquel AbreuOn the day you are born, I will welcome you intomy armsAnd gaze at you in wonder, as we feel the depthof our love.On warm summer nights we will search the sparklingsky and marvel at the grandeur of theuniverse and all the mysteries beyond.In this heartwarming poem, a devoted fatherpromises to nurture, guide, protect and respecthis beloved children. Featuring the captivatingillustrations of Raquel Abreu, Your FatherForever transcends the boundaries of cultureand time in expressing a parent’s universallove.About the Author:TRAVIS GRIFFITH wasinspired to write Your Father Forevershortly after the birth of hisson. Called into action early onemorning by little Preston’s persistentcries, he mused, “Well, Iguess I’ll keep getting up likethis for as long as you need meto.” That seemingly randomthought led to the birth of thisbook.Travis hopes to inspire fathersand children around theworld to deepen their connectionsand commitments to eachother. Living in Spokane, Washington, his householdincludes his wife, Jennifer, and their children,Sydney and Preston. He currently acts ascreative director for an advertising agency andis a free-lance newspaper writer. Contact him atTravis_Jenn@msn.com.About the Illustrator:Raquel has earned Bachelor’s degrees inEcology and Movie Animation from the FederalUniversity of MinasGerais, Brazil. She currentlylives in Brazil withher husband, Marcelo,their newly arriveddaughter, Beatriz, andtheir tabby cat, Angel.She can be reached atrqlabreu@terra.com.br.32 pages, 9”x11” hardcoverISBN 0-9740190-3-8A portion of theprofits from this bookwill be donated to TheChildren’s Global Foun-dation (CGV), a nonprofit organization dedicatedto global peace and to helping homeless childrenworldwide. CGV’s goal is to develop spirituallybasedcities of the future around the world. Formore info on CGV cities of the future, pleasecontact cgv@illlumin.com.Editor’s Note:As and Educator and Teacher of childrenfrom ages 5 through 18 for 30+ years, I affirmthat Illumination Arts has the finest books withthe most beautiful illustrations. They have manytitles with books that are not only beautiful butalso have a purpose and deep meaning. Go totheir website to see other titles and make yourorder. Check your local book stores for thesebooks (Ask for: Your Father Forever - 32 pages,9”x11” hardcover; ISBN 0-9740190-3-8). If theyaren’t available, request Illumination Arts booksto be featured in their stores.Please let them know that you read aboutthem in The Connection Magazine. Thank you!You may call toll free to place ordersor order on-line: 1 (888) 210-8216liteinfo@illumin.com and ask them to send youtheir catalogue too. www.illumin.comPage 22 ▲ The Connection Magazine ▲ www.theConnect.com ▲ February – March 8, 2006

ATTRIBUTES OF THE ROSEA Skin Care Bouquetby Donna Williams-SmithThe gifts of the rose are asmulti-fold as her petals.Praised by poets, revered insacred books and Medicinals, offeredto kings and the gods, the roseis a traditional symbol of love andromance and has long been consideredan aphrodesiac. Be it a singlebloom or a bouquet, roses are upliftingand always bring delight.They are highly prized not only fortheir beauty but also for their healingproperties, many of which applyto the skin.As a cell rejuvenator, rose oilsoothes and heals all complexiontypes and has a reputation for slowingthe skin’s aging process. It isalso strongly antiseptic and fightsinfection. It is one of the most valuableof essential oils.Extremely expensive and oneof the most important oils used inaromatherapy, pure rose oil has beenreferred to as ”the queen of essentialoils”. It takes the petals of thirtyDamask roses to make one drop ofrose otto. The buds are gatheredearly in the morning and steam distilledto produce true Bulgarian roseessential oil which is used in highgrade perfumes. This and the Cabbagerose (R. Centifolia), used toproduce French rose oil, are oftenincluded in cosmetic creams for theirrefreshing and mild tonic effect onsensative, dry or inflammed skin.In Ayurvedic medicine, rosesare considered cooling and tonic forthe mind. Therapeutically, the rosescent has a potent antidepressant effectand may be used via face andbody massage, skin care, baths ordiffusers to treat nervousness, sadnessor long term stress. Two dropsof rose oil may be helpful in a bathfor depression, grief or insomnia.Diluted in distilled water, roseoil may be used to soak compressesfor tired, irritated eyes. Rosewateris also a good skin care remedy, andis a staple in my own regimen as wellas in my skin care practice. It is softening,soothing and toning to theepidermis and great, used as a hydratorin a spray mist.