The light streams in on the floor, dancing dust motes tinkling in its gaze. Twirling and swirling in the glorious silence. There is nothing. Or is there? Paying attention brings the gulls in first. Off in the distance, exultant cries tell tales of low tides and rich pickings. The cicadas follow, their sibilant hum setting a clear frequency to cut and release, cut and release - they are dislodging the last of summer. Stridently sending it on its way, a few more long days of sunshine and then it will be gone. The temperature has dropped. Last night was all about being covered. The cooler air today seems to aid thought processes. The clock ticks, the fridge whirrs. And now there are school children on break time. A truck rumbling by and a few cars to help with the life hum. Further out, construction clangs, diggers and drop saws intrude. The breeze just murmurs. After last nights crazy wind, violently whipping the curtains and howling round the house - this is peace. Take a moment to tune to all the sounds in your space, hear them, picture them, then retreat back out and let them go. Listen to the silence of your body. I am. I am. I am. All these external things have only the importance I attach to them. I am. I am. I am. Breathe and allow the stillness to centre you.
0 Comments
My recent newsletter featured an article about indigo, and in the course of my writing, I discovered anthocyanin. After a conversation this morning gave me even more insight, I am super lucky to be awaiting the arrival of a bottle of Black Raspberry Vinaigrette from Te Kuiti (NZ based) company Peplars Fine Foods. Tony and Belinda are committed to creating beautiful foods with love and they have a wide range of jams, jellies, chutney mustards, vinaigrettes… They have developed a range with stevia in it for those with a preference to avoiding sugars. Here is their link: Black Raspberry Vinaigrette I am told by Belinda that Black Raspberries *note these are not BLACKberries - are even higher in Anthocyanin than blueberries. The Black Raspberries are grown in NZ, but they are juiced rather than sold in shops because they have a great deal of seeds in them - they are rich in ellagic acid, anthocyanins and antioxidants, and have been called the ‘king of berries’ for their superior health benefits. Ohio State University scientists found significant decreases in colon tumours in rats and oesophageal tumours in mice when fed on a diet which included black raspberries. They are now trialling this on humans. I look forward to hearing more. I'm convinced that there is 'food for thought' here, after my research into the way that indigo helps the brain. Here is my article on indigo. EnJOY.
Indigo - a stunning, concentrated and powerful colour that can heal, stimulate dreams, aid psychic awakening, raise concentration - may help memory, eyesight, reduce bleeding, release tension, and release headaches. It is also used to help the sinuses and it certainly helps meditation. Indigo conjures up the night sky, mysticism, magic and moonlight. If you are out of balance with indigo, life may be spent too much in the mind, consorting with ‘what ifs?’ sleeplessness, mind chatter, distraction, headaches, eye trouble, sinus problems, and even some ear problems. Perhaps your veins could also be affected. It is the colour that represents the brow chakra, (also known as the ‘third eye’ or ajna chakra) which is strongly associated with the Pineal Gland (charged with producing the serotonin derivative melatonin – a hormone that - amongst other things - regulates/affects sleep patterns.) The Brow Chakra has a correspondence to age 36 – 42, the age when 'what about me?' and 'what's this all about anyway?' often shows up - and of course - the bigger question 'WHO AM I?' French philosopher Rene Descartes who named the Pineal Gland 'The Seat of the Soul', spent his life studying that very thing and is responsible for a very popular quote 'I think, therefore I am.' translated from 'Cogito Ergo Sum'. I prefer to look at it as 'I am the sum of my thoughts.' For a time we forget ourselves, we are somebody's child, brother, sister, mother, father, husband or wife, and sometimes we are our own nobody - but around 36 - 42, if we haven't already - we somehow awaken. What we dwell on, IS what we dwell in, it was true in Rene's lifetime (1596 - 1650) and it is true now. How do we have a healthy pineal gland? Keep up the indigo and limit your fluoride exposure - studies indicate that fluoride plays a very large part in the calcification of the pineal gland – so avoiding fluoride toothpaste and fluoridated water, and eating blueberries could be the best things you could do. Blueberries come from a family of plants called Vaccinium. Doesn't that sound like a vaccine to you? Could they really be a natural medicine, or an antidote to what ails us?? Yes they could. Blueberries contain a chemical called anthocyanin – which gives blueberries their COLOUR! and this chemical appears to be the one that protects neurons in the brain. Anthocyanin* promotes sharper vision, concentration, is anti