Welcome to the 16th edition of the Carnival of Healing. I chose the SUN, because of its healing properties, as my primary focus while putting together the carnival attractions this week.

The SUN is a natural healer. My hope is that my carnival will bring a ray of sunshine into your day during your visit!

The SUN on this card is the generator and sustainer of life, and the two figures acknowledge and celebrate this fully. If the properties of the Sun are not acknowledged and respected, it can grow to a menacing and destructive fiend. The SUN can only be friendly because it also creates the shadows that allow us to protect ourselves from too intense light and heat.
Sun Tarot Card by Simone from the Aeclectic Tarot Card Project.

As we enter into the winter months we all likely to be challenged by darker depressive days due to fewer hours of daylight and too many dismal days when the SUN is cloaked by clouds of darkness. Too many consecutive sunless days can certainly affect me negatively. Because of the frequent seasonal absence of a healing sunlight I've included a few blog references about SAD Seasonal Affective Depression.

Here's a brand new blog titled s.a.d. meltdown . The first entry is a welcoming greeting for SAD sufferers. Welcome to the SAD Meltdown Chronicles - "It is our hope and intention to bring life back into winter, to remind ourselves and each other of the joys that winter can bring..."

Support network to make it through winter without plunging into depression. "It is our hope and intention to bring life back into winter, to remind ourselves and each other of the joys that winter can bring..." Victor Hugo, the world only spins forward, blogs Laughter is the SUN that drives winter from the human face - "laughter, fun people, comedy shows on otherwise dreary Sunday nights, drawings of me as Batman — are some of the best ways to do battle with SAD."

Here's an interesting essay on light medicine (UV therapy) blogged from Hidden Poetry. Seeing the Light - mrudzio says "laughter, fun people, comedy shows on otherwise dreary Sunday nights, drawings of me as Batman — are some of the best ways to do battle with SAD."

Marian, three wise women, suggests Colour Walking as a way to defeat the blues associated with SAD.

About Yoga Guide, Ann Pizer gives us a ten-step illustration of the Sun Salutation

Sunny Gemstones- All of the yellow colored gemstones reflect SUN energies. The yellow topaz is my birthstone. I have noticed that whenever I'm sporting my topaz ring on my finger that my overall spirit is lighter. Blog for Woman blogs that topaz is the Gem of the Setting Sun

"The Egyptians said that topaz was colored with the golden glow of the mighty SUN god Ra."

More Carnival Attractions!

Lucy MacDonald, Counselling Confidential, blogs about the connection between Diabetes and Depression. She offers some informative resource links to help educate us on this important topic. November 14 is World Diabetes Day

Karen Clothier shines a little light on the AIDS epidemic and in Africa with her Singing For Aids post at the hip and zen pen, She recommends we watch Themba:Hope, a documentary about the Sinikithemba Choir, The movie is being screened on the Sundance Channel on December 1, along with a few other movies about South Africa and AIDS.

For Every Lynch Mob, There Are a Hundred Moais
Evelyn Rodriguez, Crossroads Dispatches posting looks at the Okinawan concept of mutual supportive networks for commuity PLUS health and longevity. Evelyn also includes how to create your own.

Tired of dieting - Marsha Hudnall, from A Weight Lifted suggests making some Healthy Lifestyle Changes That Will Take You Through The Holidays and Long After

One of the most promising things to remember about making positive changes, is that if you keep practicing your new behaviors, before you know it, you're no longer making 'changes' - it will be just the way you do things!

About Cancer:
Cary Miller, Cancer NewsWatch, blogs about clinical cancer research of curcumin (ingredient in turmeric, Indian spice). Curcumin Halts Breast Cancer Metastasis In Mice. Another blogger, Josh Cohen, Multiple Mentality, is disgusted with social conservatives who are concerned that the new cerival cancer vaccine might increase sexual activities in teenagers in his post Weakest. Argument. Ever.

Jodie Foster, Intuitive Innovations, blogs aboutLoneliness. She asks if you "fight it" or "express it."

But, what happens when you try to sit with the loneliness? I mean, really be at one with it and hear what that part of you has to say.. what feelings would it like to express? Sadness, perhaps? What would happen if you let yourself feel the sadness? Would it be so terrible to be sad and feel it. Would it be hard to accept loneliness?

Looking back: Last week's carnival was hosted at Intuitive Living Blog

Looking ahead: I wish to extend a special invitation to everyone to attend. I'll be hosting the carnival at my personal blog Spiral Visions on November 19 (which happens to be my birthday!). I hope to bring you some delightful birthday party surprises. Bring presents (just kidding).

Thanks to all you bloggers for your wonderful healing-related blog submissions!

Check the carnival hosting schedule to see who is hosting the carnival in upcoming weeks. Also, if you are interested in hosting the carnival at your blog please email me at healing.guide@about.com

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