Ah, July. The perfect month to soak up some health-enhancing vitamin D, take a vacation, and have an outdoor party or picnic. I encourage you to savor the sweetness of summer by lightening your schedule, eating summer fruits and vegetables, and welcoming joy and pleasure in whatever form feels right to you. Summer, for most of us, is fleeting. Take it in!

“Surfing Your Chakra Waves” in the Women’s Wisdom Community

It’s very useful to have a basic understanding of your energetic anatomy, including how the energy centers known as chakras function in your mind and body. These energy systems act as transformers that convey refined emotional and spiritual information to the cells. In this month’s Women’s Wisdom Circle article, “Surfing Your Chakra Waves”, I explain how spiritual energy manifests into physical form as I take you on a trip through the chakras.

In the News—Be One Less…To Get the Gardasil Vaccine

In November 2006, I sent a cautionary message about the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine to my entire e-community when the Gardasil vaccine was approved and being promoted as a way to help prevent cervical cancer. More than two years later, there have been thousands of reported incidents of side effects and health problems, including more than 30 deaths, connected with the Gardasil vaccine to date. This prompted CBS anchor Katie Couric to do an exposé on Gardasil’s safety. Read “Be One Less…To Get the Gardasil Vaccine” available to everyone this month.

Cindy Tiehen Wins “Pleasures” Jacket

In February, I decided to run a contest to giveaway the jacket I wore on the cover of The Secret Pleasures of Menopause. This Escada treasure was purchased in Boston while I was putting together an outfit for my PBS special on Mothers and Daughters. I had worn it once (at my daughter’s graduation from Mama Gena’s School of Womanly Arts) before the photo shoot. To participate, community members sent an entry explaining why you wanted to win and how you planned to use it to invite more joy and pleasure into your life. Although there were many great entries, Cindy Tiehen’s stood out. (Cindy is seen wearing the jacket in the photo on the left.) Here’s what she wrote:

Why I would like to win the jacket:
The first time I saw the cover of The Secret Pleasures of Menopause my first thought was “Secret Pleasures? Hmm. I really need to buy this book!” My second thought was how amazing Dr. Northrup looked (glowing inside and out, and it’s much, much more than the lighting!) in that beautiful “I’m-one-hot-dynamic-classy-sexy-woman” jacket. This was followed closely by my third thought, quoting the woman dining next to Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally, “I’ll have what she’s having!!!” Now, I don’t, as a general rule, enter contests or drawings, but when I saw the opportunity on the Web site and read that THE actual gorgeous jacket I had lusted after was in fact being passed on for the greater good and (Holy Crap!) it’s my size, I decided I’m going to go for it.

What I would do with the jacket if I win:
If I were to win it, I would use it as follows: As a busy entrepreneur who refuses to wallow in the mud of the current economic situation, I believe that cultivating all the joy I can is truly the best medicine. Here’s my plan: it’s sort of a “pay-it-forward-traveling-pants” kind of thing. I would keep the jacket for only a few months. There are two occasions (one business and one personal) that come instantly to mind plus many more I could conjure up in the meantime. I would then, after dry cleaning—all that joy would probably result in a little perspiration—pass it on to someone else to enjoy for a month or two. Then they, in return, would pass it on. I would ask that each recipient let me know who in turn has received the jacket and that they kindly email me how they utilized it to “invite more joy and pleasure.” Wouldn’t it be wonderful to “follow” the journey (The Joy Jacket Journey!) for as long as it lasts? I would take great pleasure in journaling the responses and gladly, if you wish, forward them on to you.

Here’s an update from Cindy:

The jacket is still with me until the weekend of July 10 when I am hosting a three-day “Wing-Ding” with four of my childhood girlfriends. We have all turned 50 this year, so they are flying and driving in for some good ol’ girlfriend joy, love, and celebration. Our “goofy joy goal” is to get our picture taken with 50 different men (lifeguard, policeman, waiter, man on the street, etc.) over the course of the weekend. Given my girlfriend’s personalities, this is a good recipe for more than a few belly laughs.

The jacket will then be passed on along with a “Joy Journal.” Each jacket recipient will have the journal to be creative in, and I will also request that a photo and short note be sent to me via email. It will be a wonderful gift to travel vicariously with the jacket as we all learn and are inspired by shared experiences. Let the Joy Jacket Journey begin!

I hope you’ll pardon the pun if I tell you that I’m energized to tell you about Rev3 Energy™, available in cans and surge packs. Rev3 Energy™ is a cleaner, smarter, and stronger drink that makes a great alternative to crash-and-burn energy drinks. It has all the power of the other popular energy drinks, but with an advanced formula of antioxidants, vitamins, and other nutrients—it works as a dietary supplement in the form of a sweet, tasty beverage.

Unlike any other energy drink, Rev3 Energy™ from USANA Health Sciences contains natural caffeine from a blend of teas to support mental alertness and stamina. Teas provide numerous beneficial ingredients including potent antioxidants and thermogenic agents. And Rev3 Energy™ uses low-glycemic sugars for sustained energy. Equally impressive is what’s not included. Rev3 Energy™ has no artificial flavors, sweeteners, preservatives, or colors.

Why not energize with something that is good for you? Click here to learn more about the Rev3 Energy™ lightly carbonated beverage with a citrus/pomegranate flavor. Click here to learn more about the 10-calorie Rev3 Energy™ surge pack, perfect for travel, with the light iced tea flavor. I travel with this all the time and love it.

Vital Choice Organic Trail Mix

If you’ve been part of my community for a while, you know that I come from a very active family. My mom, Edna, loves to hike, and from the time we were small our family went on hiking trips to nearby mountains. (At 82, my mom is still hiking the highest peaks in New England on a regular basis.) My sister, Penny, was on the U.S. Ski Team, and my family happily included skiing as part of our regular outings. My parents even founded a ski resort in the town where I came from.

We always had energizing snacks on our hikes, and enjoyed outdoor picnics. Vital Choice makes a Super Antioxidant Organic Trail Mix that both reminds me of those days and combines very high quality, unique organic ingredients. My mom loves to bring Vital Choice Organic Trail Mix along with her on her adventures, and so do I. (I take it to the movies!) If you’re looking for a new snack that’s perfect for the beaches, the mountains, or the movies this summer, try Vital Choice Organic Trail Mix.

CEU’s Available for Dr. Northrup’s Books

Holistic practitioners can take courses based on Dr. Northrup’s best-selling books (published by Bantam) Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom, The Wisdom of Menopause, and Mother-Daughter Wisdom, to earn continuing education credits (CE Units).

Innerlandscape.com offers unique continuing education courses for clinicians in psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy, addiction counseling, school-based therapy, nursing, and related fields. Their coursework is accepted for all Master’s-level clinicians as regular CE Units. For information, visit Innerlandscape.com.

Although it may seem like it’s far off, I want to tell you about an event in October in Boston where I will be speaking with Cheryl Richardson, author of The Art of Extreme Self-Care.

For a complete listing of all my speaking engagements and other appearances click here. This page is updated often, so be sure to check back from time to time.

SO THAT’S IT FOR JULY. Look back on your calendar and see what was going on in the dark of January. And just take a moment to give thanks for all the good that has come into the long days of summer since then. Let time slow to a crawl while the warm breezes of summer remind you to enjoy every moment of this luscious month.

Warmly,

Christiane Northrup, M.D.