inflammatory (a vasoconstrictor) and antioxidant. It’s beneficial for heart disease, and also is said to slow or stop internal bleeding. Knocking out some of the oxidative stresses associated with aging – partly by enriching and cleaning the blood. If you think about it – inflammation is going to make blood vessels swell, imagine all those tiny vessels behind your eyes and in your sinuses – it stands to reason that if they are swollen, breathing could be affected, sight may be affected, and concentration would be reduced. So introducing a vasoconstrictor into the diet - such as blueberries, is very likely to create a benefit. If you, like me, have looked at blueberries and wondered why on earth they are so expensive – after all, they really are only food – think again. They most definitely are medicine – their lovely little fat indigo tummies bathe you in colour and with their amazing colour chemical medicinal properties – they could help your wellness significantly!! AND you can grow them at home quite easily in large containers. *While researching this article I discovered that blueberries, bilberries, cranberries, huckleberries and black raspberries are ALL part of the vaccinium family and all have very similar properties. Leading plant expert Michael Moore says (of huckleberries) “some folks with allergies and the tendency for skin hyperactivity may find that the tea decreases their inflammatory responses”. Source - Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West (I expect that this would be to do with settling the capillary action/reaction that creates an itch or 'explosion' on the surface of the skin.) Colour has been largely overlooked as a sort of fringe or alternative study, but now greater store is being set by the psychological effects it has on the human body. Jay Neitz, Professor of Opthalmology and colour researcher from the University of Washington says: "The cells that get excited by orange light and calmed by blue light don’t just connect to our circadian pacemaker; they also go to areas of the brain that control things like mood. This partially explains things like seasonal depression, but also helps make sense of our intuitive feelings that blues are calming and reds are energising." 'Intuitive feelings?' - isn't that good to hear coming from a scientist? Blue and red are on the opposite ends of the spectrum which means if we have too much stimulation, too much GRRR and too much red, we could have issues with inflammation. We all know an ‘inflammatory situation’ – is an angry one that could blow up in our faces. So read red, sometimes, as the out of balance angry colour/emotion that it can be – do a body check and ask honestly ‘am I a bit too angry at present?’ If you are and you've been 'seeing a lot of red' lately, try bringing in some indigo (just ask for it, or use fabric - a tee shirt or scarf) to balance, or even trade it altogether for some gentler pinks. Life needs to slow down, chill out and be restful, not restless. If you are restless, you could try an indigo duvet, to bring in the peace of the night sky, calming and tranquil. Ancient Indigo was a crystal talisman - Lapis Lazuli available from blues, through indigo to purple) was traditionally worn by royalty to denote power, wealth, wisdom - it was even powdered for medicines (funnily enough, one of them was for the eyes) and potions, and it was used in ancient times to ward off evil. It contains gold pyrite within, so was considered to be a powerful 'gateway to heaven.' and it was powdered and mixed with a medium for use as a deep blue colorant in paints, dyes and porcelain. We must remember no chakra colour is more important than the next, but we need to feed our depleted colours. Being healthy in our indigo helps with clarity and order in our thoughts and in our lives. Traditional Indigo dye from the indigo plant, was unfortunately taken right out of balance when it's beautiful colour was so highly sought after that a slave trade was created to keep up with demand. Now commercial indigo is created, rather than grown, and the trade has mellowed into something a little more palatable. The indigo plant as an Eastern herbal medicine was used to induce purging, and it has never been taken to in the West, studies cite that it was too harsh and so it was crossed off the list forthwith. I believe it's here for great things, and possibly for the mind, but those things are undiscovered as yet. I’ve so loved looking at my own feelings about indigo and sharing some of this wisdom with you. For more information on detoxing your pineal gland – or for where to get some yummy Lapis Lazuli – message me below. Note: The information contained in my writing is not a substitute for, or intended to be, a medical diagnosis. It is intended to inform, create awareness, pass on philosophy, studies, open possibility, and enhance wellness. My teaching and my work, partners with allopathic medicine. As always see a Doctor if you require a Doctor. There is great benefit in partnering traditional and alternative medicine. All things in moderation.
