Heal & Rise Magazine : simplebooklet.com

Volume No. 1 • MarchLETTER FROM THE EDITORYou know that feeling when you get theinspiration to create something new or healwhat is no longer serving you in your life?You're on fire, lit up, and buzzing with thatdivinely led guidance and then...WHAM!In come the doubts, the fears, the excuseswhy you couldn't possibly bring into fruitionthe exact thing you felt a call upon yourheart to do. This magazine is a love letterfrom my soul to yours, helping you pushbeyond that point. Because YOU aredeserving of a life full of joy, peace, and truewellness. This month we're kicking off the first issue(woohoo!) with the concept of rewilding, orreturning to what is wild and natural withinus. May the contents of these pages thathave been crafted with love contain wordsthat inspire your soul to Heal & RiseAshley is a writer, holistic healer, and plant-obsessed meditating mama with a passion forempowering women and mothers. To discovermore of her story, visit ashleykayandy.comAshley KayLove & Healing,1

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A professional photographer for morethan half her life, Jenny is the womanbehind the lens of this month's coverphoto, as well as the photos of Ashleyyou may see elsewhere in the issue. Sheloves helping women feel confident inbusiness and in life, working withfemale entrepreneurs who are alreadyin business but are wanting fresh, newbranding to spice things up, or thosejust jumping into putting themselvesand their products or services outthere. She's also a proud mama of twoliving in between cornfields in Iowa, justoutside of the Cedar Valley.You can connect with Jenny here:www.meetjennymarie.comInstagram: @meetjennymarieFacebook: @meetjennymarieF E A T U R E P H O T O G R A P H E RHina is a professional yoga instructorand fashion designer, passionate aboutsharing her light and uplifting wisdom.After being caught off-guard by hercancer diagnosis nearly six years ago,she decided not to leave her healing inthe hands of modern medicine aloneand discovered her path of innerhealing she is now here to share.After growing up in India, she movedwith her husband to Iowa where theyreside with their two boys.You can follow more about Hina'sJourney on Instagram, @HinaSandhuand on her blog, coming soon!H E R S T O R Y F E A T U R EJenny MeyerHina Sandhu2

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Rewilding... WHAT DOES IT MEAN?like a childfree your wildreconnect with your joy of beingexplore without boundaries.create without expectation.move without self-judgment.sing without knowing the words.allow yourself to be perfectly imperfect confident in your inner knowing freely expressive easily delighted open and lovinglike a childfree your wildOxford portrays the term "rewild" as to restore to it's natural state (typically used when discussing land). Sowhat does rewilding mean when regarding human beings?Precisely that.We all have an innate sense of guidance within us that comes alive through time in nature, listening to ourintuition, and true connection with others. This modern life can attempt to convince us otherwise, but we tooare animals... living beings designed beautifully to live as a part of our environmental community, not justtake from it. We are not meant to live in a state of disconnect, deriving our need for community through akeyboard. We are not meant to live selfishly, favoring convenience rather what's best for our soul's and thatof our family. It's time to rewild! Let us return to a way of living where slowing down is encouraged, natural food andhealing methods nurture our bodies, communities support and uplift one another, and we remember thatwe are beautiful, wild, and infinite souls living a human experience. 3

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old's needs I would use screen time to help. Then when our daughter was struggling with the transition ofpreschool to home in the afternoons, I gave in to her requests (let'sbe honest... demands) for a show.There is certainly a time and place for utilizing the convenience oftechnology. There are times it can be helpful when you're in themidst of juggling tasks and in desperate need for a little peaceand stillness. Yet I noticed a big difference in her behaviorsurrounding shows. Less patience, more intense demanding tone,more emotional meltdowns, less creativity, more self-isolation.had gotten into an afternoon habit that was NOT how Iwanted to raise our children. When I was struggling tobalance getting the baby down for a nap and our five yearINTENTIONAL She would even neglect her ownneeds of a snack or going to thebathroom until the last possibleminute in order to catch everymoment of the exciting show she wasentranced by. So we SWAPPED!Except for one day a week, the time ofday in which she would otherwisewant a show (mid-afternoon) weswapped for the more mindful andintentional activity of having tea timetogether. Bringing back this traditionof old is about more than simplyenjoying tea and some snacks of nuts,and berries together. It is aboutactively choosing to use that time inorder to connect rather thandisconnect. To strengthen our bondrather than build dependence ondevices to manage her emotions orlack of energy. Perhaps someday she'll sit down totea time with her own friends or family,and share in conversation together...connecting with one another with thisintentional tradition we've built.IMothering4

