It seems to be that significant challenges abound right now. Is that true for everyone?
It is notable that almost every person I spoke to last week had a dilemma or a crisis that was causing serious cerebral spin out?
Three separate people agonizing over moving house, one person over changing countries and another about giving up a limiting job with no alternative source of income as yet. And an ongoing quandary about a relationship that has been diminished to a prolific list of pros and cons.
One thing is for sure, when the monkey mind has something seemingly crucial to grab a hold of, it will take a person around and around the roundabout with little hope of respite – much less of resolution.
It might not sound very enlightened but the best advice I could come up with was to simply shut up. Well. OK. Not exactly. But essentially yes – just let it all drop away for a while and see what comes from silence.
Breathe deep and relax. Take a walk. Play with your kids. Let. It. Go.
Because when we are in that place of thinking and thinking and thinking things over, we are liable to forget entirely our true creative connection with natural process. You know… the seed, the growth, the fruit etc.
Life is a series of learning/growth cycles, so when you find yourself trying to navigate in a straight line with little success, here is a mantra that might serve you better than tearing out your hair: this too will pass.
Just spend a few months writing a journal with the phases of the moon marked clearly as you write and see for yourself how the patterns emerge. Right now is a great time to start a Moon Journal as she is closest to the earth than at any other time in the year.
The point being that when we are stuck in a loop it’s helpful to remember that it is ultimately just a phase that will shift naturally if we let it. read more…
What is the best course of action to follow when your child loses the plot in the supermarket?
Is there a place for heavy tactics or should we be permissive and let the child fully express?
Not to take this into the smacking debate, but simply to be truthful, if ever a person is going to cross that line, a full blown tantrum is definitely an event with the potential to demolish reasonable resolve.
Generally, like all the gritty moments of parenting, it takes experience and trial and error to achieve a genuinely solid foundation that won’t easily be rocked by heat and fury.
People who practice conscious parenting develop a fairly constant process of personal inquiry and reflection that helps to expose their own irrational triggers, as well as maintaining a careful watch on the deeper currents of developmental stages and an awareness of the weak spots of the individual temperaments involved.
In short, they arm themselves with information that puts the prostrate child into a perspective beyond the judgmental eyes of the trolley-pushing onlookers.
If you know, for example, that strong will is an essential part of a young child’s development you might begin to appreciate why a battle of wills and downright domination as a regular tactic is basically unhealthy. Such things have in fact been connected with learning problems and illnesses that can last into adult life.
Give a child lots of opportunity to freely use that determination in the child’s world – digging holes, building dams, breaking eggs and mixing pancakes – and you will find it easier to establish firm, safe boundaries in the adult world they share.
But don’t expect never to witness a melt-down. After all, dealing with disappointment and frustration, learning balance and self-control is a life-long process.
A willful child can quickly show you where you are at with that. read more…
Well, no sermons here. Because we have fully embraced the fact that chocolate is good for your health.
Of course, organic dark chocolate wins the vote over milk chocolate bunnies from the super market… but it’s not too late to refine the consumption to fit with a genuine pre-winter health drive.
A little dark chocolate everyday is reported to lower cholesterol, relax blood pressure and – perhaps best of all – to help make us feel happy.
Because feeling good is the key. As our daily dose of sunlight slowly starts to decline and the cold weather changes the mood, we can be proactive in nurturing our systems to compensate.
Not simply eating chocolate though (sorry).
Just recently we talked about the erratic seasonal weather. But watch out for those beautiful days when the full splendor of autumn is simply enchanting…
Drop it all to take a walk through the fabulously crunchy leaves, marvel at glorious flaming colors against crisp blue skies, and soak up that clear, therapeutic light that imbues everything with a sense of perfect balance.
Too precious to miss. Having blasted us from summer to winter and back again, nature delivers an impeccably timed moment that touches the heart and connects us to the infinite beauty of it all.
Sweet soul food. Now that has got to be right up there with orgasmic dark chocolate, don’t you think?
Any event that brings about a rousing sense of appreciation and spontaneous lung-filling breaths is fortifying. Laughing. Dancing. Singing… you get the picture.
