Sacred Spaces

Earth Shift Intensity

2011-10-26T08:02:00.000-07:00

Good Day! I have been inspired to share a bit of information with you about the
energies that are working away on the planet and through us right now. They are
at their most intense phase right now and may be making things extremely challenging
for sensitives. If you or someone you know is feeling very frazzled, emotional, wired, buzzing, tense, etc. try not to be afraid of your experience (easier said than done) and use some of the following tips to assist yourself and others - and please share this information with those you know who will appreciate it.

Sleep - you may be getting little or none - this is "awakening" energy - try to rest in a meditative state if you cannot sleep...the intensity will pass in a few weeks, listen to soothing music, involve yourself in quiet meditative like things like painting, drawing, knitting and other handcrafts that require some creative focus,
and you can email me for other ideas if you sense I have other tips to share with you.

Let Go - if there is work, projects or other things that you think you "have" to do that you can let go of...take a bit of time to reassess and let some of them go until a later time when you are not so challenged. This is a time to be very good to yourself the name of the game is TLC...wrap up in your favourite blanket and watch an uplifting movie instead of cleaning out the garage...

Electronic Equipment - right now whenever I sit in front of a screen it seems to up my intensity factor...I am biting the bullet to write this email to you all, but am doing it because I was asked to help others in this way...sometimes my PC won't function much at all and at work I am delegating the in front of a screen work to others who are less sensitive..I have a few big rocks actually sitting on my
laptop for grounding to help it work right now...

Eating - if you are finding it hard to eat, shift to smoothies and soups and several small meals/snacks throughout the day...I have never been able to drink coffee and other stimulant type things so you may want to stay away from them. Stick with the power foods like berries, greens, clean proteins etc. Again if you need more ideas send me a note and I will share more of my ideas with you.

Drink Drink and Drink - drink lots of good water everyday...shoot for twice as much as your usual...it will help you to cleanse away the old and shift into your new balance and flow with it - water teaches us how to flow!

Time in Nature is Essential right now - I am fortunate that I can regulate my own hours at work and I go in later now and stay later so that I can go for a good walk in the woods and over the rocks to assist me...nature guides me, reminds me what is happening, assures me, comforts me and shows me the way to my newness that is emerging...I just get myself out there for at least an hour and let it all soak into me...then I bring that with me into work and the rest of my life - it acts as my blanket of insulation for the day...

I do suggest if you are having serious challenges if it is at all possible consider taking some time off or working less right now, or at least have a conversation with someone you trust about your challenging situation...yes I know you may not be able to mention earth shift energy etc. but open yourself to understand how to bring the subject up...maybe just the word stress is enough...I do believe that the Divine does carry us through all of these things with Grace if we allow it to work in our lives...if you are approaching a boss or management about a change in
your work say a prayer for assistance and ask that your Divine assistants work through the head, hands and heart of your supervisors to help them have compassion and understand work with you.

Drum gently...I was at a drumming and singing event yesterday and even the energy of it was pushing intensely on me...whew...take it down a notch and drum gently with the new energies of the earth and merge with it all to become the new.

Share your helpful advice and experiences with others...we all came here at this time together to go through this together - you may have found some great ways that are helping you and they may help others...please consider sharing them with others.

One last thing...this morning as lay quietly in the stillness I had a non-ordinary reality visitor - he was showing me that he was leaving my house as the energies here are no longer suitable for him...he was of a lower vibration and had a lot of darkness and destructiveness around him...he could not look me in the eye...the cleansing of lower vibrations is definitely upon us...this experience was an affirmation of that for me...continue to smudge, play spirit lifting music etc. in your places of work and home - it continues to be a message that lower energies are not welcome and it will assist the process. If you are having similar experiences consider sharing them so that we can all receive clarity, understanding of the processes that are at work, and affirmation.

Blessings to you all through this intensely powerful and beautiful time.

Empower Yourself with Simplicity

2011-07-28T15:11:00.000-07:00

In these days of increasing information, and the sharing of that information complexity continues to creep into many facets of our lives. I sense it as a wound that is festering and about to suppurate (a pimple about to pop, a volcano about to erupt…get the picture!?).
It is like a giant fungus, that, for the most part, lives under the surface of the earth and pops up in various forms, some of them beautiful, and some of them not. Most people are aware of the above the surface information because they see it and hear it regularly if they are living the average North American life. Many of those people are mostly oblivious to the subsurface roots of the tangled web that has been woven, but their hearts and souls are very aware of the dissipation of our life energy as it attends to all the daily necessities of living the ways that we currently do. Record numbers of people suffer from fatigue, depression, and non-specific ill health syndromes. Is this the manifestation of the draining away of our life energy?
Think about the last time that you shopped for a new appliance or technical device – how much time and energy did this take? And after the shopping and purchase of said item how long did that item actually last, before you had to repeat the process to replace the planned obsolete one? Are you starting to understand that you might be a consumer rat on a wheel?
I guess I am writing this blog entry today to remind you that you can make different choices and you can reject complexity. Learn how to say NO, and look around you and ask yourself regularly do I need it? Many years ago I developed a very simple screening system to help me make decisions. I simply ask myself will this simplify my life or complicate it?
If you are a complexity junkie you may have to work at getting off the stuff
if you come to realize that you do need to live differently. I think the current global economic, environmental, emotional and spiritual situation is crying out for simplicity and I think it is time to stop covering up this wound with bandages and
get to the root of the problem by gathering and reconnecting with the discipline that will allow you to feel your feelings, stay with them, feel them, and say no when you need to.

On the Blog Again...from YK

2011-06-13T11:51:00.000-07:00

Yes it has been a while. I have been a bit busy lately. I am writing this post on my giveaway laptop (Thank you giveaway Goddess – you know who you are!)
sitting in my room in a house that I share with other Yellowknifers. As I look out my window I see streams of rain washing through the sky changing the colours of the ancient lichen-laden rock that wraps around this house. It feels and smells like a summer rain. I just came back from walking the girls, Ruby and Bindy, two of my 4 legged housemates, and the air was pumped full of fragrances of the emerging greenery. These smells are a mixture of familiar and new. Oh so familiar I am with the scent of the warming earth dispersed by rain, but here it is mixed with the energies of polar desert and tundra flora – I challenge any perfume maker to bottle this stuff!
So how did I get from Chatham-Kent, one of the most southern communities in Canada (check it out – it is actually at a similar latitude as Northern California) to Yellowknife on the Northern shores of Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories? I could be a smart alec and tell you that I flew here, which I did, but I am quite certain that you would be more interested in the process that brought me here. It is yet another step in my journey of letting go, trusting and being who/what I came to this planet to be. When I first heard about this opportunity in January, my first response was a solid “NO” with not a hint of maybe mixed in.
In my way of ordinary thinking, I was not ready to leave home when I still had a daughter and partner there, I was already too tired of the earth life walk right then, I was too involved in life in CK, it would take a huge effort to release my practice, I know what a challenge physical relocation is for me etc. etc. etc. A few weeks later we had yet another snowstorm and I was pulled outside in the evening after the storm had passed to view the stars glittering through the clear crisp winter sky. As I continued communing with my star friends I picked up a shovel to be purposeful and to keep warm, and the rhythmic action and sounds of the shovel on the fresh snow opened me up to hear a good clear message from one of my ancestors. The message was “Don’t shut the door on Yellowknife” – as clear and simple as that I knew that I had indeed shut out possibilities and that right action was to say YES. While continuing to shovel I did that and was presented with an inner visual production of what may lay ahead. In a quick and powerful instant I had come back to all of my senses (some would say I lost them at that moment – it’s all in our perspectives!) and began preparing to move to Yellowknife.
It has been a big job getting here – family discussions, practical planning, interviews, adjustments on many levels…letting go, letting go, letting go. Because of the guiding nudge to come here I knew that I was not doing this alone in any way – non-ordinary assistance is always at hand when a non-ordinary path is followed. I have had great help finding a place to live here, pulling together a great staff team to work with, using non-ordinary resources that I have been trained to use to bring good energy into the co-operative art gallery that I am managing here, connecting with a powerful weekly sweat lodge for my own healing and remaining connected to my healing ways, and the list goes on. I have had non-ordinary visions and guidance to make big life changes before and I have always been rewarded when I find the courage to follow them. These nudges usually push me toward big, hard stretches to move through my fears and believed limitations, and I know that I am being given once in a lifetime opportunities to grow into who I truly am, the person that has been long trained out of me or forgotten. When I left Chatham-Kent the first time just a few weeks after my 18th birthday to gather academic learning in a university environment I had no idea that it would be possible to rediscover family gifts and powers more than nine generations old, I was simply going to learn how to become an architect. Spirit had other plans for me…they were helping me to become the architect for my soul.
Even before I arrived in YK (yes lets keep it simple with CK for Chatham-Kent and YK for Yellowknife) I knew that I was being brought here for a big picture, much of which I may never even become aware of. Being able to let go and let it all unfold has been freeing. I have been able to go to a deeper level of letting go of needing to know what is coming next, and to just be more present. I do not know how long I will be here in YK. I do know that it is a great place for artists to live and that may be one of the reasons that I have been brought here. I also know that the weekly sweat lodge is a big gift of healing for me and others who participate. This lodge was constructed about six months before I arrived. The grandfather stones who allow themselves to be heated in the fire to provide transformation energy for the lodge probably have brought me here. The co-operative gallery that I am putting many of my skills to work for may have brought me here. The ancient rocks may have brought me here. I prefer to think that they all brought me here…
...and true to YK form as I finish off this post the sun is emerging from the clouds,
it doesn’t stay away for long here this time of year.

A Pain in the Neck (and shoulders)

2011-03-14T14:15:00.000-07:00

A Pain in the Neck (and shoulders)

So the news is full of reports of the Japanese earthquakes and tsunamis. As many of the ancients predicted big earth changes are happening with greater force and frequency than ever before. As the earth shifts, our bodies shift, as we are part of the earth and the earth is part of us…you really can’t separate them…you can try but you usually run into trouble in the way of chronic illness, disease or death.
As I have been communicating with clients, other practitioners and shamanically minded people many of them are reporting deep neck and shoulder pain that is disrupting their daily life and sleep. If I look at this from a Jin Shin Jyutsu® perspective the neck and shoulders comprise for the most part Safety Energy Lock #s 4, 12, 11 & 3 - so let’s have a closer look at them and the shifting earth.

-Safety Energy Lock #4 is known as the Window, the Measurer of Intelligence, the General Manager, and the Weaving Princess. Right now with many of our old limiting belief systems being stripped away and our consciousness shifting to new enlightened forms these Safety Energy Locks are very busy and can get overloaded. By holding them and letting them open and reset you are helping your general manager to make sense of everything and to open your mind windows wide and let in a fresh breeze to air everything out.
-Safety Energy Lock # 12 is known as the Universal Will, Conscious Immortality instigator and the Overseer of all. By opening these locks you are assisting yourself to LET GO, surrender and begin flowing with your destiny, getting onto your individual path and moving forward on it. Keeping these safety energy locks open also assists one to understand that there is a beautiful and unique purpose for everyone and that happiness and contentment comes from connecting with that purpose and fulfilling it.
-Safety Energy Lock # 11 is known as the Janitor where excess baggage (physical toxins, mental or emotional congestion) is unloaded and the hub where transitions are assisted and justice (right action) is understood. Opening these will help you to get and stay “cleaned out” so that you can stay clear, see your path and make good choices for yourself.
-Safety Energy Lock # 3 is known as the Door to Sacred Intelligence and the Respiratory Specialist (being able to breathe life in and out). These Energy Locks help you to connect with and remember ancient wisdom, leave wounds of the past behind and understand how the pieces of life’s puzzle fit together.

If you are experiencing a pain in the neck and/or shoulders consider using gentle pressure with your fingertips on these Safety Energy Locks - hold them and listen for your pulses to arise in them and then synchronize (beat together) with each other. Breathe deeply while you do this and let your energy and awareness shift to help you find your way in the newly forming world. A quickie flow for the neck and shoulder area can be found here: http://www.flowsforlife.com/jin-shin-jyutsu/shoulder-pain/
Jin Shin Jyutsu® translated into English reads “Divine Expression of a Compassionate Aware Human” - you can help yourself to relieve your pain and become more aware of who you are in the process - good medicine I say!

Winter Help

2011-02-12T09:22:00.000-08:00

Wiarton Willie, Punxsutawney Phil, Staten Island Chuck and other famous groundhogs http://www.netglimse.com/holidays/groundhog_day/celebrity_groundhogs_and_past_predictions.shtml did not see their shadows on February 2 of this year, and since it is unanimous among these celebrities spring is definitely on its way. As I look out my window at the mounds of snow the vernal equinox still seems far away. I am grateful for the crisp cold air that revitalizes me and the snow that squeaks underfoot as I walk about my community, and today for the bright sunshine that bounces off of the snow cover and blasts my pineal gland open to clean out the cobwebs of old beliefs and limiting ways. The recent dramatic earth shift energies have left me feeling like I am turning inside out and I am grateful for the connection and support of my highly sensitive peers who walk this journey with me. I am grateful to be alive at this very interesting time on earth as we watch Egypt’s people work together to make things better for themselves and to demonstrate the power of working together for a common goal. Synergy rules!
In the midst of February not everyone feels lucky to be alive. The long stretches without much sunshine, the propensity for colds and flus, the natural tendency for the body to go into hibernation mode, the continuing unemployment rates and future uncertainties can all make for a challenging time for many. We are so accustomed to distracting ourselves from our pain with all sorts of behaviours and ways so that we don’t have to feel. Elder teachers and wise people understand that the voice and wisdom of our pain will lead us forward on our individual paths, so if you can learn to be with it all (sooooo easy to say) you will find your way. Gather good people around you who will help you to do this. Working with meditation, mindfulness, yoga, tai chi, Jin Shin Jyutsu®, shamanism and other ways that assist you to connect to the energies within and around you can remind you that nothing is permanent and that energy (you) are always transforming and growing.
At the core of Jin Shin Jyutsu® is remembering the ability to just BE with whatever is. If you want to incorporate some of this ancient harmonizing power in your life try out the Main Central Vertical Daily Harmonizing Exercise that I wrote about at the beginning of this year: http://www.jsjinc.net/pagedetails.php?id=maincentral-flow and remember that it is consistent daily use that will yield results - maybe you can challenge a few friends or family members to practice this together wherever they are and you can cheerlead each other on until this becomes a daily habit. Keep in mind that because we are all connected energetically you are not only helping yourself, you are helping your community and the energy of the planet at large (I know you can’t see it happening so it is sometimes hard to believe, but what have you got to lose in trying it out???)
If you happen to be feeling stuck in any part of your life reach out and hold your Safety Energy Lock 1’s, on the inside of each of your knees http://mysite.verizon.net/ron26/art2.html , for 20 minutes a day to really get things moving or for 5 minutes at least 3 times a day to loosen things a bit.
The Spleen Flow is a very simple and very nurturing flow to use this or any time of year. If you are feeling dark from the lack of all kinds of light in your life this is the flow to use, and again it is consistent use and the cumulative effect that will help you to understand its power. This flow is a total body regulator that is known for harmonizing all of the organs, assisting with energy depletion and Vitamin D absorption - its nickname is the Solar Energy Flow! Here is a link to an excellent article written several years ago by Mitzi Adams http://www.merrynjose.com/artman/publish/article_48.shtml and here are the very simple four steps of the spleen flow:

Spleen Flow
Hold each step for at least 5 minutes
Step One: Place Right hand on inside of right ankle below the bone in the hollow
Place Left hand on the tailbone (coccyx)

Step Two: move Right hand to just below your left centre front ribcage
Let Left hand remain on the tailbone (coccyx)

Step Three: Right hand remains just below your left centre front ribcage
Move Left hand to right centre breast

Step Four: Right hand remains just below your left centre front ribcage
Left hand moves to just under Left centre collarbone

Nurture yourself and share these possibilities with others, someday you might
even enjoy winter!

Conscious Grumbling

2011-01-22T17:51:00.000-08:00

The long nights and gathering energies that winter brings set a perfect backdrop for getting to know the shadow aspects of ourselves. Many people find ways to distract themselves from the opportunities for growth that this time of year brings because it is simply easier to avoid the darkness than it is to dive into it an explore, feel and heal.
What is the shadow? This is another of those instances when words just don’t cut it to convey full multi-dimensional meaning, but here it goes. Our shadow is those parts of ourselves that usually stay lurking just beneath our conscious awareness. Some aspects are also buried much deeper within. If we can imagine ourselves as marionette puppets, the shadow would be the strings and marionette that control our movements. These movements are usually preceded by beliefs and thoughts also emanating from the marionette. Sometimes we are quite content with this arrangement and how we operate in the world. At other times we struggle to break free from some of the constraints of this arrangement so that we can make positive changes in our lives. The season of winter with its quiet, dark, internal and shadowy energies present a perfect opportunity to call up our skills of introspection and look to see who or what the marionette is made of and how it pulls our strings. The quietness of the natural world around us whispers to us to slow down and go within to listen to the rumblings and grumblings of our soul.
If you want to learn more about yourself and your unseen operating systems you can involve yourself in the practice of what I call “conscious grumbling”. Allow yourself to fall into your well of darkness and shadow. Feel it, its heaviness, secretiveness, elusiveness and often negative and hopeless nature. And when it starts to get very uncomfortable try to stay in it, don’t distract yourself from it by jumping back out of it to eat, drink, watch the latest movie or play the newest video game. Say with it and become the seeker looking for the images that your soul wants you to see, and listen for the sounds need to be expressed and the words to be heard and spoken. Let all of this come to the surface and go ahead and grumble and grouch away to the ethers, your imaginary audience or with pen in hand write them down. Which ever method is most natural for you express these energies and let them surface for the awareness spotlight to shine on them. Speak some of these grumblings out loud into the wind so they can be carried away and heard by unseen ears. Some of these expressions are simply day to day irritations, molehills. Treat the grumblings that are louder and more intense with respect. Take the time to acknowledge them and write them down - get them out of your being and onto paper in front of you, then look at them and listen to them and let them be your teachers. Ask them what they can teach you and apply the Serenity Prayer filter to them - sort them into the “To Be Worked On” and the “To Be Accepted” columns. Use the prayer as a request for assistance if you need it. Sometimes this sorting takes days, weeks and even years, and that is all okay, your schedule is yours and yours alone. Take your “To Be Worked On” list and own it. Be responsible for it and your part in it, it came from you, it is yours. Now that you are conscious of those things that have been itching at your soul, you are less likely to project them onto others. With clear and honest intent ask for the inspiration, motivation and guidance to begin working on them, and most importantly ask to be aware when all of that is being given to you because it usually comes in unexpected ways and from unexpected sources.
This is not easy work, but it is good work. Within the shadow we not only find difficult and unhealed parts of ourselves, we also find skilled and gifted parts that have been long forgotten.
My journeys into this work have provided me with gifts and stories that are more than nine generations old, and they continue to provide me with new perspectives and understandings of myself. Journey on!

An Excerpt from the Serenity Prayer

Grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
--Reinhold Niebuhr

A New Year, A New Energy Exchange System (Economy)

2011-01-12T10:08:00.000-08:00

For many months now I have been walking around with a clear understanding that I have always had issues with money. I used to believe that I was the one that needed to change to fit our mainstream economic model. Recently my awareness shifted to allow me to ask myself “What if it is the system that needs to shift?” As I allowed this question to speak to me and did my best to clean my slate of many long held beliefs and perceptions I realized that:
- I have never been at ease with hierarchical systems and I prefer more cooperative ones
- I feel like the square peg trying to fit itself into the round hole to meet most traditional exchange of money energy ways
- I feel more centred and joyful when I work with and within cooperative systems

Throughout my lifetime I have worked to squeeze my square peggedness into our current round hole economic system and now it is time for me to work with a system that is more in alignment with who I am and what I believe. I have spent the last few months opening to this idea, discussing it with others, researching some of the details, and then integrating all of this information and making some decisions. I don’t even want to call this new-to-me way an economic system – I prefer to call it an energy exchange system, until I come up with a better name. Most of the ways of my new system are not new, many have been around for quite some time, but it is new for me to fully embrace them and put them together in a way that works for me and those who want to work with me.
Sliding scales, time banking, cooperative agreements and donations are the roots of my energy exchange system. I first saw the sliding scale system that is a favourite of mine in 2000 at a unique planet-loving, hemp-loaded retail store called Still Eagle (say it fast 3 times over and you will get the double meaning!) in Nelson, B.C. http://www.stilleagle.com/our_story.html Every item in the store had a maximum and a minimum price and buyers purchased items at the price that worked best for them. I hope that this idea will become the way in many other retail stores. Time banking systems have been active in some communities for many years now http://www.timebanks.org/ Within these systems an hour of one person’s time is worth an hour of another’s regardless of what skills are exchanged. Cooperative agreements leave room for creative ways for individuals to develop win-win ways and donations keep doors open for others who don’t fit into other categories.
So for now, here is how I am offering my services to the community and beyond. I may have to adjust things here and there and I will work with individuals on a case by case basis.

BALANCE POINT ENERGETICS
Energy Exchange System

Sliding Scale Fees
The following scales are guidelines. The actual money based value of these services is represented by the top of the scale fee. If more than one member of a family seeks services discuss your situation with me. I love my work and I want to make it accessible to all those who respect it. Please keep in mind that I do pay money based fees to maintain my office space and all of the requirements to communicate with you, and that I too, am feeding and sheltering myself and my family. Please contact me to discuss how we may work together if time banking or donation basis fees better suit your situation. I am also interested in hearing your ideas for mutually beneficial arrangements.