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I N T E N T I O N A LInstead of starting your morningby grabbing that phone andbeginning the "get ready rush",try dedicating your first 5-10waking minutes to meditationor prayer instead.When the kiddos are causingyou stress and you can feelyourself about to react in away you'd rather not, practicetaking 3 deep breaths beforeyou respond. Your response willbe more mindful & they'll learnto do so by watching you.As you develop habits andtraditions with your children,ask yourself, "Is this somethingI'd be proud to see them dowith their children?" If not,perhaps a change is in order.If so, continue with joy!Morning Rush Practice Your Breath The Next GenerationMotheringS W A P SThere is no way to be theperfect mother, but a millionways to be a good one.-JI L L C H URC H ILL5

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B A C K T O N A T U R E7 Ways to Get Kids Outside This Spring1 ) E X P L O R E S O M E W H E R E N E W2 ) L E A D B Y E X A M P L E3 ) C R E A T E A D A I L Y H A B I T4 ) M A K E O U T D O O R P L A Y A T T R A C T I V E6 ) L I M I T E L E C T R O N I C U S E5 ) I N V I T E F R I E N D S A N D N E I G H B O R S T O J O I NBackyard fun is great fun but to create excitement and fresh bondingopportunities, explore somewhere you've never been. Visit the samepark or nature area and take a different trail. You just might discoversomething new about yourself or your children amidst the new scenery.Kids might listen to what you say, but they'll certainly replicate whatyou do! Show them how valuable outdoor time is by enjoying yourfavorite hobbies outdoors. Take your exercise into nature or your ownbackyard rather than an indoor gym. Read on a blanket rather than thecouch. Show them how enjoyable their natural home can be.Try going outside at the same time every day. Begin your day with anearly morning walk together, take an evening stroll and chat aboutyour days... whatever time frame works best for you and your family.Create a haven for yourself AND you kids to entice them outdoors. Keepa tub of outdoor toys that are specifically for play in the yard. Makelandscaping choices that support your family's lifestyle and feel good.Outdoor fun is made all the merrier by inviting those you enjoy tospend time together. Build a fire, get out the yard games, and soak it in.Allow them to be "bored", for that is when their creativity kicks it. Setand enforce boundaries around electronic usage to encourage outdoortime insteadA N D F I N A L L Y . . .6

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SPIRITUALWhen you consider a placeof spiritual wellness, whatcomes to mind?Some may envision singing theirfavorite hymn with hear in a localchurch. Some may picture ameditating monk in a temple. Stillothers, moving amidst their mostpeaceful naturescape.These answers may all be correct,as spiritual wellness looks differentfor everyone. We all have differentphysical needs for our bodiesincluding dietary requirements orpreferences, ways we enjoymovement, even sleepenvironments and amounts. Wehave uniquely different ways ofcaring for our minds, from the typesof books that intrigue us to thehobbies we partake in that keep ourmind sharp.Wellness8

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Why should we believe caring for ourspirit shouldn't be the same?Too often those on a spiritual path allowthe ego to take the lead, if evenunintentionally. We make the mistake ofbelieving our way of caring for our spiritto be "right", making all others wrong...or somehow less right. We fall into thetrap of judgement or a desperation toconvert those on other spiritual pathsinto our way of being. We get caught upin the rituals, routines, and habits ratherthan considering why we're doing themin the first place. We forsake oneanother's needs out of the need tomake ourselves feel better about ourown choices. What if instead, we allowego to recede and empathy to pave theway for soul connection? Spiritual wellness is not a one-size-fits-all. The more we can learn from thosewhose experiences differ from our own,the more we can understand theimportant commonality our spiritualpractices have... the connection withthe Divine Love that lives in and aroundus all.In months to come in this column you'llfind spiritual practices, experiences,stories, and ideas that serve to UNITEus. They can be applied to any lifeseeking spiritual enrichment,transcending the limitations and lack ofinclusivity we too often find whenseeking to grow our faith in somethingbeyond what the eye can see.Let us learn from one another, expandour minds, open our hearts, and growourSouls.9

