About
Alena’s Thoughts
I am a pagan/wiccan who believes that there are great truths to be found in all classical religions and mythologies. Many of the beliefs of Celts, Greeks, Norse, and other tribal cultures were developed because the practitioners found that certain beliefs and rituals brought them closer to the Earth and to the Gods and Goddesses. Having this proximity to Nature was of paramount importance in a time when every aspect of life hinged on the whims of the fickle elements.
Today, with scientific and technological advancements, we can easily disregard Nature; but we do so at our own peril. Regaining those connections is invaluable for improving health, decreasing stress, and purifying our minds and spirits. The greatest disgrace in human history is that so much knowledge was willfully destroyed at the hands of conquering invaders. Thankfully, a lot remains and much more can be rediscovered with open minds, spirits, and souls.
**Alena is a Navy Corpsman and a Dietetic Technician student. The study of Western nutrition can combine with ancient wisdom to enhance a healthy, modern lifestyle. At WoodlandFae.com, we believe that knowledge from any source should be valued. Although occasionally this blog may offer nutritional and fitness advice, readers should check with their doctor before changing their diet or beginning a fitness regimen. Blog entries are not intended to replace the advice of a medical professional.
Edmund’s Thoughts
As an agnostic rationalist, I guess I’m the yang to Alena’s yin. My world view lends little credence to spirituality and the supernatural. Despite that, I agree that an appreciation of nature is beneficial to health and happiness. With ultraprocessed diets, high-stress careers, and ever decreasing time to unwind; our Western lifestyle places greater and greater demands on our biological systems and on our psyches.
There’s no denying the power that scents can have on our sense of well-being. Take a minute to ponder the effects of the scent of lavender blossoms, brewing coffee, or pumpkin pie cooling on the windowsill. This is the science of aromatherapy. As a matter of fact, most ancient wisdom has a basis in science; yet just as you don’t need to understand electron theory to enjoy a good DVD movie on your widescreen television, likewise you don’t need to understand psychology to feel refreshed from a good hike through the forest. Simply communing with the flora and fauna will suffice.
Through thousands of years of trial and error, civilizations that lived closer to nature than we do developed methods of working with what they had to lead happy and healthy lives. In these pages, we will explore those ancient wisdoms.
**Edmund is an electronics technician, an instructor, and a student of nursing. Additionally, Edmund and Alena have two young sons, one almost 2 years and the other 2 months (as of Aug 2007). Although occasionally this blog may offer nutritional and fitness advice, readers should check with their doctor before changing their diet or beginning a fitness regimen. Blog entries are not intended to replace the advice of a medical professional.