Jin Shin Jyutsu & Reiki 55 minute Sessions
Total Household Income Level/Cost Per Session
$60,001 and up / $95 + hst
$50,001 to $60,000 / $85 + hst
$40,001 to $50,000 / $75 + hst
$30,001 to $40,000 / $65 + hst
$20,001 to $30,000 / $55 + hst
$15 ,001 to $20,000 / $45 + hst
$15,000 and under / $40 + hst

Shamanic Healing 90 to 120+ minute Sessions
Total Household Income Level/Cost Per Session
$60,001 and up $130 + hst
$50,001 to $60,000 / $120 + hst
$40,001 to $50,000 / $110 + hst
$30,001 to $40,000 / $100 + hst
$20,001 to $30,000 / $90 + hst
$15 ,001 to $20,000 / $80 + hst
$15,000 and under / $75 + hst

Feng Shui Consultations (not including travel fees)
Total Household Income Level/Walk Through Consultations/Full Package
Assessments
$60,001 and up / $185 + hst / $560 + hst
$50,001 to $60,000 / $165 + hst / $540 + hst
$40,001 to $50,000 / $145 + hst / $520 + hst
$30,001 to $40,000 / $125 + hst / $500 + hst
$20,001 to $30,000 / $100 + hst / $475 + hst
$15 ,001 to $20,000 / $75 + hst / $450 + hst
$15,000 and under / $65 + hst / $400 + hst

Workshop Fees
Workshops are of various topics and lengths. Some workshops require more preparation and materials than others so they are have different fees. I will post the true dollar value of each workshop and if you choose to work with the alternative energy exchange system, contact me so that we can work out the details of our exchange.

A Radical New Perspective

2010-12-06T09:48:00.000-08:00

Many of you who read articles and blogs such as this one are searching for something. Perhaps you are questing to seek new information or to have your personal beliefs affirmed. Many of us do not like to spend time or energy reading information that contradicts our belief systems or perspectives - it just seems counterproductive, and it rubs us the wrong way. I regularly seek the “warm fuzzy” experiences to bring balance to some of the harshness of the realities of life, but I have realized that the most powerful healing and growing experiences I have ever had have come from the school of hard knocks. The most difficult life experiences are usually our best teachers.
As the end of 2010 begins to draw near and 2011 prepares to unfold another grand opportunity to leave the pain of our past behind us is here. I am sure that you have heard the “it’s all in the past, just leave it there”, or “move on - get a life” speeches that tend to do nothing for you but add notches to your anger and frustration quotient. You may also get the sincere and empathic “I am sorry for your pain” acknowledgement from others, and while this may support you momentarily it tends to enable you to remain a victim so that you can regularly solicit this kind of attention. The two aforementioned experiences are the black and white ends of the spectrum, there are many grey areas in between.
The year of the wooden tiger is coming to an end. It can be a powerful year full of destruction. Not all destruction is negative. You may have lost many things this year, and in time, if you allow yourself to see the benefit of it all, you will. Every twelve years the year of the tiger roams around to do some planetary housecleaning - decluttering - so that we have the energy, resources and room to make way for new ways and means. When things are being taken away we tend to only see it as loss, not as a preparation for the next phases of our lives. So if you have any personal housecleaning left to do, do it now. This is a great time to let go of old ways of thinking, acting, believing and living to let new healthier ones take root in our lives. Breathe deeply and let go of what you thought was your life plan if it is unravelling in front of you…let the new plan show itself to you. This is definitely a time to find that courage buried deep inside of you to move toward opportunities that make your knees knock and your heart sing. Gather your own team of personal cheerleaders to support you as you rubber leg it into your new life. Avoid Negative Nates and Nasty Nellies and ask for help when you need it - many people do want to help others succeed.
Attitude adjustments are powerful assistants in times like these. So if you are feeling rooted in victim mode and unable to climb out of the pain that a very difficult early life has brought to you I want you to consider a radical shift in perspective. This shift has a few basic beliefs at work. The first one is that we are spiritual beings having an earthly experience in a human body. Most of our lives we have been taught and cultured to understand that the human part is most important and the spirit just comes along with it. This shift reverses the priority. The second basic belief is that we are all born into this life with a unique and important purpose. Okay if you can agree to consider this for now we can get to the biggest shift in attitude that may assist you to find healing and a new way to experience yourself. So if we are spirits in human bodies and we experienced very difficult life circumstances - we were victims of other humans, can you find your way to forgiveness by thinking about the kind of sacrifice that the abusive spirits in human bodies made to be born into a toxic and abusive human personality. Perhaps they agreed to live an entire life as an unhealed human to give you the opportunity to become wounded and backed into a corner of despair so that your survival instincts would kick in and help you find your way to wholeness. I know this is a giant leap in perspective for many of you to take, but if you ask yourself if this is an appropriate one for you, you will receive an answer.

Pumpkins are Edible

2010-11-29T12:29:00.001-08:00

As I was out walking on this beautiful November day to gather power and inspiration I noticed yet more uncarved small pumpkins being thrown out with the trash. AHHHHHH my mind responds when I see this - pumpkins are food! Please share with your friends and neighbours that pumpkins can be baked, roasted, boiled, mashed, pied, muffined, cookied, pancaked.... and eaten. They are high in beta carotene - that bright orange colour, vitamin C and E, loaded with fibre and if you eat the seeds
you get the gift of zinc. And if you are not going to eat them please give them to someone who will or at least compost them. Give some LOVE to pumpkins!

Living Well with Chaos

2010-11-25T07:45:00.000-08:00

As each day passes we come closer to the end of the period that the ancient Q'ero people, the Inkas, have called the End of Time. The last date of the current Mayan calendar is December 21, 2012. Some fear this date, others welcome it and yet others ignore it or are completely oblivious to it. I am aware that many of the Mayan predictions of this time are quite accurate – the rising frequency of natural disasters, the crumbling of hierarchical financial systems, increasing labour strife, the increasing awareness of the folly of our earth conquering ways. It seems that something is at work. The Q'ero understand that chaos and upheaval are forces that will continue to grow exponentially until time turns over and the world will be right side up once again.

Yes we have been living in an upside down world for more than 500 years. Previous to this upside down time we lived harmoniously with the earth and its resources and we knew that we were an interrelated part of this planet's living systems. After time turned over we fell into fearful ways which caused us to believe that we were separate from and superior to

these same systems, and that we needed to become conquerors of the land to survive. The earth is turning right side up again and the changes that you have experienced in your own life and that you have witnessed around you are a necessary part of the turning over.

I am writing about chaos today to help you understand it and hopefully reduce your fear of it. Chaos can be uncomfortable and stressful, but it is a force for positive change. If we learn to say centered and grounded and work with it, it can propel us forward and beyond the perceived limitations that we believe exist within us. If we resist it, white knuckle holding onto all of our material things and ways, we may find ourselves exhausted, joyless and missing out on opportunities for growth and positive change. If we spend a lot of time not being grounded in our bodies chaos can blow us around like fallen leaves on a windy fall day.

Several years ago a wise woman friend of mine told me a story about one of her friends. She shared that this other wise woman had experienced many tragedies and hardships in life and yet she remained soft hearted and happy to be alive. She explained that her friend had let her adventurous spirit shine through and decided to learn how to “ride the wild horse of chaos”. That phrase came deep into my belly when I first heard it and it remains a part of the wise counsel that I carry for myself. It has been itching for me to share it with you, and now you have it too.

So how do you ride the wild horse of chaos? You can jump on, close your eyes, hold on for dear life and pray, but the horse will most certainly throw you off because your fear will spook the horse further. Maybe you could approach the horse with gratitude, a healthy dose of respect and a willingness to try and enjoy the ride – you know that feeling that you have just as you board a roller coaster? – and you may find yourself screaming with both fear and delight. And when that ride is over you are grateful that you are still alive and you feel a bit lighter because you left some fear and tension behind you as they escaped with your screams. Maybe chaos is knocking at your door to bring you a new adventure. You might be able to jump in the saddle, merge with the horse, flow and let go of some old rigid ways that are not serving you in a positive way, and find a new way to ride. How will you ride?

These are all nice analogies, but what does it all mean in day to day terms. My suggestions for coping with the dynamic times that we are living in are:

breathe deeply and often – this helps to ground and centre ourselves in our bodies, and when grounded we are like a rooted tree that can flex and bend in the worst of storms but still remain standing

if you don't already have one, develop a good sense of humour and learn to laugh at yourself

slow down and leave room for yourself and others – don't make important decisions in the spur of the moment, sleep on them at least one night, and if anyone is pressuring you to make them, walk away until you are ready, and let others make their decisions in their own time. There is a lot going on right now and we all need time to assess and integrate all of the information in and around us and this takes time. If you are impulsive by nature watch yourself extra carefully or ask a respected friend or family member to watch out for you. This bit of information also applies to your driving style. I have witnessed quite a few erratic drivers and tailgaters lately and know they are accidents just waiting to happen. If you don't slow down and leave room, an accident will force you to.

Cut back or completely eliminate stimulating foods and beverages. There is enough stimulating energy of change about – how are you sleeping lately??? - don't push your luck and burn out your endocrine system by overtaxing it. If you are addicted to sugar and caffeine or other mood upping substances get help to leave them behind and breakthrough into a new life. If you can't function without these things it is definitely time for positive change, and the doorways for that change are open now.

Get clear about the intentions for your life, write them down and think of them often. They act as guideposts along the way when you are clouded by confusion.

Prioritize the aspects of your life. Let things low on your list go and give more attention to the ones at the top.

Be efficient with your time and energy. Take some time to assess where you are wasting either of these resources, and make good changes to increase your efficiency. You are an amazing human being and we need you to share your amazingness. Life force is precious, if you waste it some of it will be taken away. If you don't believe me check out Stephen Hawking's life story.

Go easy on yourself. You are human, accept it, make mistakes, forgive yourself, learn from them and then get on with life.

Why “Women Heal”?

2010-11-15T21:02:00.000-08:00

Those if you who follow my work in the community are aware that I am offering new “Women Heal” events. I want to take some time in this column to explain how and why these events came about. A few months ago I spent a few days alone in nature listening to the wind and lying on the ground for guidance directly from the earth. I kept hearing “women heal”, “women heal” over and over again. I have felt the urgency of this need for quite some time now and it is getting stronger and stronger in me. The earth destructive events that have been occurring with increasing frequency are probably propelling me forward. Maybe I am reading this wrong and simply need to focus on myself, but I know in my bones that I am not a separate being, and that when many work together with healing intentions great power is available for that healing. So I have stepped forward to act as a guide for women who want to gather and heal together, and as we heal the earth has opportunities to heal too. What we are experiencing is what the earth is experiencing. What the earth is experiencing is what we are experiencing.

Did you know that tears can be a way to our power? Did you know that letting tears flow down your cheeks without brushing them away is a powerful act of healing? I am not going to wait for the scientists to catch up to this one and prove that it is true, I have experienced it and been witness to it many times. Even without those references I just know that it is true.

As a species human beings have been around for about 4 million years. We have changed and evolved since that time. Who we are today is indeed affected by what has happened in the past. Our ancestors have passed a myriad of experiences, hereditary patterns and traits to us. Some of these gifts are easier to live with than others. Intense traumatic events of the past tend to become etched in our nervous system and can play a part in our present day experience as feelings of depression, unexplained fear, panic and anxiety. We wear them like invisible heavy burdens, often thinking there is something inherently wrong with us that prevents us from experiencing joy and balance in life. There are masses of unexpressed emotions waiting to be released and healed.

Here is what the Irish Poet William Butler Yeats had to say about it many years ago:
“Come away, O human child! To the waters and the wild With a faery hand in hand, For the world’s more full of weeping than you can understand.”

Today, after the ages of industrialization and information, we are entering the age of healing. Energetic opportunities, not available before, exist for us to access our ancient lineage, let go of burdens and old traumas, and remember who we truly are. Ancient wounds are bubbling up to the surface in everyone to be healed, but many do not understand what is happening and head for pharmaceutical bandaids, hyperactive schedules, or self medicating addictions to keep the voice of the pain subdued and suppressed. Ancient healing arts are also resurfacing as the need for soul work expands.

This past summer the extreme heat and transformative energies propelled me to develop even deeper relationships with the elements of nature and resources close to home. I spent many hours lying on the ground receiving nurturing earth energy, listening to the wind to download my latest awareness updates, and consuming and listening to some of the healing plants growing right in my backyard. Now I am being pushed from within to create experiences to help others find their ways to healing and wholeness. And as a result of more than 25 years of questing and recent new awarenesses I have co-created these one day healing experiences for women. “Women Heal” is an opportunity for women to gather together to experience ancient and contemporary healing ways. Using drums, sacred healing plants, storytelling, burden releases, empowered prayers and other ways of power, ancient wounds can be shed allowing for clarity and direction to shine through. We are all being called to our truths and our power so that we can invent new ways to live cooperatively and harmoniously on this planet. The time for healing time is here.

For more information about “Women Heal” opportunities see this link: http://www.facebook.com/sally.joyce3?v=app_2344061033

Youth Wisdom

2010-10-23T21:52:00.000-07:00

It seems to me that more and more people are becoming aware of their need for big and deep healing. I don't believe that the world is ending in 2012, but I do believe that our ability to continue living the way we have, for at least the last 500 years, is ending. We have lived disconnected from the basic elements of nature and have followed a path of the conquistador or conqueror, trying to make nature succumb to our needs and wants instead of learning how to live sustainably and in harmony with all that we have been given. This way has created the world situation that we are now experiencing. I am privileged to have many young people in my midst and they are deeply questioning how they can become a part of the adult world and the way that it is functioning now. Many of them are having difficulty with the idea of giving up their basic values and living in ways that are untrue to them to simply make ends meet and put food in their bellies and a roof over their heads. They are feeling defeated before they have even begun, so many of them just give up and abandon any sense of hope. When I have the opportunity to have a meaningful conversation with some of these beautiful kids I explain to them that they were born for the next way of living and that they have to be patient for that way to evolve, and in the meantime they can get very clear about what their priorities and values are and create a way to make a living in the world that allows them to live truthfully.

I know that may of you reading this will simply think “those kids just need to grow up, suck it up, and do what we did, suppress our knowings and needs, find a job and get on with life.” I don't agree with this. I think we all need to become supporters, cheerleaders and positive mentors for these wise ones. They may not have the confidence, life experience or networks of resources that more mature
earthwalkers have, but they are born with built in understanding and tools to live in current times, just as we were. We need to keep our ears open to listen to their fresh ideas, consider what they are sharing with us and offer to help them find their way. They are the ones that we have been waiting for

Focusing on School Daze

2010-10-13T12:37:00.000-07:00

Well it has been a month since most children have returned to their school life routine, and I am wondering how it is going in those classrooms. Are the children eager to learn, stimulated in a balanced way and recognized for their individual ways of learning?

There are some fabulous classrooms out there who have teachers at the helm that are fulfilling their life purpose spending most of their days with children. There are other classrooms that have room for improvement. Just so you know where I am coming from I want you to know that I would like to see a complete overhaul of the current curriculum.

Increasing rates of childhood anxiety levels, growing difficulties with attention spans and focusing abilities, and high secondary school drop out rates are all symptoms pointing to the need for change. Many factors other than the curriculum do play a part in these symptoms, but I do want you to think about a Dalai Lama style of education.
If you take a peek into the lives and training of the Dalai Lamas you will discover that as children their education was delivered to them one subject at a time for two hours a day.

Those two hours of intentional learning were divided into one hour time slots, one uninterrupted hour in the morning and one in the afternoon. The one subject was studied until it was determined by the elder teachers that it had been mastered by the students, and then they would move on to a new subject. In between class time the young Dalai Lamas were allowed to play and explore their natural environment. What a difference this is from our current system of focusing on several subject areas within one day for extended periods of time with quite a few interruptions and distractions cropping up. Does this have anything to do with children’s and adult’s abilities to focus their attention today? How much time do our bussed or driven-to-school children actually spend in natural settings to allow them to develop a better understanding of the world around them? (kudos to those of you who are walking!) The running, walking, bicycling and playing also offers children brain balancing activity which helps them to absorb and integrate the lessons that they have been exposed to during the day.

Obviously we do not have a single subject at a time curriculum now, so what can parents do to help bring balance to children’s lives until we stop rushing and overwhelming them? Get them outside and slow down and simplify things! Work out ways that they can walk to school in the morning and walk home in the afternoon – don’t just roll your eyes here and say it is impossible – that is limited thinking. Have a look at what these schools are doing: http://www.saferoutestoschool.ca/featuredschool.asp How important is it for children to spend time outside in nature?

If you really want to know the answer to this go to the local library, check out and read Richard Luov’s “Last Child in the Woods” http://richardlouv.com I have to agree with him, in my opinion nature deficit disorder is the root of many other contemporary disorders. I also think that rushing our children to future success is harmful. Dr. David Elkind agrees with me on this one. In his book “The Hurried Child” http://www.amazon.com/Hurried-Child-Growing-Fast-Soon/dp/0738204412 he explains that he believes we are doing our children harm by exposing them to many experiences and genius teaching tools to help ensure that they will be successful adults. Even the Berenstain Bears knew this, check out their “Too Much Pressure” book www.berenstainbearstreehouse.com/bookstoomuch.php
I spend some of my professional time tutoring children.

These children come from all different backgrounds, I tutor them because their parents have asked me to, the children do not pick up the phone and call me! For the most part I am bringing a reduced pace and simplicity to the lessons that they are being exposed to at school. I also try to find a way to make the learning fun and to tie it to their personal interests and passions. Deepak Chopra agrees with me on this one.

In his “The Seven Spiritual Laws for Parents: Guiding Your Children to Success and Fulfillment” http://www.amazon.ca/Seven-Spiritual-Laws-Parents-Fulfillment/dp/1400097851/ref=sr_1_18?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1286390328&sr=1-18 he explains that parents and caregivers should help their children to spend more time doing what they love to do and what they are good at doing, not more time trying to strengthen the skills that do not come easily to them. Honour their uniqueness and the gifts that they bring to this world by giving them the most attention. Psssst! Here’s a secret – we weren‘t all born to be accountants or great novelists, so if the reading and writing and arithmetic skills aren’t developing as fast as you want, take a deep breath, sit back and observe what your child chooses to do when they are given a choice (if your answer is play video games…well there are job opportunities there, but that‘s a topic for another column…).
So wrapping it all up – get outside, slow down and do what you love to do!

Surrounded By The Harvest

2010-09-11T18:18:00.000-07:00

Surrounded by the Harvest

In between choosing the words to weave this article together I glance up and look out my sunroom window. There I spy three goldfinches extracting seeds from the sunflowers and a hummingbird and swallowtail butterfly drinking nectar from the scotch thistle blossoms.

As I merge with the energies of this season I feel its fruitfulness and its growing peace. The bursting new energies of spring have passed. The frenetic and powerfully creative energies that the heat of summer brings on are waning and a calmness is growing. It is a sensation much like the feeling of satisfaction that I experience when I have finished a challenging project. From the perceived deadness of winter the creative forces of nature have once again seemingly burst forth from nothing to supply us with a bounty of provisions that feed our bodies, minds and spirits.

I have experienced good healing by continuing to develop my acceptance of and gratitude for all that is, and this time of year it is quite easy to deepen and strengthen my attitude of gratitude. Convincing my ego that everything is perfect as it is, is so much easier when my garden is teeming with life and food yet to be consumed. Tomatoes are expanding and blushing. Butternut and acorn squash patiently wait for the cool air to harden their skins. Beets continue to offer their roots and leaves for rich coloured nourishment. A few berries remain among the remnants of pea vines, which provided a sweet crop in early summer. The leeks offer their rich green straight stems to contrast the chaos of the swirling vines, stems, and leaves that are all amass in the late summer garden. And all of the efforts to organize, prepare the soil, plant, water and weed the garden have paid off.

The creatures that visit our yard and garden provide me with visual entertainment and soundscapes. Knowing that they feel safe to spend time in our midst provides me with pleasure. My spirit is buoyed by this and my mind is treated to the study of their ways when I am able to observe them up close for more than a fleeting moment.

I know that everyone does not take the opportunity to enjoy this season in this way. Many are hurriedly gathering back to school supplies, organizing new schedules and even beginning to fret about the upcoming over-merchandised Christmas season. This time of year I really do feel blessed that I have sought out wise teachers and Elders to show me ways toward harmonious and sane living. I am grateful that I am able to slow down and ground myself in the moment I am in to connect with the bounty around me. Life is good.

Changing Your Way

2010-08-19T10:03:00.000-07:00

So, you have slowed down a little. You had a look around and spent some time looking in the mirror. You are ready to make some changes. You are feeling overwhelmed and doubtful that you can succeed but you have come to a point where there really is no choice but to make some changes – there is no going back. This will take a lot of time and energy so lets look at some ways to make sure that none of it is wasted.
How do you get started? Do your research. Find people who have successfully made the kind of changes that you are considering and read their stories and consider their advice. Look at several different approaches to your challenge, gather the core similarities, and use your head and heart to determine which ones fit you and who you are, and who you are becoming. Be willing to open your mind to new perspectives – the old ones have kept you in the life that no longer fits. Be careful at this point; don’t let the research become your life. Some people become lifetime change shoppers, continuing to look around and never end up taking the plunge into life. One morning just get started and your road will rise up to meet you.
Relax, take a deep breath and take heart that you do not have to make this shift in one big leap. Break it down into manageable, sane steps. Remember that any journey of a thousand miles does indeed begin with one step, and that is really all that you have to do. Wiggle those toes and slide that foot forward and it will carry you right into the next step. It is overwhelming when you try to
swing the pendulum from one side all the way to the other in one big motion. This kind of move can be very scary and it does serve to feed adrenaline junkies, change addicts, and distraction masters with a fix of good vibes. Unfortunately the honeymoon with the new lifestyle is soon over, the rush is gone, and the day-to-day reality challenges come back into focus and quitting the new ways becomes an attractive option. People think to themselves “I have made all of these changes and here I am, still sitting with myself and my issues, nothing has changed, these new ways don’t work for me, it’s all a scam, I give up”. Next they revert to their old ways but now have excuses of experiences of ineffective ways to comfort them back in their old lifestyle. So don’t make your lifestyle change project a big leap, break it down into small, manageable, not too exciting, practical steps to help ease your body, mind and spirit into a new way.
As you embark on your journey of change and healing find a pace that works for you and don’t compare yourself to anyone else. Some people are tortoises and others are hares. If you go about things in a way that is too fast or too slow for you it can feel like swimming upstream. If you don’t have much awareness of your personal pace ask those close you what they think, they have been observing you for a while now.
Don’t forget to gather a personal support team around you as you head off down your new path. Find true friends and others who have successfully made similar changes and can cheer for you when the going gets tough. Acknowledge that it will get tough and that is why you have waited this long to do this. Distance yourself from negative naggers and unsupportive people. Unfortunately you will soon discover that some family, friends, and others in your midst would rather that you remain a cohort in support of the old “not working anymore” lifestyle. They may want to hold you back, see you fail or may even be jealous that you have the courage to make a change. More often than not this hurdle is a big one for many and they choose to give their power away to those who fear the change and drop their change plans to maintain the peace and status quo. Maintaining relationships with holdbackers can become additional excuses for not moving forward.
If you have read this far by now you may be thinking “Is change really worth it?” My simple answer, with no need for explanation is YES!
A good dose of remembering that you are human – imperfect and capable of making mistakes, goes a long way to forgiving yourself when you fall off of your change wagon. Within every fall is a valuable lesson if you choose to learn it. So get up and get going again.
You know the funny thing is that the life that we aspire to (aspire = allowing spirit) is waiting for us. We were born for it and that is why we have a desire for it. It is everywhere waiting for us. We simply can’t see it, believe that it is possible or even imagine it because we have been trained and educated away from that possibility. You probably won’t experience instant success when you embark on your journey to find that life and undoubtedly you will fall flat on your face more than a few times. But if you give yourself a chance to meet and live that life you may have an interesting ride along the way.

