Carnival of Healing #227: Independence celebration!

Laydeez annd gennntlemenn, boys and girrls! Welcome to the 227th edition of the Carnival of Healing, a monthly round-up of personal blog posts on the topics of holistic health, wellness, spirituality, and self empowerment. It's been awhile since the Carnival was here, and we're happy to be hosting once again. This year, the Carnival has consolidated into a monthly rather than weekly event, which means each host has an even wider selection of posts to choose from for each edition. And based on our experience, it isn't only the quantity of submissions that has grown -- the quality of posts also seems to be improving. All that makes for lots of good reading -- a month's worth, at least.

This month our theme is independence, in keeping with the Independence Day holiday here in the USA. What's that got to do with healing, you may ask? Plenty: you need good health to be independent, and you need to be in balance not only physically, but mentally, spiritually, and emotionally as well. For all of us, healing is an ongoing process. And where does that process start? For Tabitha, it begins with a look in the mirror.

Looking in the mirror can also help us deal with difficult people, says Mark Harrison at Life Optimizer, because no matter how many people may frustrate us, the only person we can change is ourselves.

For many of us, it's our inner child who needs healing -- or maybe just releasing, says Dr. Mark in A Child at Heart.

And as Janet Erickson tells us, we don't have to look beyond ordinary everyday life to find spiritual healing through life lessons. Janet's reactions to some of her recent experiences demonstrate a healthy, well-grounded independence from worry.

Benjamin at Peaceful Prosperity gives us a handy guide to another way to stay healthy and balanced: self-hypnosis.

Another key to healthy independence is having the right tools, and Kaushik at Beyond Karma asks, "What's in your toolbox?"

Meditation can be an important tool to staying healthy and balanced, and The Conscious Life offers an introduction to mindfulness meditation.

And if you find meditation beneficial, you might want to try a meditation retreat. Axel G offers some tips on how to prepare for your first retreat.

Speaking of meditation, Huie Doan tells us how it can help us become independent of the blockages that impair our own energy flow.

And while we always prefer to focus on the positive, it's also important to know what not to do, says Charles at All About Living With Life.

Sometimes independence is a gift we can give to others, Kathleen Gage says, even in a brief but possibly life-changing conversation between a customer and a store clerk.

Healing isn't just for humans, of course, and our animal friends are dependent on us to give them the healthiest lives possible. But there are some pet health decisions that we aren't allowed to make independently, no matter the consequences for our pets, says Beth Lowell.

And we had to save this post, 34 Ways to Simplify Your Life, for last because if you follow its advice you'll turn off the computer and go outside. That's what we're about to do right now.

Last month's Carnival was hosted by Mind Mart, and next month the Carnival will set up at Rosanna C. Rogacion's Meandering Paths to Spirituality and Wellness. The Carnival of Healing is coordinated by Phylameana Iila Desy, About.com's guide to Holistic Healing. Many thanks to Phyl for keeping the show on the road, and thanks to all participants!