—Rosewateressence, bought in specialty foodstores, may be used in the kitchenas it has been for centuries in the neareastern countries, France and Victoriantimes, for confections. Driedrose petals sprinkled on a simpledessert, will give it an instant elegance.Rosehips (thefleshy, swollen seedcapsules) have longbeen valued as an importantsource of vitaminC and are still consumed in commercialteas, syrups and fruit drinks.Oil from the hips of Rosa Rubinosa,in addition to vitamin C, are high inlinoleic and linolenic acids and areexcellent for maturing skin and softeningcalloused areas.The gifts of the rose unfold,as her petals, in a potpourri of nurturingabundance. Soothing andhealing on many levels—be itviewed, inhaled, ingested or applied,one understands why it is considereda stimulant to the heart chakra andtruly, a blessing.Donna Williams-Smith is awholistically oriented Aesthetician,licensed in CA and NV. She practicesconscious skin care, and Facial Toningat Angles in Scotts Valley, (831)429-9733.Unleash the natural killer in you. *by Pattie MillsIbegan my use of the SaintGermain Cosmetics last monthby using the Time Warp Serumin the bottle and the Transform EssenceCream. I am delighted to reportthat my progress continues.I had mistakenly used a bodyscrub on my face a while back whichcaused my facial pores to becomefar too large. Well, I can happily saythat the pores of my facial skin andneck continue to tighten and getsmaller. My skin is softer, clearerand smoother. I can actually say, asmy friends have also acknowledged,that the lines around my eyes are diminishing.I truly think that these productsare very beneficial for me. Theyare made with healthful ingredientswhich is so important. They aremade from a formula given by SaintGermain.I first clean my face and neckwith a healthful, nonabrasive, nondryingcleanser. I spray a pure wateron my face for hydration and thenI apply the Serum everywhere inupward, small circles. Before thatcompletely dries, I apply the creamin the same manner.My face feels so, so good. Iam happy to have discovered theseproducts and encourage anyone whowants to see a difference to try them.I also encourage people to have qualityfacials regularly and to go for aFacial Toning Series. I highly recommendfacials with the best productsand the Facial Toning Series byDonna Wms-Smith, the aestheticianthat is the columnist in this HealthyAppearance Column.ImmPower ®– AHCCJapan's best selling immune enhancing supplement now available in the U.S.In 1984, Japanese scientists discovered thatby hybridizing several mushrooms used intraditional healing they could develop a naturalcompound that would give the body what it needsto maintain "super immunity." Named ActiveHexose Correlated Compound (AHCC®), it has aunique alpha-1, 4 glucan structure and lowmolecular weight that research shows providesunsurpassed support for the immune system'sfront-line defenses:*■ Maintaining peak Natural Killer cell function*■ Supporting enhanced cytokine production*■ Promoting optimal T-cell and macrophageactivity*Natural Killer (NK) cells are yourimmune system's front-line defense.They inject invaders with cytotoxicgranules, granule lysis dissolvecell membrane causing invaders to"explode" in seconds.Based on over 20 published studies and theclinical experience of hundreds of hospitals andtens of thousands of consumers, AHCC hasbecome Japan's best selling immune enhancingsupplement. Now it’s available in America asImmPower AHCC ® where its gaining theendorsement of leading expertsin nutritional medicine.Compare and switchfrom the popular immuneenhancing supplementswith little or no independentresearch toImmPower –– AHCC.■ Better research*■ Better results*■ Less expensive thanother immuneenhancing supplements.*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.AHCC is a registered trademark of Amino-Up Chemical Company, Ltd,Sapporo, Japan.ImmPower is a trademark of American BioSciences Inc.© 2002 American BioSciences Inc. All rights reserved. 560 Bradley Parkway, Blauvelt, NY 10913Call for store Research aids, research and Sample and free Packet, samples 888-884-7770.(888) 884-7770.Available at Staff of Life, Whole Foods Markets and New Leaf MarketsPage 23 ▲ The Connection Magazine ▲ www.theConnect.com ▲ February – March 8, 2006

WRESTAURANTNIGHTCLUB1011 PACIFIC AVE. • 423-1336www.catalystclub.comFriday, February 10 • AGES 16+ANTIDOTE$6 Adv./$8 Dr. • Drs. 8 p.m. Show 9 p.m.In the Atrium DJ DANCE PARTY THE HOOK UPShow starts 10 p.m. • $5 after 11 p.m.Saturday, Feb. 11 • AGES 18+102.5 KDONfm presentsWARREN GDANCE PARTY$10 Adv./ $15 Dr. • Drs 9 p.m., Show 10 p.m.In the Atrium DJ DANCE PARTY W/ OSHA BShow starts 10 p.m. • $5 after 11 p.m.Every Sunday 8 BALL POOL TOURNAMENTCounty Residents & Amateurs only • Free pool afterwardsSign up at 8:30 p.m., games start at 9 p.m. • Ages 21+Mondays in the Upstairs Bar 8p.m. - MidnightHospitalitySenseless MinglingIndustry NightBartenders, Waitresses, Waiters, Hotel Staff etc.Show your paystub for 1/2 off drinks & food.Monday & Tuesday FREE POOLfor Bar Patrons 5 p.m. to ClosingSaturday, February 18 • AGES 16+STS9 Presents a Benefit for Mariposa'sArt "Empowering Youth Through Art"$20 Adv./ $20 Dr. • Drs. 8 p.m., Show 9 p.m.In the Atrium DJ DANCE PARTY W/ OSHA BFriday, February 24AGES 16+BUCKETHEADplus Kid Beyond$12 Adv./ $16 Dr.Drs. 8 p.m., Show 9 p.m.In the Atrium DJ DANCE PARTY THE HOOK UPSaturday, Feb. 25 • AGES 21+LOSLOBOSPresents aClassic SetFrom 1985$24 Adv./ $27 Dr. • Drs 8:30 p.m., Show 9:30 p.m.In the Atrium DJ DANCE PARTY W/ OSHA BSunday, Feb. 26AGES 21+$35 Adv./ $37 Dr. • Drs 7:30 p.m., Show 8:30 p.m.Saturday, March 4AGES 21+SONS OFCHAMPLIN$22 Adv./ $25 Dr. • Drs 8 p.m., Show 9 p.m.In the Atrium DJ DANCE PARTY W/ OSHA BMar 8 Saves the Day (AGES 16+)Mar 24 Toots & the Maytals (AGES 16+)Mar 25 Ghostface Killah (AGES 16+)Mar 31 Steel Pulse (AGES 