Finding Your Way

2010-08-16T08:36:00.000-07:00

This column was already forming in me when someone close to me asked me how they could help someone close to them feel better about themselves. A loaded question indeed, and where to begin?

After a few deep breaths for inspiration and connecting with many of the resources that are available to me, I responded with something like “The core purpose of life is healing, growing and remembering who we are. And when we embark on a path of healing we will eventually understand precisely why we have been created exactly the way that we are and develop more love, patience and acceptance for ourselves.”

I do believe that we are experiencing this human life to learn a lot about what it is to be human, accept that we are fallible and have weaknesses, and discover our divine gifts and muster the courage to share them with others to help the grand plan unfold. For some this is a lot to swallow and they prefer to believe that we are here, just along for the ride and that there is not grand scheme of things, just random experiences that have not connection to one another. And I am grateful that we do have free will to believe what we choose, because it is that same freedom that allows us to experience and explore beyond our perceived or learned limits.

So what is this grand plan that is unfolding? Right now it is a plan of remembering, and the energies are intensely focused to push us into situations that will help us to crack open our walls of forgetting what it is like to live interconnected with and respectful of every living thing. In Tom Cowan’s book “Yearning for the Wind”, Sandra Ingerman writes in the foreword “ Once upon a time a spell was cast upon people across the land. The spell made people believe we are all separate beings with no connection to each other and no connection with nature or the rest of life.

The spell continued with the belief that anything that we could not see, hear, feel, smell, or taste with our ordinary senses did not exist. And the spell caused people to believe that only humans had a soul which a punishing God judged the nature of. Happiness only came from financial gain, collecting material objects, and having power over people, the animal world, and all of nature. The spell also set the belief that individuals were not creative and their role was to behave and conform to society. The effect of this spell put people to sleep. They forgot about the beauty of life and their own soul’s purpose. The light went out of people’s eyes as the old knowledge of how to talk to nature was forgotten. Empty gazes and looks of fear and desperation replaced the light. The veils between the worlds closed down. Magical thinking was replaced by reductionist thinking. The magic was gone along with people’s souls. These were dark times indeed”.

Yes indeed I believe that we are still living in the dark ages, but the good news is that the darkness is being replaced by dawning light. We are awakening to remember how we were created to live in a fully alive world, cooperating with one another and other living things and systems. These times have been predicted by many cultures who have ancient roots and stories to share. For some who are beginning to remember, this is a huge step and the non-ordinary happenings that they are experiencing may scare them and make them question their mental health.

They may begin to hear things they have never heard before – whispers from other dimensions and beings. They may be having strange physical sensations as their nervous system awakens from this deep, generations long, sleep. They may also feel some of the life force of non-ordinary beings when they are nearby. People are seeing things that are not there, at least in this dimension, and chalk it up to stress and not enough sleep. Interesting odours may waft through the room from unapparent sources, and people’s on alert systems may kick in when no obvious cause is seen.

If any of this sounds familiar I want to reassure you that you are okay, don’t be ashamed and afraid, celebrate and prepare for more. Share your experiences with other trusted friends and ask them if they have similar stories to share. Learn together, grow together and let go of your fear together. If you do not have any open minded people in your midst, seek them out. Join a meditation group, a yoga class or find an intuitive who can assist you. If there are few resources locally go online and read a variety of articles on the subject and filter out what does not fit for you and work with the guidance that seems to resonate with who you are.

Why are we so afraid when things that are out of the ordinary occur? It is a natural reaction to fear anything that we do not understand. Our multimedia world that we live in with vivid horror films, alien invasion films and other sorts of adrenaline producing entertainment have also programmed us further to fear what we do not understand. Kudos to those filmmakers who have had the courage to present more enlightened and aware approaches to us in recent years. Fortunately we do have the ability to override the fear and ask to explore and understand what we are experiencing. This takes energy, courage and patience.

Many children in our young North American culture will report nightmares of great ferocious creatures chasing and trying to eat them in their dreams. I simply suggest to them that the next time they have such a dream they can stop running, turn around and ask this creature what it wants. In many incidences these dreams are actually guardian spirits trying to bring healing, encouragement, and energy to the child, and if the child can shift their focus from fear to acceptance there are many gifts to receive. I have many stories to share from my own life that offer these kinds of teachings.

So if you did take the time to read right to the end of this column you may have a few new cracks forming in your forgettings. Bless the cracks, be gentle with yourself, welcome your fear and be willing to move beyond it, stay open to teachings and understandings and they will find their way to you. Spend as much time in nature as you can. Sit or lie on the earth and let the grounding energy help you to let go of old ways and let new ones emerge. Slow everything down whenever you can. Take time to just sit and be and you might start to really hear what the whisperings are telling you, you might see some of the living beings that are resting right next to you and you will undoubtedly find the simple joy and beauty that is you and that you are a part of.

Shamanism 101

2010-07-16T18:20:00.000-07:00

I have been listening to hear what my next column‘s content was supposed to cover and I have heard a few whispers about heat islands and tree cover and corporations morphing into co operations and then one of my American Shamanic colleagues sent me something that he wrote recently and it jumped in front of the other topics. So I asked my colleague if he was interested in becoming a guest columnist for the week, his answer was yes, and here is his debut:

Shamanism 101 by “a little hollow bone”

Recently a friend posted a funny article about marijuana use that equated it to shamanism. Coincidentally I have talked to two people recently who were given spiritual guides shamanically, but absolutely no guidance on how to work with their Gifts, or cope with AND USE their awakened spiritual state. To help those people and others — let’s cover a brief introduction to shamanism.

1. Mircea Eliade was one of the first to describe the shamanic trance as a form of ecstasy. Michael Harner popularized it years later. As in all generalizations, both men were wrong, but still helpful. However, the shamanic trance varies from the briefest insight to as much as, in my personal experience, 14 hours walking in two worlds—literally!—under the guidance of a plant spirit (it had been murdered, and so chose not to “waste” its non-corporeal form).

2. The shamanic trance may be induced mechanically or chemically, but one of the safest ways to create the shamanic state of mind for healing purposes is prayer, drumming (about 220 beats per minute) and strong intention to help another person.

3. A shamanic trance may be induced by a spiritual entity that has “adopted” you, and is a powerful experience. The shaman walks in two worlds. Doing so in Manhattan (my experience) was flat out amazing. The thing that was most incredible is that this experience seemed to enclose me in a “bubble” of mixed realities—and also enclosed those who came within its influence. THEY SAW THE OTHER MANHATTAN. Such an experience is not to be treated casually, will only appear after years of work, and is not the goal of this practice. It is an unexpected Gift.

4. The shaman may use a divination method to aid in healings, which could be a rock, a leaf, clouds, runes, or Tarot cards. Since a shaman is a story-teller, the divination tells an empowering and healing story for the person who asked for the healing. It takes about 24-48 hours for the story heard or seen in the shamanic state of mind to percolate into the head from the heart, and can then be told.

5. No—absolutely NO—healing or work in alternative reality can be undertaken without permission. Anyone doing so will find their efforts nullified, or, if intended to cause harm, reflected back to them. The results intended by this kind of work are not permitted.

6. Everyone who reaches adulthood has done so with the support of spiritual essences, entities if you will, that may present themselves as Power Animals (Hawk, Wolf, Bear, Eagle or even Mouse), or Angels (Michael, Gabriel) or Teachers and Guides (Gandhi, Buddha, Mother Mary). Your Faith Tradition will clothe your spiritual guardians in such a way that they are acceptable to you.

7. In non-ordinary reality (abbreviated as NOR) as opposed to ordinary reality (OR) you are in a dream-like world where you can meet AND TALK TO your spiritual helpers. Ask them questions, listen to their answers, and CHECK THEM with a trusted friend, pastor, rabbi or advisor before acting on them.

8. Look into the eyes of any spiritual entity before accepting its friendship. Human or human-like entities will have blue or brown eyes. Power animals will have yellow, orange or red eyes. Yellow is friendly to you. Orange is considering it, but red is not friendly to you. Leave red-eyed entities alone. Green eyes are plant spirits, and can be very powerful and helpful, but demand a commitment of care and nurturing. If you do not wish to become a friend in this world to such a plant entity, do NOT become involved.

9. Shamanic experience urges you to avoid black insects, spiders or fish with big jaws and fangs. Yet even this generalization is wrong. For example, in a healing journey for a cancer survivor a trail of big black ants was how their disease presented itself. When the ants were led away from them in OR, the black “cancer ants” disappeared—and so did the disease.

10. The shamanic healing journey is miraculous, and a Gift from the universe to us. Chief Frank Fools Crow, in Thomas Mails book “Fools Crow: Wisdom and Power,” spoke of it this way:

“No matter how flawed and imperfect we are, it is a gift of Wakan-Tanka (Great Spirit) that He uses us as He finds us. There is no greater gift than this.”

So, this is the essential Shamanism 101. It contains the foundation of every Faith Tradition in the world. First of all, do no harm. Love your neighbor as yourself. Work for others only with permission.

Many blessings.

Mitakuye Oyasin.
Pilamaya Aloh.

“a little hollow bone”

I AM AS MAGICAL AS THE TREES AND STARS

2010-06-21T13:05:00.000-07:00

I have finally chosen the time to post my first book online so that it is available for others to enjoy. I have started working on my next one already! Psssssst - it is about trees too!

Clothes Line Therapy

2010-06-21T13:03:00.000-07:00

Since the oil rig fire and ensuing oil spill I am continuing to reduce my dependence on oil and it’s related forms.

I have chosen to transform my anger into energy for positive change in my lifestyle. Most of my regular readers already know that my favoured form of transportation is two feet or two wheels of the bicycle kind, so I am good to go there. I have however stepped up my consciousness around my use of plastic – I now wipe off plastic wrap (which we use quite sparingly in our house to begin with) and drape it over something in my kitchen to let it dry and use it again and again until it is no longer usable. Sometimes my kitchen looks like a HAZMAT zone strewn with drying plastic bags and things, but I am feeling better. House beautiful hasn’t been knocking at my door lately anyway – time for an Eco House Beautiful version in my opinion, one that showcases eco homes in daily use, not glitzy over cleaned, overstated & prepped spaces. I have also been avoiding my clothes dryer big time.

Sorry dryer, I know you are lonely but you will probably have company on the next rainy laundry day or when I am not enjoying hanging clothes outside to dry because of the icicles hanging from my nose. Sunshine and breezes are free sources of clothes drying energy and I am choosing to make as much use of them as I can these days.

I am excited to report that I have found some happy time out by the clothesline. I usually put a load of laundry in to wash after 10 p.m. (less expensive smart meter time!) and let it stay in the washer overnight and then first thing next morning I gather it up and head outside for my latest form of therapy. What is not to like about early morning this time of year? Singing birds, fresh air, golden tinted views as the sun rises higher in the sky…ahhhhh. I know, I know, hanging laundry on the line is not for everyone, but think of this… What if you combine stretching, deep breathing, meditation, settling into the day and laundry sorting all into one space in time. It can be quite efficient, healing and satisfying.

The last few times doing laundry I have been timing myself and have discovered that if I sort the laundry into each family member’s section on the line as I hang things, and then fold and keep the sorting organized as I remove the dry clothing later, I seem to be spending almost the same amount of time doing laundry overall compared to using a dryer. I have added the deep breathing because the morning air, at least where I live in my well treed neighbourhood, is sweet and invigorating. The stretching is built in as I move up and down and along the clothesline getting things done, not to mention the calories burned doing this and carting the laundry outside and in. Meditation and creative thinking just seep into the activity as the warmth of the sun, the sound of the birds, and the gentle morning breezes work their magic on me. I find this all to be quite the antidote to some of the stresses of modern living. And of course there is the smell of the freshly laundered and sun dried sheets and clothing that surrounds me as I flow through my days and nights – priceless.

I have included a few links that include energy calculators and other interesting features to help persuade you to consider clothesline therapy too. Enjoy!

http://www.laundrylist.org/en/why
http://ryanishungry.com/2007/10/25/bringing-back-the-clothes-line-no-dryer-needed/
http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/dryers.html
http://www.dld123.com/q&a/index.php?cid=344

The Healing Power of Nature

2010-06-15T16:30:00.000-07:00

Some of nature’s healing is obvious. Grabbing some rays on a sunny day quickly increases our blood levels of Vitamin D which in turn helps us to absorb and assimilate our mind and muscle relaxing minerals. This in turn often leads to a good nourishing night of sleep which further boosts our immune system.

Lately in our community many have been thinking of the trees and the way that they can clean our air and provide oxygen and how a walk in the woods can erase pent up stress and tension. So for many of us it is pretty obvious how helpful nature can be.

Last week as the weather continued through another grey, wet and tiring pattern I decided that enough was enough and I donned my foul weather gear and went out for a walk. A few seconds after I had merged into the weather a crack of lightning and thunder greeted me as if to say “Hello, what took you so long?” and I smiled inside and out. I had forgotten how long it had been since I had given myself permission to play in the rain.

It is so easy to get into the pattern of longing for the good weather, pouting and shouting when we do not have it, and hurrying ourselves inside away from anything we deem inclement. As I walked in the rain I rediscovered that wild and free part of myself that had been stuffed into the corner for many months while meeting the demands of life. Ahhh I could breathe again and just be me.

The sound of the rain hitting my hood, the feel of the drops on my face, the sensation of the water swirling about my boots as I sloshed through a puddle or two all reconnected me with the my childlike wonder and the element water. Thank you water for all that you have done, all that you do, and all that you shall do.

There is a song that we use in Shamanic ceremony to bring up our power in preparation for daily life and to remind ourselves of all that we are a part of. I don’t know it’s original source – it was taught to me the old way – it was handed down through singing, but I share it with you today to let you make it a part of your life if you choose to…

“May we walk in beauty each and every day,

May we walk in beauty in a sacred way,

May we walk in beauty each and every day

May we walk in beauty in a sacred way.

May the beauty of the fire lift our spirits higher.

May the beauty of the earth fill our hearts with mirth.

May the beauty of the rain wash away our pain.

May the beauty of the sky teach us how to fly.

May we walk in beauty each and every day,

May we walk in beauty in a sacred way,

May we walk in beauty each and every day

May we walk in beauty in a sacred way.”

As I walked in the rain that day I did offer to the rain the pain that I was feeling for the way that we humans treat the earth. The recent oil disaster and the cutting of even more trees in Chatham-Kent has fueled a primal fire in me. I let some of my anger, rage and deep grief flow away with the rain that day.

I am choosing to channel the rest of that energy into understanding how I can bring some balance to this situation, and I am receiving my guidance bit by bit as to how to proceed. If you too are disturbed more than you want to be by recent happenings perhaps it is time to listen to your feelings and ask what your personal part in all of this is and how you can begin to make a positive difference.

Often I think that I am the only one who is feeling this kind of response to events, but in the days since oil has spilled and trees have fallen I have spoken to many people who are feeling angry, out of sorts, tearful and just lost for no obvious apparent reason.

Shamanic colleagues have reported the need to take a hiatus from work to find balance again in the arms of nature. Other professional colleagues have been sharing their anger and frustration over the news that continues to upgrade the scale of the oil disaster. It seems that I am not the only one feeling this way lately. And when it gets all too much to bear I take myself out into nature and shift my focus to what is well, healthy and beautiful and let that strengthen and nourish me.

Just DO the Right Thing!

2010-06-15T16:22:00.000-07:00

Illusions are everywhere.

Sometimes we pay for these illusions to entertain us and distract us from the challenges of life, other times they intrude into the fabric of our daily lives without asking our permission, and other times we remain in denial to the truth because it is too scary. The field of marketing and advertisement is illusioneering at its finest. It is quite difficult to avoid some kind of spin on a daily basis unless you completely unplug yourself and enjoy your own company.

We have become wired to crave hyper stimulation and profiteering sellers are more than happy to satisfy our cravings with bigger, better, faster, and bolder stimulation urging us to expend our life energy to get, get, get, buy, buy, buy, become, become, become, change, change, change… Somewhere in this mix the truth gets morphed and stretched and before we know it we agree that we have a need that was not there before we were advertised to.

Sigh…what is real in all this? How do we find our way through this maze of spells and persuasions? What is really needed and what is extra fluff? As I have advised before, return to the breath. Try to separate yourself from all of the noise and neurostimulation for a few moments several times throughout the day and breathe deeply and let yourself and your focus come back to yourself. Remember who you are, what your likes and dislikes are and what you really need. The basics of life generally include food, clothing, shelter and positive interaction with other human beings. They are few and simple, not always easy to provide for yourself and others, but they are called basics because they are the foundations and roots of our life. Anything more is extra and it will add complexity to your life that requires some of your life energy to deal with.

If you have been feeling like you are wrapped up in a web of confusion and cloudiness it is probably because you are. In this information age very few human made organizations have a sole purpose of helping you to live a good, simple & clear life. To get to that place you need to learn how to cut through the crap and determine what is real for you. A powerful part of this healing journey is also taking a good hard look at what kind of illusions you carry about yourself or spread out into the world. Are you a person who tells it just like it is, or do you have to add some sugar coating or hyperbole to the information that you share to make it meet the standards that you think the world needs? Remember the reciprocity that I have written about before – what you put out into the world is what comes back to you.

If you are operating as a spin doctor in your community maybe you need to decide if you believe in what you are doing, or if you are hyping it up to make it look better than it actually is. If this is the case I think that a reevaluation of your work in the world is in order. Yikes!!! This is a scary thought for many to gaze into a mirror and truly look at what they see and know. Getting back on track can be a very challenging task, but when you allow yourself to really connect with the original intention for your life this time around, you can reprioritize and set yourself back on track to fulfilling your destiny.

Living in a way aligned with your destiny brings you back into alignment with the big picture and reconnects you with all that is – it is like plugging back in to real life.

I know for many of you this sounds like mumbo jumbo, and the thought of self assessment brings sweat to your brow and jello to your knees, but I am hoping that you have had at least a few moments of connected alignment in your life to remind you of the power and clarity that living in your right way can bring to your life. Take a moment to breathe deeply again and imagine what living a life filled with that power and clarity can be like – freeing, healing, reenergizing…_________________add your descriptors here.

So if everyone started cutting through and confiscating many of the illusions in and around their lives, collective clarity would begin to grow. Ladies, come on now – do you really believe that the expensive antiwrinkle cream is a necessity? The surface of your skin is dead, dead, dead. The next time you see, read or hear an ad for beauty enhancing products get out your hyper observing skills and really listen to what they are trying to sell you – an illusion in a jar. Men, will drinking that particular brand of beer really bring you the lifestyle that is being acted out in front of you on the screen (yes they are actors!). Shake it off everyone and wake up. Are you living a life like a rat on the wheel to keep the illusions alive? If we work together and demand truth in advertising and call companies on their “limited lifetime warranties” (by the way isn’t that an oxymoron?) and outrageous claims we might be able to begin seeing clearly and doing the right thing.

The Good and the Bad News

2010-05-14T18:42:00.000-07:00

Balance is all about polarities. Hot with cold, light with dark, good with bad. The yin yang mandala is the simplest yet most powerful visual representation of this balance. The outer circle represents the totality of everything. The dark and light spaces within the circle represent the two opposite energies that are constantly interacting and creating life. The bit of light in the dark and dark in the light demonstrate how there is always a little bit of the opposite energy in everything and that everything is not always just black or white but that there are grey areas in between. Everything isn’t always crystal clear and uncertainty can be a part of the journey.

Recently I read a passage from “The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine” about yin and yang energies. I loved how simply and beautifully these energies were described. Yin is described as “the shady side of a hill” and Yang as “the sunny side of a hill”. In this ancient book of knowledge, which was first translated into English in 1949, this polarity of energies, or duality, is accredited as the “instigator of all change”.

I remember being an elementary student in the 70’s learning about an “oil crisis”. I really didn’t understand what the fuss was all about until I took the courage to raise my hand and ask the teacher why oil was so important. This kind and patient teacher took a breath and took the time to explain to my classmates and I that our world, at the time, basically ran on, and was made of, oil. Previously to that explanation I had not made the connection to where any of the stuff around me came from. As our lessons continued I became excited to hear about alternative energy from the sun and how the world that we will live in as adults will be healthier, more environmentally friendly and basically better. Things have taken a little longer than I had expected, something to do with oil company interests, automakers, and energy company interests that I won’t go into here – I will try to find a better informed writer to step in for me on that topic soon. (for good news on this subject check out what Germany is up to and how one Canadian company is making solar energy collectors http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/2008-2009/the_gospel_of_green/ )

Times are changing and the yin and yang are interacting constantly and more actively today to bring that change. The last two weeks have been crammed with news of oil well disaster, woodlot cutting, and stock market glitches among other things. The other side of this news is that even more people are aware of the costs of using oil to drive, make plastics, heat our homes etc. Some others have been thinking a little more about our man made economic system, how much they depend on it, and that it is fallible. And in our community many good people are coming together to stand up for their standing sisters and brothers, the trees.

If you want to join the tree preserving efforts come to next week’s council meeting: Council of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent will hold a public meeting on MAY 17, 2010, at 6:00 p.m., local time, in the Council Chamber of the Civic Centre (2nd Floor), 315 King Street West, Chatham.

