December A Issue
Rebecca Schaper
A SISTER'S CALL
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CONTENTS HEALTH & HEALING 38
86
HEALTHY LIVING DURING THE HOLIDAYS
SPIRITUALITY 44
IS YOUR SOUL THE REAL YOU?
48
4 STEPS TO HELP YOU SPIRITUALLY PREPARE FOR 2021
+
Spotlight
METAPHYSICS 92
DISCOVER THE 36 DIVINE FEMALES ARCHETYPES
REBECCA SCHAPER INTERVIEWED BY SANDRA SEGDBEER
SHORT STORIES 84
5 CHRISTMAS SHORT STORIES TO PUT YOU IN A HOLIDAY MOOD
MOVIE REVIEW
CONSCIOUS PARENTING 56
78 OPERATION DEAR SANTA
RAISING SPIRITUAL CHILDREN
OMLIVING
66 70
DEALING WITH THE SUNK-COST EFFECT DOES THE BRAIN HAVE A DELETE BUTTON?
PERSONAL GROWTH 112
106
REASONS TO PRACTICE MINDFUL MOTIVATION 4 WAYS TO MITIGATE YOUR EMOTIONS IN UNPRECEDENTED TIMES
WWW.OMTIMES.COM
REBECCA SCHAPER A Sister's Call
The following interview is a conversation between Sandie Sedgbeer and author, filmmaker, philanthropist, and mental health advocate, Rebecca Schaper, which covers two important topics. The first is Rebecca's own family story, chronicled in her award-winning documentary "A Sister's Call," and her book The Light in His Soul – Lessons from my Brother's Schizophrenia, which have been hailed as essential for anyone who dares to see the miraculous gift that life presents us in our struggles, obstacles, and most difficult moments.
OMTIMES.COM
Mental health needs a great deal of attention. It's the final taboo and it needs to be faced and dealt with.
ADAM ANT
The second is the launch of Sandie and Rebecca's new Podcast, starting in 2021, which aims to shine a new light on mental health by expanding the conversation to cover areas that only just beginning to be examined. Mental health has become one of the hottest topics of our era. We all have mental health, just as we all have physical and emotional health, and, just as we all struggle to stay in shape and manage our emotions at times, so, too, do we all face times when our mental health is affected by circumstances beyond our control. The events of this year being the perfect case in point. Sandie Sedgbeer: Rebecca, welcome. Your book The Light in His Soul Lessons from my Brother's Schizophrenia is a story that takes us on a journey through pain, sadness, and suffering. Of growing up with a mentally ill parent, child sexual abuse, parental suicide, and the 20-year disappearance and reappearance of your much-loved brother, Call. Tell us about your family background & Call's disappearance. OMTIMES.COM
Healthy Living During the Holidays Stay healthy during The Holidays.
H
By Ginger McBride
olidays can be a difficult
ambitions to meet, but sometimes life
time to stay healthy. Learn
interjects, and we stray off our path.
four ways to continue to
When fall arrives, we know the end
strive for healthy living and
of the year is near, and celebrating
celebrate at the same time!
is around the corner. We begin to retrospect about what we wanted
We begin our year with a fresh, new
to accomplish in the first place!
resolution. We have plans, goals, and
Whether there is a goal that was not
OM TIMES | December A Edition 2020
accomplished or a new one to take
and begin. We may not realize how
its place, we can continue to strive for
much time we do or don't spend on
healthy living!
activities. How many hours of video streaming have we enjoyed? How
During the holidays, it can be
many hours did we exercise this past
incredibly challenging to stay
week? We can journal everything
dedicated to our health. We have
from how much time we spend on
much to celebrate, such as Halloween,
certain things, our foods, water in
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and
taking, sleep, and exercise. Some of
New Year's! Holidays are a time
us are lucky enough to even have
of togetherness, tradition, and
accessories that monitor this for us
celebration. At this time of the year,
and make it as convenient as possible.
food is not only sustenance but also a communal experience! Most of us
Once we journal, we can look back
lead busy lives. There are the constant
on our entries and make some
hustle and bustle. The holidays arise
realizations about our self. What are
to give us an excuse to slow down and
some things we could do differently?
catch up with loved ones!