16+)Apr 7 Dead Kennedys (AGES 16+)Apr 19 30 Seconds to Mars (AGES 16+)May 1 Atmosphere (AGES 16+)Unless otherwise noted, all shows are dance showswith limited seating. Tickets to all Catalyst shows, subjectto city tax and service charge, are available byphone at 1-866-384-3060, and online at our web site.Advance tickets are also available at the Catalyst everyday with a minimal service charge.www.catalystclub.comHello Folks,e publish this magazine to supportour community and enjoyfeaturing leading theater, performances,and events. It is very importantthat you, our readers, tell all of theArts & Entertainment Venues, businessesand events, that you read aboutthem in The Connection Magazine.We appreciate your much needed supportin return. Thank you very much!Pattie & Thom• Fri., Feb. 10, 9:30pm: roots reggaew/ Dub FX, Native Elements &General T $10/12• Fri., Feb. 17, 9:30pm: a greatdouble bill with Drew Emmitt ofleftover salmon & Brett Dennen $15• Sat., Feb. 18, 9:30pm: Sila &the Afrofunk Experiencew/ DJ Jeremiah $10/12• Sun., Feb. 19, 9pm: bay areafavorites Plum Crazy & dgiin $5• Fri,. Feb 24, 9:30pm: HarmonicaLegend Charlie Musselwhite $15/20• Sat,. Feb 25, 9:30pm: local favoriteShane Dwight w/ Crosby Logginsband (son of Kenny Loggins) $10/12• Fri. & Sat., March 3 & 4, 9:30pm:Coco Montoya Fri. $15, Sat $15/18Jazz Presenters for 30 YearsTUESDAY, FEB. 14 • 7 & 9 PMTUCK & PATTI$20 Adv / $23 Door, No Jazztix or CompsSponsored by Robert JacksonWEDNESDAY, FEB. 15 • 7 & 9 PMMARK O’CONNOR’SHOT SWING$22 Adv / $25 Door, No Jazztix or CompsMONDAY, FEBRUARY 20 • 7 PMHIROMI$20 Adv / $23 DoorSponsored by Bob BickalMONDAY, FEBRUARY 27 • 7 PMCHRIS POTTER’S“UNDERGROUND”$20 Adv / $23 DoorSponsored by Logos Books & RecordsMONDAY, MARCH 6 • 7 & 9 PMROY HARGROVE QUINTET$22 Adv / $25 DoorDAVE BRUBECKQUARTETTHURSDAY, MARCH 16 •7:30 PM@ the Santa Cruz Civic$30/$45/$65 GoldCircleNo Jazztix or CompsTickets: 831-420-5260Civic Box Office &Ticketmaster.comADVANCE TICKETS: Logos Books &Records, Santa Cruz & Ticketweb.comDinner served Mondays & Thursdaysbeginning at 6pm. Tickets subject to servicecharge & 5% SC City Tax. All ages.KUUMBWA JAZZ CENTER320-2 CEDAR ST • SANTA CRUZWWW.KUUMBWAJAZZ.ORG427-2227Dby Dawni Pappaso what you love and the rest will follow.As the song goes, “What theworld needs now is love sweet love,that’s the only thing there is just too little of.”What do you love? Be a sweetie and shareyour love of music with the world! Pleasesupport your local music scene. OPA!The Rio Theatre is hosting DerekTrucks Band, Feb. 9th. Progressive rockersingeniously dedicated to mysteriouslyblending the love of music. Predictably fabulouslive! Hapa on Feb. 14th. Musical extravaganzawith aloha. Stimulating all the senses.Peru Negro, Feb.22nd. Serving as a catalystto provide information about Peru’s Africanculture. Percussive backbone, melodicguitar and passionate singing form the heartof this Afro- Peruvian musical.Don Quixote’s is presenting Aza,Feb.11th. Dance Party! Rocking the houseEthno Moroccan style. Sticky Vicki and ThePinecones with Albert Lee, Feb. 12th. Vickiand band will rock ya with legendary guitaristAlbert Lee rolling ya! The ascended guitarmaster has played with the likes of EricEby Karin Leonard & Daniel Robinach month, we select our favorite orotherwise important films to be featuredon this page. We rate them,subjectively, on a scale from 1 (worthless)to 5 (awesome) in terms of their entertainmentand message. We leave the plot detailsand story telling to the filmmakers andinstead attempt to characterize, highlightstrengths and flaws, and hint at purpose.Reach us at movies@innerevolution.com.Enjoy!CasanovaWith Heath Ledger, Sienna Miller, JeremyIrons, Lena Olin, Oliver PlattEntertainment: 3.5 Message: 2.5hat great swashbuckling fun! Eventhough the storyline is only looselyWbased on the journals of writer,adventurer, and legendary lover GiacomoCasanova, this charming tale makes forsumptuous if not forgettable wide screen entertainment.Boisterous and sensual, withglorious 18th century Venice footage, thisbreezy romp follows Casanova’s passionatepursuit of endless pleasure – the Holy Inquisitionalways on his tail – to meeting his unlikelymatch in Francesca Bruni (SiennaMiller). With a stellar cast and excellent performances,this likable, lighthearted fare issure to entertain (1 hr 48 min).Dumawith Hope Davis, Campbell Scott, AlexMichaeletos, Emonn WalkerEntertainment: 4 Message: 4his piercingly beautiful tale has all theright elements – as well as the necessarycontrivances – to show us the Tinevitability of change: a cast of furry animalstars, breathtaking South African landscapes,and the soulful story of a 12-year-old boy’strials, tribulations, and tests of character.Duma (Swahili for “cheetah”) is played by fourage groups of real cheetahs – from irresistiblecubs to a team of five adults. The boy’sinspired journey, a mission to honor the promiseof returning his fully-grown, 250-poundcompanion to the wild, becomes passionateDTB • ALBERT LEE • SPEARHEADPage 24 ▲ The Connection Magazine ▲ www.theConnect.com ▲ February – March 8, 2006Clapton, Bill Wyman and Emmy Lou Harris.A true superstar in the history of country rock!Mary Gauthier, Feb.21st. Grabbing countrymusic by the tale! Yanking at her