This Month’s Recommended Merlian News Articles:

Podcasts: Consciousness
Merlian News Podcast with Hazel Courteney

In this podcast interview, “Hazel Courteney was the UK’s first alternative-health advice columnist with her column ‘What’s the Alternative?’ in the Daily Mail...In 1998 she underwent a near-death experience that triggered huge amounts of paranormal phenomena to occur in her presence. She tells this incredible story in her book Divine Intervention and the sequel, The Evidence for the Sixth Sense. Her latest book is entitled, Countdown to Coherence: A Spiritual Journey toward a Scientific Theory of Everything.” In this podcast, Merryn Jose speaks with Hazel Courteney on various topicscovered in her book Countdown to Coherence. Such topics include Hazel's near -death experience, how her NDE was part of a "Spiritual Emergency" (a term coined by Dr.'s Stan & Christina Grof ), Hazel's "Divine Intervention", the purpose of the Thalamus,Hazel's visit with Dr. Bill Tiller and his theory on "Coherence", Spiritual Science,about Dr. Jude Currivan 's work, her visit to Damanhur, and much more!

Dreams
How to Break a Dream Drought By Robert Moss

Robert Moss says, "When we start paying attention to the dreamlike symbols of the day, we often reopen our connection to the dreams of the night...Have you lost touch with your dreams? Is your dream recall limited to fragments that fade away as you hurry off into the business and traffic of the day? Relax. Here are some fun and easy ways to renew and refresh your relationship with your dreams..."

Movies
I AM: The Shift Is About To Hit The Fan - A Documentary by Tom Shadyac
In this documentary, "Armed with nothing but his innate curiosity and a small crew to film his adventures, Shadyac (writer/director/producer of Liar Liar, The Nutty Professor, Bruce Almighty, Patch Adams, Accepted , I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry)ofset out on a twenty-first century quest for enlightenment. Meeting with a variety of thinkers and doers–remarkable men and women from the worlds of science, philosophy, academia, and faith–including such luminaries as David Suzuki, Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Lynne McTaggart, Ray Anderson, John Francis, Coleman Barks, and Marc Ian Barasch – Shadyac appears on-screen as character, commentator, guide, and even, at times, guinea pig..." In Theatres NOW.

New York
Maetreum of Cybele: The Catskill (NY) Phrygianum by Cathryn Platine
Cathryn Platine, the principle founder of the Cybeline Revival writes, "Our theology starts from the simplest basis: That the Divine Feminine principle is the basis of the universe. That all of us, all that we encounter is Her in the aggregate. We are all the Great Mother learning about Herself. From this simple beginning springs our organizational models, our rituals, the principles of what we call Wholistic Feminism, our mission of charitable outreach and indeed the way we, as Cybelines, live our lives. We are sometimes called the "scholarly Cybelines" because we have invested many years of strict historical research in order to embrace the essence of what proved to be literally the oldest surviving religion in the world. The world centre of our Religion is in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York at the foot of the Kaaterskill Clove." The Maetreum is currently being targeted by the town in areligious discrimination case. Pleasecheck out the links below the article.

Media
Invisible Children: From A Documentary to a Movement.
Invisible Children reports, "Many children grow up being afraid of the dark. In Uganda, fear of the dark isn't about fictitious monsters under the bed or in the closet—it's the fear of losing their lives. That's because nighttime in northern Uganda is when the rebel soldiers of the Lord's Resistance Army, labeled a terrorist group by the United States, storm small villages and rip children from their homes, forcing them to join the rebel army. .. To avoid these nighttime horrors, thousands of Ugandan children leave their parents and their homes every evening and trek in the darkness in packs to larger nearby towns where they sleep for the night..."

Books
Ask Elizabeth: Real Answers to Everything You Secretly Wanted to Ask About Love, Friends, Your Body... and Life in General by Elizabeth Berkley
Penguin Books review, "Much like a private diary, the book will be a personal resource that girls can turn to when they seek answers to teen life's toughest questions. The content contains real and practical advice, anecdotes and wisdom in answer to the most asked questions from girls who participate in Elizabeth's workshops such as: what do you do when you look in the mirror and don't like what you see? or How do you get over a broken heart? Elizabeth, along with a panel of experts, and teen girls themselves advise readers in matters of body image, personal relationships, dating, and much more."