So you see, within every event there is the seed of another kind of happening if you choose to find it.

Trees and Lungs

2010-05-11T06:51:00.000-07:00

Lots of things are coming to my attention these days that make me want to scream. You may have heard me already in your dreams or those quiet spaces between your heartbeats. Many people that I have talked to recently tell me that they have been feeling angry and shocked and don’t really know why. I have a few ideas – you can read them and think about them and hopefully they will speak to you in a healing way.

If you go to any online bookseller and search the term “nature spirits” you will find that there are many authors who write about this esoteric and invisible subject. Like many things if we can’t see them we have a hard time believing they are real. Funny how people don’t question that electricity, radio waves, and cell signals are real. I guess it is because the outcome of those energies is a practical everyday tool. We tend to take the end result of the nature spirits’ existence, our natural environment, for granted, until things start to get way out of whack, such as back to back earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, spilling oil wells…

In our community woodlots are being cut down or threatened, and some of us might be feeling the agony of the destruction in our physical and emotional bodies. Have any of you had trouble sleeping lately, or feel frustrated and angry, or deep grief for no apparent reason? It might be that you are empathizing with the experiences of the plant life and the creatures who are losing their homes. For many of you I know that this sounds crazy, but for others this is a basic understanding. This country’s aboriginal cultures survived and thrived before we European types showed up and changed the way of things. Indigenous people are trained by parents and elders how to maintain intimate relationships with the natural world in which they live and they understand that their lives depend on this world.

Our disconnection from nature has helped us to forget a lot of things. Have you ever noticed that the shape of a tree is very similar to the shape of our lungs? They both follow dendritic patterns that efficiently cover surface area. Drainage patterns of our body also match drainage patterns of the planet. This is a visual representation of the concept that we are interconnected. Trees provide shade, oxygen, soil stabilization, food, water purification, habitat, protection from the wind, limbs to climb, healing energy…How do you feel when you spend time in a tree barren area? How do you feel when you have spent time in or near trees?

Recent events have reminded me that we do not have tree or woodlot protection bylaws in our municipality or the neighbouring municipality of Essex. http://ontariowoodlot.com/photos_2007/bylaw_photos/Bylawmap_6-09_hires.pdf

About 12 years ago I became aware of this but remained passive about the information as I was leaving the area and saving my energy for my new community. Well I am back and it is time to update our ways, especially since our strategic plan identifies us as a green community http://www.chatham-kent.ca/NR/rdonlyres/B385214C-A644-404E-A522-9FAD48714D03/5896/CSPMasterrevisedJAN08.pdf see page 16.

If you want to join our efforts to establish these bylaws here please get in touch and help us out.

In the meantime if you want to be a part of the solution focus on the healthy natural resources that we do have here in Chatham-Kent, and express your gratitude for them. Maybe you can plant a tree or two if you have the resources to do it. Make the small changes that you can to protect the environment. Every little bit does help. A drop in the pond eventually reaches the shores of that pond. You are significant and your actions are significant.

Additional Information

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Forests/2ColumnSubPage/STEL02_166334.html

http://www.treecanada.ca/programs/urbanforestry/cufn/Resources_Canadian/Tree%20Conservation%20By-Laws%20in%20Southern%20Ontario.pdf

http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Life-Plants-Peter-Tompkins/dp/0060915870

Earth Day Despacho

2010-04-20T06:07:00.000-07:00

Earth Week is well under way. I was privileged to start the week with a despacho ceremony on Friday night at Creative Eye on James Street in Wallaceburg. I wanted to get things going with a dose of good energy. It has been a few years since I have set the time aside to perform such a ceremony and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to do this again.

The creation of despacho or gifts to express gratitude is an ancient Andean tradition. If you have been following my column and blog you will have read about my belief and understanding of reciprocity. The creation of a despacho is the golden rule at work. It is an act of gratitude, of treating the earth and its resources the way that, hopefully, you would want to be treated, with respect.

In Andean traditions Mother Earth is fondly called Pachamama and she is regularly honoured along with the mountain spirits, Apus. For our ceremony from Wallaceburg we expressed our thanks for the Earth and her resources and added a “Hello” to the Apus even though they are many Canadian miles away. From the cozy confines of the Creative Eye art studio in the downtown core on James Street in Wallaceburg we gathered and made beautiful packages filled with natural items such as seeds, spices, flowers, feathers and some other objects such as beads.

Each item was placed with the intent of offering gratitude upon a piece of white paper and arranged in a beautiful way. When the arrangements were complete we offered our thoughts of gratitude and imbued them with prayers. With great care, the paper was then folded upon itself and wrapped with colourful thread, each movement undertaken with care and positive intentions.

In many despacho ceremonies the gifts are burned over a sacred fire allowing the flames to quickly transform the offerings into energies that are carried by the smoke to Pachamama and the Apus. Wallaceburg is a land among waters so on Friday evening, instead of burning the offerings, we released them into the river behind the studio. The waters of the Sydenham will carry the packets of gratitude through the community allowing the energy to disperse slowly along the way.

There are many ways to celebrate Earth Day this week and I hope that you participate in some that are meaningful to you. If you would like to perform your own despacho ceremony remember to hold respectful intent throughout – this is the key.

Check out these links for more information:

http://dreamantilles.blogspot.com/2009/05/extremely-beautiful-despacho.html
http://www.labyrinthina.com/show.htm
http://www.shamanportal.org/article_details.php?id=160

I have worked with the power of despacho ceremonies and I can report that positive changes did indeed manifest in my life and in the community because of this work. As I drove home last Friday night, I thought I was alone in the car driving down the darkened Hwy. 40, but just when I arrived in the rural open section of the road I began to feel fingers of energy blessing and balancing me. When I realized what was happening, and queried it internally, I received a more forceful, yet still gentle tapping on my head, to affirm that indeed I was receiving energetic gifts in return for my despacho offering. So call me Shirley MacLaine – I would be honoured!

The Art of Letting Go

2010-04-06T19:13:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had one of those days, weeks, months or years when
all of your efforts seem to get their wings clipped and become grounded?
After stalling in the birth canal and trying to change the direction of movement of things, I was finally born on a hot summer day. I came in with the idea that I could push a river and make things happen faster than their natural rhythm. Sounds God-like to me! A lot of my growing up, that I am still in the process of doing (I’ll let you know when I get there!) has to do with learning to be patient, letting things unfold on their own time and accepting that I am not really in control (apologies to my lovely Leo ego).
Learning to step back, take a breath or two and let things happen is difficult to do when you are a natural born fixer. Many of us healer types have radar for things that are out of balance and in need of adjustment and we just can’t wait to get in there and do something about it. But sometimes we just have to wait and be okay with waiting. So I breathe deeply, ground myself in the present moment and focus on the perfection of things as they are. When I am always scoping around for things in need of fixing my view gets narrow and I can’t see the bigger picture. I miss the beauty that is surrounding me, the joy of the journey and the awe of being alive.
Fortunately my Jin Shin Jyutsu® self care routine and my daily meditation practice usually help me to realize when I am spinning into fix it mode and awaken me to the fact that there is something in me that needs attention and healing. I also start to get the point when accomplishing my daily tasks becomes elusive. Phone connections are not made and telephone tag continues, appointments are forgotten or rescheduled, information gathering is unsuccessful – seemingly nothing is happening and I start to feel like an airplane circling the airport in a holding pattern. Eventually the aha moment comes and I realize that it is time to stop trying and let things come in their own time and on their own terms.
Just because I realize that it is letting go time doesn’t mean that it comes easily. Sometimes my body or mind will remain in the doing pattern and a conflict between my accepting spirit and my fixing mind and body will develop.
So I breathe some more and begin holding my Safety Energy Lock 12’s on the sides of my neck half way between my skull and my shoulders. They assist me to reconnect with Universal Will, aka the big picture, and l feel my shoulders drop and my body and mind take their foot off of the gas pedal and let things coast. It is challenging times like these that make me very grateful for my Jin Shin Jyutsu® toolbox.
To let go of writing this piece and bring it to a close I offer Lao Tzu’s words “By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try. The world is beyond the winning.”

Powerless to Powerful

2010-03-29T18:23:00.000-07:00

Shamanism is the oldest spiritual practice known to humankind. We know from archaeological evidence that shamanism was practiced all over the world for at least 40,000 years. However many anthropologists believe that the practice dates back over 100,000 years. Today Shamanism is alive and undergoing a rebirth as many seek out its healing effects to cope with the complexity and intensity of modern day living.

The Concept of Power/Energy from a Shamanic Perspective
When a person is well and whole we consider that they have most of their power and are able to access it readily. They are not missing significant parts of themselves or their vital energy. These people make choices for themselves, are independent thinkers, and are not readily influenced by peer pressure. Physically they may have some ailments, but they have or are developing lifestyle management strategies to maintain a good quality of life. Emotionally they are grounded, they can choose how they want to express their emotions, and they are willing to work with their emotions, as they understand that they are a guide to growth and wholeness. Spiritually they feel purposeful and understand that they are a part of a larger whole.
When an individual is experiencing soul or power loss they are like a battery that is losing its charge. They have a hard time making good decisions, are easily swayed by the culture at large, bounce around through life from one mishap to another, and have a difficult time manifesting a nurturing life.
Physically and emotionally they can be experiencing:
· disease
· chronic conditions that won't heal
· low energy
· depression
· anxiety
· panic attacks
· ungrounded fears
· hopelessness and despair
Spiritually they often are not aware of divine and earthly support that is available to them, they have difficulty connecting with a direction in life, and they may not have grown as a person for many years.
How Does Power/Energy/Soul Loss Occur?
Soul loss can occur instantaneously when an individual suffers a sudden trauma such as an accident. At the moment of the unexpected harmful or frightening event, a part of the soul may leave the body to assist the psyche to remain somewhat intact to survive the incident. If the incident is severe enough the departed soul piece may relocate itself somewhere that it deems safe, and it may be separated from the remainder of the body & soul until the awareness of its loss is achieved and reclaimed with the assistance of a shamanic practitioner. Difficult birth experiences can cause soul loss. Other experiences such as physical, sexual or emotional abuse can cause soul loss over a period of time. Living a lifestyle far removed from one’s true purpose can cause soul loss. Self-destructive behaviour is often the result of soul loss and it can contribute to further loss.

How is Power/Energy/Soul Loss Healed?

Some soul pieces will return to an individual spontaneously as that person develops a lifestyle that is healing and nurturing. When an individual realizes that healing is needed and is willing to experience their woundedness and vulnerability this sometimes puts out a signal to call missing pieces home.
Other times the soul loss is so deep and profound and the separation from the
body/mind is vast and perhaps longstanding so the missing soul pieces will not return on their own. It is situations like these that require individuals to reach out and seek assistance from others who have been trained to do this work.
Soul retrieval is an ancient and still powerful healing method that assists one to reclaim their lost power and become whole.

A practitioner who undertakes soul retrieval work usually enters a trance or shamanic journey state to allow a part of their consciousness to leave their body and travel into dimensions where lost soul pieces reside. Assistance from power animals and benevolent spirits is often called upon for this work. Vast territories of otherworlds, known as non-ordinary reality in shamanic terms, must be explored to find the missing pieces and this assistance greatly increases the efficiency and outcome of the search. The practitioner becomes the seeker, retriever and messenger of the lost soul pieces. Sometimes the practitioner and their spirit allies must negotiate with and convince the departed soul pieces to return to their human home as they are not always eager to do so as they do not realize that time has passed since the traumatic incident or they are not happy with the client’s chosen lifestyle. Information is shared back and forth between practitioner and soul pieces until all are satisfied that reunion with the human client is timely and benevolent. The practitioner will then prepare them self to temporarily receive the energy of the departed soul pieces into their own being so that it may be transmitted to the client. Once the soul energy is received, the practitioner will transition from non-ordinary reality to ordinary reality to deliver the soul energy to the client in the ways that have been specified by the energy itself. Along with the transmission there are usually requests and guidelines from the soul energy about its care and maintenance as it reintegrates with the client and brings healing transformation with it.

Soul retrieval is not a quick fix but it does have the power to initiate healing processes for the body, mind and spirit.

Additional Information About Soul Retrieval
http://www.bpewellnesschatham.com/services/shamanic-techniques/
http://www.sandraingerman.com/soulretrieval.html
http://www.consciousmedianetwork.com/members/jkuykendall.htm
http://www.shamanportal.org/article_details.php?id=277

E Free and Loving It!

2010-03-22T20:12:00.000-07:00

Today I am grieving many things. A good woman has died, a familiar northern community is being seriously threatened by fire, another good woman is losing her job, and my 10-day e free break has ended. I feel the lump in my throat, the heaviness in my chest and the tears trying to escape from my eyes. I take another deep breath and feel it all and let it express itself through me. I am grateful for the ability to feel and breathe and feel more. Even though I am feeling sad life is good. I have had times in my life when I could not feel anything but numbness. I am grateful for the healing that I have experienced to help me move through the trauma and terror that held my joy and sorrow and the spectrum of feelings in between as prisoners. Feeling is good. Being fully awake and alive is good.
For the last ten days I have refrained from viewing any e material on any type of e screen and I must say that it was glorious. I felt myself coming back to myself. I felt my mind slowing and becoming much more present. I noticed that I was a better listener and observer and that I was fully present for most of my interactions with other human beings. Another kind of numbness was lifting from me. So as I return to this e world I feel myself grieving for what was and I am listening to this and being with it. What can I learn from this? How can I bring the gifts of the e free life into the e life? What parameters can I set for myself and my e life? These are good questions that are swimming in my belly and deserve some answers. I shall dedicate some journey time to seek some wise counsel.
How about your life? Do you have e free days built into it? Some of you may remember a time when most businesses, services and retail stores were closed on Sundays. Sundays were naturally quieter and slower paced. They were healing and nurturing days for many. Perhaps it is time to take back some of the solitude and weave it into our lives. I laugh out loud when I think about some of the titles of books on the best sellers lists that we read about or order on line. Eckhart Tolle’s “The Power of Now”, Sarah Ban Breathnach’s “Simple Abundance” are fabulous books and we devour them, but we keep going out and buying more gadgets to keep us connected wherever we are. Hmmm, I don`t think we are getting the point. I laugh too when I think about some of the fiction that we read together in elementary school back in the 70`s that predicted the expansion of our leisure time because of all of the automation coming our way. And I am dating myself when I remember the days that we had simple telephones without answering machines to stay in touch with one another. How many points of contact have you established in your life that you must maintain on a daily basis?
Think about it. Maybe you can set some boundaries for yourself and live some of your waking time e free. I do know that some of you already do and have great stories about this to share with others and inspire them. Perhaps you will take some of your e time and share them with readers. Can you hear me laughing out loud again?

Is Opportunity Knocking at Your Door?

2010-03-12T10:43:00.000-08:00

Spring is sprouting around us earlier than usual. Are you ready for it? Consider this from the School of Seasons http://www.schooloftheseasons.com/spring.html “ Now spring is manifest. Demeter is reunited with her daughter, Kore (the essence of spring), who has been in the Underworld for six months and the earth once again teems with life. The month of March contains holidays dedicated to all the great mother goddesses: Astarte, Isis, Aprhrodite, Cybele and the Virgin Mary. The goddess shows herself in the blossoms, the leaves on the trees, the sprouting of the crops, the mating of birds, the birth of young animals. In the agricultural cycle, it is time for planting. We are assured that life will continue.”
Spring brings the potential for new occurrences, new ways of being and new opportunities. You can prepare yourself to welcome this new energy by cleaning and brightening the facing entryway to your home. If your front door needs a new coat of paint, get out your paintbrush. If you use your front porch as a catch all for your unused and unneeded stuff it is indeed time to declutter and move it out.
Vitalizing energy that flows into and through our homes and our lives enters our homes through the front door. This space should be considered shrine-like and treated as such.
Have you ever noticed that some elder people regularly sweep their front stairs and entryway, even when it appears to be clean & tidy? They are keenly aware that they are cleaning away unwanted energies and inviting in the benevolent and prosperous ones with each pass of their broom. That old witches broom has a lot more significance than most people are willing to believe! The Bagua or Pa Kua approach to Feng Shui recognizes that our front entry way is representative of our career and ability to support ourselves. I like to sweep and keep my front entryway clean and fresh at home and at the office. I cringe whenever I pass by a home that has blocked off its front door or has even removed the stairs to it and never replaced them…all I can respond with is Yikes!
Regular use of the front door of our homes and offices also promotes growth in all areas of our life. If you haven’t been using your front entrance, try making this small but significant shift in your patterns and see what happens. It might take you a few days to get into the new habit, but it will be more than worth it. And if you are one of those people who has blocked your front entry way it might be time to ask yourself what you are afraid of and what are you trying to block out of your life. Unfortunately by blocking out your fears you are also blocking out the way to your bliss. Face your insecurities one at a time. Fear is much bigger in your mind than it is in reality. You will discover that by walking through your fears they are short lived and much less potent than you believed.
Opportunity is also related to our appearance and presentation as we move out and about in the world. The first impressions idea is not just a marketing ploy for the fashion industry. If we are neat and tidy and generally carrying a positive attitude, we will attract a neat, tidy, and positive life. The words and sounds that escape from our lips also attract the same kind of energy back to us. Pay attention to the kind of energy that you are sharing out into the world. Are you the town whiner or are you the town coach? Also pay heed to the kind of thoughts that you let hang around you. The same principle applies here. What we put out into the world we attract back to ourselves. If you are having a lot of negative mindfulness do some mental housekeeping with meditation, a good uplifting book, movie, or chat with a positive friend. Laugh out loud whenever you can – sweep those dark thoughts away and don’t invite them back in. If this process is beyond your ability at this time, it is indeed time to reach out and ask for help from others and from benevolent forces.
Not sure where you stand with all of this? It is hard to judge our own surroundings or selves. Ask a good friend for their opinion of your home’s curb appeal, and impression upon entering your home and of your personal presence, and try to be open to consider what they have to say.
Knock, knock, knock…are you going to answer the door?

Are You Still Giving What You Want to Get?

2010-03-08T08:07:00.000-08:00

Lets' admit it, times are tough. We can get tough and ornery too or we can focus forward in positive ways and remain respectful to ourselves and others. Do you remember the golden rule from your childhood? “Do to others what you would like to be done to you". This is actually an ancient way that has global roots.

If you go to this website http://www.religioustolerance.org/reciproc.htm you will find these words of wisdom:

Bahá'í Faith:
* "Ascribe not to any soul that which thou wouldst not have ascribed to thee, and say not that which thou doest not." "Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself." Baha'u'llah:
* "And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself." Epistle to the Son of the Wolf
Brahmanism:
* ”This is the sum of Dharma [duty]: Do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you". Mahabharata, 5:1517 "
Buddhism:
* "...a state that is not pleasing or delightful to me, how could I inflict that upon another?" Samyutta Nikaya v. 353
* “Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." Udana-Varga 5:18
Christianity:
* "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." Matthew 7:12, King James Version.
* "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." Luke 6:31, King James Version.
* "...and don't do what you hate...", Gospel of Thomas 6. The Gospel of Thomas is one of about 40 gospels that were widely accepted among early Christians, but which never made it into the Christian Scriptures (New Testament).
Confucianism:
* "Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you" Analects 15:23
"Tse-kung asked, 'Is there one word that can serve as a principle of conduct for life?' Confucius replied, 'It is the word 'shu' -- reciprocity. Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.'" Doctrine of the Mean 13.3
* "Try your best to treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself, and you will find that this is the shortest way to benevolence." Mencius VII.A.4
Ancient Egyptian:
* "Do for one who may do for you, that you may cause him thus to do." The Tale of the Eloquent Peasant, 109 - 110 Translated by R.B. Parkinson. The original dates 640 BCE and may be the earliest version ever written. 3
Hinduism:
* This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you. Mahabharata 5:1517
Humanism:
* "(5) Humanists acknowledge human interdependence, the need for mutual respect and the kinship of all humanity."
"(11) Humanists affirm that individual and social problems can only be resolved by means of human reason, intelligent effort, critical thinking joined with compassion and a spirit of empathy for all living beings. " 4
"Don't do things you wouldn't want to have done to you, British Humanist Society. 3
Islam
"None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself." Number 13 of Imam "Al-Nawawi's Forty Hadiths." 5
Jainism:
* "Therefore, neither does he [a sage] cause violence to others nor does he make others do so." Acarangasutra 5.101-2.
"In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self." Lord Mahavira, 24th Tirthankara
"A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be treated. "Sutrakritanga 1.11.33
Judaism:
* "...thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.", Leviticus 19:18
"What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. This is the law: all the rest is commentary." Talmud, Shabbat 31a.
"And what you hate, do not do to any one." Tobit 4:15 6
Native American Spirituality:
* "Respect for all life is the foundation." The Great Law of Peace.
"All things are our relatives; what we do to everything, we do to ourselves. All is really One." Black Elk
"Do not wrong or hate your neighbor. For it is not he who you wrong, but yourself." Pima proverb.
Roman Pagan Religion:
"The law imprinted on the hearts of all men is to love the members of society as themselves."
Shinto:
"The heart of the person before you is a mirror. See there your own form"
"Be charitable to all beings, love is the representative of God." Ko-ji-ki Hachiman Kasuga
Sikhism:
* Compassion-mercy and religion are the support of the entire world". Japji Sahib
"Don't create enmity with anyone as God is within everyone." Guru Arjan Devji 259
"No one is my enemy, none a stranger and everyone is my friend." Guru Arjan Dev : AG 1299
Sufism:
* "The basis of Sufism is consideration of the hearts and feelings of others. If you haven't the will to gladden someone's heart, then at least beware lest you hurt someone's heart, for on our path, no sin exists but this." Dr. Javad Nurbakhsh, Master of the Nimatullahi Sufi Order.
Taoism:
"Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain, and your neighbor's loss as your own loss." T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien.
"The sage has no interest of his own, but takes the interests of the people as his own. He is kind to the kind; he is also kind to the unkind: for Virtue is kind. He is faithful to the faithful; he is also faithful to the unfaithful: for Virtue is faithful." Tao Teh Ching, Chapter 49
Unitarian:
*"The inherent worth and dignity of every person;"
"Justice, equity and compassion in human relations.... "
"The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;"
"We affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part." Unitarian principles. 7,8
Wicca:
* "An it harm no one, do what thou wilt" (i.e. do what ever you will, as long as it harms nobody, including yourself). One's will is to be carefully thought out in advance of action. This is called the Wiccan Rede
Yoruba: (Nigeria):
*"One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts."
Zoroastrianism:
* "That nature alone is good which refrains from doing unto another whatsoever is not good for itself". Dadistan-i-dinik 94:5
"Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others." Shayast-na-Shayast 13:29

So, as you can see, the golden rule is ancient, multi-religious and multi-cultural. There is definitely much wisdom woven into it. So if you are interested in improving your current situation maybe it is time to create improvement for others so that yours will come back to you. Want more respect? Give more respect to yourself and others. Want more opportunities? Help create more opportunities for others. Want more joy? Give more joy. It is a simple concept.
Give out what you want to get in return.