heartstrings,she delivers a bold and clever way of wisingus up to her world, revealing an honestacoustic perspective.The Catalyst is presenting SoundTribe Sector Nine (STS9), on Feb.18th –16 + show. LOCALS DO LOVE! Please comeand experience the true love of embryonicfusion and extremely accomplishedelectronica. This will be a benefit for MariposaArt. A not-for-profit organization thatbrings after school art and music programsto at risk youths in Santa Cruz and SantaClara counties. Buckethead, Feb.24th – 16+ show. Certifiable guitar genius! A rip-roaringgood time for all! 311, Feb. 26th is full offunk, rock and rap.Moe’s Alley is proudly presenting RicoMcFarland, Feb. 11th, and then returning thenext evening with Lucky Peterson, Feb12th. Major contenders of contemporaryblues and then some, playing straight fromthe heart! Ray Collins Hot Club, Feb. 15th.Big fun! Swinging Hip Jump Blues from Germany.Charlie Musselwhite, Feb. 24th. Creatinga hot stream of consciousness whereverhe blows! A sweet servitude to the bluesand more.Santa Cruz Civic is hosting an all age“Santa Cruz Dayz 06”, Feb 23rd & 24th.Feb 23rd is all about celebrating the musicalprophet, Bob Marley. Featuring GregoryIsaacs, Matisyahu, Gentleman and manymore! A marvelous collective of reggae andperformers to personify the Jah in Marley,Rastafari. Feb 24th will feature MichaelFranti & SpearHead, Keller Williams plusGoddess Funk. Grooving us from our innerbeats, all women Brazilian drummers, GoddessFunk will get the party started. KellerWilliams will mesmerize and awaken the madscientists in us! Michael Franti andSpearHead will rock our world with relevantand powerful music and prose. Power to thePeaceful!Every day is a great day to let the worldknow how much you love it! Keep followingyour hearts. Peace.If you are a local band and want yourCD reviewed in this publication, please sendyour material, including a photo, to MusicalHorizons C/O of Dawni Pappas, PO Box7327, Santa Cruz, Ca. 95060.passage throughgrief, issues of trust,and initiation intoadolescence fromthe safe harbor ofchildhood. Deeplymetaphoric andpoetic throughout,this stirring quest is sure to move all whoexperience it (1 hr 40 min).Glory RoadWith Josh Lucas, Derek Luke, Austin Nichols,Evan JonesEntertainment: 3 Message: 4ased of the true story of a college basketballteam in mid-1960s El PasoBTexas, history's first all African Americanstarting lineup of players and their difficultpath to more than just NCAA championships.We are taken for a passionate ride bycoach Don Haskins, who along with hisrookie team is determined to take his playersto the top and must withstand harsh discrimination,racist attitudes and team mates’limiting beliefs. This is less about basketballthan it is about believing in your dreamsagainst all odds. Josh Lucas stars as Hall ofFamer Coach Haskins, whose ardent commitmentto bringing out the best in self andothers redefines what it means to win (1 hr58 min).Mrs. Henderson PresentsWith Judi Dench, Bob Hoskins, WilliamYoung, Kelly ReillyEntertainment: 3.5 Message: 4nspired by the real story of London’sWindmill Theater before and during WorldI War II. Judi Dench is awesome as feistywidow and British society lady Mrs.Henderson putting on daring Paris-stylevaudeville revues in her newly acquiredvenue. Breaking the mold of a ”proper, olderEnglish Lady,” Mrs. Henderson is wildly inspiringas she deifies stuffy convention, demonstratesfierce independence and stays trueto her eccentric style. Henderson has herown guarded emotional motivations for presentingnudity as still performance art, shockingthe British establishment. Sparks fly betweenher and Bob Hoskins as her passionateproduction manager, making this spiritedmovie soar (1 hr 43 min).Nanny McPheeWith Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, AngelaLansbury, Kelly MacDonaldEntertainment: 3.5 Message: 4ritten and acted by Emma Thompson,this enchanting adaptation ofWthe "Nurse Matilda" books teachesabout responsibility, consequences for actions,kindness and love. Despite NannyMcPhee’s witchy powers, the true magic ofthe film comes from ingeniously turningaround seven out-of-control brats withoutforce, anger or bribery. Dark and disturbingqualities throughout the tale become shimmeringcharm towards the end, when thechildren’s ugly behavior, the Nanny’s unsightlyappearance (what’s with that beavertooth!?), and the widowed father’s blindnessto love are magically transformed (1 hr 38min).SyrianaWith George Clooney, Matt Damon, JeffreyWright, Chris CooperEntertainment: 3 Message: 4Warning: brief but disturbing torture sceneascinating but confusing cross-currentsof sociopolitical maneuveringF with the people and places of the globaloil industry serving as theater for thiselaborate multicultural pastiche. Pawns,puppets and manipulators shake out winnersand losers (losers often end up dead), and aweb of corruption and uncertainty over worldoil supplies breeds like a virus. The charactersonly get a piece of what’s happening,and so do we, as if the filmmakers wanted itthat way. Even the spies and power brokersget tossed around in this raging storm ofdeception and domination. With these disjointedtendrils for a plot, your discomfortgradually increases, and you may just beconsumed by it. Certainly this film stirs upquestions, and will keep audiences talkingfor quite some time (2 hrs 3 min).

