As a federal lobbyist, I have said the same thing after every single election in a very divided two-party system. Whenever people are dejected about the loss of their candidate, or gloating over the success of another candidate, so very sure of the impending doom or glory of one party over another, I say, "Maybe." After last night's election, I can honestly say, I doubt anything is primed for real change in any direction, which will make some people happy, and others despondent, depending on how deeply they identify with party ideologies. What does this do to help mend the divide?

As we head into the holidays, spending time with family and friends that may identify politically different than we do, what can we do to focus on the people that matter most to us, in spite of our differences? To begin with, we can focus on the positive aspects they bring to our lives. I can honestly say that my family does not think similarly to me on most issues, but to institute an unnatural barrier between us based on differences in opinion is not a strategy that appeals to me. When I focus on what our differences are, we struggle to get through the meals. When I prepare for and practice neutrality in my interactions, I am reminded of how special our relationships are and I can focus on the positive aspects they bring to our collective table. Being intentional about approaching those in our inner circle and extended family with curiousity and a commitment to open dialogue can help us navigate the more dificult conversations without our emotions getting the best of us.

This takes the development of our Inner Observer. We are all watching ourselves at all times. We have a sense of where we are in time & space, and have the ability to make choices in each moment of Now. Development of your Inner Observer begins with SOUND. How deeply are you listening to the person in front of you? Are you listening to them, or the sound of your own voice planning your rebuttal? Can you listen with an open heart? Do their words affect your inner state of peace? If negatively, can you listen anyway? Does their tone affect your emotional state of being? Do you know how to de-escalate, if negatively affected?

Part and parcel to developing your Inner Observer is learning how to transmute anger, fear, apathy. hate, rage and an increase in low frequency vibrations with compassion, grace, gratitude, joy and love. This is no easy feat in a deeply divided world. For this, we turn once again to the Triple A formula for allowing people to show up EXACTLY AS THEY ARE whether we agree on everything or not. FIRST, we ACKNOWLEDGE who they are in that moment, not who we want them to be. SECOND, we ACCEPT who they are in that moment, not who we want them to be. THIRD, we ALLOW for them to evolve or not evolve in our presence, AND WE LOVE THEM ANYWAY.

We are a diverse society. Allowing people to simply be who they are, so long as they are not hurting anyone else, tells people that they are welcome and included. Shunning people we love in the hopes that they will come around to believing what we believe, is a fruitless endeavor. Keeping our loved ones close and in communication, while letting them know its okay to be on their own evolutionary path without being forced by threat of exclusion allows for more opportunities to keep communicating with empathy and love.

The Benefits of Aromatherapy and Mood Enhancement

Have you ever struggled with feelings of depression, especially around holidays or special occasions, and found yourself wondering how to uplift your mood? I’ve certainly faced that challenge, particularly after the loss of my husband.

One of the most soothing and effective strategies I’ve discovered is something as simple as exposure to essential oils. These natural scents can truly help uplift your spirits and promote feelings of happiness and well-being.

Here are some essential oils that can boost your mood:

• Lemon – Known for its refreshing, energizing qualities, it provides a natural boost to your mood and energy levels.

• Orange – This uplifting scent helps reduce stress and anxiety, leaving you feeling more relaxed and at ease.

• Bergamot and Lavender – Together, these oils create a peaceful blend that calms the mind, reduces stress, and encourages emotional balance.

• Ylang Ylang – Known for its calming effects, it ignites the nervous system, promoting relaxation and a sense of peace.

• Neroli – This beautiful, floral scent is perfect for alleviating anxiety and boosting your mood.

You can easily enjoy the benefits of these oils at home by using a diffuser, or even while driving in the car. The right aroma can work wonders in helping shift your mood throughout the day.

If you're looking for a more immersive experience, we also offer aromatherapy as an add-on to your massage session. Simply choose the oil you’d like, and we’ll mix it with your massage cream or in the diffuser for a soothing and therapeutic treatment that promotes both relaxation and emotional well-being.

Feel the calming effects of aromatherapy and mood enhancement during your next massage session.

Looking forward to seeing you soon!