Take it where you can. If you spend too much time on the computer, enjoy a few minutes of feel-good sharing…
Watch this and you will soon catch on:
For those of you who want something more specific, there is evidence to suggest that our mood-controlling thyroids and our energy-influencing adrenals are directly challenged by colder weather, so… read more…
As a parent, what would be the most overwhelming emotion when a child stumbles home, crying and covered in blood?
Has anyone ever witnessed an accident that didn’t increase their nervous energy and/or make them feel a sudden rush of gut-wrenching fear?
In terms of energetic healing, an accident scene can fast become a disaster zone. A vulnerable person already under stress can easily absorb negative emotions that will add to the burden on their body. This is why, regardless of the physical situation, the energy you bring to an accident can be just as important as your first aid knowledge.
A good friend recounts: “I was on holiday, and suddenly a man has a gaping hole in his leg from being spiked by a giant stingray. The local lifeguards were all agitated, saying they had to get him to a doctor or his leg would get horribly infected.
Meanwhile, it was really distressing to witness the poor guy writhe around and moan in pain, and his pale, shocked wife wringing her hands by his side. I felt compelled to help in some way. I spoke to him gently and ‘reminded’ him that fear and panic would increase his pain. I told him to breathe slow and deep and to send the energy of his breath to the centre of the pain.
He connected with me with a light of gratitude in his eyes and we shared a moment of humanity that was really touching. He visibly calmed and managed to concentrate on his breathing rather than his pain. I told him that he didn’t need to worry because he was healing himself already… and as his fear and resistance diminished, the risk of infection was less and less. When he left, he was much more composed and even cheerful.
I heard that he was doing very well a few days later.” read more…
Having sex once a week or more is good for your health.
Granted, this is not groundbreaking news. But as winter looms large it certainly doesn’t harm to revisit some information and add a little lift to the prospect of months of cold, indoor weather.
Did you know, for example, that frequent sex boosts natural levels of a specific antibody to help us fight off infections? (Now, doesn’t that sound more enticing than the local pharmacy and reams of snotty toilet paper?)
Or, that the hormones generated by an active sex life can improve hair luster, skin vitality and nail strength, and can help to regulate menstruation, reduce pain and promote good sleep, as well as increase self-esteem and general motivation?
Not to mention the link to increased blood flow to the brain for better memory and mental capacity. The lowering risk of heart disease. And a generally stronger constitution for coping with stress. (Think about all those neurotic maiden aunts.) read more…
In more ways than one, these are times of change. You don’t have to get spiritual or deep to agree. Let’s simply talk weather here for a minute. The erratic changes of seasonal transition are producing full on physical and sensory extremes. Surely, you have noticed? One minute freezing cold, the next minute almost balmy.
In terms of health and wellbeing these months present perhaps the greatest challenge of all to our natural resistance to sickness and imbalance. As a building will corrode and deteriorate much more quickly when exposed to the extremes of the elements, so too can our body’s fundamental construction be undermined by rapidly fluctuating temperatures and intense experiential shifts.
So how exactly is it that we catch a cold or a chill? What does it really mean to say that we are ‘under the weather’?
Interestingly enough, common medical wisdom is that there is no justification for believing that we can catch a cold virus from being exposed to cold, wet weather. And yet. Common sense and experience are not entirely diminished by a few controlled experiments.
Looking at traditional medicines around the globe, the balance of hot and cold can be found to feature as a primary consideration for both diagnosis and treatment of sickness. In Chinese medicine it is perceived as an extension of Yin and Yang – as part of the perpetual dualism that presides over and gives rise to all things. Individuals may be Yin dominant, which is cold. Or Yang, which is hot. The main premise of this ancient healing wisdom is that when Yin and Yang are in balance, the body will realize a natural state of good health. Or conversely, a disruption of this equilibrium will result in illness. read more…
Do you still have trouble realizing the lifestyle changes that you know would be better for you?
Does it seem nigh on impossible sometimes to get any further than the very basic day to day challenges, let alone find time to nurture inner peace or healthy balance?
The reality is that as we all wake up to the greater potential for wellbeing from more wholesome choices, we still have to start from where we find ourselves. We have ingrained habits, addictions, psychological and emotional attachments. Not to mention deep rooted fear of change itself.