Page 25 ▲ The Connection Magazine ▲ www.theConnect.com ▲ February - March 8, 2006

TTRANSFORMATIVE✯✯✯✯VISIONS✯✯✯✯Astrology for February 2006he new moon on January 29 th wasin the sign of the water bearer,Aquarius. Aquarius is the stage ofdevelopment that steps back from emotionalinvolvement and witnesses whatis, bringing objectivity. It looks with a senseof detachment at what has been createdin the community and finds new vision toinspire humanity. With Saturn opposingthe new moon, a mood of critical judgmentor discernment is present.This month Saturn opposesChiron, once again. Where are you awareof old repeating patterns that challengeyour sense of well-being? The collectivewounds of our culture and the wounds inleadership will be more publicly scrutinized.Venus goes direct on Feb 3 rd .What has come to your understandingsince Christmas about relationship, aboutself-value, about what is essential in yourlife? Now as Venus moves forward inpractical and goal orientated Capricorn,take actions to put things inplace. Creativity and harmonious relationshipare highlighted in March with Venusaligning with Mars in the social air signs.The Full Moon takes place on February12 th , in expressive and playful Leo.As the Sun moves into watery Pisceson the 19 th , it squares Mars movinginto Gemini. Since the end of July 2005,Mars has been in steady pragmaticTaurus. Suddenly released from thisfixed sign, Mars becomes like a hummingbird, moving here and there, sampling.Patterns begin shifting andtransforming. What may have beenlocked in, is now more flexible, mutable,more willing to take in other points of view.If you tend to be a person who takes ontoo many projects, social activities, bewarned that Mars into Gemini increasesscatteredness.The New Moon on February 27 thcarries the Martian tone, increasing aggressionand fighting. There may be frustration,with the inability to completethings, a low hum of irritation. Suddenevents may unveil hypocrisy and thestrong polarities in our lives.For Bush, relationships with otherswill be challenged. He will continue tobe held responsible for what he has created.An unexpected event may greatlychallenge his action with disastrous or explosiveresults.As Mercury prepares to go retrogradeon Mar 2 nd , we may find ourselvesbeing confronted by past situations orfeelings. This year Mercury goes retrogradethrough the water signs. Thisis like feeling with the mind, or allowingthe mind to drop into feeling-out the truth,or, like a leaky boat, the feelings from belowinfluencing, undermining, coloring ourperceptions. For artists it is a great timefor reverie.Twelve opportunities:Aries (Mar 20-Apr 19): The last 6months have been very trying for the Aries,yet with a steady movement throughwhat needs to be done. But now thingschange. Energy is freed up. You feel anew vision for yourself emerging. At thenew moon, be thoughtful of unexpectedsituations where someone plays victimto your actions. Cultivate an observingattitude in the situation.Taurus (Apr 20-May 20): For Taurusthe deep review and clearing that hastaken place now starts to bear fruit. Adeeper understanding of your talents andresources takes place during February.At the new moon let yourself be detachedfrom outcome with friends and social situations.Trust your journey.Gemini (May 21-Jun 20): You receiveenergy this month through reaching towarda new vocational goal. Let yourselfretreat into silence to contact a greater,imaginative intelligence, sinking intodeeper layers of feeling. Out of this willcome a mutual sharing. Toward the endof the month, something or someonefrom the past surfaces to be integratedin a new way.Cancer (Jun 21–Jul 21): You find yourselfin a situation where a decision mustbe made, an action taken. If you feel frustration,the action is held back. Begin anew class, challenge an unquestionedbelief. This is a time of rebirth for you.Be thoughtful with a sibling who maycatch you off guard.Leo (Jul 22- Aug 22): Relationships andintimacy are highlighted this month. Youfeel your vulnerability as you hold asteady course of responding to the lifethat is in front of you. Staying alert to eachmoment causes you to break through tonew insights. Let your attitude aroundyour responsibilities be flexible as everythingis in flux.Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 22): A new level offeeling has entered your life. That whichhas been a familiar way of being or actingis transforming because you are perceivingsituations in new ways. Let goand let yourself move through thesechanges. At the end of the month someonefrom the past surfaces.Libra (Sep 23-Oct 22): The importanceof family, home and your deep inner valuescontinues this month as you createnew foundations for your life. Let yourselfrest in the depths of your being. Itbecomes a doorway to clearer perception.The focus shifts at the end of themonth into creativity and your expression.It is a wonderful time to learn andcreate. Resist comparing yourself withothers.Scorpio (Oct 23-Nov 21): There is somuch growth and expansion for Scorpiosat this time. Be alert to this expansivenessflowing over into idealistic illusionsor unclear perceptions of