Books
The Bond: Connecting Through the Space Between Us by Lynne McTaggart

Simon and Schuster Publishing writes, "By international bestselling author Lynne McTaggart, The Bond is the culmination of her groundbreaking work. It offers a completely new, scientific story of life and the human experience, one that challenges the very way we conceive of ourselves and our world. The Bond shows that the essential impulse of all life is a will to connect rather than a drive to compete... McTaggart offers detailed recommendations to help foster more holistic thinking, more cooperative relationships, and more unified social groups... The Bond offers a breathtaking, visionary plan for a new way to live, in harmony with our true nature and with each other, and a new way to heal our relationships, our neighborhoods, and our world."

Wellbeing & Healing
Alzheimer's Disease Awareness & Developments In Holistic Approaches by Dena Ventrudo

Assistant Editor, Dena Ventrudo asks, "We've all heard of Alzheimer's Disease, but how many of us know what it actually is? Would you know how to recognize symptoms in yourself or a loved one? According to Alz.org, "Alzheimer's is a brain disease that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior...becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks." ...seemingly irrelevant health conditions,products we consume every dayand evenenvironmental conditions have been linked to more recent diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease. Read inside for more information, resources and links."

Spirituality
The Dark Night of the Soul by Stephen Thomson
Stephen Thomson tells us, "One of the steps we can take when we find ourselves in the Dark Night is to focus on an objective review of our lives. This is the process of taking a step back from ourselves and observing our lives without our emotional filters creating any kind of illusion. This is one way of satisfying some of our emotional needs about making progress and for gaining a new awareness...There are times, our emotions work against us and create angst that makes it hard to focus. If we are on the journey because we think being spiritual will eliminate all of the challenges that life brings, then we will surely be disappointed. In fact, stepping on to the spiritual path with all of our heart can speed up the unfolding and resolution of the karmic conditions of our lifetime."

Spirituality
What Truth Reality Are You Plugged-In To?: Our Beliefs, Values, and Attitudes Don’t Come To Us Randomly by Triza Schultz
Triza Schultz explains, "As an intuitive empath, it’s my nature to experience the true feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of others. Doing more than sympathizing or identifying with someone or something, I merge with it as if I were plugged in under its skin. Being empathic is one aspect of heightened psychic inner resources. Experiencing these external energies can’t be controlled, but they can be re-directed through awareness. Without knowing this gift and learning how to work with it a good part of my life, I was easily swept away by other people’s feelings, personalities, and attitudes, thinking they must be my own because after all, I was feeling and thinking them."

Meditation
The Transcendental Meditation® Program of Westchester County, NY

The TM Program teaches, "The Transcendental Meditation technique is a simple, natural, effortless process practiced 15-20 minutes twice daily while sitting comfortably with eyes closed. It is unique among techniques of meditation, distinguished by its effortlessness, naturalness and profound effectiveness. The Transcendental Meditation® Program regularly holds FREE introductory talks on the Transcendental Meditation program in Westchester County and other nearby areas. Their main office located in Katonah, NY."

WEBSITE OF THE MONTH:

Ask- Elizabeth (Elizabeth Berkley)

www.ask-elizabeth.com

“It is my intention that “Ask-Elizabeth” will be an oasis in the midst of this maelstrom, as you are wrestling with adolescent pressures and confusion. I am committed to making a positive impact on young girls around the world. “Ask-Elizabeth” is a supportive, non-judgmental forum for you to anonymously ask your deepest questions on themes ranging from body image, fitness, beauty, friendship, health, boys, family, goals etc.

By making the experience open for you to dialogue freely about how to help your “anonymous friend”, you are able to reconnect to your inner voice – that during this time gets lost.

Each of you has a role in liberating one another. This is particularly powerful at a time in your life when contradictory emotions result in your feeling alone…you discover through this process, that you are not. My mission is to share tools that enable you to see the hand in the choices you make (emotionally or behaviorally) and the way you feel about yourself. My goal is for you to walk away seeing what is possible…a life you love!”

Recognized by The London Times as "a fearless and committed actress", Elizabeth Berkley has clearly demonstrated her versatility and the range of her talents from comedy to drama, in a host of successful film, television, and stage performances. She is dedicated to the achievement of her professional goals as well as a personal commitment to philanthropy and charitable outreach.

Click here read the review on MerlianNews.com of the best-seller Ask Elizabeth: Real Answers to Everything You Secretly Wanted to Ask About Love, Friends, Your Body... and Life in General by Elizabeth Berkley .

Also be sure to check o ut Merlian News Podcasts Elizabeth Berkley Lauren !

Thank you once more, for your positive feed back and support!

Merryn & Team

Merryn Jose - Editor & Publisher

Dena Ventrudo- Assistant Editor & Photographer

Cheryl Shainmark- Book Reviewer

Carl Casella - Sound Editor