Natalie Clark, LMT

Divinitude Spirit Medicine

If you are dealing with stubborn chronic illness, addiction issues, have emotional/mental health concerns, or are looking for ways to break out of cycles that no longer make you happy or keep you from loving your life fully, please consider booking a Health & Wellness Coaching Session at Divinitude. Sessions may be done in person (every day except Saturdays) or virtually 7 days/week. Coaching is a part of every acupuncture & Chinese herbal session as well. Book an appointment with Divinitude today! ~Dr. Kallie Guimond, MPH, OM.D, L.Ac

One of the things we face as local small business owners balancing our family lives with our actual practices, is that rarely do we also have time for promotion of the business. As we do everything ourselves, we are seeking support from satisfied patients and clients in the form of google reviews and testimonials that can be added to our webpage.

Divinitude's Natalie Clark (the social one with whom everyone meets out in the community,) has taken the free time she has while raising two pre-teens to create a google business page for Divinitude. Here, you may leave a review and we WILL interact with you. Moreover, for all who do leave a review, we will send you the code to access the Divinitude Monthly Pass for one month.

Divinitude's Dr. Kallie (the socially-awkward one whom you will only come face to face with in the studio or at a local public beach, is also seeking testimonials to add to our webpage. If you would like to provide a testimonial anonymously or with your initials and location listed, please email Drkallie@Divinitude.net. Each testimonial RECEIVED, whether used on the website or not, will give that client/patient access to the Divinitude Monthly Pass for one month.

It's a family affair at Divinitude online and we are hoping to introduce the talents of our children in our upcoming social media postings. We are also looking to interact with our community members more in a wellness-oriented space in which we all learn from and share with each other. Our children share our interests in wellness and can offer perspectives from younger people...and they are way more media-savvy, socially and technologically, than your practitioners any day. For every person that interacts with us through Direct Message or on our by leaving a review on our Facebook page will receive access to the Divinitude Monthly pass for one month.

Expanding our community with referrals will also result in accesss to the Divinitude Monthly Pass for one month. Make sure to tell your friends and family to make sure they mention your name during at the beginning/end of their appointment so we can email you access to your monthly pass discount code. There are no limits on the number of passes available. Every referral is a gift.

15% OFF ACUPUNCTURE for 30 Days

Gift Card includes initial 90 Minute Intake that contains medical history review, differential diagnosis and first treatment, along with Two (2) 60 Minute Follow/Up Acupuncture Treatments. All treatments must be used within 30 days of purchase.

15% OFF MASSAGES

for 30 Days

Gift Card includes Three (3) 90-Minute Swedish or Therapeutic Massages Within 30 Days of Purchase. Offer not good for specialty massages such as Kansa wand, Thai Foot, Scalp or Face Massages, or Tui Na (Chinese acupuncture massage technique.)

15% OFF REIKI THERAPY for 30 Days

Gift Card Includes THREE 60 Minute Reiki Therapy Sessions within 30 Days of purchase with practitioner of choice. Offer not good for any other add-on services available. No Rollover benefits. All sessions must be completed within 30 days of purchase.

15% OFF SPA SERVICES PACKAGE

Gift Card may be used for Two (2) 45 Minute treatments (Back Scrub or Fire-Cupping) or Three (3) 30 Minute Treatments (Hot Stone Therapy, Hand Scrub, Foot Scrub, or Dry Brushing) in 30 day period after purchase.

15% OFF COACHING PACKAGES

15% Off WellCoach Initial Goals Assessment (60 Minutes) and Two (2) Follow-Up WellCoach sessions (3o Minutes) within 30 days after purchase. May be virtual or in-person, OR

15% Off One (1) Initial SoulCoach Goals Session which includes comprehensive lifestyle intake, chakral assessment, 5Element emotional regulation analysis, nutritional assessment, work-life balance assessment, values-in-action assessment, and goal evaluation & plan. Within this 30 day period, receiver is also entitled to Two (2) follow up coaching sessions to assess progress and support goal achievement. SoulCoaching is designed to go deeper than simple health/wellness coaching to improve balance, clarity, function and relationships with family, friends and colleagues in life.