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Hello everyone. I’m Hina Sandhu, a 37-year-oldwoman, currently living in Cedar Falls, Iowa. I’moriginally from India and have been married to aphysician in the US for the last 11 years. We’reraising two young boys together, 9 & 5 years old.I’m a trained Fashion designer and yogainstructor. While leading an idyllic existence insleepy Iowa, I was one day bombarded with thenews that I have Breast Cancer. It started as astage 2 treatable cancer and after conventionalaggressive therapy comprising ofchemotherapy, radiation, and surgery I wasdeclared cancer free. So, me and my familyresumed our life as before, with the addition ofyearly mammograms to ensure I was cancerfree. Fast forward three years later in November2020, the cancer struck back. And this time itwas stage 4, having spread to my liver. HERstory FeatureMarch 2023As you can imagine all hell broke loose over meand my family. We were mired in fear and tryingto find the best possible treatments to prolongmy life. The medical professionals clearlymentioned that there was no known cure, butwith current treatments there was a hope that Icould live up to 17 years. The prognosis was evenfurther disheartening than the diagnosis. Myinner voice told me that this could not be thesolution. While I was going to take thechemotherapy that was offered to me, I wasalso going to look further. The root cause of theproblem, why I got cancer at the young age of 31(without any family history), lay somewherewithin me. I had not explored it the first timeround. So, the problem came back moreamplified. The former option was far moreattractive, so tackling my fear of the unknown Idelved into all forms of healing- emotional,spiritual, mental, and physical.10

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Resolving past traumas, I forgave myself for all themistakes I had unknowingly made until this point in myjourney. As I took further steps to love myself, be myown best friend; take care of myself first, I started tosee the beauty of my being. I started to understandwho I really was and what was my purpose on thisplanet. I started pursuing things that brought joy intomy life like nature walks, grounding, painting,gardening, yoga, meditation, stargazing, dance, etc.And the more I followed my joy, the more alive Ibecame and in tune with my inner voice that furtherguided me towards my next steps.This time around I had no choice.Either look for the root cause or die.2 Powerful Healing InsightsHealing came in varied ways (Counselling, EFT, NET,Yoga, Meditation, seminars, books, workshops, reiki,etc) from a multitude of sources. I was fully open toreceiving any and every help I could get. Wherever myinner voice lead me, I went. The insights gained fromthe healing sources was rich, however sometimes hardto accept. The biggest barrier to healing was the oldtraumas and beliefs gained from popular culture.Breaking past those required immense time, effort, andenergy. Below I have listed the major insights Ireceived.One: Loving myselfMy favorite author and speaker, Anita Moorjani, says“Love yourself like your life depends on it, because itdoes.” Initially it sounded absurd, but I slowly came torealize the magnitude of her words and how true theywere. I realized I was my own harshest critic, constantlyberating myself for doing anything less than perfectly.Also, the cultural training of being there for others, ledto me never being there for myself. So much so, Irealized I wasn’t even aware of who I really was. Thus, Istarted on the quest to know myself and truly lovemyself- Changing the critic’s voice to that of a lovingfriend, being gentle and kind to myself and realizingthat human beings are not meant to be perfect. 11

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The major hindrance towards lovingourselves is the fears projected by theculture around us, mass media, etc. Thesefears drag us back into survival mode anddisconnect us from the constant stream oflove flowing from source. I wrote thisaffirmation for myself- “I heal the habit offear and I embrace the habit of love (fromGabrielle Bernstein's "Super Attractor" Oracledeck, shared by @divinefeminine7777)Old habits find ways of unknowinglycropping up. The best practice I developedis to be aware, and then lovingly let go ofthe fear. I also love to look at myself in themirror each day, and tell myself, “I love you,I’m here for you no matter what.” Thispractice helps me deepen my self love. Irealized that all the love we are seekingoutside of ourselves, in relationships, is allwithin us. When we truly love ourselves,connect to source daily through meditation,and fill ourselves with divine love, we don’thave to seek that love from any externalsource. We ourselves become fountains oflove and are then able to unconditionallygive that love out. And as the law of theUniverse states-what you give, so shall youget back. So, in this way we setup a beautifulcycle of love that benefits all who encounterit as well as the planet Earth.The other major healing insight was realizing myown power and how it impacts my life. The currentcultural paradigm is based on fear. Constantbreaking news, people being fed on strife, war andmutual differences, political game playing, thenever-ending rat race to fame and riches. All theseare used to keep the general populace in a stateof constant fear. And fear is the lowest vibration. Itdisconnects us from Source and keeps us insurvival mode. We feel we have to fight, flight orfreeze to cope with situations around us. In thestate of fear, our immune system is the weakest,thus we lose our inbuilt power. However, when westep back and see, the reality is far different. Theuniverse has always had enough resources tosupport its creations. There is no race to beatanyone or earn a million dollars to achievehappiness. The reason we are born is toexperience life as our unique selves. We are bornpowerful, and this is our truth. We are power, love,joy, and abundance. When we stay connected toour source, and stay in the vibration of love,abundance and joy, nothing can come and hurtus. We automatically raise our power and don’thave to be afraid of external situations. When anysituation rises, we are calmly able to resolve it.Realizing our own power is essential to healingourselves. Coming out of the cultural marinade offear and surrounding ourselves with a High-vibecommunity is really essential to promote ourhealing. The community reminds us of our truthand prevents us from getting mired in the fear-based messages that are all too rampant aroundus. Thus, its essential to create and nurture a lovingcommunity of friends, family, like mindedindividuals who love you, believe in you and raiseyour vibration. Two: Power of Self-BeliefWe are all connected to each other and tomother earth. Nurturing healthy connectionsgoes a long way towards strengthening our rootsand nourishing our souls. It is essential toremember that you are not alone in yourhealing. Do not hide The moment you take onestep, you will be greeted with so many resourcesand genuine people to help you in unique ways.12

