In 2015, then-Marketing Director Will Christensen desired to give something back to RidgeCrest Herbals’ customers to thank them for their loyalty. He conceived of a publication similar to the Almanacs of the past, that would inform and entertain while giving readers a true taste of the personality and people of the company. The first Almanac was published in 2016 and enjoyed a quiet success. Now, five years later, preorders for the 2021 Almanac smashed through all possible expectations. Now the president of the company, Will says,

“We have been blown away by the response of our customers to the Alamanac and are proud to share this part of ourselves with them. This is truly a labor of love from the entire company each year, and it is amazing to hear that it touches people’s lives the way we hoped it would .”

Today, RidgeCrest Herbals is excited to announce that the 2021 Almanac is now available digitally. It contains recipes, planting tips, informative articles, homesteading ideas, and fascinating stories from around the world. Physical copies were in such high demand they are no longer available, but you can read the digital copy here. 

Nestled in the shadow of the Wasatch Mountains, Ridgecrest Herbals has been bringing effective, eclectic, innovative botanical blends drawn from ancient traditions around the world. Seller of the #1 selling natural lung product ClearLungs, RidgeCrest Herbals has been helping you “Reach Your Peak” since 1994.   

For more information, email info@rcherbals.com.

Your pineal gland - said to be the third eye - is located in the brain. It produces melatonin, controls circadian rhythms, reproductive hormones, and regulates time.  Its significance can be found in ancient cultures throughout the world. Called the Anja- 6th chakra (located just above the midpoint of the eyebrows) in Ayurvedic culture, in Egypt, the Eye of Horus. Hindu Deities are depicted with a third eye. It is represented as a pinecone (which forms Fibonaccis’ Golden Ratio!) in carvings of Sumerian gods, in ancient Greek mythology, and in Cambodian temples in Angkor Wat.

The Third Eye is the gate that leads to inner realms and higher consciousness. When balanced, it can help you tune into vibrations/energy. It is the center for intuition, foresight, imagination, perception, lucid dreaming, astral projection, and supreme universal connection. Here is where we transcend duality, switching perception from “I” to “we.”

When blocked, you can have a lack of clarity, get feelings of confusion, uncertainty, being spiritually stuck, and not being able to see the bigger picture. Fluoride, artificial hormones, additives, sugar, artificial sweeteners, radiation, and electric and magnetic fields are thought to calcify/block your third eye.

Ways to open/activate your third eye:

Activities: Sungaze (be sure to research the safest way to do this!), meditate (both guided & transcendental), chant, pray, dance, or do yoga. Practice breathwork, gratitude, and trusting your own intuition.

Crystals: amethyst, purple sapphire, violet tourmaline, rhodonite, sodalite, quartz

Essential Oils: Lavender, Sandalwood, Frankincense

Nutrition: raw cacao, goji berries, garlic, lemon, watermelon, banana, honey, coconut oil, hemp seeds, cilantro, parsley, seaweed, chlorella, spirulina, blue-green algae, raw apple cider vinegar, ginseng, vitamin D3, chlorophyll, bentonite clay.

“We have all the problems of a major theme park and a major zoo, and the computer's not even on its feet yet."

- Samuel L. Jackson, Jurassic Park

 Every time I hear that line, I relate to it. I have the hobby of Bonsai - a wonderfully peaceful form of art showing the most beautiful characteristics of each tree that mimics the long brutal years a tree would display in its natural setting. All in a pot that you display and meditate over. At the same time, you need to not just keep it alive, you need to give it what it needs to thrive. You become a botanist at the same time.

I have a strange love for Bonsai - I guess it may be strange altogether. To care for a plant that takes up a 2-foot space in your yard, work on it hours upon hours, feeding, transplanting, reducing growth, guiding formation - all this has to happen at the right time. The right time of year, the right time for the formation of leaf, branch, and tree, and even the right time of day. All too often, you try all the things you know while seeking help, yet you can see that the tree is slipping away. It will die, leaving an empty pot and break your heart.

But don't feel bad for me. There are collections around the world on display—trees well over a hundred years old. Treasures to a club or a collection cared for by a well-trained botanist and lifelong bonsai artists. That is pressure. Trees that are not even appraisable. Gifts from other countries to the US and US presidents are on display in DC. When you have lots of time check out some of the collection here: www.bonsai-nbf.org/collection

So why Bonsai?

