The knotweed, or smartweed, or buckwheat family — the Polygonaceae — is an interesting family that is probably represented by one or more species right outside your door, no matter where you live. Most knotweeds have terminal (at the upper end) clusters of conspicuous droopy or upright pink or white flowers that are so tightly closed they look like knots. Wild buckwheat and cultivated buckwheat (which is also known as kasha) have flowers like this.

Robert Moss’s books are always wonderful — full of mystery and creativity, magic and glimpses of other worlds. But his newest offering, Sidewalk Oracle, seems to be particularly joyful. Sub-titled “Playing with Signs, Symbols, and Synchronicity in Everyday Life,” the emphasis here is on the playing. Filled with enchanting stories, examples of synchronicity, and other “winks” from the universe, the author captures the joy and wonder of being attuned to a broader, deeper reality.

Pro-football star and Superbowl champion, Tom Brady, has been making waves recently, speaking up in favor of organic food and an holistic approach to health. But what’s getting all the attention is his blasting of what he terms “poison” products, including such big names as Kellogg and Coca-Cola. As noted by the Organic Consumers Association, “Brady may have just done more good for kids, and more damage to Big Food, than we could accomplish in months.”

The Metta Institute was developed as an outgrowth of the Zen Hospice Project (ZHP), nationally recognized as a pioneering model in the movement to improve end-of life care. From the website www.mettainstitute.org we read: METTA is an ancient Pali (Buddhist) term meaning loving-kindness, friendliness, benevolence and non-violence. It is a strong wish for the welfare and happiness of others. We chose it as our name because we believe it expresses the essential human quality that is most beneficial in the lives of those who are dying and their caregivers.

There are many levels of spirit people: there is the guide who chose to walk with you from the moment you arrived on this earth plane, there is the guardian angel who has attached themselves to you to guard you and protect you…There is no better way of living a life. With their help I have grown wiser, more able to give to others on this side of life, more capable of sharing their wisdom with those who come to me for readings for advice. With their help I have learned to appreciate every day, no matter what it brings me.

In this interview, Barbara talks with Merryn Jose about the Fox sisters; how they became mediums, spiritualism in the 19th century, her book, and more. Barbara Weisberg is the author of Talking to the Dead, which is about Kate & Maggie Fox and the rise of spiritualism . It is a nonfiction account of the lives and times of the two charismatic young sisters generally considered the founders of modern Spiritualism in the 19th century. Barbara Weisberg is a published poet and also the author of several children’s books, Weisberg first wrote about the Fox sisters for American Heritage magazine.

As more and more people seek greater health and alternatives to drug therapies, Traditional Chinese Medicine has experienced a resurgence of popularity. TCM focuses on several approaches to staying healthy, aging well, and preventing disease. These include acupuncture, acupressure, Qigong, classical herbal therapy, eating well and monitoring psychological or emotional health.

The October Newsletter is out! Merlian News is now translated into over 50 languages. Just go to www.merliannews.com , upper right hand corner to Google Translate and use the drop down menu. Also, don’t forget to check us out on Facebook & Twitter and please take a look at our Website of the Month!

Austria and Italy have joined the growing ranks of EU countries opting out of GM crops. After the announcement last week, the list now includes France, Ireland, Scotland, Greece, and Latvia. From the website www.sustainablepulse.com we read: Austrian Health Minister Sabine Oberhauser and a number of Italian Ministries have confirmed that both countries are officially requesting an opt-out from growing the eight varieties of GM maize permitted or set to be permitted at the EU level, thus there will now be a full ban on GM crops in both countries under new EU regulations.