Could we exercise more? Pay closer attention to our meals? Could we
Let's stay committed to our health
have a better quality of sleep? These
and celebrate. An essential first step
are all things worth mentioning. Now
to doing both is awareness and being
is the time to plan. We can take a
conscious of our actions. Often times,
look at our initial goal and break it
we don't realize that we are slipping.
down into more attainable monthly
It's subtle and gradual, and before
goals that we can accomplish. Plan to
we know it, we haven't accomplished
sleep at least seven to eight hours a
anything for our goals in weeks. To
day, drink enough water, eat healthy
start being aware, we need to focus on
meals, and exercise.
our time, meals, sleep, and exercise. The holidays can also bring out Journals are a great tool that we
unique stress in some. Perhaps it is
thankfully can use both manually
money for gifts, or they are not a fan
and digitally. Grab a notebook, or
of crowds. Exercise is a great way to
download an application of choice,
relieve stress. It releases endorphins,
OM TIMES | December A Edition 2020
4 Steps to Help You Spiritually Prepare for 2021 by Meghan Belnap OM TIMES | December A Edition 2020
T
here's no question that 2020
future with a sneak peek? A gifted
has been one of the most
psychic can provide clairvoyant
challenging and eventful
readings to answer your questions
years in modern memory.
about what lies ahead in your life so
Many people are more than ready to
you can look forward to the good
move on to a new year and a fresh start.
and prepare for the bad. Psychics
Still, others are understandably worried
can also help you increase your self-
about the future. If you have concerns
awareness and better understand
about what lies ahead, spirituality
how your future may be affected
can provide comfort and put you at
by who you are as a person now.
ease. Try these four steps to help you
Many psychics are well-versed in
spiritually prepare for 2021.
attraction-theory subjects, guiding you in the concept of how what you
Envision Your Future
put out into the world can attract the same things back to you.
Is 2021 your year to buy a new house, find the love of your life or find yourself? Whether you write your goals down in a journal, or create a vision board, laying out your goals and dreams for the new year is an excellent way to begin your spiritual journey. Having a focused plan can help give you something to aim for rather than wandering aimlessly in the new year, waiting for change to come to you. Having a vision in mind can also help you prepare emotionally for significant changes that may come, making them easier to handle when they do.
Get Psychic Guidance What if you could prepare for your
See a Counselor Sometimes all you need is someone to talk to. It doesn't matter whether you visit a mental health professional or a leader f rom your spiritual community. Counseling sessions can help you put your worries and fears into perspective and sort through your feelings. A trained counselor can also offer advice and suggest exercises to overcome any fears and anxiety you may be experiencing. Anxiety can be a significant energy-killer and inhibit spiritual growth if you don't take time to address it. Make sure
OM TIMES | December A Edition 2020
Raising Spiritual Children By OMTimes Team
I
f you have a child, you may know
this work out correctly. Many of us
that raise a child is not an easy
have made mistakes while trying to
task. It is something that will
do our best. We also nurture high
demand every fabric of your
expectations for our children. We want
being, and that will last your lifetime.
them to be successful and great human
It is also something that immensely
beings, real citizens of the world.
rewarding and souls fulfilling. To do so, we need to teach some ethical As parents, we are bound to make
concepts, inspire a moral compass, and
mistakes, even when we try to make
infuse essential spiritual wisdom to our
OM TIMES | December A Edition 2020
children. At the end of the day, they are
Spirituality touched, denying it can
the best gifts we can give to them.
be a big mistake.
"Educate the children, so there is no
"We must not shape children
need to punish men."
according to our feelings; we must
Pythagoras
have and love them the way they were given to us by God."
For starters, we shall reiterate that
Johann Goethe
Spirituality is not Religion because Spirituality transcends any religion's
Over time, if applicable, you can
notion. Spirituality deals with human
present your universe of beliefs
values, moral education, ethics, and
and let them decide for themselves
conscious living. Spiritual values reflect
what to believe and what they
how people relate to each other,
want to follow. But never impose a
the importance of civilized social
reality, especially when it involves
interactions, and our relationship with
discrediting what the child
the Divine.
questions and presents about
Mediumship and Children
the theme only contribute to the subject generating pain and being forgotten. All children are born with
Trust your child when she says she
what is called extrasensory skills.
sees someone, hears things, or has an imaginary friend who she believes to be real.
DEALING WITH HYPERSENSITIVE CHILDREN
Not considering what she says can create a breach of trust between
Let go of ideologies and teach
you and, worse, cause these gifts to
your child to feel emotions and not
be overwhelmed, not healthy. Give
repress them. Anger, guilt, sadness,
your children the freedom to talk
happiness, and joy, everything
about it, even if it does not meet
must be embraced. When we
what you believe. In this topic, the
get the idea that feeling angry
recommendation is about the denial of
is wrong, we teach children to
mediumship: if your child has traces of
create blocks concerning emotions
OM TIMES | December A Edition 2020
Does the Brain Have a Delete Button? By Humanity Healing
Neuroplasticity, neuron Connections, and a Brain Delete Button OM TIMES | December A Edition 2020
N
europlasticity is a brain
Scientists have known this for years.
function, also known
However, nowadays, researchers learn
as brain plasticity. It
another part of the truth: to learn
is the brain's ability to
something, even more important than
change itself through growth and
practicing, is the ability to unlearn or
restructuring. These alterations range
break old neural connections. This is
from individual neurons making
called "synaptic pruning."
new connections to systematic modifications like cortical remapping.
