Around Town

8am-4pm (except Christmas) Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park. Discover Arizona's oldest and largest botanical garden. Featured are plants from the world's deserts, towering trees, cacti, sheer mountain cliffs, streamside forest, panoramic vistas, hidden canyon, and specialty gardens. The Arboretum is less than an hour east of Tempe. Directions or more info.

2pm The Phoenix Theosophical Study Group members meet in homes on the first and third Sundays of every month. Their website features additional resources, links, and general Theosophical Society information. For further info, please call 602.954.8525.

10am to 3pm The Japanese Friendship Garden to presents “Mitate, A Point Of View; Fiber Art by Harmony, Hill and Sample.” These unique fiber creations will be displayed throughout the Garden. Location: 1125 N 3rd Avenue, Phoenix. Cost: $5 general; $3 students, seniors & military; Children free. More info: 602.256.3204 or www.japanesefriendshipgarden.org.

8:30am Mondays, 9:00am Wednesdays, 7:15pm Thursdays Nithya Yoga for Being Yoga Classes. No experience needed. Cost: $10-$12/class. Location: Gilbert Yoga, 6 E Palo Verde St, #12, Gilbert. More info: GilbertYoga.com or 480.225.1881.

9-10:30am Yoga at the Farm at South Mountain is held in a pecan grove among the quail and rich aromas of the farm's cafes. All levels welcome. Please bring your own mat. Cost: $12 per class. Location: The lawn of The Retreat @ The Farm at South Mountain on 32nd Street, just south of Southern. More info: contact the instructor Dr. Nancy Siefer, 480.577.1439 or Cindy, 480.326.0658.

Noon-5pm. Three Museums for FREE! Three Mesa Museums — Mesa Contemporary Arts, Arizona Museum of Natural History, and Arizona Museum for Youth — will be open for FREE on the first Sunday of this month thanks to Target.

Through March 31

Attention Authors, Poets and Artists: Superstition Review, an online national literary magazine, is currently accepting submissions of fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and art for our Issue 5 to be launched in April 2010. More details at superstitionreview.com.

Tuesdays, February 16 - April 13 (except March 30)

7-9pm - Somatic Sounding: Knowing Yourself through the Voice and Sound. This 8 week series will emphasize individual attention on vocal impediments and tuning. Constantly evolving and new repertoire, exercises and deepening practices. Join Michele Dante and Pinna Joseph on a journey into the power of sound and music that can transform the way you experience body, mind and spirit. Somatic Sounding is an integrative practice that offers an opportunity to understand how sound, voice and music can affect one’s state of consciousness, promote relaxation, and assist in the process of healing. Through experience in these classes, you can touch and express the essence of your being, learning a variety of vocal practices and techniques and utilizing music from many cultures that adds an amazing dimension for personal growth and well-being. No previous experience or musical ability required. These classes are accessible to all. Cost: Full Session—$199 by February 15th, $249 after. Single class—$35 three days before each class $45 after. Location: InnerVisionYoga Studio in Tempe 725 E Guadalupe Rd. Tempe, AZ 85283. More info: 480.839.1006, www.innervisionyoga.com.

Friday, March 19

Saturday, March 20 

10am-4pm Workshop:  Revisiting Narnia with Jonathan Young, Ph.C. From the realms of myth, magic, dream and fantasy come enchanting tales.  These stories offer archetypal perspectives to enlarge our sense of purpose and learn about the riches of the inner journey. Location:  St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 2310 N. 56th Street, Phoenix.  Cost: $60.  More Info:  www.integralscience.org/cgjung. 

10am-1pm Earrings Wire Crochet Class Artist Kathleen Hunter offers a wire crochet workshop that will teach participants to create their own earrings. Choose your colors in copper wire and learn to crochet a colorful pair of earrings. The challenge here is to make two earrings close to the same size! No experience necessary - just a little patience. Projects can be completed in three hour class sessions, so you can wear your new project home! Cost: $30. Location: MADE Art Boutique, 992 N. 5th St. Phoenix, 85004. More info: 602.256.MADE or info@madephx.com.

Friday, March 26

7 - 9:30pm Arizona Society of Astrologers presents Ray Merriman speaker, "Forecasts 2010 and USA Economy".   Cost: $5 for ASA members - $10 for guests. Location: Scottsdale Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Road, Scottsdale. More info: azastrologers.org.

Saturday and Sunday, March 27-28

10am-5pm Open Studios in Cave Creek - Nine Arizona artists will be displaying jewelry, glass, ceramics, metal sculpture, and painting. Location: 4944 E. Sawmill Circle, Cave Creek. Cost: FREE. More info: Directions and postcard announcement, Joyce van Loben Sels, 480.839.6056 or Jdrvls3@aol.com.

Sunday, March 28

2-3:00pm Heart Awakening, a talk by Raoult Bertrand, who will be discussing the “Heart Awakening” process, a powerful spiritual healing tool capable of producing lasting life transformation by opening the Divine Love within and accessing our inner guidance. Mr. Bertrand is a resident of Cave Creek, Arizona, and is the founder of Consciousness of Light, a spiritual and educational organization that sponsors the School of Healing in Arizona. Sponsored by the Phoenix Study Center of the Theosophical Society in America. Voluntary Donation requested. Location: Vision Quest Metaphysical Bookstore, 2225 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, 85257, just south of Oak St. Reservations Required: 602.954.8525.

