song of love

I am the lover’s eyes, and the spirit’s Wine, and the heart’s nourishment I am a rose. My heart opens at dawn and The virgin kisses me and places me Upon her breast. I am the house of true fortune, and the Origin of pleasure, and the beginning Of peace and tranquility. I am the gentle Smile upon his lips of beauty. When youth Overtakes me he forgets his toil, and his Whole life becomes reality of sweet dreams. I am the poet’s elation And the artist’s revelation And the musician’s inspiration. I am a sacred shrine in the heart of a Child, adored by a merciful mother. I appear to a heart’s cry; I shun a demand My fullness pursues the heart’s desire It shuns the empty claim of the voice. I appeared to…

contributors

Thank you to the following writers for their time and contributions to this magazine: • Joy Aimee • Vanita Dahia • Julie Seamer • John Hendry • Steve Taylor Thank you to the following people for their time and contributions to this magazine: • Jack Charles • Avishai Barnatan • Yoshiko Takeuchi Thank you to the following organisations for their time and contributions to this magazine: • Australia 21 www.australia21.org.au • Ronin Films www.roninfilms.com.au • Scott Eathorne, Quikmark Media www.quikmarkmedia.com.au • Cooking With Yoshiko www.cookingwithyoshiko.com DISCLAIMER: All material provided in this magazine should be used as a guide only. Information provided should not be construed or used as a substitute for professional or medical advice. We would suggest that a healthcare professional should be consulted before adopting any opinions or suggestions contained in this magazine. Whilst every care is taken to compile and check articles…

editor’s note

When I think about my life, and the events that have happened to me over the last 3 months, that also reflect what is happening in our local communities and on the larger world stage, the first thing that comes to mind is just how important it is – now more than ever – to look after ourselves, and to realise that we need to do this above everything else we do in life. I do truly believe this – even if you have children. So for example, having a massage is NOT having a pamper session. What having a massage does – among many other things – is “tune you in” to what is happening in your body; where your aches and pains are; just how bad all that…

groundbreaking study shows prescription painkillers prolong chronic pain

A research team out of the University of Colorado-Boulder has found that prescription opioids may actually worsen chronic pain. The study also discovered that these drugs may in fact prolong the condition that they are supposed to help placate. This may explain why in the U.S., prescriptions of opioids, such as methadone, oxycodone (such as OxyContin®) and hydrocodone (such as Vicodin®), have quadrupled since 1999. Prescription Painkillers are Killers There is little contention to the claim that prescription painkillers are dangerous. They have been responsible for over 183,000 deaths over the last 15 years in America. Vioxx, for example was responsible for over 60,000 deaths before it was pulled off the market in 2004. But death isn’t the only risk of prescription painkillers. Misuse, abuse and addiction are also rampant in the United…

our cover: the benevolent dragon

PHOTOGRAPHER: Holly Wilmeth www.hollywilmeth.com Holly Wilmeth was born and raised in Guatemala where she spent half her time growing up in the city and the other in the dense jungles and agricultural landscapes in the country. She holds a degree in Political Science and Languages and speaks fluent Spanish, German, and English. She has travelled to over 50 countries as a cultural observer, from the remote corners of East Asia to the far north of Mongolia and is an avid hiker, living with nomad families in the Tibetan mountains as well as the Saharan desert. As a documentary photographer Holly focuses on in-depth stories relating to culture, diversity, people and their environment. Her work has been published in international publications such as the National Geographic Adventure, New York Times, CARE, TIME Magazine, GEO…

the economy and success according to zen master thich nhat hanh

Nobel Peace Prize nominee and Zen Buddhist master, Thich Nhat Hanh has a very different theory about why our ecosystems are dying and our financial systems are crumbling. The Vietnamese monk credited with bringing mindfulness to the West believes that our desperation to succeed at all costs fuels our voracious economic system. An innumerable number of worldly “sicknesses” come from this singular philosophical vice. “If you consider mindfulness as a means of having a lot of money, then you have not touched its true purpose. It may look like the practice of mindfulness but inside there’s no peace, no joy, no happiness produced. It’s just an imitation. If you don’t feel the energy of brotherhood and sisterhood radiating from your work, that is not mindfulness.” On one of Hanh’s Facebook posts he…