HOW DO BRAIN CONNECTIONS WORK?
Neurons that fire together wire together. Donald O. Hebb
Brains are tricky and adaptable organs. For all the 'neuroplasticity,'
The more you work on the neuro-
allowing our brains to reconfigure
circuit (reengineering) in your brain,
themselves to our computers' biases,
the more robust neural networks'
we are just as neuroplastic in our ability
circuit will become. That is why,
to eventually recover and adapt.
quoting another old phrase, "practice
Douglas Rushkoff
makes perfect." The more you practice piano, or speak a language or juggle,
Imagine that your brain is a garden,
the stronger these skills become.
except that instead of growing
OM TIMES | December A Edition 2020
OMTIMES • DEC 2020
T he Dear Santa Project: Interview with Dana Nachman
DEAR SANTA shines a light on the 100-year-old 'Operation Santa' Program of the United States Postal Service. Each year, hundreds of thousands of letters to Santa arrive at Post Offices around the Country. Through Operation Santa, the United States Postal Service makes it possible for the public to safely adopt these letters and make children's dreams come true. The film invites audiences along for the magic of this massive endeavor. While traveling throughout the Country, like Santa does on Christmas Eve, the "DEAR SANTA "film focuses on select 'Operation Santa' Centers. Some of these operations are in metropolitan areas like the massive operation in New York City. In contrast, others are found in small towns where the Post Office is the community's heart. The timeless documentary captures the warmth and spirit of Christmas time through the lens of this great American tradition, provoking audiences throughout the world to ask themselves how they can make the world a better place, one gesture at a time.
The Dear Santa Project Opening the window to the many facets of the United States Post Services. Father Noel has been part of every child's imagination in this world. The many narrations about his MO may vary. Still, the message and intentions behind the kind gift-giving character continue to be the same. On Dear Santa Project, the United States Postal Offices play an equal and important part in keeping the dreams of Christmas night alive for thousands of kids. Their "Elves" are intimately involved in all stages of this process, from the many letters to making sure they find their destination.
OMTIMES • DEC 2020
It is historically registered that Children started to send Christmas letters to Santa 150 years ago. The Story goes like this: Back in 1907, Santa Reached out to the US Postal Services and asked them to help deliver the Thousands of Letters he gets every year. Nowadays, their partnership grew exponentially into a massive nationwide Program called "OPERATION SANTA." Many Children believe that only the Post offices know Good Mr. Claus's real location and address. Independent of where you are or what you may believe. Operation Santa is a message of hope. The movie is proof that there is still goodness in this world. For more than a hundred years, Americans have brought cheer, compassion, and hope Through Operation Santa through good and hard times. Origin of the Legend When barbarians took over the Old World, a series of celebrations tried to alleviate the severe temperatures and the lack of food that took over Europe in late December. In this situation, the "Old Man Winter" legend appeared as a gentleman who beat up people's homes asking for food and drink. According to the myth, whoever served him with generosity would enjoy a milder winter. The association between Old Man Winter and St. Nicholas appeared many decades later. According to historical accounts, Saint Nicholas was a Turkish monk who lived during the 4th century. Christian tradition tells that this clergyman would have helped a young girl not to be sold by her father, throwing a bag full of gold coins that could pay for the girl's wedding dowry. Only five centuries later, Saint Nicholas was recognized by the Church as a saint. How did the image of the plump old man with a white beard come about? At the end of the 19th century, the German designer Thomas Nast had the idea of incorporating new elements into the good old man's image.
4 Ways to Mitigate Your Emotions in Unprecedented Times
O
By Dr. Carmen Harra
ne word we've heard a lot
The shaky state of our world may
lately is "unprecedented":
be causing you to have conflictual
unprecedented pandemic,
emotions, especially if you're a
unprecedented protests,
sensitive person: you may feel
unprecedented unemployment rate,
frustrated about your finances,
etc. As we pass through unusual yet
impatient to get back to work,
extraordinary times, our emotions are
outraged over police brutality, or just
starting to reflect the chaos around us.
plain bored of this whole situation.