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Hina's Healing AdviceTake it slow and easy. Start with a simple 10-minute practice to connect with yourself andSource energy. First give yourself a big lovinghug and reassurance that the universe is on yourside. Go out, sit in nature, hear calming birdsongs, watch the water flow. Then stand barefooton the ground to let go of any fear you haveabout your future outcome. Forget about thedoctor’s prognosis, just listen to nature, andslowly sit down cross legged on the ground. Tuneinto your own voice within. Place your hands onyour heart and gently close your eyes. Takeseveral deep energizing breaths. Inhale deeplywith the nose and then slowly exhale from yourmouth. Imagine fresh energy of love, peace, joy,and abundance filling you and creating a bigsparkling bubble around you.As you exhale, visualize stale lower energies offear, anger, guilt flow out from your spine andfeet into the mother earth. Repeat several times.Once you feel fully relaxed and present, with yourhands place on your heart, ask yourself a coupleof simple questions...Meditating in Sedona, AZWhat do I need to heal myself? What do Ireally need to know about myself? What doI need to let go of?And healing is multi-fold. Just focusing on thebody will bring short term results. To fully heala chronic illness the mind, body, emotions andsoul have to all be addressed. You can thentalk to a friend, or colleague who might haveundergone a similar experience. Allow yourselfto be guided to people who have genuinelyhelped others to heal and are in tune with yourbeliefs. Take it one step at a time, avoidrushing to take any decisions (fear-based).Connect daily to source, whether throughmeditation, yoga, nature walks, music, tarotcards, etc. The way can be any, butestablishing your line to the divine will be thebest guide for you as you navigate yourhealing journey. Your inner voice will getactivated, and that is essential to taking anylove-based decisions for yourself. Don’thesitate to lovingly say “No” to anything thatdoesn’t feel good to you. Remember, your lifedepends on it. Stay empowered in your ownhealing journey. Create a team of doctors whoempower you, rather than making you feel lowand fearful. Place daily affirmations in the present tenseall around you- “I am healed and healthy.”, “I am Power, Joy and Love.”, etc. And alwayshope for the best. No doctor can predict yourfuture, you have the power to do so. So,believe in your power, build upon it and keephealing and inspiring all around you.Love & Light,The heart will automatically give you simpleshort answers. Listen to them and even notethem down in your journal. Then start looking atwhat steps you need to take physically,emotionally and spiritually to foster your healing. Hina13

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The Heal & RiseBook ClubRise Sister RiseSometimes, when we follow that Divineguidance, we come across a book thatchanges our life. It feels as though it iswritten just for us and impacts the way weview the world so immensely that we haveevolved into a better version of ourselves.This book by author Rebecca Campbell isone of those books. Within its pages you'llfind guidance to reconnect to our innatefeminine wisdom in order to rise beyond thelimitations we've accepted within thispatriarchal society. You'll find personalstories, calls to action, poetry, and activities,all helping us recognize the ways in whichwe've kept ourselves contained. Throughthese easily read pages you'll find yourselfreleasing these restrictions and trusting yourintuition as you heal and allow the Shakti(cosmic feminine) energy to rise.15

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JOIN US?Share Your BusinessHeartfelt stories of your own healingjourney to uplift and inspire otherwomen along their own journeyArticles about body, mind, and soulwellnessStories of the divine at work in yourlife and spiritual or supernaturalexperiencesIntentional mothering and mindfulliving adviceIf you have an inspiring story ofhardships and healing or rising aboveyour challenges you'd like to share,please let us know! Here's what we'relooking for in upcoming contributions:Send your submission pitches to theeditor at ashleykayandy@gmail.comwith the subject line "Heal & RiseMagazine Submission"We are proud to promote thebusinesses and brands we believein. If you own or work for a woman-inspired business or creator who ismaking a positive impact, let's talk! By promoting your ethical goodsand services that supportwomen's true wellness, we areshifting away from corporategreed and toward positive societaland environmental behaviors.Email your requests and inquiriesdirectly to the social contentcreator & magazine editor atashleykayandy@gmail.com16

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