others. Letyourself settle into a new place and trusta new expression of yourself. There issuccess before you.Sagittarius (Nov 22-Dec 20): Thoughyou find yourself very involved in theworld, you are dropping into a moreimaginative, more personal way of being.Watch your dreams. Your communicationis very powerful at this time, so bethoughtful with your words. Witness yourassumptions and projected ideals in yourconversations.Capricorn (Dec 21- Jan 19): This hasbeen a very interesting time in relationshipand social interactions for you. Youhave experienced others valuing you,friends appreciating you. Let yourselfexpress your deep feelings to someoneyou trust. You are on the edge of breakingthrough a pattern of frustration.Aquarius (Jan 20-Feb 17): This monthattend to your finances, to the equal giveand take of energy in your life. Take timeto reflect on your talents and abilities, yourgifts of clear communication. If there areemotional issues to be cleared, now is thetime.Pisces (Feb 18-Mar 19): There are threeimportant points for you this month. 1)writing and speaking from a place of depth(perhaps a life review), 2) break routinesand do something very different, and 3)at the end of the month, be aware of theintensity of others. Let yourself witness it.Susan Heinz has been a professionalastrologer in Santa Cruz for 23years, bringing together traditional & esotericastrology, Tarot and Qabalah. For infoon her Friday monthly astrology groups,and for personal consultations, call(831) 476-5787.$25 OFF ONFIRST VISITINTUITIVE COUNSELINGwith artist • intuitive Melanie Gendron(831) 335-9064“Melanie’s intuitive counseling ability and upliftingvisionary art create a marriage well-suited to Tarot.The symbolic archetypes stir innate inner wisdom toempower the mind, expand the heart, and providepractical guidance for daily living.”–John Gray, Ph.D., Men are from Mars, Women are from VenusTHE GENDRON TAROTAvailable internationally at book stores such asGateways, San Jose Metaphysical,Amazon.com, www.usgamesinc.comand from Gendron StudiosPO Box 1438, Felton, CA 95018-1438gentarot@pacbell.netCats on the MoveCby Anne Singerats are territorial critters, andwhen they move to a new home,they need to claim the new homeand its surroundings as their new territory.When you first move in, confineyour cat indoors for about a week. Foodis the epicenter of your cat’s world andtherefore a very important part of definingterritory. Decide immediately wherethe new feline dining area will be andstick to that location—at least until yourcat has really settled in. It’s important toestablish the “here-is-where-the-food-isso-this-must-be-home”connection assoon as possible. Indulge your cat in itsfavorite dietary delightsfor the first fewdays.During its firstweek of confinement,your cat will have lots to entertain it as itexplores the new indoor territory. In amulticat household, there will be theusual jostling over which cat gets whichwindowsill, which cat claims the sofa first,and so on.In the first week, as you are busyunpacking, don’t forget your cat. Take afew moments to play with it. Remember,there’s nothing cats love more than hoppinginto empty boxes or battingscrunched-up newspaper across thefloor.Spending time with your cat isalso important because you are an aspectof its new territory. Let your cat markyou by rubbing against you. Notice hownonchalantly your cat saunters over to adoor frame and rubs against it. Your catPage 26 ▲ The Connection Magazine ▲ www.theConnect.com ▲ February – March 8, 2006is defining its new world.Around week two, if you have anoutdoor/indoor cat, it’s time for your catto venture outdoors. First, make sureyour cat has appropriate identification.Don’t allow your cat outside unsupervised.Put a harness on it and goout walking together. Let your cat exploreits outdoor territory—sniffing the bushes,scratching trees and so on. As the weekgoes by, you can attach nylon fishing lineto the harness so the cat can exploremore of its territory. After these outdooradventures, bring your cat back insideto a dish of its favorite food.Ultimately, if you intend to havean outdoor/indoor cat, you have to takethe risk of letting it explore freely withoutyour supervision. Try this during weekthree. By then, most cats have processedthe message that “this is home now.” Ifyour cat goes back to its former stompinggrounds, begin the two-stage processagain—one week of confinement, oneweek of supervised walks.Although unusual, some cats aregenuinely more attached to territory thanto people. They may stubbornly resist allefforts to relocate them. These cats arethe exception rather than the rule. Mostcats take moving in their stride, andquickly claim new turf as their own.Anne Singer, owner of Shampoochezat 1380 Soquel Avenue, SantaCruz and editor of the “Shampoo-chezNewz,” has been an advocate of quality,natural, nontoxic pet products for the22 years that Shampoo-chez has beenin business. For questions call (831)427-2284. Visit Shampoo-chez on theWeb at www.shampoochez.com for locationand store hours, information ontheir Self-Service Dog Wash, professionalgrooming for dogs and cats, vaccinationclinic, useful facts and recipes,testimonials, and natural pet productswhich can be ordered and shipped toyou or delivered locally.