But… we can start with the easy choices: a few dollars more at the check-out to support green and organic consumption; a conscious effort to enjoy healthy, creative and energetic pursuits at least sometimes; getting an early night occasionally… And, probably the most important step of all, we can establish our intent.
It doesn’t have to be a public declaration. In fact. More the opposite. Something like a simple inner confession of the desire for changes… a silent prayer to oneself. Not your typical new year’s resolution where we set ourselves up for failure by believing that change comes as a result of sheer will-power. Because whatever it is that motivates us to make short-term, unhealthy choices is very often sub-conscious.
How can we make effective conscious decisions when we are not fully conscious of our motives?
There is a small book by someone called Allen Carr called ‘The Easy Way to Stop Smoking’. His method of helping people to become non-smokers is indisputably powerful, with something like a 90% success rate.
It is revolutionary and simple. No willpower involved. And definitely no preaching. Simply a process of awareness motivated by a deep desire for change. A person is encouraged to continue smoking throughout the process but by the end of the book many people will actually, voluntarily and without struggle or sacrifice, become non-smokers.
The intrinsic wisdom is profound: If we can simply observe ourselves with compassionate non-judgment to become familiar with the triggers and the patterns that hold us where we are, we can slowly begin to identify the pivotal moments where the power of free-choice is ours for the taking. read more…
Who really feels good about taking prescribed medicine with a whole page of small print on possible side effects?
What exactly is it about the modern medical process that so often leaves us feeling diminished and belittled?
Important questions, no?
But. If we step outside the box to invite a wider perspective of health and wellbeing into holistic healthcare – one that does not separate thoughts and feelings from the equation – there is a wealth of illuminating material offering answers that completely overshadow such questions.
In his bestselling book, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, Dr. Gabor Maté MD reminds us that traditional medicines around the world have never separated the mind body connection… but that it has taken scientific medicine basically 2000 years to catch up and prove how emotional centers in the brain, responsible for responses and reactions, are indisputably linked with the physiological systems in the body: the immune system, the nervous system and the hormonal apparatus.
Which helps to explain why, as we awaken to a growing consciousness of the limitations of ‘modern’ medicine, it is the ancient healing wisdoms that are rising to the fore.
Chakra healing is the traditional wisdom practice based on the seven principle energy centers in the body that generate and connect energy flow, from the base of the body to the crown, in increasingly high levels of vibration. Each energy center corresponds to a particular area of human psyche and is connected with specific physiological functions. read more…
Who hasn’t heard the horror stories about routine flu vaccinations provoking extreme and even fatal illness? If you haven’t, a quick 5 minutes on Google will soon bring you up to date.
On the other hand, who isn’t scared by the media frenzy that broadcasts the endemic or even pandemic effects of our increasingly evolved and resistant flu viruses?
Well, take a deep breath.
And let it out slowly.
Because there is a fundamental something you might miss if your brain is still looping out on the hype… vaccination arguments aside… it is a scientific fact that fear can cause sickness, and that sustainable health and wellbeing rests in balance and calm.
The truth is, there is much we can do to protect ourselves against any kind of disease, viral or otherwise, simply by developing a deeper understanding of our integral mind/body balance and innate healthy process.
There is a general wisdom shared by many sensible people in the natural health community that sickness is not something to be avoided. But rather something to be embraced as an integral part of our reality that can teach us and make us stronger in body, mind and spirit.
In ancient chakra healing, it is specifically respiratory illness that is connected to blocked heart energy. The heart… that affects our ability to love ourselves and others, to give and to receive love.
Any time when modern living involves travelling for business, jet setting around the world on luxurious holidays or moving around the country for business, you can minimise and counter the effects travelling has on your body.
The Absolute Essential Travelwell Essentials collection is made from un-compromised organic extracts that directly complement our inherent capacity for healthful balance. You can tap into potent botanical healing and restorative properties to help counter fatigue, stress and physical discomfort.
Travelwell Inflight Relief Cream is a refreshing blend that helps to stimulate circulation, promote fluid reduction, cleanse and deodorise. Through light massage to hot and swollen feet and calves, you can significantly raise your levels of comfort and help to preserve your body energy for a smoother touch-down. read more…
One thing is for sure, when the monkey mind has something seemingly crucial to grab a hold of, it will take a person around and around the roundabout with little hope of respite – much less of resolution.
