Letter from the Publisher

It’s midsummer, and through my open office window, I can hear a cardinal singing his cheery “birdie-birdie-birdie” from a nearby tree. Annual cicadas are buzzing their occasional chorus—a wave of sound that crescendos through the trees, the rise and fall of their songs marking the progress of the season. August always seems to arrive both gently and urgently. The sun still lingers into the evening, the cicadas and crickets sing at full volume, and yet, as early summer flowers make way for asters and goldenrods, I make a point to absorb as much of this fleeting season as possible before the proverbial winds turn.

This is the height of the season, and local flavors and events beckon us to live in rhythm with the summer. It’s peak time for our backyard and community gardens, neighborhood farmers markets, co-ops and local farm stands—all brimming with fresh tomatoes, peppers, summer squash and delectable fruits that grow right here in our region. Pineapples and faraway produce can wait for colder months.

Farmers markets are abundant with color and flavor, and as we observe National Farmers Market Week from August 3 to 9, it’s the perfect time to build your weekly meals around what’s local and at peak ripeness—while also supporting local farmers and artisan producers that depend on shoppers for their livelihoods. Midwest corn is ready, veggies are at their peak and the simple pleasure of a sandwich made with just-picked garden tomatoes creates tasty memories we’ll savor come February.

Whether you’re spending summertime listening to live music under the stars, picking up heirloom produce and fresh bread from a market, enjoying the lakefront, dining alfresco with friends, or simply pausing to appreciate what’s blooming around you, August invites us to slow down and reconnect—with the land, with community and with ourselves.

In this August issue of Natural Awakenings Chicago, we turn our focus to how we can maintain more harmonious living each day—and how simple, conscious choices in our daily lives can ripple outward into deeper wellness and more purposeful living. Our feature story, “The Authentic Lifestyle: Learning To Realign With Our True Selves,” explores how approaching daily thoughts and routines with more harmonious intention and actions can ultimately lead us to greater joy, clarity and authenticity.

Alongside this feature, additional articles take us from restored prairie lands to bustling farmers markets and into spaces—both personal and communal—where we can cultivate greater balance and well-being. In our Natural Chicago section, writer Sheryl DeVore explores the vital ecological role of bison in restoring Illinois’ tallgrass ecosystems. In Green Living, we look at how design techniques and feng shui can help create more harmonious homes. In Healing Ways, we explore how sound can support both healing and relaxation, while our Fit Body article  highlights how many gyms are now integrating mind-body techniques that build muscle, foster resilience and help restore inner balance.