The Directory - New This IsssueOffering Tools and Techniques for:Energetic Protection, Energetic Healing & BalancingFeaturing Pulsor ® Energy StabilizersMuch of the stress, overwhelm and fatigue so commonlyexperienced comes from our environment. The atmosphere of moderncities is thick with EMFs, stressors your body feels but can’t see.Pulsor ® Energy Stabilizers:■ Protect your bio-energetic field from incoherent EMFs■ Used therapeutically induce Deep Relaxation, EnergyRenewal and Subtle Body HealingFirst Session Free!Sharre Young, CMP, CYI: (831) 465-8268greenjasminepearl@yahoo.comDoreen Maxwell, MFTLicensed Marriage & Family TherapistAdults, Couples, Families & ChildrenSomatic Psychotherapy (Hakomi Trained)Huma Transpersonal Bodywork ❖ Sandplay❖Mindfulness/changing emotional and mental habits❖ Relationships/attachments ❖ Grief/Loss❖Trauma/Phobias ❖ Anxiety/ Depression“Happiness is your birthright”Free consultationSanta Cruz (831) 429-2234, Los Gatos (408) 395-5607Lic. #MFC41105Page 27 ▲ The Connection Magazine ▲ www.theConnect.com ▲ February - March 8, 2006

ALTERNATIVE/COMPLEMENTARY HEALTH & MEDICINEDr. Omri SittonNetwork Chiropractic Wellness Center A unique bodymind experience for optimum health & wellbeing Services offered at the Center include:*Network Spinal Analysis*Somato Respiratory Integration*Health & Wellness Education Classes*Ritual Body Postures*Trauma Release Exercises*CranioSacral Therapy1509 Seabright Ave • Santa Cruz • (831) 459-8434AyurvedaWellness ConsultationsWarm Herbal Oil TreatmentsMassage ❖ Shirodhara ❖ SteamHerbs and Ayurvedic SuppliesKathy Eisenhart, CAS ❖Holistic Health Care from IndiaNow Available in Boulder CreekMountain Ayurveda13266C Highway 9Boulder Creek(831) 338-4660www.MountainAyurveda.comwww.theConnect.comCheck it Out!ASTROLOGY • PSYCHICS • INTUITIVE COUNSELINGPromote healing andgrowth on every levelof your being.Work Magicin your life byfinding clarityand answersthat may haveeluded you.❖ ANIMALS • PETSBUSINESSPage 28 ▲ The Connection Magazine ▲ www.theConnect.com ▲ February - March 8, 2006

Loïc JassyTranspersonalLoïc Jassy, Ph.D. PsychologyLicensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFC 22014)Psychotherapy for Individuals, Couples & Groups25 Years Experience◆Anxiety &Depression◆ConsciousCommunication◆Life Purpose &Work Transitions◆OvercomingAddictionsPh.D.◆Process &Gestalt Therapy◆ConsciousParenting◆EMDR(Trauma Healing)◆SomaticPsychotherapyCOUNSELING • PSYCHOLOGY • THERAPYDr. Jassy has taught at theInstitute of TranspersonalPsychology, Center forSpiritual Enlightenment,Esalen Institute, andCabrillo College and was adirector of the HendricksInstitute (with Gay andKathlyn Hendricks).Weekly Support & Therapy Group for Men & Women, Wed. 7-9 p.m., Los GatosSoquel (831) 479-3424 | Los Gatos (408) 395-4662Beila Krow, MA, LMFTLicensed Marriage & Family Therapist (#MFC25627)Compassionate Psychotherapy & Hypnotherapy20 years experience(831) 477-1232 - Soquelwww.beilakrow.com ❍ beilak@cruzio.com ❍ phone sessions availableFor Individuals, Couples, Families, Children & Groups● Highly Sensitive Persons (indiv. & grp)● Relationships & Women’s Issues● Grief/Loss & Life Transitions● Anxiety & Stress● Depression & Self-Esteem● Codependency● Adult Children of Alcoholic/Dysfunctional Families● Inner Child Healing● Recovery & Health Issues● Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual Issues● Alternative LifestylesWho Are You Really?Holistic PsychotherapyFor Individuals & CouplesHelen A. Harris, MA, LMFT (#MFC25548)MA-Transpersonal CounselingLicensed Marriage & Family Therapist, 13 years(831) 464-0456 ● Soquel● Self Esteem● Stress Management● Inner Child Healing● Spiritual Issues● EMDR (Trauma Resolution)● Flower Essences● Soul Exploration● Recovery SensitiveScent Free EnvironmentHYPNOSIS • NEURO-LINGUISTICS • ETC.INSTRUCTION • EDUCATION • CAREER TRAINING • TECHNICAL SCHOOLSNew Class: Apr. 5 - Jun. 24Open House: Mar. 6 @ 7pm& Mar. 27 @ 7pmwww.cypresshealthinstitute.comPage 29 ▲ The Connection Magazine ▲ www.theConnect.com ▲ February - March 8, 2006

