The recent wave of unfortunate social injustices has once again prompted calls for solidarity in reclaiming dignity for all. Prayers for the healing of cultural wounds and united support for the widespread grief continue to pour out, this time in response to an anguish that has opened our hearts to the pain of oppression and violence. This crossroads in the long journey to equal human rights for those that face discrimination brings forth the opportunity for everyone to rise above denial and enact change.

We hold these truths delicately and step into the new year nearly blinded by the glare of polarities, requiring of us the honest courage to bear witness to both the far-reaching pain caused by social inequality and the glitter of hope in the actions that each one of us can take to create a different kind of future. Responses to the trauma have been varied and intense, with vigils, conversations and deep listening that seeks to bring a new level of transparency and redemption.

In his number one New York Times bestseller, The Book of Awakening, spiritual writer, poet, teacher and storyteller Mark Nepo writes, “Despite all our struggles for identity, despite the weight of living, there is an irrepressible ounce of spirit in each of us, a wellspring we carry within, that can be blocked but not contained. It emanates through all beings as the longing for love and peace.” That lifeline of intuition opens the door for us to reassess and find a better way for moving into wholeness.

This first issue of 2015 takes a look at the genius design of balance and stamina within a whole-systems perspective that values each precious part of the collective. Contributors weigh in on the body’s homeostasis and on alleviating stress, which is a primary culprit in the breakdown of immunity and equilibrium. Writer Sheila Julson invites us to explore the holistic role of acupuncture in her piece featuring local practitioners, and several articles focus on the crucial role of hormones in maintaining health.

Solutions that uphold personal integrity involve understanding the basic freedoms that support our natural states of being. We gratefully embrace this time of change toward honoring the inherent worth of self and others, as it opens the world to new ways of living in resilience and grace.

Wishing a healthy and harmonious new year to all!

~Jacqueline Mast & Kendra Campbell, Co-publishers