Humans are adaptable; we can function quite well when one or two of the pillars of our existence are out of whack. But to really live - to thrive - we need mind, body and spirit to be aligned and functioning as one.

The upcoming Midsummer Holistic Expo educates, promotes and advocates for overall health and well-being.

"When you're healthy and at your peak, your mind body and spirit are as one," said Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, the hostess of the Midsummer Holistic Expo. "Sometimes there are frictions within yourself. Mind, body, spirit is a whole entity working within itself."

The sixth annual Midsummer Holistic Expo will be conducted from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 12, outside of and inside multiple rooms of the Lancaster Farm and Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster. There are modest fees associated with entrance to the event.

"If you're not proactive about your health, you will inevitably get sick," said Ruczhak-Eckman. "Being preventive is better than being sick. I'm also a genealogist. I know what my family has gone through."

The Midsummer Holistic Expo will feature seven speakers expounding on a variety of wellness issues, including keynote speaker Eagle Skyfire, a Native American author. The event will also include more than 50 vendors offering candles, essential oils, books, massages, teas, reflexology treatments, tie-dye clothing, artisan goods and more.

In addition, the Midsummer Holistic Expo, which is designed to unite the regional holistic community, will offer workshops.

"Our goal is to bring together like-minded people and promote what holistic means," said Ruczhak-Eckman. "The vibe is normally very calming."

As many as 1,000 individuals are expected to attend the expo. Those visitors originate from Lancaster County, southcentral Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic Region.

"For the most part, they are people who understand the value of natural wellness," said Ruczhak-Eckman, a resident of Manheim Township. "They want to make connections with people. Sometimes they just need something. They want to be fulfilled. They don't have to get every service there. I just want them to learn something."

A portion of the proceeds from the Midsummer Holistic Expo will be donated to the Mystica Light Foundation, a Slatington-based nonprofit that helps individuals navigate cancer treatment.

"We've definitely acquired more people (vendors) since we started," said Ruczhak-Eckman. "We've moved things around. From a vendor's point of view, it can be emotionally draining. I'm always trying to make them happy because, in turn, that will make the visitors happy."

For additional information, search for "Midsummer Holistic Expo" on Facebook.