MASSAGE • ACUPRESSURE • SHIATSUALL SERVICES LISTED HERE STRICTLY NON-SEXUALFREE15-minute consultationThe Gentle Art and Science of Relieving Pain, Stress, and Dysfunctionthrough the Transformational Body/Mind Healing of Deeply Peaceful TouchEffective for: Headaches; Head Injuries;Whiplash; Back, Shoulder, Neck & TMJPain; Abuse Trauma; Stress & more.ADVANCED CRANIOSACRAL SPECIALIST23 YEARS CRANIOSACRAL EXPERIENCEINTRODUCTORY SPECIAL$120 for 2 one-hourSessionsV(831)425-3109M www.qued.com/maghiGlenn KazmierskiLicensed Acupuncturist, Massage Therapist❘◆❘ Acupuncture❘◆❘ Shiatsu Massage❘◆❘ Herbal RemediesFor acute & chronic pain relief115 Maple St., Santa Cruz(831)459-6001Call for New ClassesAlign with the Health of Your BodyThrough Biodynamic CraniosacralCall Serena Fennell at 831.247.0685• Revitalizewith thebreath of life• Releaseresistant patterns,and open to wholebody wellness• Using hands-on work that honorsyour own self-healing processMIND • BODY • SPIRITPage 30 ▲ The Connection Magazine ▲ www.theConnect.com ▲ February - March 8, 2006

MIND • BODY • SPIRITNUMEROLOGY CHARTS FOR THE NEW ERAComplete Character Analysis/Compatibility Charts for Children,Singles, Married Couples, Business PartnersOnline charts and customized readings for parties andspecial occasions. Gift Certificates Available.PhoneConsultationsChaldean NumerologyCharts and ReadingSince 1984Visit www.NumbersRU.com to order your chartJoanne Justis • inquiries@NumbersRU.com • 408-358-3776MOVEMENT, POSTURAL & STRUCTURAL BODYWORK and EDUCATIONAn expressive mind, body,spirit fitness experienceembracing the joy of movement.Tues, Thurs & Sat @ 11 a.m., Vet’s HallCynthia: 831-334-0644SistaMonicaParkerMUSIC Sista Monica’s 6 th Jazz,Inspirational & Gospel CD‘Love, Soul & Spirit vol. 1’Available at Gateways Bookstore. Hear it at www.CDBaby.comPresent this ad for a free classYOGAwww.theConnect.comCheck it Out!TRAVEL & LODGINGKali Ray TriYoga ® ®Celebrating 18th Anniversary ofTriYoga Centerin Santa CruzThank you for voting TriYoga Center Best Yoga ClassSpacious, serene, beautiful center 150 classes/monthOpen 7 days All levels • $12 drop-in20 certified teachers $70/month unlimited classesSix TriYoga DVDs recently released!Contact TriYoga for information: 831-464-8100708 Washington Street, Santa Cruzinfo@triyoga.com • www.triyoga.comPage 31 ▲ The Connection Magazine ▲ www.theConnect.com ▲ February - March 8, 2006

Pacific SunPropertiesPacific Sun Properties is an experienced Team for buying, selling, and managing property in Santa Cruz County.Announces a PartnershipTerry Cavanagh has teamed up withShane Scott to provide exceptional service.Two full time agentsworking to createextraordinary resultsfor our clients!Terry Cavanagh831 471-2424, Ext 105831 345-2053 Cellwww.terrycavanagh.netterry@pacificsunproperties.comAbility, Integrity, CommunityShane Scott831 471-2424, Ext 110831 239-2044 Cellwww.shanescottproperties.comshane@shanescottproperties.comSome of Our Exciting New Listings4530 West Walnut Street, SoquelUnit 1: 900 sq.ft. $399,000Unit 2: 800 sq.ft. $369,000Unit 3: 800 sq.ft. $359,000Unit 4: 2060 sq.ft. $599,000Most affordable homes on the market. Greatlocation- 1.2 miles from Capitola Village and theBeach. Sold as tenants in common, you will notfind a better priced value in home ownership!Call for more information 831 345-2053.Co-listed with Alex Johnson of David Lyng Real Estate100 Rodeo Gulch RoadSpace 60, SoquelLarge 2 BR, 2 BA manufactured homein 55+ park. Excellent condition,7 years old. Customized featuresinclude loft ceiling with dormerwindows, office/den, built in bookcases, and new double pane windowsfor low heating bills, warmth, andquiet. Park includes pool, clubhouse.Only - $279,000With Mary Margaret Peterson,independent mortgage consultantand transaction coordinator by theirside, this team truly can do it all.Pacific SunProperties734 Chestnut Street, Suite A, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 ♦ 831 471-2424