CUT THE LABEL OFF. I've been writing rants about depression quite a bit lately - haven't printed any yet though - but obviously now it's the time to do it. I am totally comfortable with telling you that I have been 'triggered' into another one by the death of Charlotte Dawson. Charlotte Dawson had a HUGE heart. And she was highly sensitive. She did GREAT things for some people - lots of people, and she stuffed up sometimes too. She wasn't totally PC - could also be mean, bitchy etc - but only the perfect person is qualified to condemn another. She was real. No matter what she put on her skin, how much plastic surgery she may have had, she was as real as any other person. We are all real. And she suffered. And man did she ever suffer being a bit of a tall poppy. Despite the fact that she often felt like a failure - she was an achiever. Why have I posted a picture of a mountain instead of Charlotte? You'll find out below - and anyway - she is probably already all over the place in your newsfeed - so I don't have to. She may have passed, very tragically today, but she has also given a gift. She has instantly become an even more poignant face than she already was for cyber bullying, media bullying and mental wellness. People will debate, reminisce, reason and argue. People will say 'oh no, it was such a waste' but they weren't living her life, and they don't know how she felt. It was her journey to walk, and now she is finished. Some will scoff and others will hold compassion. But I think more will hold compassion. She has held up a torch to darkness, to an underbelly we don't like to look at. This will be a change maker for many people - and in that way she gives even more meaning. People who suffer often 'feel for others'. Sometimes too much. I am not speaking on behalf of Charlotte, but I am aware that constantly pushing yourself, having to 'perform', self criticism, caring too much about what others think, the inclination to make the world a better place, to save/repair/fix people - all these things can make you extra absorbent to the stagnant, dirty or heavy energy that flies around looking for a resting place. It is possible for some people to take on so much 'stuff' from other people that you don't know where they start and you end or vice versa - in the public eye, this is often a hazard. No matter who you are, if you have had life trauma, hardship or arrived on the planet without your spiritual umbilical cord nice, bright, shiny and fully intact - you may be prone to being depressed. If life has not gone the way you wanted it to - same goes. If you repeatedly stare down the black dog, or feel like you are stuck down the hole, and you tell yourself that you are D-Pressed - you certainly have a 'situation'. But a situation is a space, a platform, a place, and you can move from there - even just inch by inch. You can tell me it's a chemical imbalance - but I know it's energetic. Hyper sensitive people who continue to surround themselves with thoughts/things/food/people that crush the spirit - their wellness cannot help but be suppressed and that may well create/perpetuate or enhance a chemical imbalance. It's likely you are not going to feel like sunshine and roses and be Mary Poppins. Just like the chicken and the egg - the bottom of the hole, the black dog and the chemical imbalance or the shitty situations swirl around together. One creates the other and vice versa. It doesn't matter which one comes first. It still feels horrible. CUT THE LABEL OFF. Change your position/space/platform. Some - not all of the media (the Press) have done an absolutely rip roaring ,STUNNING job of selling us depression. They have gone so far as to allow people to be attacked, indoctrinated, wooed even, (see drama tv etc) into believing that the world is full of terrible things/people and events. They print what works for them - I hope you don't think they all print the things that work for you. The moral compass is missing quite a lot of the time. It can seem like the world is full of terrible things - but perspective - man it's a good thing to have. The media has done an EPIC job of telling women there is a man shortage - that doesn't cheer any of them up - it's done an epic job of saying you have to have