Vaccination Free 18 Years Later

2010-02-26T18:36:00.000-08:00

This week I do want to tell you a little bit more of my personal story by revealing to you that I am one of those parents who has chosen not to vaccinate their children. I won’t go into great detail with all of the reasons for this decision, but I will tell you that I do believe in the inherent power of the body to heal itself, especially when we get out of its way. I am writing this column to tell you how this has all worked out, eighteen years later.

I have two daughters, now age 18 and 17, and I made the decision not to vaccinate them after spending quite a bit of time and energy studying both sides of the story. I am grateful to have been aware that I even had a choice. I have to send blessings of gratitude to the families of the vaccine injured children who crossed my path years ago when I operated a local natural food store. They were brave enough to share their stories and help others like myself to realize that we do indeed have a choice in this matter. I believe that everything we experience, we experience for a reason, so I listened to what these families were telling me and I made the decision not to vaccinate. Shortly after making that decision

fear started dogging me. The “what if?” thoughts and “how dare I be a bad mother” thoughts and the voice of the medical opinion started showing up for me to decide whether I was committing to my decision or giving in to fear. I breathed deeply, turned my attention deep within to access my wisdom, not just my intellectual programming, and found what was right for this situation.

Eighteen years later I am writing to report that my daughters are doing well. They have never been barred from any activity or opportunity because of their non-vaccinated status. They have traveled across the country, to different continents and environments and have remained well. They do get sick sometimes. I have observed their pattern of illness and recovery, it varies each time and between their individual constitutions, but it generally looks something like this:

* Day One feeling off balance

* Day Two fever begins

* Day Three fever increases

* Day Three fever breaks and dissipates

* Day Four to Day Ten or Eleven full symptoms of virus or infection appear and then dissipate

* Day Twelve to Day Twenty One or so still not 100% but improving

* Day Twenty Two+ generally feeling good and leaving the pattern of illness behind and new immunity developed

I want to supply information to others who are making their decisions regarding vaccination by sharing our story. To vaccinate or not is a personal decision. Informed decisions help us to overcome making decisions just out of fear. Fortunately as Canadians we have constitutional rights and freedoms that allow us to choose how to take care of our bodies. To educate yourself further about vaccination you may want to consider the following resources.

Chatham-Kent Health Unit http://www.chatham-kent.ca/community+services/Public+Health/immunization/childrens+immunization/Online+Reporting+of+Immunizations.htm

Vaccine Risk Awareness Network www.vran.org

Public Health Agency of Canada recommended Vaccination Schedules
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/cig-gci/p03-01-eng.php

Vaccination Liberation Information http://www.vaclib.org/exempt/canada.htm

Adverse Events Following Immunization Reporting Form
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/im/aefi-form-eng.php

Government of Ontario: Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Form 2 Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief Affidavit (vaccination exemption form)
http://www.forms.ssb.gov.on.ca/mbs/ssb/forms/ssbforms.nsf/GetAttachDocs/014-7470-64E~2/$File/TXT_7470-64E.htm

Feng Shui 2010

2010-01-30T16:36:00.000-08:00

Since writing last week's article I received an email from Wallaceburg Gentleman, the client who is using Feng Shui to clarify his life path and get moving along it. He happily reports that he has received funding to attend college to learn new skills to improve his employability. Congratulations WG, and may the Feng Shui forces be with you as you embark on this new journey. This year February 14 is not only Valentine's Day, it is also the Chinese New Year. The Year of the Tiger, which is also known by its formal name of Geng Yin, begins on this day. This information can help us to understand what the tone of the coming year may be like and to prepare for it accordingly. Think of the tiger and its ways. They are solitary nocturnal animals who will stand concealed and silent for hours at the edge of a waterhole until the moment comes when they spy their prey and pounce upon it. The flow of energy for 2010 will model this activity. There will be periods of very quiet activity interspersed with periods of extreme activity.

This stop and start pattern and the lack of the element water during this year makes flow difficult to come by. This is a good year to learn how to be in harmony with chaos. Huh! Isn't that an oxymoronic statement? Yes it is, but it is perfect for describing the year ahead. Learn how to let things be when they are quiet, surrender and relax into it, and breathe deeply and often when things are crazy busy. Learn to adapt and you will become more resilient. That is the true purpose of chaos in our lives. It tests and stretches us and molds us into a form that reaches beyond the limitations that we thought we were. So be with it all and let yourself be transformed into the new you.

If you are getting stuck anywhere in this process of transformation seek help from teachers and mentors who can help you to learn new skills such as meditation and energy harmonizing, so that you can let go and find your own personal flow. One of my Jin Shin Jyustu(R) colleagues teaches her clients that “Safety Energy Lock 1 is called The Prime Mover. It is found on the inside (medial side) of the knees. It connects extreme heights with extreme depths and harmonizes us from head to toe because it helps the descending energy (which moves down the front) and the ascending energy (which moves up the back). If you want to change your life, hold SEL 1 every day for an hour.” see http://jsj-holds.blogspot.com/search/label/26%20Safety%20Energy%20Locks .

2010 is a great year to make positive changes if you work with the energetic opportunities available to you. You can choose to bare up and just survive this year or you can jump in, enjoy the ride, and grow. It is all up to you and your attitude.

Feng Shui Works - Positive Change IS Possible

2010-01-22T12:40:00.000-08:00

It has been several weeks since I have reported the progress of the Wallaceburg gentleman who is working with the ancient practice of Feng Shui to clarify his life path and smooth out the bumps in life. He has not won the lottery yet or landed the job of everyone's dreams, but he has reconnected with his innate talent as an artist and has established many connections to distribute his art and help educate others in the community in his trade.

Wallaceburg gentleman wrote the following to express his thoughts about his journey thus far: “I think that Feng Shui is something that has to be worked on, it is not just a magic bullet that will make life good, you have to know what you want and think about it while you are making changes. You also have to be patient and not try to rush things, if you are the type of person who looks for others to solve your dilemmas in life then Feng Shui might not be able to help you. You have to know what you want and work with it. I have had a few stumbles along the way but I have managed to stay on the path I started a few months ago and am looking forward to see how things will unfold as I go.”

He has it right. Feng Shui will lead you to your personal path, if you have been off of it, and help you to walk along it with increased awareness. The benefits of this practice are many and wide ranging. They can include:

*

Improved health
*

New Relationships
*

Improved Relationships
*

Enhanced Career opportunities
*

Quality sleep
*

Higher energy levels
*

Fertility
*

Inspiration-New ideas
*

Thriving children
*

Quality communication
*

Personal Transformation
*

Financial Improvements
*

Living life to its fullest potential

That is a long list of benefits that can be accrued. These benefits don't just magically appear on your doorstep however, and they usually don't come in one big load – that would be a little overwhelming for most of us. Bit by bit, step by step, life change by life change, these benefits begin showing up when Feng Shui principles are applied. Feng Shui can help to bring opportunities for positive change into your life, but you have to be willing to let go of old patterns, ways of thinking and sometimes material things to make way for the new changes to occur. That journey of a thousand miles doesn't happen without the willingness to take that first step and many others that follow.

Sometimes distinct positive changes do show up quickly if a missing corner or inauspicious combination of energies is corrected. I remember a case several years ago, when the addition of a specific kind of wind chime to a relationship corner brought harmony and relationship improvements between parents and teenage children almost immediately.

Because I am a big picture thinker I have tried to run far away from Feng Shui – too many details for me. I kept being drawn back to Feng Shui over and over again as I was shown how it helps my life, and the life of my family, to flow more smoothly. Let's just say that life isn't nearly as fun, or I can't laugh at myself nearly as much when I have been ignoring my home's Feng Shui. I have lived in a few different homes since being aware of the power of the five elements and their harmonious placement, and each of those homes has taught me distinct life lessons that I needed to learn while living in them. Feng Shui has helped me to awaken to the awareness of how interconnected I am to every living thing and to the lessons that I am in the process of learning.

Without Intentions We Are Puppets

2010-01-17T14:57:00.000-08:00

Without Intentions We Are Puppets

I have many other topics that I am inspired to write about these days as we
are being slingshot through doorways of new creative opportunities by the current alignment of the stars and planets. But before I step forward into those energies I want to tag a little more information onto the topic of intentions that I
wrote about last week.
I believe that intentions are a vital part of a balanced life. They focus our thoughts, actions and dreams and send them in specific directions. Without having an intention for the direction that we would like our life to go, we can easily be influenced by energies around us that may have malicious objectives, and we can become the unconscious builder of those objectives. In other words, if we allow ourselves to wander without purpose through life, we may be enslaved by the puppeteer who gathers our strings and makes us perform to its script. Some of the scripts that exist today are old, outdated, and destructive, driven by greed and power mongering. Other scripts are more creative, divinely inspired, cooperative and harmonious. Without choosing a path to follow we will undoubtedly be influenced by many internal and external forces, and all of those forces are not positive and do not have our highest good at their core.
Unfortunately many people feel defeated in life when they have been wounded physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually and they let go of the intentions for their lives. We give them nicknames like “lost souls” or “the walking wounded” and secretly hope that that never happens to us. Sometimes we use a significant amount of energy or medication to keep our mask of normalcy on to show the outside world that we are okay and socially acceptable when every cell in our being cries out from the pain of deep generational scars.
Instead of understanding that we are in the critical phases of our healing journey, we drop our intentions and surrender to any force that will drag us along. Sadly this is the opposite of what is best for us at the time. When we are feeling least able to be positive in any way it is important for us to remember why we are feeling that way (usually because we have not manifested our intentions), and go back to our earlier intentions, pick them up, dust them off and own them again.
Cut the puppet strings and set your intentions. Move forward with your healing journey, because what you resist persists. And don’t forget to ask for help and accept it when it comes knocking at your door, because positive change is possible.

New Year's Intentions

2010-01-11T12:15:00.000-08:00

I don’t use resolutions anymore. I did for a few years when I was younger and less aware of who I am and how some things work. Don’t get me wrong, I think they are a good idea for improving our lives. It is just that most of us are disappointed when we can’t meet our expectations and our self esteem may suffer because of it. Instead I use intentions, any time of the year.

So what is the difference between a resolution and an intention? From Webster’s dictionary, resolution is “a course of action determined or decided upon” an intention is “an aim that guides action”. Yes they are very similar, but it is the subtle difference that I think is important. My definition for the two goes something like this. “A resolution is a plan that is concretely laid out and a decision is made to follow that plan until its desired goal is reached. An intention is our awareness of something that we would like to include or shift in our lives that we open ourselves to the possibility of.” A resolution is quite detailed whereas an intention can be quite general.

A resolution is fairly rigid, leaving it wide open to being fraught with failure . An intention is much more flexible, leaving room for interesting developments and adjustments, Divine inspirations, and the creation of new intentions along the way. A resolution is usually very self directed and self-expected and it usually doesn’t initially consider assistance from others or other forces. Intentions have permeable boundaries that allow the influx of energy from other sources and individuals – it is a more creative and cooperative process.

I will use a specific example from my own life to try to clarify further the difference between the two. I have desires to write and publish several books in the future. A resolution that I write would look something like this: I resolve to write one book every 12 months. My intention looks something like this: I intend to write and publish books. Both actions would include a list of the titles that I have conceived. The resolution has a concrete time line, the intention leaves the time line open. Some goal setting gurus would be cringing at the thought of me writing this. They believe that setting a deadline will inspire a higher rate of completion and for some people this is true. For me, I find that the rules imposed upon me by a resolution of my own creation tend to ramp up my stress level and dampen my creative energies. Lack of creative energies equals a lack of productivity for me so the chances of meeting my goals drops. The intention approach seems to be working for me as I have had several articles published in several publications and am getting closer to getting a publishing agent.

And true to the universe’s way of affirming things for me, after writing this article I read another chapter in Alberto Villoldo’s newest book “Courageous Dreaming: How Shamans Dream the World Into Being” and I came across these lines: “The perceptual state of hummingbird is associated with the soul, which is aware that Spirit is residing within us. This is the level at which intent molds and shapes reality, the place from which we access the gifts of the heart and soul, which allow us to dream courageously”.

If resolutions haven’t worked very well for you in the past perhaps you can consider pointing yourself in the direction of an intention. Share this intention with good friends and family who will respect it and support you. Follow the inspirations that crop up in your life after you have expressed the intention and allow creative forces to join in and assist you. And don’t forget to get out of your own way and let magic manifest itself through you.

Earth Friendly Legislation

2009-12-31T13:50:00.000-08:00

Last week's column “The Dance of Politics and Nature” inspired me to think things through a little more and come up with some suggestions for legislative ideas that could help us to walk more gently on the earth. I reflected upon the products and practices that most annoy me because of their direct or indirect destructive nature and I came up with the following possibilities.

Outlawing Disposable and Unnecessary Harmful Products
Okay, it is now 2010 and it is time to stop dallying around and get serious about doing the right thing. As I wander through stores choosing my groceries I bypass several lines of products that are designed for one time use, and this trend seems to be increasing instead of diminishing. There are home cleaning products that are proud to be advertised as single use & throw out. They hint that our lives will be much simpler, happier and more elegant if we buy and use them (no more out dated, old fashioned brooms and mops and their accompanying 80's music for you!). I wonder how elegant life will be when we no longer have green spaces as they have been taken up by landfills. I find that old natural fabric clothing items, that are too old to wear respectably anymore make great rags that clean really well and even come clean with my regular laundry. As a bonus, they are free and very simple to use!
There are numerous “make your house smell pretty by covering up the messes that you haven't had time to clean because you are out there working hard to afford the pretty extras” products that will lift us out of our depression and bring family harmony. Hmmm, I wonder if the increasing sales of these unnecessary real estate perfumes is somehow linked to the increasing numbers of people with allergies and other breathing disorders... Essential oils, distilled from natural ingredients actually do have healing and harmonizing abilities and just one drop goes a long way.
There are flashy personal hygiene products that promise everlasting beauty and sex appeal until we find out that replacement blades cost more than the original unit. And while discussing personal hygiene consider the fact that pantyliners did not exist earlier in my lifetime, and I survived without them!
Diapers, baby and adult, come to mind here too. I must admit that I haven't done the research to determine which way is less energy consuming - using disposables or washing and reusing absorbent natural fibre alternatives. There are a lot of diapers to consider. I can say that I did use hand made cloth diapers for both of my kids, who would be blushing if they knew that I was writing about this now, and I found them to be baby skin friendly, user friendly (gotta love that Velcro®!) and portable. I was also kinda proud of the fact that I didn't leave a trail of smelly diapers wherever we went. We simply rinsed & flushed in the nearest toilet and bagged the used goods to carry home to laundry, and nobody was the wiser as to what was in our diaper bag!
I can go on and on here about disposable products, but I think you have the idea.

Mandating Minimum Percentages of Recycled Material in all New Products
Maybe I am naive or ignorant of manufacturing protocol, but I don't understand why requirements aren't in place for many of the products that we buy to be made of some recycled ingredients. Oh yes – those oil companies, they want us to keep consuming plastics and other oil based products so that they can continue to maintain their profit, or shall I call them greed margins. From time to time I drive by our local landfill and marvel at how quickly its elevation grows. In Europe, where usable land is far less available, landfills are being mined for recyclable materials, and profits are being gleaned from that. I think it is time for us younger countried Canadians to consider this way. Job losses would occur in oil based industries but there would be openings in the field of recycling, and some of the employees who have made the changeover may even sleep better at night.

Putting a Halt to Planned Obsolescence
So up until a few years ago we still had a small appliance repair business in town. It was a great place filled with odds and ends of parts and equipment in various states of repair. It was a blessing to those of us who preferred to keep things operating as long as possible rather than throw them out and replace them with brand new, shiny but quality scarce options. As more big box stores moved in, it became harder and harder for businesses like the repair shop to stay open because shoppers were lured by the newer, shinier, quality poor, less expensive opportunities.
Wake up people! You have been put under a spell that newer is better! Check out my blender that has a glass container component, that even though it is cracked, is still working strong several decades after it was first manufactured. Thank goodness for second hand shops and classified buy and trade directories where I can find old workhorses like these. And in case you haven't heard Retro is an accepted,, cool, hip, decorating style!!! We were gifted with a new food processor a year ago, and I am sad to report that within a few months of use by four foodies (several times a week in our house), it was already having problems. And don't get me started talking about furniture. I can't afford the really good stuff that will last a lifetime, but I am fortunate to have a house filled with second, third and forth hand stuff that does the job and stands up well to our lived in lifestyle.
If you want to know how we got into such a mess go to Annie Leonard's great site http://www.storyofstuff.com/ and take some time and watch. Be prepared to get angry and frustrated, and hopefully inspired to make some positive changes as 2010 unfolds.

R, R, & R
Yup the three R's are now reduce, reuse and recycle. Maybe it is time that we really learn what they mean and put them to work in our lives.

So there you have it. My latest political opinions. Call me a hippie, call me a granola eater, call me an earth Mom, call me whatever you like but don't call me and ask me to vote for you unless you have some good news to share with me about how we can work together to live wiser.

The Dance of Politics and Nature

2009-12-22T10:43:00.000-08:00

Recently someone asked about my political leanings and I had to think about what words I would choose to use to explain my position on the subject. Even though I write regularly I do find words to be very limited when it comes to explaining ideas that have more dimensions than the words do. After some reflection I came up with this response “I am becoming more apolitical as time goes on. Politics is a man made system trying to work within a nature based system and it isn't working very well”. The following day I synchronistically came across this quote “The major problems in the world are the result of the difference between how nature works and the way people think” by Gregory Bateson, and I realized that I am not the only one who thinks this way, and the inspiration for this column was born.

The wrap up of the events in Copenhagen during the last two weeks added a little more fuel to my inspiration as we discovered that global emission control standards will not readily be agreed upon and that this is an ongoing project with many complex dimensions to be dealt with. In the meantime I think that we do not have to wait for governments to legislate what we must do to clean up our act. We can get on with it today. We can commit personally to helping the cause by walking or bicycling whenever possible. We can turn our thermostats down a few notches and add a few layers of clothing. We can turn off electronic equipment when not in use. We can think about the purchases we make and choose the more earth friendly option, or even ask ourselves “Do I really need it?”.

Human beings and other creatures respond best to reward systems – remember Pavlov!

I think that true change will occur on a greater scale when we experience financial benefits for our greener lifestyles. Direct tax incentives for those who use less, drive less, and convert to more earth friendly technology (solar power, composting, biofuels etc.) will make waves.

I can hear the turning heads and rolling eyes of politically committed readers out there and I welcome their expressions and comments because everyone has the right, here in Canada, to choose to support whatever system they believe will create the best world for them to live in. I have been known to support a younger party that is associated with the colour of leaves in the spring, but I am finding that my energy is needed to help my community on a different level these days. One of the reasons that I have dedicated much of my life to the study of Jin Shin Jyutsu(R) and Shamanism is that these practices help people to heal and become whole. In that state of wholeness they have an awareness of their interconnectedness to one another and to the natural world, and find they have to make lifestyle changes that are more earth and nature friendly to maintain their new state of health and balance. They understand and are very aware that if they are making choices that are harmful to the earth, they are making choices that are harmful to themselves or their loved ones.

My mission is an important one and so too is the mission of those who know they belong in the political machine. I know that it is not my place, and I do hope they can find the inspiration, imagination, courage and pioneering spirit to create a better system that works in conjunction with the laws of nature. I think they have a big job ahead of them. The basis of our political system has been in place since 1867 and I think it needs an update for the times we are living in. A few years ago I gave my grade 8 students the assignment to outline our current system and design a new version that they feel reflects our contemporary needs. Their contemporary version had some very interesting ideas which would spark many heated debates and discussions. As the economy shifts, with our changing resources and the automobile fading out of it's god-like place in our lives, I think we need a new way to do things.

The situation that we find ourselves in has developed because we have placed profit at the top of our priority list and the people and the planet fall somewhere behind. I think that time has come for us to create a new system based on a triple bottom line of people, planet and profit. In response to the grunts and pessimism that this last statement may inspire, I would like to point out that there are some great organizations that have adopted this model and they are faring well in these times. Have a look at Stonyfield Farms

http://www.stonyfield.com/, Newman's Own http://www.newmansown.com/, Timberland http://www.earthkeeper.com/DontTellUs/Language, Nature's Path http://www.naturespath.com/, Zerofootprint Inc. http://www.zerofootprint.net/, and many others. I think that we can use some of the examples of their way of working in the world to update our political and regulatory system.

