I am often asked what led me to publish Natural Awakenings. I simply respond, “I could feel it was my next project in every cell of my body.” The drive to take the publishing path was very strong. Similarly, on a recent recruiting trip with my son to my alma mater I was asked, “What made you choose this school?” I remember the feeling like it was yesterday. As soon as I stepped on campus, I knew that was where I would spend the next phase of my life. It just felt like home.

Intuition can be a strong presence in our lives. “Our body is a wellspring of priceless wisdom. Yet heeding our innate voice seems constantly tested as society distracts us with the busy acquisition of external knowledge and rewards more visible work,” says Linda Sechrist in our feature article Trust Your Intuition. I have found that when I relax and let life flow is when intuition is easiest to hear.

Amanda Owen, counselor, coach and author explains, “Receiving is a dynamic and productive state. When the body is relaxed and the mind and nervous system are calm, we become receptive and can feel and intuit subtle information contained in the energy received from external and internal environments.”

I can see this phenomenon with my boys. When they are relaxed and in the flow of life, magic happens. When they are stressed is when small issues seem to be overwhelming. I often point out the magic when it happens to encourage an awareness of their intuition. As their mom, it is a higher priority for me than bed-making skills!

This issue is jam-packed with great advice for a woman’s overall health. You will find a directory of local resources on page 30. Discover tips for staying connected to your intuition [page 22] and biological reasons for that ho-hum feeling. Gabrielle Reece shares her wisdom on juggling life’s demands. Explore the dangers of the contraceptive pill on page 28. Find ideas for dressing with conscious intention on page 32. This month I hope you find among these pages inspiration to create a healthier you.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Kris Urquhart, Publisher