Whether you rent or own, and whether it is grand or simple, your home is your castle. Like an artist's canvas, it is painted by the colors of your personality and the textures of your lifestyle choices. It is a refuge, sheltering you from the elements. Often it is a haven offering you the privacy and space to express yourself. Whether you view it from a perspective of aesthetics, necessity or self-expression, the place you call “home” allows you to create your own natural habitat. In this issue, we focus on Habitation and a number of the ways that conscious living can affect dwelling.
    Four articles comprise our cover-story suite. In her article “The City of Shaker Heights Embraces Green Building Philosophies,” author Jayme Lucas writes, “Believing that everybody can make a difference, the City of Shaker Heights encourages movement toward a more sustainable region by offering a smorgasbord of options for homeowners and other green-minded citizens.” Her article continues with details on a number of environmental initiatives that readers can take in their own homes. In “Beyond Your Doorstep: Building Green Communities for a Sustainable Lifestyle,” author Melanie Kitner discusses ecologically conscious actions that Cleveland EcoVillage, Shaker Heights and Lakewood have taken. Melanie writes, “Part of our lessening our impact on the earth and living a healthier lifestyle is what's outside our front door. Your community is your home, too.”
   Our two other cover stories delve into sustainable practices that can be employed in the construction of homes and buildings. In her article titled “Straw-Bale Homes: A Natural, Efficient, Effective Alternative,” author Heather Kuhne shares, “A staggering 40 percent of the world's energy, wood and water is used to manufacture and transport construction materials.” Heather describes a sustainable house-building process that utilizes an agricultural byproduct, bales of straw. Heather also authored our fourth cover story, “From Ancient Babylon to Ohio Today, Green Roofs are a Wise Fit.” This article describes a roof system of living plants, which offers a number of benefits to the environment as well as to the building owner.
   In her article, “The Nurturing Energy of Crystals,” author Deborah Bookin states, “Like other elements, such as plant life and water features, crystals offer another way to connect more fully with nature and bring its vibrant life-force energies into our habitats.” Deborah explains that crystals have been used historically, as they are today, for enhancing healthy energy. She describes some common uses and provides tips for selecting appropriate crystals.
   Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we have included two articles that address this disease. In the article, “Breast Thermography: for Earliest Detection and Intervention,” Sherri J. Tenpenny, D.O., explains, “Thermography can isolate potential problems in the breast tissue, including very early signs of cancerous activity, up to eight years before the same abnormalities would be detected by a mammogram.” In addition to offering earlier detection of breast cancer, this painless procedure does not expose a woman to the potential health risks of a mammogram. The other article is by Deborah Burke. In “Massotherapy for Healing Surgical Scars,” Deborah explores Post-Surgical Scar Treatment therapy, a type of massage that addresses lymphatic drainage, reconstructed tissue and re-establishing blood flow in post-mastectomy and other surgical patients.
   Fall is a time to celebrate the harvest, convene with family and friends and be grateful for the abundance around you. We hope that the information in this issue will inspire you to take your consciousness indoors. For the sake of yourself, your family and all who enter your habitat, allow your home to be imbued with the choices that reflect you and your priorities.

Our best wishes for a happy, healthy home,

Balanced Living Magazine