Cold Comforts

2009-12-13T14:28:00.000-08:00

We were reminded this week that cold can kill as we learned of the death of Cape Breton youngster James Delorey. Many of us are also outwardly or privately grumping about how miserable we feel when cold dominates our weather, so I thought I would bring a little balance to all this. Yes cold does have benefits so if you want to become more accepting of it and less whiny about it keep on reading.
In Wellness traditions cold is recognized as having energizing, invigorating, blood pressure stabilizing, immune enhancing, pain reducing, and mood lifting powers – it has the ability to help the body balance and heal itself.
Many of you do understand how cold can wake you up in the morning when you crawl out from under the warm blankets and into a less than warm shower – beats caffeine every time! Feeling sleepy at work and unable to get things done because you are sequestered in a warm still air environment? Take a five-minute break and stick your body outside and breathe in the fresh cold air.
High blood pressure can be a silent time bomb ticking away threatening to blow a gasket in our cardiovascular or circulatory system. Cold-water therapy (hydrotherapy) can help to strengthen the autonomic nervous system over time so that our body's ability to normalize blood pressure increases. Cold-water applications can also improve the release of cytokines, which in turn can improve our immune function.
Cold sensations can override pain sensations to give temporary relief of pain. Acute injury protocol uses the RICE method – Rest, Ice, Compress and Elevate. In this case the immediate application of ice can help to reduce internal bleeding and the swelling that causes additional stress to the traumatized tissues. Regular interruption of chronic pain signals with cold energy can help to build new, more harmonious pain free patterns.
Body wide endorphin release can accompany cold-water baths or showers as sensory nerves are activated. This can lead to feelings of optimism, comfort and preparedness for facing challenges. Those polar bear swimmers can probably tell you great stories about this effect.
For additional information about cold therapy and hydrotherapy there are many online resources and print resources to study. It is best to consult your personal Physician, Massage Therapist, Chiropractor or other professional for advice before using heat or cold treatments.
If you are like me, born in the summer months, love your sunshine, warmth and warm fuzzy things, the above information probably does not appeal to you all that much, and you are still thinking about how you can curl up like a cat on a windowsill in the sunshine. So I have one more bit of information to share with you about the benefits of cold. I have shared this story with only a few understanding folks since I first experienced it in November of 2006, and this morning as I was preparing myself for writing I understood that I needed to share it with others through this column today. A few years ago I was studying Celtic Shamanism with several wonderful classmates and an inspiring teacher, Tom Cowan, and I became aware of how helpful the power of extreme cold energy can be for helping to encapsulate and transform destructive energies. Tom was sharing stories of the Wild Hunt ritual that many ancient communities practiced every fall to maintain a healthy balance between creative and destructive energies. We prepared to conduct or own contemporary version of this powerful ritual with specific journeys, powering up exercises and role selections. As the weekend progressed it became clear to me that I was one of several who needed to be at the front lines of this process while others held the space with drumming and a few others acted as keeners. One of my classmates, Peter, an engineer from Wisconsin, who, unlike myself, continues to ride his bicycle right through the winter months (he’s a very healthy guy!) journeyed the previous day to gather a power animal to specifically assist me with my role in the Wild Hunt. Raven came forward to lend wisdom, power and strength to me for what was to come. In non-ordinary reality I did battle with several types of destructive energy that night, but it was the spirits responsible for alcohol addiction that caused me to call out to the cold powers of the North for assistance. The alcoholic spirits were particularly challenging to deal with (is this why we call alcoholic beverages “spirits”?). They were black, sticky, elastic and tarry, and as soon as I tried to gather them in to give to my power animals for transformation to less destructive forms, they would spring back to their original place, form and way. When it became clear that I was out powered I called in the help of my power animals to guide me. They suggested that I call on assistance from allies in the North, which I did so immediately, and I very quickly found myself standing in a circle with many other white clad beings. They showed me how to sing to these spirits and breathe out onto them to freeze them deeply and solidly. This process took quite some time because the energy of these spirits was being changed from a plastic state to a crystalline state. Once they were in the crystalline state, my spirit allies reminded me of the big stick that I had brought with me this weekend and prepared for the hunt. With the allies help I raised the stick high above my head and brought it down on the newly crystallized energy and watched it shatter into billions of tiny crystals. As I recall this I remember that as I watched the crystalline explosion it seemed to happen in slow motion – very cold matter usually moves at very slow speeds. After the dust had settled we all swept them up with brooms and dustpans that my northern friends had brought along for just such a purpose. As I was sweeping I wondered what we were going to do with them next so that they didn’t just find their way back to one another and return to their original form. The answer to my query came quickly. My northern friends led the way, and one by one the pans full of crystals were carried over to the water’s edge and gently sprinkled into the water as food for the salmon. In Celtic lore salmon is one of the oldest and wisest creatures, and I had no doubt that as salmon consumed these crystals a transformation to a more balanced state would occur. That part of the battle was over and I bid farewell and great gratitude to my northern allies for the smart strength that they shared with me.
Cold can kill. Cold can restore balance. It can be an enemy or an ally. If you have a monkey on your back that you want to be rid of you could consider calling on the energy of the cold to help you return to a more balanced state. Just be sure that you are ready to make the lifestyle changes that this will require before you ask for help, because Grace is generous and hears even the faintest call for help.

Quiet Nothingness

2009-12-08T14:32:00.000-08:00

As the winds come to us from the North and blow the remaining leaves from the trees, the days give some of their time to the nights and we find ourselves approaching winter.

The sun sits lower in the sky and spreads its golden glow around when the clouds part, and the wisest creatures prepare to hibernate through the harshest parts of the season.

I think hibernation is underrated.

Us human types seem to be busier than ever this time of year, and unlike the wise ones around us we are not preparing for the long sleep, we are preparing for the party hearty season. I do find it quite interesting that while nature is prepping our body’s rhythms for quieter less productive times, we are often living the opposite to meet our cultural and social demands. I feel somewhat like a rubber band this time of year, being pulled in many directions, but I am fortunate to have a body that speaks loudly to me and I listen to it whenever possible.

This time of year I do spend more of my time semi-hibernating in my cave (my comfortable lived-in house) and more hours under the covers of my bed. The fewer hours of daylight and colder temperatures shift my metabolism toward gathering rather than expending energy. Winter ways help us to gather energy to fill our kidney & bladder vessels so that energy can be expressed through us as new life in the spring. If we don’t take this time to gather energy, we may find ourselves lacking energy when we need it.

Even though I know this intellectually (or “in the head” as I call it) I still struggle with letting myself have the time to do nothing. I am one of those doer people. I have many interests and base my some of my self esteem on my productivity. This, along with the pull of busyness of the world around me, make it challenging to be true to my own energy needs.

So instead of going on and on with more stuff for you to read I am going to share a short story about the Tarahumara people of northern Mexico, and then leave you some white space to stare at for three to four minutes so that you can do nothing. The Tarahumara language is gentle, soft and flowing and is expressed lovingly toward one another (they have no letter “d” and lots of “r”s). They drum and sing for forty days and nights non-stop to ensure that a good spring arrives. And they sometimes will stand for hours in perfect silence just feeling the wind “sintiendo el aire”.

.

Bicycle Balance

2009-11-26T17:11:00.000-08:00

I love the bicycles in my life and the balance that they offer me. My bicycle is around 20 years old and still gives me great rides with its fat tires and simple mechanics. I am ready to retire it though, the last few times that I rode it I heard how tired it was. It wants to be put out to pasture where wildflowers can grow through it and wildlife can perch on it when needed. Maybe it will become part of someone's next sculpture or garden art. Before it moves on to the next phase of its life I want to thank it for all of the great rides that it has given me, for all of the jobs, classes and experiences that it transported me to and to all the hours of pure recreation that it shared with me. The muscles exercised, calories burned, fresh air breathed, problems thought through, inspirations heard, sights seen, breezes felt, hills coasted down and pushed up are all priceless parts of my life that I am all the richer, healthier, wiser, and more balanced because of experiencing them. I have had a few accidents over the years of riding my two wheelers, but these fade in memory when compared to the upside of the hours on my saddle.

I will miss my old bicycle, but I am already excited for the new one that will find me. It will be something between a hybrid and a mountain bike. Hopefully it will be manufactured in Canada with attention to quality and workmanship in a place that despises planned obsolescence (for more information about this see http://www.storyofstuff.com/ - it is a 20 minute watch, but worth every minute of it!) I would like to buy it locally – maybe it will be second hand, already loved by someone else who may no longer need it now. Hopefully the new bicycle and I will be able to enjoy the new bike lanes that are proposed for Chatham-Kent in the not too distant future.

Today as I hopped on my daughter's fendered, old style coaster bike for the 20 minute commute to the office (I asked to borrow her bike because the roads are wet today and I didn't want to show up at the office with the road stripe down my back) I was just grateful to have the opportunity to be able to bicycle to work. As I walked out to the garage to get the bike I passed the snapdragons, calendula, mints and other herbs in the garden that are still showing their beauty and I began acclimatizing to the cool November air. The adaptation to the cool and damp air continued as I rode off down the street. I began to feel more awake and alive with each push of the pedal and breath of fresh air. Just previous to this I had been working at home on many small tasks, my mind engaged in its multitasking busyness, my body still clad in pajamas late in the day. Jumping on the bike was like getting a second chance to wake up for the day. As I continued to ride the route to the office I communed with the sky and the friendly neighbourhood trees, animals, birds, and people and I could feel myself connecting with it all. I really do believe that this kind of commute keeps me more in touch with the energy of my community and helps me to stay prepared and aware for the life that is awaiting me.

I am not a calorie counter, but for those of you who are, moderate bicycle riding consumes approximately 400 to 600 calories per hour. The number crunchers out there can add up the dollars and cents that I have saved by not purchasing a car, paying for its fuel, insurance and upkeep since I was 16 – I am 48 now, that's 32 years of savings as I have always biked or walked as my main method or transportation to and from work. And how many carbon points have I saved? I found this interesting site http://bicycleuniverse.info/transpo/energy.html and entered a few numbers for myself in the bike vs. walk vs. drive calculator and came to understand that I use approximately 1 pound of carbon equivalents while biking instead of the 2 pounds that I would expend by walking (that will come when the temperatures are colder and the ground is snowier) and the 3 pounds that I would use by driving.

I do drive. We are a one car family, working out a harmonious schedule of use most of the time. I certainly do appreciate the convenience of being able to transport my children to their jobs (even though I used to have to get myself to work when I was their age!) because they are definitely too big to fit into the bicycle trailer that I used to cart them around in. Bringing home boxes full of groceries also gets a little challenging on a bike (teenagers eat a lot!) and those out of town trips would take me days instead of hours. But I do find that I begin to rush and ignore the world around me if I spend too much time behind the wheel of a car. When the weather is inclement and I am choosing the convenience of driving, I find that I close myself up, rush to the car, quickly put the heater on, drive to my destination, experience much less community interaction, rush into the building of my destination and continue the rushing theme. The bicycle commute requires more of my personal energy and time but gives me so much more in return.

Imagine

2009-11-05T06:46:00.000-08:00

Ever since I was a young girl I have imagined living in a beautiful, healthy, vibrant, and environmentally friendly community. Since then I have read about such communities, watched documentaries about these places, explored some of these places and continued to imagine living permanently in one. Lately there are some happenings in our community that are whispering of the possibilities of such a reality blossoming here. It is time to get excited about the opportunities that are showing up and kick our imaginations into high gear to create energetic avenues to transform those possibilities into realities.

Unfortunately many of us have been punished and berated by teachers, parents, employers and other authority figures for wasting our valuable time in dreamy thought. Day dreaming and spending time exercising our imaginations is actually a very productive use of our energy. It opens us to be able to receive unfiltered information and creatively arrange it into new patterns and ideas. It is these new ideas that can become solutions to some of the biggest challenges that we are facing or simply new ways of doing things that can be better than the status quo. Inventors, past and present, are well aware of the power of free flowing thought. Athletes have tapped into a more focused form of this mind power for many decades. They understand that their bodies do not differentiate between imagined activity and actual activity. In other words they can train by putting their bodies through their usual training routines or they can train by quieting themselves and visualizing themselves completing their routines. Both forms of training are equally valuable. For more information about sports visualization or creative visualization just surf the web, there is an abundance of resources to be found. One of my favourite books on this subject is “Creative Visualization” by Shakti Gawain, and this year is the 25th anniversary of its original release http://www.shaktigawain.com/booksandmore.php

Did you know that the Chinese symbol for crisis also has the word opportunity in it? While some people are focusing on all of the loss around us and finding it difficult to be hopeful, others, like myself, are dreaming of the possibilities, talking about them and even making them happen. I have painted and hung an opportunity enhancing canvas right near my front door to keep me aware of opportunities in my midst. I have launched a new business along side other brave entrepreneurial souls who are seizing the opportunity of these fertile times. I recently attended a local Chamber of Commerce event that highlighted new local businesses and I was pleased by the ingenuity, creativity and positivity of all in attendance. Last week I attended the Erie Cultural Action Team's Cultural Mapping Launch at Smith & Wilson Wineries. It too was attended by many forward thinking people who can smell the opportunities swirling around us.

Maybe you are not the entrepreneurial type, or you don't know how you can contribute to the cultural development that is underway. You can still help out, and you can do it from your favourite armchair if you like. You can contribute some time and energy to dreaming of the improvements, opportunities, and lifestyle that you would like to live. The more that we fill the airwaves with thoughts of possibility and renewal, the more energy is available for manifestation of positive change. This kind of thinking might even motivate you to put a plan in place and begin working on it. Remember that journey of a thousand miles – it began with one step. If you need some food for thought for your imagineering check out this site about some amazing cities doing some amazing things http://science.howstuffworks.com/five-amazing-green-cities.htm

I believe that everyone has a very important role if they are alive on this planet today. Martha Graham, the mother of modern dance, if she was still alive, would agree with me. She is the author of one of my favourite quotations ( I am a quotation collector – takes up a lot less room than other types of collections!) She said “There is a vitality, a life-force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost.” I have no doubt, that if you give yourself some time to daydream and imagine things on your own terms, you will start to get in touch with your unique purpose. Consider why you think some things are important and others are not. You are built, wired, and inspired for a specific purpose and these times are ripe for you discovering what that is.

If you are really struggling with figuring out anything related to your purpose make arrangements to work with a personal coach, counselor, vision quest leader or engage in some training to assist you to remember who you are (get in touch and ask me about Shamanic Journeying if you yearn to learn how to gather information that is unique to you). You can also ask those closest to you for clues about your strengths and weaknesses. Ask them sincerely and be prepared to truly listen to what they have to say. Others can see our powers at work more readily than we can – we are too close to ourselves to be objective.

Lately as I read our local print and online newspapers I have focused on the Chatham-Kent Trails Master Plan that is unfolding, the possibility of Findally Inc. making its home here, the expanding cucumber industry, new business ventures, and the work of the Cultural Action Teams. I do smell opportunity in the air.

Flu Fear

2009-10-26T14:20:00.000-07:00

Most of us have been there, puking our guts out, coughing so much that we think we’re going to burst a lung, or running to the bathroom hoping that we make it there in time. Sometimes we are unfortunate enough to experience all of these symptoms simultaneously and we feel like we are going to die. Alternating between fever and chills while trying to deal with the other acute comings and goings of the flu usually leaves us drained of energy. The flu can certainly change the way that we feel and make us question our desire to live.

It’s no wonder that we fear the flu and want to prevent it from entering our lives. But have we gone too far? Have we lost a balanced perspective about healthy lifestyle choices because we have let fear take over? People do, and have died from the flu. If you want to keep a close eye on death rates you can go to the flu watch website http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/fluwatch/09-10/w38_09/index-eng.php. As I write this article this site is reporting that, so far this year, 24 H1N1 related deaths have occurred in Ontario. There are multitudes of causes of death other than natural aging so lets get some perspective on this. Go to the “Leading causes of death, Canada, 2004” chart http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/lcd-pcd97/table1-eng.php and just spend some time reviewing it. Infectious and parasitic diseases or respiratory system diseases are not highlighted as leading causes of death for any age group. By conducting further research I found these statistics:

* Each year regular seasonal flu causes 4000-8000 deaths in Canada. http://www.lung.ca/diseases-maladies/a-z/flu-grippe/index_e.php

* In Canada, ordinary seasonal flu is directly responsible for the deaths of between 500 and 1,500 people every year. http://health.lifestyle.yahoo.ca/channel_section_details.asp?text_id=3471&channel_id=2034&relation_id=34552

* Seasonal flu has a death rate of less than 0.1 per cent — but still manages to kill 250,000 to 500,000 people globally every year. http://www.canada.com/health/Swine%20death%20rate%20similar%20seasonal%20expert/2001615/story.html

* Swine flu death rate similar to seasonal flu By Maggie Fox, Reuters September 17, 2009 http://www.canada.com/health/Swine%20death%20rate%20similar%20seasonal%20expert/2001615/story.html

So we have established that flu can be a killer and is something to be concerned about. But I believe there is a difference between concern and fear. In my opinion, concern is a decision that we make, to give something that is potentially harmful, some of our attention, with the intention of developing a positive outcome. Fear is a reaction, which we haven’t necessarily made an informed decision about, and may sometimes cause us to act in ways that we normally wouldn’t, if we were not operating from a reactive perspective. If you think about my definitions and then ask yourself if you are operating from fear or from concern, you will probably gain some clarity. Unfortunately many of us live our lives motivated mostly by fear and rarely by true passion, joy, or love. Don’t blame yourself for this. I believe it is a throwback to our earliest days when we lived with survival as our main motivator, and our bloodlines have carried this through to us. Fear definitely protects us and teaches us about things that can be a threat to our life, but if we allow it to take over our lives it can seriously harm us and our resulting quality of life.

Fear can push us out of our bodies, knock us off centre, drain our energy, erode our immune system, cause us to live lives that are out of alignment with our purpose, and cause many other things. Here are a few interesting online resources to browse for additional details about fear and its effects:

* http://www.depression.oldguy.us/fear.php

* http://www.wingchuncenter.com/Articles/art01.htm

* http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/a/a_04/a_04_p/a_04_p_peu/a_04_p_peu.html

* http://www.cimmay.us/oncall/pc_w.s.sadler.pdf (a 338 page download about the physiology of faith and fear)

There are many more resources available to help you understand fear and its effects, but in this column I want you to think about the fact that fear can actually weaken our immunity and make us more susceptible to contagious bacteria, viruses, ways of thinking, other’s emotions and experiences etc. It can literally undermine our whole being and keep us from living fully.

It is easy to say get over it and move on, but fear does have its way of getting hold of us and not letting go. Overcoming our fears is often a lifelong process, but it can be a very rewarding and exhilarating (that is a topic for another column, and I will try to stay on track here, okay, okay, I will give you a brief peek at something, check this out http://drbenkim.com/overcome-chronic-fear-anxiety.html). Gathering unbiased information about the subject of your fears is a good first step, and looking at other perspectives on the issue that is making your knees weak may help you to loosen fear’s grip a little. So let’s take a look at the benefits of experiencing the flu in its various forms.

Developing a fever gives the immune system a boost. In a 2006 issue of Nature Immunology Sharon Evans and her colleagues report the findings on their research with lab mice http://hum-molgen.org/NewsGen/11-2006/000015.html. Other additional sources relay the same information to us http://www.parents.com/baby/health/fever/fever-benefits/, http://www.brighthub.com/health/alternative-medicine/articles/33438.aspx, http://www.nytimes.com/1982/12/28/science/fever-new-view-stresses-its-healing-benefits.html. Researchers are just coming around to digging deeper into this natural body response. My work with meditation and Shamanic Journeying taught me early on that natural processes such as fevers are important for our whole (body, mind & spirit) growth and evolution, and if we shortcut these processes, we are shortcutting our potential. My studies and work with Jin Shin Jyutsu® have also taught me that staying with a fever and processing through it (feeling and releasing all of the emotions, physical, and spiritual sensations that accompany it) gradually, layer by layer clears away by fearful beliefs and makes room for a more faithful attitude. Fevers are whole being cleansing and initiating agents that can be monitored, left to their own pace, and only interrupted when life is thought to be threatened. This has long been understood by many cultures, and practices such as sweat lodges and saunas were, and are considered necessities of life.

Coughing, vomiting, and diarrhea are powerful cleansing mechanisms of the body. Yes they are extremely uncomfortable and often bring us to our knees, but they are serving to cleanse the body of some form of offending energy. Flu is an acute reaction to the offending virus that has entered our body. The symptoms of flu are our body’s mechanism for protecting and healing itself, and experiencing a flu gives these mechanisms a work out, keeps them fine tuned, and perhaps helps to keep our immune system strong and healthy (some day the researchers will come to this conclusion). A recent study is alluding to this idea: “Seasonal flu shot may raise H1N1 risk, studies find”

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/seasonal-flu-shot-may-raise-h1n1-risk-studies-find-61012632.html

I am concerned about the amount of effort that we have used over the last several decades to prevent ourselves from feeling the symptoms of colds and flus. Most of the products designed to alleviate our symptoms and get us back to work quickly work by suppressing (driving the symptoms back into the body, or stopping them completely) symptoms. Are we short-cutting our body’s ability to develop a strong and healthy immune system when we do this? Are we setting ourselves up for autoimmune diseases, congestive diseases, mental health disorders and much more by choosing to use mainly suppressive forms of health care? We don’t use the label of disease in Jin shin Jyutsu® practice. We consider all disharmonious experiences as projects, which we can work on and learn from. Here are a few more postings to consider:

* http://peristaltor.livejournal.com/48451.html

* http://www.slideshare.net/AutoSurfRestarter/overtreated-why-too-much-medicine-is-making-us-sicker-and-poorer-by-shannon-brownlee

* http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12595624

If you contract the flu, statistics show that you probably will not die from it. There are many non-invasive and natural ways to support yourself as you live through the flu. Consult your local professionals for this information if you need it. In the Chatham-Kent area we have licensed Homeopaths, Registered Nutritional Consulting Practitioners (RNCP), Chiropractors, Certified Iridologists, Certified Reflexologists, Registered Massage Therapists, Licensed Acupuncturists, Certified Mind-Body Therapists etc. who can assist you (forgive me if I have left any of you helpful people out and reply to this article with your contact information so that the public can get to know you). If you would like to learn how to help yourself through the flu with Jin Shin Jyutsu®, please contact me and I will send you some information to consider.

It is important to keep a balanced approach to all things. If your symptoms are worsening and your fever is approaching dangerous levels, contact your medical professional for their assistance. Contact medical professionals if you experience any of the following things (from http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/infections/cold-flu/073.html#ArticleParsysMiddleColumn0009 you might want to print this out and post somewhere for easy reference, to help reduce your anxiety and allay your fears):

In children:

* High fever(above 103 degrees), or a fever that lasts for more than 3 days

* Symptoms that last for more than 10 days

* Trouble breathing, fast breathing or wheezing

* Bluish skin color

* Earache or drainage from the ear

* Changes in mental state (such as not waking up, irritability or seizures)

* Flu-like symptoms that improve, but return with a fever and a worse cough

* Worsening of a chronic medical condition (such as diabetes or heart disease)

* Vomiting or abdominal pain

In adults:

* A high, prolonged fever (above 102 degrees) with fatigue and achiness

* Symptoms that last for more than 10 days or get worse instead of better

* Trouble breathing or shortness of breath

* Pain or pressure in the chest

* Fainting or feeling like you are about to faint

* Confusion or disorientation

* Severe sinus pain in your face or forehead

* Very swollen glands in the neck or jaw

I hope that I have been able to give you another perspective on some things and that you are blessed with good and improving health.