OM TIMES | December A Edition 2020
Even in such instances, it's imperative
to know them, then show them the
not to let your emotions get out of
door. You shouldn't dwell on negative
hand. To remain in control of your
emotions, or you risk getting stuck
circumstances, you need to stay in
in them. It's important to keep your
control of what you feel. No matter
feelings constantly flowing so that you
what your mindset may be in this
don't become emotionally stagnant.
moment, you can mitigate your emotions by taking these four steps:
2. Transform what you feel. Human beings are unique. We
1. Recognize that no emotion is wrong. It takes time to adjust to
have an incredible ability to transmute
a new reality because the human brain
change it into a more productive
likes to follow predictable patterns;
and enlightening one. So denial can
it does not appreciate change. Our
evolve into acceptance. Hate can be
regular activities have been put on
shifted into love. Disinterest can be
pause, and we've been taken out of our
transformed into motivation. Unease
comfort zones quite suddenly. Such
can be converted into faith. Suppose
disruptions are guaranteed to cause
you're experiencing negative emotions
a wide range of emotions, including
due to the pandemic or other factors.
ones you may not expect or enjoy.
In that case, you can choose to
However, you must accept how you're
examine your emotions and gently
feeling at any given moment because
transition out of them.
our emotions, take a feeling, and
your emotions are a part of you; they come from you and no one else. Some
The solution might be simply to
sentiments like regret and guilt are
apply logic. Reasoning through your
especially oppressive; they weigh down
feelings can help you differentiate
on your conscience and make you
between rational and irrational
falsely believe that what you're feeling
emotions and dissociate yourself
is wrong when, in reality, no emotion is
from unhealthy ones like fear, worry,
wrong. Recognizing that all emotions
and anger. For example, it's rational
are normal will help you return to a
to feel disappointed for being fired
positive state of mind more quickly. The
from your job but irrational to feel
key is to allow your feelings to come
disappointed in yourself if it wasn't
and go like visitors: welcome them, get
your fault. Remember that harboring
OM TIMES | December A Edition 2020
Reasons to Practice Mindful Motivation By Judi Lynch
O
ur appreciation and
or seem out of control. If we feel that
gratitude for the beauty of
our efforts are being wasted, unseen
life create and motivate us
or unheard, we can lose our focus,
to experience all we can
our will to succeed. When we can feel
while here.
purpose in our actions and words, we’re more inclined to keep going
Motivation is the force that drives
upward.
us and helps to maintain our goals in life. It can be a challenge to stay
Motivation can come from several
motivated when things are uncertain
different sources if we are listening,
OM TIMES | December A Edition 2020
observing synchronicities and signs.
Positive motivation can be recognized
In moments of peace, we can find the
much easier when we feel well,
clarity we need to make important
taking good care of our physical
decisions if we can trust our intuition
and emotional health. Getting
and spiritual connections. If we gain
enough rest and healthy food is truly
clarity, we will be led to the people,
important for keeping a positive
places, and things that positively and
energy flow, which helps us much
productively motivate us.
in our daily attitude. The people we are in close contact with also
Fear is one of the most powerful
make a big difference in our ability
motivators to make changes. When
to stay positive and focused. If we
we are faced with challenging
are constantly listening to someone
situations, anxiety can force us to
complain, criticize, or blame, it can
make personal decisions quicker. We
become necessary to limit your time
are motivated to take action, to ask
in that energy. If you are always trying
for help, to protect ourselves from
to reason or explain, your energy can
threats. Fear motivates us to act
become very low and unmotivated.
under pressure, shows our worth, and
Much easier to let others be who they
helps us to remember how to respond
are and not believe we can make
when faced with similar situations in
them change with just our positive
the future. It helps to keep us alive.
attitude. It saves a lot of frustration to remember this.
Many people we meet throughout life motivate us to evolve, question,
When we are surrounded by positive,
gyrate, and learn. They lead us on to
helpful, and willing to share their
live our own unique lives. Even people
insights, we are motivated to shine.
we have never met who lived before
When we make a list of goals and
us have inspired and motivated us
actions we want to activate, we
to create new life paths. One idea
motivate ourselves to complete what
can spark our enthusiasm for a
we’ve begun, and we see the end
project we had been considering. Our
result. Positive memories from the
determination can be fueled by one
past are also helpful in gaining energy
positive quote, enabling us to make
to charge the future. Be mindful not
life-enhancing decisions.
to overthink or judge a situation. See
OM TIMES | December A Edition 2020
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