a 68 million dollar wedding - or have the smallest nose, biggest boobs, blondest hair, most measurable success. And you've got to be connected. Call that thing COMPRESSION. It's suppression, oppression, repression, it's bullshit. Sometimes it's about identifying too much with pain, to too many people in pain, and just wanting to get your message across that the world has been bad to you. And that's ok for a while. Having a life crisis is your personal right. Many, many things are tough for us to deal with, but too often we just skip straight to the D word to identify our issues. That's like a certificate in misery. Yep - if you've got that, people know how to 'get' you. And where you're coming from. But if you were covered in bullshit (suppression, repression, oppression) - you would go and wash that off - right?? Change the game. YOU, not it - ARE the driver. You may need some training wheels to give you a hand, so here you are: CUT THE LABEL OFF. Find your voice - EXPRESSION helps. If you must call it anything - call it COMPRESSION. This enables you to pick apart the crap and action your to-do for wellness list. Do honour yourself and take a good hard look at what you concentrate on. If you open your mouth and complain regularly about life - do notice your words - these are your clues - and see what you can change about the situation. By YOUR OWN WORDS you will either flourish or suffer. DO NOT swallow the line that there is nothing you can do about it because it's bigger than you. It is not. This IS ANOTHER MYTH you have been fed. You may also believe that you have no choice - you may not turn into an instant Mary Poppins, and the world doesn't need a whole lot of them anyway, but something CAN improve. So changing that belief is your first step. When I learned to ski - I was up the top of the Jungfrau in Switzerland. Please excuse my language, but that MOFO is 4000+ metres above sea level. I looked down the mountain and almost peed my pants. My friend, who I was furious with for taking me so high when I 'knew' I couldn't ski, told me I only had to ski the one metre in front of me at any given time. And despite the fact that I was unbelievably mad with him, (and may have even wanted to belt him one) I knew it was true. I did not know what I was doing, but I got down the mountain eventually using a learner technique called snowploughing. I hated it. I moaned, I bitched, I kicked up and carried on, (now that I think about it, I probably left a cloud of filthy energy there to be honest) but I got down the mountain. It seemed to take me Y E A R S. The first parts, of course were hardest. It was painful. Eventually it got easier. The following day I could ski a little bit, and the next day was better too. (And one day later on - I could ski very well. I've wished many times to be back on that mountain.) And in that way, bit by bit, just a few years ago, I also walked myself out of a horrible black hole too. After years of life trauma and some horrific events. Although it obviously took longer, it was a similar kind of journey. I never ever labelled myself and I think that was a crucial factor in my recovery. (Energy work would have been very useful - but I was a sceptic and never even imagined it was real. Go figure.) Energy can be cleaned back to the source, and the source can be held to the light and gently loved back into balance. You only have to ski the metre in front of you. And with someone helping you to snowplough, you can bitch, fight, moan, fuss and kick up a stink, or you can just let go and love it all the way out. There is always help. Ask for that help if you need it. And be that help if someone else does. And know the journey is personal, and sometimes, no matter how much you want to give that help, some people cannot and will not accept it. Please be brave enough to be ok with that too. It takes a certain amount of courage to sit with another persons pain and allow it to simply be. The world is filled with unbelievably amazing healers, YOU and I are two of them, (you may not know that about yourself yet) and all we are doing here, is helping to walk (or ski) each other home. End of rant. RIP Charlotte, thank you for your contribution to the planet. Peace at last. Go well.