The Best Kinds of Medicine

2009-10-17T20:57:00.000-07:00

Let’s face it, some kinds of medicine that we ingest are vile, and that is why Julie Andrews sings the line “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down” as she portrays Mary Poppins in the 1964 movie of the same name. Other oral medications are flavoured to assist their consumption. But there is a completely different category of medicines that require no consumption, inhalation, or injection, and often little or no fee. I will get to those in a moment, but as an aside I found some information about a research study that shows that giving children a small amount of liquid sugar on their tongue before giving them a vaccine seems to override the pain messages to the brain http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1058406/A-spoonful-sugar-really-DOES-help-medicine-say-scientists.html It seems that Mary Poppins was correct! An interesting study for sure, and my mind wanders to its holistic perspective and wonders “Hmmmm, is this the same override mechanism that adults continue to use to drown their physical, emotional and spiritual pain and cause them to be addicted to sugar laden foods and alcohol?” (regular consumption of alcohol can cause excessive blood glucose levels that trigger the same override response, for a while at least). If we give the wee ones some sweet liquid to alleviate pain when they are young, will they develop an automatic need for sweets when they are anticipating or experiencing pain? In my humble opinion I do indeed think that this is one of the ways that we learn to drown our sorrows with food, alcohol or other things, and then find it quite difficult as adults to learn how to feel our feelings and learn from them.
Back to those other kinds of medicine. I could free write and come up with a list that includes hundreds of things and experiences that have acted as medicine for me in my lifetime. Spreading rich colours across a canvas, listening to the wind, breathing deeply, and soaking in a warm tub are just a few of my favourite medicines. I know someone who reconnects with their spiritual self every time they hear a recording of Louis Armstrong pouring his love through his trumpet.
Feel free to conjure up your own list and share it with the CKDP readers. For simplicity’s sake in this column I want to focus on the healing powers of humour.
When was the last time you almost peed your pants because you were laughing so hard? Can you even remember it? I hope it wasn’t too long ago. Many years of research have shown that laughter can:
· stave off Alzheimer's disease
· boost immune systems (http://www.holisticonline.com/Humor_Therapy/humor_therapy_benefits.htm)
· make you richer, and smarter with its productivity boosting effects
· help control emotions (Amazing isn’t it, how losing control can help you gain control!)
· help us cope with extremely difficult situations
· instantly shift us to a more positive perspective
· reduce pain (http://www.holistic-online.com/Humor_Therapy/humor_mcghee_article.htm )
· exercise the heart (http://www.webmd.com/video/laughter-heals )
· etc, etc, etc,

Do you know that there are laughter therapy organizations, classes and Yoga practices? I think that our provincial health care system should spend most of the money targeted to largely untested and unproven vaccines whose safety is questioned on comedians instead. Can you imagine having a laughter break at work, riding on public transit with a professional humour monger, or waiting in the emergency department in the local hospital to the sounds of laughing and guffawing? Prescriptions could be written for movies that get even the most stoic personalities laughing.
Even before the research was conducted people understood the power of humour. Check out these wise words from the past:

· “Total absence of humour renders life impossible”
from Chance Acquaintances, 1952 by Colette
· “The most wasted of all days is one without laughter”
e e cummings (1894 - 1962)
· “Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine.”
Lord Byron (1788 - 1824)
· “A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures.”
Irish Proverb
· “A good laugh is sunshine in the house”
Thackery
· "When you have a heartfelt belly laugh, all parts of your being - the physiological, the psychological, the spiritual - they all vibrate in one single tune. They all vibrate in harmony!"
Osho

Research has also shown that laughter can be acutely contagious and pathological laughter can be a sign of a serious disease (http://cogweb.ucla.edu/Abstracts/Provine_96.html )
Sometimes we take life and ourselves so seriously that we find it quite difficult to laugh or to see the bright side of things. By holding our Safety Energy Lock 15’s (in your groin, right where your legs join your pelvis http://jsj-holds.blogspot.com/2007/11/keys-to-our-harmony.html or http://mysite.verizon.net/ron26/art2.html ) we can assist our vital force to balance in such a way that we can start to see the positive aspect of any situation. And if you don’t think holding your groin will help, just the thought of it might make you smile. It is bound to make others smile if you choose to do this in public!
To honour laughter as a powerful medicine in my life I am issuing a challenge to the people of Chatham-Kent and surrounding areas. I am willing to give away three FREE Jin Shin Jyutsu® sessions to the three people who make me laugh the most with the jokes or stories that they comment to this column with (hopefully there are at least three people who read my column!) Send them in by December 15, 2009 and I will let you know if anyone manages to get me to pee my pants!

Highly Sensitive People

2009-10-08T06:59:00.000-07:00

Sometimes they are called wimps, shy, nerds, neurotics, and at other times, like in the ancient past, they were known as intuitives, sages, and wise people.

Who are these interesting people?

They are the 20 per cent of the population that psychologist Dr. Elaine Aron Ph.D. calls Highly Sensitive People (HSP). Dr. Aron, a self-proclaimed Highly Sensitive Person, has written several books that explain the sensitivity phenomenon and offer helpful tips for living a healthy life, fully, and happily as a sensitive person. She has helped many to understand that:

* Sensitive people are more aware of the subtleties in other people, places and things in their environment and therefore observe, reflect upon and experience more than non-sensitive people.

* Sensitivity is related to a survival strategy that inspires humans and other creatures to observe and assess situations before they proceed into them.

* The brains of sensitive beings work differently than non-sensitives.

* Different cultures value or devalue sensitivity in different ways. Low self-esteem issues are common among sensitive people because of this.

* Sensitivity is still misunderstood and was once thought to be a disorder to be treated.

With 20 per cent of the population being sensitive you probably know at least one sensitive or maybe even live with one. Perhaps it is time to consider these people in a new light and value them for the gifts that they bring into our lives. Highly Sensitive People tend to be very intelligent, conscientious and pay attention to the smallest details, so they make great employees. Because they are intuitive to other people’s needs they make great counselors, massage therapists, coaches and tutors. Their observance of details and nuances in their environment make them ideal visual artists and musicians, and if you want someone to guide you with money management, choose an HSP because they are usually three steps ahead of the stock market and your personal needs.

Living with acute sensitivity can be a gift as it leads to great personal awareness, compassion for others and the development of skills that can assist others. The challenges of living with your sensory skills constantly registering information can be devastating if one does not realize that they are sensitive. Before developing awareness and management skills for their sensitivity, many HSP work extra hard at trying to be “normal”.

They will accompany their family or friends into settings that they find uncomfortable (loud, cluttered, crowded, over stimulating), and endure a horrible experience, to avoid loneliness or just to be like the others. Many HSP try to keep the pace of non-sensitive people and end up experiencing burn out. Because they experience so much more sensory experience, HSP need more sleep and down time than other people.

It is almost like they live three days condensed into a single day. Mental health days are a priority for HSP. Unfortunately many adults are unaware that they are HSP, and they try to live their lives like the other 80 per cent and begin self-medicating with alcohol or drugs just to get through a day.

My theory is that most people with serious addiction issues are HSP and they use their drug of choice to muffle their sensory reception.

As children, many HSP are labeled as shy, fussy, inhibited, fearful, or challenged in some way. If we could change places with that child for a few minutes we would realize that they are indeed wise, thoughtful, creative, intuitive and quite caring for others. Unfortunately these children are easily overwhelmed, especially in a school setting where noise, visual stimulation, and topic shuffling are normal (a Feng Shui nightmare if you ask me!), and they sometimes express their discomfort through uncooperative behaviour.

Instead of implementing behaviour management techniques that are designed for the other 80 per cent of the population perhaps the offering of a quieter space, the ability to leave the classroom for sensory breaks and adopting better understanding of their experience by teachers and caregivers could be considered. Instead of sending your child to their room as punishment, suggest that they go to their special space for some relaxing or creative time.

When you empower a Highly Sensitive Child to learn how to care for themselves at an early age, you are giving them a gift of self respect and self acceptance that may remain with them throughout their life. This can help them to create healthy and fulfilling lives as adults and avoid a life of suffering like many unaware HSP.

Some schools, such as those with a Waldorf or Montessori approach, create quieter, more reflective environments (better Feng Shui) for children to experience, and this is sometimes a better fit for a sensitive child.

So how do you know if you, your child or other family member is a HSP?

Just type “highly sensitive person” or “highly sensitive child” into a search engine and begin your research.

Fortunately sensitivity is becoming more understood and accepted so you will find a myriad of resources to assist you. There are online questionnaires, helpful ideas and suggestions and references to several books written on the subject, as well as opportunities to communicate with other HSP through social networking sites. And, if you want to learn more, you can get in touch with me, because, yes, I am one of those HSP, and proud to be!

Brain Waves

2009-09-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

Just like a lake, ocean or other significant body of water, our brain is constantly flowing with different forms of wave energy.
If you stand beside a lake when its waves are crashing on the shore near you, you can feel the power that generated those waves. In contrast, a still and calm body of water usually brings peace to our state of being. The different wave activity in the body of water is somewhat like the different levels of activity in our brains, and if you choose to, you can learn how to adjust your brain activity and achieve different states of being.
The four main levels of brain waves that researchers have identified and described are Beta, Alpha, Theta & Delta.

BETA Brain Waves
· 15 to 40 cycles per second, low amplitude
· awake, alert & working
· high BETA can be associated with anxiety states, Impulsivity and ADHD http://www.ldrc.ca/contents/view_article/219/

ALPHA Brain Waves
· 9 to 14 cycles per second moderate amplitude
· reflective, meditative, at rest state

THETA Brain Waves
· 5 to 8 cycles per second, greater amplitude
· daydreaming, highway hypnotism, mental disengagement
· THETA can be associated with greater access to creativity

DELTA Brain Waves
· 2 to 3 cycles per second, greatest amplitude
· sleep, dreaming or dreamless sleep
· DELTA can be associated with regeneration of the body

Most of us spend a lot of our waking day in the BETA state while we move through our fast paced, multi-layered lives. We often forgo
short breaks, daydreaming time and do-nothing time to replace it with another item from our to-do lists. When it comes time to retire at night it is sometimes quite a job to settle down into the quieter restful states so that we can fall asleep, rest and rejuvenate. We have adopted the fast paced life in the belief that we will keep up with the Jones’ and be more productive and therefore more valuable to our employers, and in other words more secure. In actual fact we have reduced our ability to sleep well and heal, our access to creativity
and our ability to function efficiently. Essentially we have reduced our security in the world.
So, if you choose to, take back your life. Try to set your own pace, and not the pace of the North American culture at large. Build brain-calming activities into your day. If your employers are balking at you daydreaming on the job, provide them with information that supports your efforts and intentions (get in touch with me if you need help with this). Try walking to or from work if possible. The rhythm of your feet touching the earth will help to slow your mind and exercise your body. If it is not possible to walk to work try to take a walk before you get into your car in the morning or after you get home in the evening. Walking is a great left and right brain integration activity that will help you to sort out the day’s challenges and access more creative levels of thought. Other physical activities that go the next step to induce healthy and healing brain states include yoga, Tai Chi and any activity that induces the flow state that allows mental disengagement.
If you or someone you know has a strong attachment to spending many hours in front of a computer screen participating in cyber world activities perhaps you can consider using some of that time to assist yourself. Type “brain wave games” into your favourite search engine and have a look. Wild Divine is one of the leading companies producing and selling video games that are designed to help us slow down our brain activity and reap the associated physical and emotional benefits.
Spending time in natural, unadulterated settings can help your brain to slow down and match the rhythms of that environment. In the late 1800’s it was well known that exposure to fresh air, good nutrition and rest in natural settings would assist one’s immune system to grow strong. Sanatoriums were developed to help individuals overcome the effects of Tuberculosis. Today most of those Sanatoriums have been replaced by modern medical facilities that use a pharmaceutical approach to infectious disease.
The ancient art of Feng Shui guides us to bring the energy of nature into our homes as much as possible. Recent research has shown that good Feng Shui can create healthier brainwave states and bad Feng Shui can do the opposite http://www.learningstrategies.com/FengShui/BrainWaves.asp
We are all interconnected with our surroundings and our culture. It takes great strength and courage to break away from the pack and live a more personably suitable life. Surround yourself with others who have had the courage to march to the beat of their own drummer. Fill your mind with good information such as biographies of others who have found their own way. Begin asking yourself “What is my way?” and be prepared to receive and act upon the answers, and hold those Safety Energy Lock 14’s http://jsj-holds.blogspot.com/ http://mysite.verizon.net/ron26/art2.html to help you keep in touch with your way.

Don't Worry, Be Happy

2009-09-23T07:26:00.000-07:00

Bobby McFerrin said it well,

“Don’t worry be happy
In every life we have some trouble
When you worry you make it double”

… and he made it sound so easy, but trying to fix your mind with your mind can be challenging.

“When you worry you make it double”

Frequent worry can lead to a host of physical ailments such as heart attacks, high blood pressure, ulcers, gastrointestinal problems, muscular aches and pains, skin rashes, eczema, respiratory problems and asthma, and many other stress related disorders.

When you worry you are projecting a portion of your vital force to future events that may happen and limiting the vitality that you have in the present moment. It is this projection of energy that leaves you vulnerable to the myriad of stress related symptoms mentioned above.

When I studied with Peruvian Elders several years ago, I was fascinated by their observance of our culture and how we throw our energy away or attach it to so many material things. What a gift it was for me to see our culture at work through the perception of a completely different way. So if you were aware that you were throwing your energy away like this would you continue to do it?

Unfortunately some people are genetically wired to worry more than others http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/dont-worry-woody-anxiety-is-in-the-genes-study-finds-890291.html and others have learned this taxing habit from our culture at large.

The good news is that there are some things that you can do to reduce the worry pattern and bring more peace back into your life.

You could start by thinking about the fact that recent studies are demonstrating that approximately 85 per cent of the things that people worry about never occur (sorry I couldn’t find the actual studies to reference here, but if you surf around you will find many indirect references to them).

Since most of us have already bought into the belief that our lives must be complex to be successful, I will keep this column’s suggestions simple.

Overcoming a life long habit of worry probably won’t happen overnight (see last week’s column) but consistent, simple effort can reap rewards. Trying to fix your mind with your mind can be like a dog chasing it’s tail, so instead maybe you can look to your fingers.

Jin Shin Jyutsu® is a fabulous tool to release worry from your life. By holding your thumb with your opposite hand you can transform anxiety energy into a more grounded, centered, and present energy. This simple and free exercise, repeated throughout the day, over time, will harmonize your energy and power up your self awareness. You will find yourself worrying less and also becoming aware of when you are worrying, so that you can choose to stop. Jin Shin Jyutsu(R) has a cumulative effect, so the more that you work with it, the more benefits you receive.

If you want to learn more about Jin Shin Jyutsu(R) check out this great site:

http://jsj-holds.blogspot.com . I have been studying and practicing Jin Shin Jyutsu(R) for 20 years now and I have not lost any interest in it. Instead I continue to be awed and inspired by it as it continues to assist me to maintain balance in my life and to teach me about the unseen energies within and around me.

No Quick Fixes

2009-09-12T06:35:00.001-07:00

Have you ever stood beside a beautiful 100+ year old and felt its powerful presence? That energy did not gather in a short time. It took every bit of that 100+ years to grow that tree into what it is. Strength, personal power, health & wellness are very much like the old oak tree, and they take time to gather, develop strong flexible roots, and flourish.

It seems to me that many advertisements are still promising dramatic results in a short period of time, and the faster the promised results the higher the price tag for the product. We humans seem to want everything now and are willing to part with our dollars to speed up the process. Some processes in our lives can be sped up by waving the pretty printed paper in front of the right person, but Mother Nature does not understand the concept of economy and money and she has her own wisdom to let things unfold in their perfect time and place.

True and sustainable healing of our personal issues, whether they be physical, mental, emotional or spiritual generally involves a process or journey. The pace of this journey is as unique as the individual experiencing it. Some people overcome great diversity within a few months, while others are reeling many years later. Both of these ways, and any way in between, are perfect for the person in question. An open-minded attitude toward our process and our willingness to learn and embody new ways can assist one to enjoy the journey as our life flows ahead.

In my 20+ years of experience in the field of wellness I have yet to find a technique or way that offers fast and sustainable relief from core issues that are causing illness or discontentment. I have witnessed and experienced quick and dramatic relief of pain or acute symptoms with holistic practices, but I have not experienced this with chronic, long term situations. The chronic conditions are usually rooted in misbeliefs that we or our ancestors adopted when it was most logical or appropriate to do so. Unfortunately over time these beliefs and the energetic patterns that they create in our personal energy fields often lead to chronic uncomfortable conditions as our psyche pokes at us to reexamine our subconscious choices and make room for new ways of being.

Yes, there it is again that subconscious thing. Lets just say that if it was in our waking consciousness or awareness we would choose to change the way that we think or react to situations to bring relief to our selves. But because it is not a part of our awareness the root of our problems remains hidden from us most of the time. True healing modalities bring these subconscious patterns, a little at a time, to the surface so that we can make choices to maintain them or let them go and replace them with new patterns. So this process takes time and inner reflection and doesn't happen overnight. So if you are thinking of investing a little time, some energy and some money into something that promises to help you change your life dramatically in a short period of time, you may want to decide if this is the right thing for you. Think about the kinds of things like this that you have invested in in the past, and what return you received from these investments.

All of that said, spontaneous remission does occur and this throws a wrench into the “no quick fix” theory.

Sometimes the soul does not need a long term lesson but a deep and dramatic awakening to the value of life, and when a threat to that life arises the lesson is sometimes learned quickly and the need for the threat dissipates. Other times miracles happen simply for us to remember that things beyond our understanding are possible. Why do some people experience miracles and others suffer through to the end of their physical life? Perhaps it is the lessons they are learning, or we can chalk it up to the great mysteries of life which we are not meant to unravel.

The Geometry of Food

2009-09-09T20:53:00.000-07:00

I will continue on the topic of food this week. Keep in mind that this column is my opinion and that you are more than welcome to join me in my way of thinking, run quickly away, or plant yourself somewhere in between. I want to get you looking around and thinking a little more deeply about the world that we live in.

Have you ever noticed that we live within a food triangle? We have our food manufacturers producing beautifully packaged lovely concoctions to fill our bellies temporarily. Then we have the pharmaceutical industry producing lovely remedies for the symptoms we develop from eating these concoctions.

And thirdly we have our lobbied political system happily making the third side of this triangle to keep things going around and around as they do. If you are wandering around living your life within the confines of this triangle you may be feeling like the rat on the wheel, but don’t despair because you can get off that wheel if you want to.

Paul Stitt wrote a book back in 1982 describing some of the time he spent working for a major food producer, and why he left that industry and started his own natural bakery. In his book titled “Beating the Food Giants” ISBN-10: 0939956063 ISBN-13: 978-0939956067 he “gives a first hand account of the inside workings of the giant food companies of America.

He tells how they program you to crave certain foods, to overeat every day, to make you feel stuffed but hungry.” So if you think that the giant food companies have your interest at heart, you may want to think again. Do you suppose that the food execs play golf with the pharmaceutical execs so that they can keep up to date on how many appetite stimulants need to be added to food and to figure out what ingredients to add to produce symptoms that will magically be “cured” by the latest miracle drug? Are you starting to get the picture? Some of you are thinking that I am completely off of my rocker and that this kind of thing does not happen here in Canada, and our government protects us from this, and I will respond to you by simply saying “read the labels.”

Dig a little deeper into some of those ingredients and discover their many properties. Also keep in mind that there are other things added to packaging and foods that don’t have to be identified on the label because they are not considered ingredients but food preparation or processing agents.

For a little more food awareness you may want to type “food truths” into your favourite search engine and do a little reading. Yes, I know that not everything that I read on the internet is substantiated, so maybe you could try the ultimate test and let your body tell you what to eat to make you feel energetic, clear minded, balanced and healthy. Oh, and if you want to jump out of the food triangle you can grow some of your own food and stick to purchasing whole unprocessed foods from your nearby produce stand or grocery store.

Check out the 100 Mile Diet movement if you want to get really serious about this http://100milediet.org/ I am not organized enough for the 100 Mile Diet step and may never be, but I think it is a great idea. Yes that means that you will have to spend more than your usual two minutes in front of the microwave in the kitchen to prepare these choices and, yes that means that you may have to take some time to do some menu planning and learning how to prepare new and exciting foods. It does take a lot of time and a lot of effort, but if you stick with it, it can become a natural way of life and it can enrich your health.

U R What U Eat

2009-08-26T19:23:00.000-07:00

There is no way around it. Who you are and how you operate in the world is directly connected to what you choose to put in your mouth and what your digestive system can efficiently convert into energy for you. I have held back talking about food because many people do not want to hear it. They know they need to make changes but are overwhelmed by the seemingly insurmountable task in front of them and find it easier to ignore the issue than to begin making heads or tails of it. So, if you don't want to learn anymore, stop reading here and check out another of the great Chatham Kent Daily Post Columns. If I have caught a little of your curiosity I do want to tell you that it is possible to shift from a junk food junkie to a whole food fan with some patience and perseverance. The first step is to do the research. Yes your Aunt Gertrude's friend of a friend may have lost 150 pounds on the cabbage soup diet but at what expense? Pull up your common sense and ask yourself if the program you are considering seems balanced and appropriate for you. Consider whether you can see yourself making this way a permanent part of your life, as temporary shifts in eating habits often lead to feelings of failure as far as personal nutrition is concerned, and limit your motivation to every try improving your ways again. Don't make dramatic changes in eating habits over short periods of time unless your life is at stake. Take it slow and easy, perhaps removing one kind of unhealthy food and replacing it with a healthy alternative and give your self several weeks to allow this change to become a normal part of your routine before making your next change.