There's something about the challenge. The structure you learn during the journey gives satisfaction as you work to provide a tree that which it needs to be happy. Doing so brings me happiness. I have a long history of enjoying Bonsai. I learn new things every year. I win some, and I lose some. When I lose, there is usually something big that I have learned in that loss. Here are just some of the things I take away from practicing Bonsai:

The discipline you develop while building a close relationship with a tree: The cycle of caring is constant from watering and moving and feeding. It's like having a clock inside my mind. I am like a child asking to hear a story before bed, signaling the brain for a peaceful sleep. I visit the trees and calm myself from work and the world.

The inspiration in nature: Most people involved in Bonsai find inspiration in nature. Walking a path out in nature, seeing a tree that has found purchase in a small crack between rocks and has weathered the winters, the deer nipping at it, and the wind. It may have used root power to open the crack wider over the years. In that, the inspiration is glorious. It found a way to live and be happy and to show it’s beauty. I want that - I want to have that perseverance.

The inspiration in your Bonsai: I have a vision when I think about the birthplace of Bonsai in China and Japan. I think of a densely populated city in a tiny yard or patio, you may find a well-trained bonsai, the owner pondering and falling into the tree. In his mind, he is an inch tall standing under his inspiration. He is not just looking at his tree, he is with his tree in nature. Standing or sitting on a root coming from the trunk, a soft green patch of moss under his feet. This is a lesson for me. We live in a world of pressures. This example tells me I do not need a massive yard or to be inspired or miss the experience of being deep in nature. It tells me to turn off the world and practice getting lost. To slow and meditate. To care, to look into the balance of the tree. To find what it needs and give back to it. To find answers from those wiser than me. Well, I guess we should do these things with all things we love and want to be better at. I am grateful to my father, who years ago showed me why I would want a little tree in a pot and asked me to help with his art and inspiration.

I hope you enjoy looking at the website in this article. At the time of writing, the collection was closed for Covid-19 safety. Thanks to technology, we can visit, ponder, and read about this fantastic collection's history.

How you spend your time shows what you value most. Couples who spend quality alone time with each other weekly report higher levels of happiness, positive communication, and sexual satisfaction. This is at a rate three times greater than those who don’t spend that time together. That is a significant payoff without even having to leave the house, and a powerful preventative to costly counseling, which may become necessary if you don’t date your partner.

Date nights in can be just as meaningful as date nights out, as long as you plan it out, put effort into your appearance, and stay focused on each other. Ideas include playing games and laughing together, taking turns reading an enjoyable book aloud while the other gives a foot massage, having drinks while watching the sunset from the porch, or going for a leisurely stroll while talking about your future dreams.

Plan to go out for a date at least once a month and more often if possible. Every now and then, splurge on something special, especially for your birthdays and anniversaries. No matter what you do, keep a specific night of the week blocked off for date nights and stick to it.  Brainstorm date night ideas together and take turns being the one to plan the date. Don’t be afraid to try new things to show your partner you are willing to do something they enjoy. Every now and then, make the night’s events a total surprise for the other person to keep things exciting. Try ax throwing or a shooting range, a four-course food-truck-hopping date, couple’s yoga, or kayaking. You can even test-drive expensive cars you have no intention of buying or get a tattoo together.

Create a date night playlist of music you both enjoy. Make sure your vehicle is clean and smells nice. Spritz romantic essential oils like sandalwood or ylang-ylang or diffuse these oils in the house. If you or your partner are alloromantic, romance often starts in the mind and needs to be built up in advance. Do an act of kindness for your partner that morning. Write a love note for your partner to find midday or send them a flirty text message while at work to let them know that you are looking forward to your time together. Put extra effort into looking your best, like you did when you were first dating. Take notice of the energy your partner put into their appearance, and be sure to compliment them.

When on your date, avoid talking too much about your children or stressful topics. Use this time to get to know your partner on a deeper level by being a good listener and asking deep questions. Appreciate their positive qualities, and speak words of encouragement. Give them the gift of presence by staying away from your phone and TV. Show affection on your date, and don’t forget to flirt with them like you used to!

“Do what you did in the beginning of your relationship and there won’t be an end.”

-Tony Robbins