Threads of Life She sinks inside herself. Discouraged and lost in regret and self recrimination. And finds she is not alone. "Have you come for the dance?" he asks. "What dance?" she replies, "I don't understand. I don't know who you are. I can't see a dance, all I can see is black and dark, I've stuffed things up and been stupid, and people have done bad things to me and to each other. Terrible things happen. Life is tough." "Ah", he says. "Those people are teaching each other and you too. Teaching about love and pain, about how you can all make better choices, they are teaching how to think on your feet, how to have faith, how being saved at the last minute is a very real thing that happens, and about how you can cause great harm to yourself if you don't speak up. There are no mistakes, you are just learning." She catches her breath. He has her attention, after all, she has nothing else to do. He explains. "It is a dance because each person is crucial to complete a cycle. Each one is a link in an infinite chain reaction, weaving their way in and out, like a pattern in a fabric, and in that way they are dancers. The man that gives way for the rushing woman, is in the right place at the right time to save someone's life. The woman who gives a gift to the elderly neighbour, thwarts an opportunistic thief, who sees a kindness in action, and is inspired to change his mind." He goes inside himself for a moment and reflects, finding the words. "Sometimes tragedy opens the door for great kindness and a sense of stronger community. Even though It can be difficult, it's important in these times to remain open to good. These people who create wonderful things for each other, are all picking up their threads of life. The Threads of Life are very, very important. They are the same ones that provide people with nourishment from their spirits. When the threads are scattered, knotted or broken, life cannot flow as easily. This is what closure does, sometimes it causes people to wander and stretch their threads very thinly, but they can always be called back, unless it's their time to pass from this world. In cases of death, the thread is snapped completely, as the body is not needed any longer." She absorbs, and seeing how this opening and closing has worked in her life, she nods for him to continue. "The threads roll over and under each other, as the people go about their business. In this way, a blanket is woven by humanity for humanity. Faith is shared, created, restored. Possibility is birthed. Connection between people is the music for the dance, making unconditional relationships and extending kindnesses - this creates harmonious, beautiful music and makes the blanket soft. There are enough weavers now, and many more arriving daily to make this blanket enveloping, inviting and nurturing. Some call themselves Lightworkers, but really it is all kinds of people doing and sharing good. Story tellers, artists, carers, gardeners, builders, mothers, fathers and poets. They sprinkle the blanket with the warmth of heart and courage, the magic of moonlight, starlight, the lilt and uplift of sunshine and daisies. And with the most important thing - the promise of a new dawn." He pauses to see if she is still with him, and sees that her minds eye is filled with images, carried on a blissful journey of creating, imagining and remembering, a vivid landscape of love and caring. A softness has returned to her. He smiles. Her vibration is rising as he speaks. "Theirs is a sacred task, for they are removing the compression that has been laid down upon humanity. Wouldn't you agree that sharing love and wisdom has always been the greatest grace available to mankind?" She nods again. "This blanket is ready for you now. Do you take your part as a weaver in this magical dance?" "Yes." The faintest whisper. "Then there is nothing for you to do but allow the memories of your kindnesses to wash over you. To illuminate your life by engaging with the kindnesses others have done, for you and for all of humanity - and to allow this to also wash over you, and bathe your threads. Breathe and allow. As you do, they are becoming lighter and lighter, silvering in the sunshine of this infinite grace." "Sit now and feel the warmth of the blanket. Feel the light cleansing you and drawing away false ideas of wrongs, slights, and limitations. This light is love. And by your own remembering that you are an expression of this love, you are freed." And with that, she understands that they are One. This is not her alone, this is 'us'. She rests, wrapped in gratitude and the softest of blankets, with a full heart, inwardly experiencing the raw beauty of the dance - and she smiles - as she wonders what took her so long. In the distance, there is music.
Life is not just a trip from one misery to the next. It is an invitation to grow. Your greatest trials bring you the learning that qualifies you to help others still in the same boat. Nobody will give you qualifications for overcoming obstacles - but if you truly see the value in your journey, you will come to understand that journey and the wisdom obtained from it, can assist others. Life may have chucked lemons at you. Bugger the tequila - slice them, dice them and whip up something fantastic that can repay the investment you've made, building yourself back from adversity. Stand up and own your unique life qualifications. Lemons cut negative energy and give life zing. You'll be so surprised what you can create when you turn that old story into gold. Just a thought.