Thursday, April 1

5:30pm Workshop: Laughter Really IS the Best Medicine. Thanks to modern science we know the benefits of laughter are numerous and significant. In this fun & interactive workshop you will learn 8 ways to become more resilient to the stresses and strains of everyday life. You will also learn how to use laughter to combat stress overload – creating a more happy, healthy YOU! Brought to you by Laurie Nathanson, a Certified Laughter Coach dedicated to transforming lives through the healing art of laughter. Cost: $25.45. Location: Behind Changing Hands (directly West of Trader Joe's down the breezeway). RSVP at 480.626.5973 or online at www.expressmie.com.

7:00pm Workshop: Release the Past, Enjoy the Present. Ever feel that you hold back from putting your best self forward? Find yourself stuck in the same pattern of relationships, feelings, or experiences, even though you “know better?” Still feel negatively about yourself, “not good enough,” even though logically you know it’s not true? If so, this workshop is for you. Sarah Jenkins, MC, LPC, Arizona Board Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified EMDR therapist of Dragonfly International Therapy  will explore with you how to release the past in order to live in the present, to live your best life. Cost: $25.45.  Location: Behind Changing Hands (directly West of Trader Joe's down the breezeway). RSVP at 480.626.5973 or online at www.expressmie.com.

Wednesday, April 7

7-8:30pm Tempe Poetry in April, Poetry Reading and Discussion with Brenda Cárdenas and Paul Martínez Pompa, presented by the Bilingual Press at ASU and Letras Latinas, University of Notre Dame Institute for Latino Studies. Moderated by Catherine Hammond and sponsored by the City of Tempe Library & Cultural Services Division. Location: Tempe Center for the Arts , 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Lakeside Room. Cost: FREE. More info: Mary Fowler 480.350.2880 or Tempe.gov.

Friday, April 9

The Human Experience Premiering April 9th at Select Valley Harkins Theatres. Have we forgotten what it means to be human? In its latest documentary feature, THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE, Grassroots Films invites you to journey deeper into the meaning of life. Why do we wake up in the morning? Why do we suffer? Where do we find hope? Discover the timeless story of a band of brothers searching for answers through a breathtaking adventure around the world. Opening April 9th at select Harkins Theatres. Visit http://www.harkinstheatres.com for more information and Q&A with the Filmmakers showtimes. 

Wednesday, April 14

7-8:30pm Tempe Poetry in April, Poetry Reading and Discussion with Lisha Adela Garcia. Moderated by Catherine Hammond and sponsored by the City of Tempe Library & Cultural Services Division. Location: Tempe Center for the Arts , 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Lakeside Room. Cost: FREE. More info: Mary Fowler 480.350.2880 or Tempe.gov.

Saturday, April 17

10am-3pm Opening to Our Sacred Selves: A Word and Sound Workshop - “Our Sacred Selves” suggest the knowing that we are more than our small selves, more than our personalities, and have the ability to connect in oneness to All That Is.  We may seek to touch more of that rich and abundant place within, but find the busy world getting in our way. This workshop will help you get quiet and remember that special connection you have with your core self.  We will combine personal therapeutic writing with sounding to intensify and deepen our connection to the wisdom of our souls. There are no requirements for previous experience with either journal writing or with chanting. This workshop, given by Sue Meyn, LPC, creator of JournalCards, and Pinna Joseph, MA, ATR, chanter and Yoga of the Voice™ instructor, will create open and safe spaces for you to write and to make sounds. Our belief is that this will help you to know and appreciate more about who you are and what abundance you have available to yourself. It is a non-threatening, enlivening, and ultimately healing day of fun and discovery to help you better care for you. Cost: $60, snacks included (bring a brown bag lunch). Reserve a spot with a $40 non-refundable deposit sent to Sue Meyn, 7607 E. Minnezona Ave. Scottsdale, AZ 85251. Location: Central Scottsdale. More info: Call Sue @ 480-945-9180.

Wednesday, April 21

7-8:30pm Tempe Poetry in April, Poetry Reading and Discussion with Kathleen Winter. Moderated by Catherine Hammond and sponsored by the City of Tempe Library & Cultural Services Division. Location: Tempe Center for the Arts , 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Lakeside Room. Cost: FREE. More info: Mary Fowler 480.350.2880 or Tempe.gov.

Saturday, March 20

7-8:30pm Tempe Poetry in April, Poetry Reading and Discussion with T. R. Hummer. Moderated by Catherine Hammond and sponsored by the City of Tempe Library & Cultural Services Division. Location: Tempe Center for the Arts , 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Lakeside Room. Cost: FREE. More info: Mary Fowler 480.350.2880 or Tempe.gov.

Saturday, May 1

6–10pm - Arizona Holistic and Integrative Medical Association will honor Stan Kalson as Arizona Integrative/Holistic Man of the Year, and Linda Hemming as Arizona Integrative/Holistic Woman of the Year. Joanne Tedesco for Arizona's Alternative Publication of the Year, and Suzanne Somers will receive a Life Time Achievement Award. Location: The Buttes in Tempe. Cost: $75 before 3/15, $150 thereafter. More info: contact ihcinc@cox.net for tickets or call 602.266.1160.