Storms can teach us so much. Both the rumble of a drenching thunderstorm and the silence of a deep winter snowfall captivate the senses, turning attention to the sky and the dramatic terrain. Nature’s unpredictability beautifully characterizes an external world in flux with dizzying winds of change and opposing forces that can upend normal in mere seconds. 

We held southern and coastal friends and family in our hearts last month as their communities huddled in the path of an intense whirling mess of wind and rain. Humbled by the potential for destruction, we could all share in the sense of gratitude for the resources that enabled many to prepare and protect themselves. Fortunately, the worst is over, but one more scar remains on the face of Mother Earth. 

As stewards of this planet, we weather all types of events that shake our collective foundation. Research has demonstrated that trauma clearly leaves its mark, playing out in the history of cultures, the individual psyche, and the human journey. Loss becomes part of the spectrum; it illuminates the truth of impermanence and leaves a space that should be honored. True to form, the human spirit remains resilient. Rebuilding and recovery take time, but the chance to shift paradigms and rewrite the story is born in the paradox of change. 

Autumn is a season for turning inward to reassess, let go, and take in the crisp energy of rest and renewal. This issue of Natural Awakenings focuses on nurturing and sustaining mental wellness. It presents myriad resources for balancing the inner landscape and soothing cognitive dissonance. Such resources include purifying and enriching our diets, strengthening our core and attaining clarity by practicing simple centering practices, such as breathing and meditation. These and other natural lifestyle approaches can help us recalibrate our senses amidst ongoing transitions. 

Last month, our company experienced its own lasting change when we lost an extraordinary soul and very dear part of our corporate team, Larry Levine, the president of the Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation and a man who generously shared his wisdom, loving kindness and exuberantly positive support with our entire publishing family. His infusion of integrity and enthusiasm was central to sustaining a network built on the premise of compassion. Though we are all saddened by his passing, Larry’s bright spirit lives on, forever a part of the transformational web now awakening hearts and minds throughout the country. 

Communities are lit from within, made up of the individuals who come forward in times of need and supported by faith, flexibility and integrity. 

~Jacqueline 

We here at Natural Awakenings Lancaster-Berks celebrate our four-year anniversary this month, pausing to reflect on the hard work and outreach that have catalyzed connections across the local wellness grid. We continue to be grateful for the outpouring of support, affirming our message of positivity and our intent to strengthen connections that help us all thrive. Thank you for being a part of the journey! 

~Jacqueline & Kendra, Co-Publishers