It's all about expression. Blue, to me is the colour of grace and ease. It evokes spirit and freedom. Blue corresponds to the fifth chakra - the throat chakra. Fifth chakra phase of life tends to be the 7 years from age 35. If you need to communicate, are a teacher, speaker or person who facilitates large groups, blue can be especially useful for you. In Auric vision, blue is often seen around communicators when they are trying to get their point across. You can call on blue to help you to find the right words, or to speak with grace, or in cases of imbalance, you can ask for it to release pain from the throat and surrounding area. A mix of blue and green (turquoise) corresponds to the higher heart chakra - I call it the joy chakra, it's that bursting giggle, the joyous bubbling over - joyous expression is the most wonderful thing in the world. If our blue is blocked or stuck we may have trouble saying what we feel, may feel anxious, depressed or nervous and may have trouble concentrating. Sometimes we can have a feeling of overfullness, or of physical tightness or restriction and now and then a really out of balance blue can almost feel like hands around the throat. This can be due to circumstances from this lifetime, in the past, or in past lifetimes. Our blue is in balance when we have ease of expression and feel comfortable with communicating our opinions, views and who we are to others. Feeling heard is also important. If you feel that you may be out of balance with blue, or might like a little guidance on how to re-establish and rediscover your voice, let me know. Expression is a lot to do with self esteem and sometimes, our blue is asking for us to give support in other areas. Sunshine comes with blue sky - so topping up our gold, yellow and our solar plexus chakra is also a great idea. All the body in balance = harmony and flow in all areas of life. (See the DeLightScope post for a rainbow breath experience.)
A light day, a bright day. A day filled with potential, and if we choose to approach it with wonder, we will be doing ourselves and all those around us a great service. Breathe in. Imagine you are standing in a circle of gold on the floor, and breathe out, blowing out through your mouth. One more breath in, through your nose, imagining, gathering, collecting any stress, or 'dust bunnies' out of your body as you go, all the way up from your toes, and breathe out through your mouth powerfully, blowing them away. Breathe in again, through your nose, really filling out your lungs, and on this breath imagine you are bringing in a rainbow of colour and that it is flooding your body and topping it up where it has felt sluggish. Release this breath gently, and feel your feet on the floor. Peace.
Sessions are for helping you feel like you again. Each session is very individual, it's what you need it to be - in order to bring you into your strong, well, empowered self - in a clearer, brighter, lighter space. Bringing you back to life… and to love. It's about resetting the body to harmonious balance. A session lifts heaviness, removing that 'stuck' feeling and instilling confidence in your abilities to create a great life. There is guidance within the session, (you can ask specifically for a reading) and sometimes there is a little homework too. Depending on the length of time we have, sessions may include these things and the possibilities can be huge…
I work in a high trust environment, so this is a positive and proactive space for you to 'get things off your chest' without judgement, an open space for perfect release and renewal. I see inside the body and work with universal energy, colour, sound, intention and holograms to facilitate this life change. I'm a Reiki Master/Teacher, a Colour Therapist, an Elohim Practitioner and have also been gifted other healing abilities through life experience. The pace your body is able to process and integrate all this work dictates how much we achieve. If you are really, really ready - your body works like a thirsty sponge. A Reiki session is a great follow up to this procedure. The ideal way to approach your session is with the mindset that you are really ready to move forward - and when you've got that, the rest of it flows quite organically. Before you come, you may like to create a mental list of the things you'd like to 'let go of'. Notes and recommendations are often supplied from the sessions. Sessions work alongside allopathic medicine. Some testimonials for my work are here. Are you ready?
Life is for living, loving, laughing and leaping over hurdles. Sure you have to work… but what is the work all about if jumping for joy is not on your to-do list? Your Homework choices are: 1. You - tomorrow - 10 star jumps (or jumping jacks) - in the doorway - at work or at home - facing the world. 2. Make a tin can telephone with string and talk to a friend. 3. Make silly faces at kids on the bus. 4. Make mud pies. 5. Paint with your hands. 6. Investigate glitter or glue for no real reason at all. Stick something to something else. 7. Ring someone up and tell them you love them. 8. Roll down a grassy hill. 9. Go fly a kite. 10. Write "I love you" in lipstick on your mirror. 11. See if you can kiss your elbow. 12. Make up a funny character for a children's book. 13. Take your inner child out for a swing. 14. Make your food into faces before you eat it. 15. Press all the buttons on the thingummies that make music in a FRIENDLY toy shop. *If anyone says you are silly for doing it, tell them it was part of your Play Therapy Prescription from Doctor Deb. **Do NOT taste the strawberry scented soap - it doesn't taste like strawberries - I have already done this experiment for you. (Ok - ever hopeful, I did do it twice just in case I was wrong the first time) MWAH!!! (I just tried to kiss my elbow.)
|