Years ago when it became evident that I was intolerant of dairy products, a very common status of Blood Type O people, (I experienced major sinus problems, constipation, excess mucus production) I started eliminating it in stages. First I cut out all glasses of milk giving myself several months to adapt to this. Next I eliminated solid cheeses and left yogurt in my choices. Finally the yogurt went and I now occasionally eat goat or sheep cheese without any of the previous symptoms. This process took me over two years to complete and because I did it slowly and when I felt I was ready, I have not ever felt the need to return to the milk guzzling, cheese chewing person that I was, and my health has improved because of it.

So how do you begin to improve your eating habits? Which changes will give you the most bang for your buck? In my opinion there are three things that you can begin to eliminate, one at a time, that will undoubtedly have you felling better and more in balance. They are refined sugar, monosodium glutamate (MSG), and wheat & wheat products. Okay some of you really want to stop reading now, but I will repeat IT IS POSSIBLE! It is much easier today than it was 20 years ago when I cleaned up my diet. Our love affair with processed foods is waning and healthier choices are becoming more available every day. Refined sugar offers you nothing but empty calories and robs the body of essential nutrients as it is being processed in your system. Don't believe me? Check this out http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/refined-sugar-the-sweetest-poison-of-all.html It is a negative food. Eating it leaves you in a deficit and provides you only with refined carbohydrate energy aka hyper energy. And then of course there is the blood sugar crash that soon follows once your pancreas has jumped into action and pumped out insulin to deal with the rapid increase in blood sugar level from the refined sugar. The gentlest of people can become werewolves and foam at the mouth when their blood sugar is rebounding
from a sugar hit. So you can start reading labels on your foods looking for sugars of all forms. Refined sugar is a shape shifter and comes in many forms. Many products have several forms of it so that sugar does not have to appear as the first, most plentiful ingredient on the label. To make it easier to identify the sugars in packaged food products, here is a list of a hundred alternative names for hidden sugars:

Amasake
Apple sugar
Barbados sugar
Bark sugar
Barley malt
Barley malt syrup
Beet sugar
Brown rice syrup
Brown sugar
Cane juice
Cane sugar
Caramelized foods
Carbitol
Carmel coloring
Carmel sugars
Concentrated fruit juice
Corn sweetener
Corn syrup
Date sugar
Dextrin
Dextrose
Diglycerides
Disaccharides
D-tagalose
Evaporated cane juice
Evaporated cane juice
Florida crystals
Fructooligosaccharides (FOS)
Fructose
Fruit juice concentrate
Galactose
Glucitol
Glucoamine
Gluconolactone
Glucose
Glucose polymers
Glucose syrup
Glycerides
Glycerine
Glycerol
Glycol
Hexitol
High-fructose corn syrup
Honey
Inversol
Invert sugar
Isomalt
Karo syrups
Lactose
Levulose
"Light" sugar
"Lite" sugar
Malitol
Malt dextrin
Malted barley
Maltodextrins
Maltodextrose
Maltose
Malts
Mannitol
Mannose
Maple syrup
Microcrystalline cellulose
Molasses
Monoglycerides
Monosaccarides
Nectars
Neotame
Pentose
Polydextrose
Polyglycerides
Powdered sugar
Raisin juice
Raisin syrup
Raw sugar
Ribose rice syrup
Rice malt
Rice sugar
Rice sweeteners
Rice syrup solids
Saccharides
Sorbitol
Sorghum
Sucanat
Sucanet
Sucrose
Sugar cane
Trisaccharides
Turbinado sugar
Unrefined sugar
White sugar
Xylitol
Zylose

This list came from http://articlesunlimited.holisticnetworkexchange.com/sugar_diet.html

Next on the list is monosodium glutamate or MSG. To date this flavour enhancer has been identified as a neuro (brain) toxin and an appetite stimulant. You can read more for yourself http://www.amazon.com/Slow-Poisoning-America-Michelle-Erb/dp/0974199303 and decide how to proceed. Just like refined sugar, MSG has several aliases and is hard to spot at a glance. Here is what Health Canada has to say about it http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/addit/msg_qa-qr-eng.php Here is a list of some of the names that MSG also goes by Gelatin, Calcium Caseinate ,Monosodium glutamate, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP), Textured Protein, Monopotassium glutamate, Hydrolyzed Plant Protein (HPP), Yeast Extract, Glutamate, Autolyzed Plant Protein, Yeast food or nutrient, Glutamic Acid, Sodium Caseinate, Autolyzed Yeast, Vegetable Protein Extract, Senomyx (wheat extract labeled as artificial flavor). Take some time, decide for yourself.

The third item on my hit list for worst foods is wheat. There is not one blood type that responds well to this food according to the research conducted by Dr. John D'Adamo and his son Peter. Check out their work at www.dadamo.com . Give yourself lots of time to browse this site as there is a lot to discover there. Basically they believe that different blood types require different types of food to keep their bodies functioning at their peak. Many people throw this kind of “diet” into the categories of other diets like the South Beach Diet, The Atkins Diet, or the Zone Diet etc. I think there is a lot more wisdom to what the D'Adamos have to say and that in the future many more people will use their science to support their nutritional choices. I have been using myself as a human guinea pig experimenting with foods for more than 25 years and I have to say that their recommendations for my blood type O body are smack on to what I have found to be true for myself. Removing wheat from your food choices is a big task, but it can be done and the alternate choices available today, versus 25 years ago when I started my explorations with food, are tremendous.

The D'Adamo's recommendations for your blood type can give you many more suggestions to assist you to develop an eating plan that actually works for you. In these challenging times a good steady supply of energy from your food choices can assist you to meet these challenges and still have some energy left over to live your life fully.

You are probably feeling overwhelmed and under motivated about changing your eating habits if you have read this far. Don't despair. Small changes added a bit at a time can reward you with positive results and motivate you to continue. Your body will guide you in the right direction if you take the time to listen to it. The D'Adamos work is based on direct observation of interactions between food & blood proteins and has taken a lot of the guess work out what to eat and what not to eat. Over time your taste preferences can and do change, and when your body is receiving good nutrition it does not need to crave things in an effort to get you to give it the nutrients it is missing.

Positive Change IS Possible!

What Is A Balance Point?

2009-08-21T17:59:00.000-07:00

It occurred to me that I regularly write about maintaining a balance point but I have yet to describe what that is. I also thought about the idea that many people who are far from their balance points are unaware of their situation and that they may have never experienced what a balanced life feels like, so I thought that I would dedicate this column to a better understanding of what balance is and is not. First of all I want to state that I am not a perfectly balanced human being and that I don't aspire to that level of perfectionism, but I do have a sphere of balance that I like to live my life within because it feels better than living in chaos. Sometimes I must learn to ride the wild horse of chaos as I shift to a new balance point, but harmony is my preferred state of being.
As I try to explain how balance manifests itself in one's life, I will start with describing what balance isn't.

Some Signs That You May Be Out of Balance

Physical
· sleep disorders
· appetite imbalances
· indigestion
· extra weight in localized areas of the body
· no lifestyle plan (nutrition, exercise etc.) in place

Mental
· fear & insecurity
· anxiety & worry
· hostility & frustration
· unrealistic goals & expectations

Emotional
· frequently impulsive
· always feeling in a hurry
· uncontrollable expression of emotions
· stuck in a predominant single emotion
· small problems seem insurmountable
· addictions

Spiritual
· feeling lost or disconnected
· unable to remember dreams
· frequent nightmares
· overly self-centered
· lack of at least one spiritual practice
· addictions

And here is a peek into what balanced living is like.

Some Signs of Being in Balance

Physical
· regular sleep patterns
· appetite correlates to physical activity level
· evenly distributed body weight
· efficient metabolism & digestive system
· aware of lifestyle needs to maintain balance
Mental
· Calmness of mind
· A relaxed outlook on life
· Self-confidence
· A good, healthy perspective on life
· Understanding of life and ourselves
· Being happy and comfortable with ourselves
Emotional
· able to feel & express a full range of emotions
· evenly paced
· problems approached as challenges and opportunities for growth
· emotions perceived as guidelines for balanced living
· self directed
Spiritual
· feeling supported & purposeful
· being in the right place at the right time
· self awareness
· understanding the connectedness of all life
· regular synchronicities
· resiliency

These are general markers for balance or imbalance, and everyone has idiosyncrasies that may need to be a part of their balanced life, even when no one else understands that need. A state of balance is ever changing and fluid, like the weather. The four categories, physical, mental, emotional & spiritual, are listed separately but they are inseparable. They are like the four legs of a chair, without one of them the chair is unstable and cannot fulfill its purpose. Juggling these four aspects of ourselves is a full time, life-long job. Our parents demonstrate some of the ways to live as we are growing, but as an adult, it becomes our responsibility to learn how to care for ourselves in a healthy way. So where do we begin to discern what works for us? Follow your interests and instincts. There is a reason that you are interested in something – it is calling to you. Perhaps you will learn that it is something that adds great dimension to your life, or that it offers only empty promises, but you have still learned something by giving yourself the opportunity to explore it. Every once in a while ask yourself if you are following your inner clues to build a balanced life or if you are operating on auto pilot following the cultural norm or running away from opportunities for growth that may be challenging. You can talk to respected friends and family members for lifestyle advice, but you are your best guide because you live with yourself and you are the one to experience the outcome of your decisions.
Healing and growth processes often involve stepping out of, sliding off of, or crashing out of your familiar balance state to enable you to experience life fully and then make new choices for yourself. A perpetual, unchanging state of balance, which I personally call a rut, can maintain status quo for quite a while, especially if you are someone who does not like change, but if it is not in line with your life purpose some part of your life will unravel to make room for the change to grow.
Some people are gypsies and have no fixed address by choice, others are home bodies who know every nuance of their home and land because they have lived there for their entire life. Others fall somewhere in between these extremes, and these are all good life choices if they are in line with the individual's soul purpose. My point is that life balance is an individual recipe that cannot be copied or borrowed from another.
Spiritual practices such as meditation and yoga assist one to develop their self awareness and clear away confusion. They help to balance the energies in all four sectors of life. Jin Shin Jyutsu® is another practice that ramps up the self-awareness factor – translated directly into English Jin Shin Jyutsu® is “divine expression of a compassionate, aware human”. Jin Shin Jyutsu® offers a self-healing component that can help you to stay in touch with your personal lifestyle needs and maintain your interconnectedness to all of life. To try a little Jin Shin Jyutsu® for yourself to clarify what your lifestyle ingredients are, you may want to keep your Safety Energy Lock 14's open. The Safety Energy Lock (SEL) 14's assist us to understand how to live life fully and balanced as a human being. The SEL 14's are found on each side of the body, on the front of the torso, just below the curve of the ribcage.

By holding these SELs gently with your fingertips for five minutes 3 to 4 times a day you will activate them and help your lifestyle light bulbs to turn on. You might find a renewed sense of motivation to stick to a healthy regime, you may become aware of choices that don't fit you anymore and you may find yourself trying new things that you have never dared try before. What have you got to lose? A little time away from the key board, remote control or game controller might start a new adventure for you!

Feng Shuing Your Spouse

2009-08-14T09:58:00.000-07:00

To continue a theme of Ho'oponopono, I thought I would write about applying it to relationships and weave some Feng Shui wisdom. Now why would anyone want to Feng Shui their spouse? Is the honeymoon over? Are those little habits that used to make you shiver with delight now annoying the heck out of you? Hmmm where did the chemistry of new love & bliss go? Well, in case the wise mentors in your life have not informed you that this is a natural unfolding of a committed relationship, I am sharing that idea with you now.
So how can Feng Shui harmonize relationships that are moving past the honeymoon stage? Lets' take a look at those Kua/Gua numbers that I introduced you to last week. Based on a person's gender, birth date and birth year, an individual will have an East or a West group Kua/Gua number. People of the same group generally have similar qualities and are considered compatible, and people of opposite groups are considered not as compatible. For more detailed information about this concept search the internet for various compatibility calculators and articles.
Yes, on paper, some couples are more compatible than others, but don't panic if you, like myself find yourself to have a completely opposite direction partner. Think about the deeper core purpose for the relationship. Did you commit to this person to live in the honeymoon state for the rest of your life, or did you agree to heal and grow along side one another? If you did partner up with someone who is your opposite, maybe you agreed to learn about patience, compassion and tolerance, and it is time to move forward with that understanding. Perhaps you can also observe how the pairing of opposites does work well in some situations. In my case, for instance, I am a big picture, global thinker kind of gal and my husband finds balance in wading through the small details that drive me crazy. When it is time to purchase a large ticket item he gets to work checking through all the fine print specifications, coming up with two or three options, and when he is ready I get to work intuiting when, and possibly where, we might find this best item.
If you are living in an ever harmonious relationship you don't need to read articles like this. But if you are human like me, chances are that a few reminders of the importance of looking within to find your way are helpful. You could consider working with Ho'oponopono (www.hooponopono.org/, www.ancienthuna.com/ho-oponopono.htm ) or Tong Len www.shambhala.org/teachers/pema/tonglen1.php , www.quietmountain.org/links/teachings/tonglen.htm ) to take full responsibility for the inharmonious parts of the relationships that you are engaged in. Hmmmm, yes, instead of pointing the finger at others, you can learn how to go within, develop self awareness, and surrender to healing your shortcomings with the assistance of divine forces.
Back to a little Feng Shui. To engage universal forces that can assist the harmonizing of relationships you can tweak the relationship corner of your house and your bedroom. To find the relationship corner of your house stand at your front door, looking into the house, and find the back right hand corner – that is the relationship corner in Bagua/Pa Kua Feng Shui. The relationship corner of your bedroom is found in a similar way. Stand at the doorway of the bedroom, looking into the room, and determine which corner is the back right one. To power up these spaces, place photographs, paintings, sculptures and other objects here that represent committed loving and respectful relationships to you. If you need some ideas do a little on line research or borrow a book from the local library. Be creative and make it personally meaningful. This kind of embellishment does not automatically create a life-long, romantic and blissful relationship, but it can awaken you to positive changes that you can make to help this process along.
Relationships are complex dances of bodies, minds and souls. If you want to grow old along side another you may want to learn how to dance to many different rhythms.

Moving Into Expanded Forgiveness with Responsibility

2009-07-30T11:16:00.000-07:00

I wrote an earlier posting on expanded reciprocity and I have felt that it is time to add one on expanded forgiveness. Many people including myself will admit that forgiving is a challenging task and that forgiving oneself is the most difficult kind of forgiveness. So what if we shifted our perspective on the whole subject somewhat and agreed to accept our personal part of responsibility involved in every interaction past, present and future?
A segment of Hawaiian Shamanism known as Ho'oponopono asks us to do just this. Keep in mind that the following explanation of this practice is my opinion, based on my experiences and understandings of this way, and may not be entirely accurate according to others' experiences and opinions. Through Ho'oponopono we are asked to consider that we hold part of the responsibility within us for any inharmonious occurrence, and that we can ask for forgiveness and healing of that part which we are holding. From the website www.ancienthuna.com/ho-oponopono.htm the following step by step process is explained:

The Process of Ho'oponopono:
1.Bring to mind anyone with whom you do not feel total alignment or support, etc.
2.In your mind's eye, construct a small stage below you
3.Imagine an infinite source of love and healing flowing from a source above the top of your head (from your Higher Self), and open up the top of your head, and let the source of love and healing flow down inside your body, fill up the body, and overflow out your heart to heal up the person on the stage. Be sure it is all right for you to heal the person and that they accept the healing.
4.When the healing is complete, have a discussion with the person and forgive them, and have them forgive you.
5.Next, let go of the person, and see them floating away. As they do, cut the aka cord that connects the two of you (if appropriate). If you are healing in a current primary relationship, then assimilate the person inside you.
6.Do this with every person in your life with whom you are incomplete, or not aligned.
The final test is, can you see the person or think of them without feeling any negative emotions. If you do feel negative emotions when you do, then do the process again.
As I work more and more with Ho'oponopono for my personal healing I understand how it helps to heal the blood memories or ancestral occurrences that I am allowing myself to be limited by. It has been and continues to be very enlightening. My slightly different and Reiki-Jin Shin Jyutsu®-Feng Shui-Shamanic inspired version of Ho'oponopono healing involves a prayer that goes something like this...
“I am sorry for that part of myself that is responsible for (fill in the blank _______________)
Please forgive me for being unaware of this part of myself and being unable to heal it.
Thank you, Divine, for releasing this from me and healing me of it.
I Love You.”
I centre myself with my breath, bring up my power and ask for assistance from my power animals, and focus my full intent into this prayer as I speak it. Sometimes I speak it only within, other times I speak it aloud. Sometimes I visualize intention while using it. Other times I let the Divine carry that part and watch as interesting energies move around, through and about me. I repeat the prayer as many times as necessary until I no longer feel limited by the situation that I am working with. Sometimes I need to revisit the situation again to heal another layer of it, sometimes the healing is completed with one application.
Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len and Dr. Joe Vitale have combined their awareness of Ho'oponopono in a book titled “Zero Limits” ISBN-10: 0470402563 or ISBN-13: 978-0470402566. If my brief explanation of Ho'oponopono has awakened your curiosity, I highly recommend that you read this book. It will probably change the way that you live your life.
Happy forgving!

To Feng Shui or Not to Feng Shui, That IS the Question!

2009-07-20T18:02:00.000-07:00

Richard Craze, the author of one of my favourite Feng Shui reference books “Feng Shui: A Complete Guide” (ISBN-10: 0340697083) describes Feng Shui the following way: “Put simply, Feng Shui is the art of learning to live in harmony with our surroundings. The rules of Feng Shui are based on thousands of years of observation and experimentation over countless millions of lifetimes. These are firm and proven methods of changing and improving the way we live.”
Is Feng Shui something that you need to pay attention to? You are the only one who can answer that for yourself. I could try to convince you that everyone needs to live and work with Feng Shui, but I don’t believe that this is true. Everyone is unique and responds to their environment in uniquely different ways. Some people are completely comfortable in their own skin and in any setting. Others, like myself, are quite sensitive and feel every nuance of their living space. And others fall somewhere in between.
According to Richard Craze “There’s no such thing as bad Feng Shui – merely Feng Shui that doesn’t work for a particular person living in a particular place.” If everything is fine in your life, then nothing needs changing. If there are areas of your life that need improving, Feng Shui can help. The thousands of years of observation that went into the development of modern Feng Shui principles has led masters of this art to believe that we each live lives that are divided into nine main sectors or gua. Take a few moments and rate these areas of your life on a scale of one to ten, one being poor, ten being excellent.
1. reputation and fame
2. peace and happiness
3. pleasure
4. new beginnings and improvements
5. successful relationships
6. children, family and creativity
7. wisdom and experience
8. wealth and money
9. overall life satisfaction and contentment

How did you do? Hopefully you have a bit better understanding of where to begin if you need to make changes.
In these rapidly changes times I personally take solace in ancient practices that have stood the test of time. Feng Shui is one of the practices that I have incorporated into my life to help me stay flexible, keep flowing, and keep shifting and changing as needed. I find that it helps me to maintain a high level of awareness of present energy patterns and upcoming shifts in them, so that I can stay in the game of life in a mostly harmonized way. I have to confess however, that I am a reluctant Feng Shuier. As you know from earlier postings, I prefer to focus on the big picture and leave the fine details to other detail oriented thinkers, so the idea of calculating energy patterns in my home and shifting things accordingly did not exactly appeal to me at first. However, as with many things in my life, I followed my instincts, stretched myself a little, and gave it a shot. I discovered that when I was Feng Shuing my home my life did indeed flow with a greater sense of ease and vitality, and when I became too bogged down with details and let the Feng Shuing lapse I began running into snags and glitches and unexpected sharp turns. Hmmmm, enough of that! Like a stray animal that shows up for a meal, Feng Shui became a permanent part of my life. And like all of the practices that I study, Feng Shui continues to teach me many things about myself, the universe, and my place in the universe. So my motto is, Feng Shui, you can’t afford not to do it!

If you need it, happy Feng Shuing to you!

New Website & Contest!

2009-07-12T16:53:00.000-07:00

In honour of the launch of my new website www.bpewellnesschatham.com I am also launching a Feng Shui Contest for residents of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. Here it is...

Feng Shui Chatham-Kent Contest!

Grand Prize

A Free Detailed Energy Analysis of Your Home
Using details such as the facing direction of your home or office, its date of construction, occupants birth dates, and information gathered from an on site inspection, I will create a written report outlining a plan for optimizing the energies in your space. Your report will include suggestions for harnessing the beneficial energies of your surrounding environment, optimizing the shape of your property, best use for each compass orientation, and best placement of elements inside the home. Additional notes on the building’s structure, individual spaces within the building and matching occupants to rooms will also be included. This consultation requires several weeks to complete. My usual fee for this service starts at $500+GST.

Second Prize

A Walk Through Consultation
During a 1 ½ to 2-hour session I will walk your property and inspect your home to point out auspicious features and make recommendations for correcting unhealthy energies. My usual fee for this service starts at $125+GST

Third Prize

A $50 Gift Certificate for BALANCE POINT ENERGETICS Feng Shui Services.

General Contest Rules
You must be a resident of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent and 18 years of age or older to enter. You must be one of the principal owners or leasees of the property, which will be surveyed for Feng Shui purposes.
1. No purchase is necessary to enter. A 500 word or less story describing why you deserve to win a Feng Shui consultation with Sally Joyce of BALANCE POINT ENERGETICS must be received by midnight August 31, 2009 at 149 St. Clair Street, Chatham, ON N7L 3J4. Entries will be accepted by mail, drop off to 149 St. Clair Street, or through our online form only.
2. All winners agree to participate in one or two follow up interviews conducted by Sally Joyce of BALANCE POINT ENERGETICS and an employee of the Chatham Kent Daily Post, which may be published in online sources.
3. Employees (or immediate family members of employees) of The Chatham Kent Daily Post, or any agency connected with any contest are not eligible to win any prize.
4. BALANCE POINT ENERGETICS and contest sponsors are not responsible or liable for entries that are lost, misdirected, delayed, destroyed or lost in delivery.
5. Entries that are late, incomplete, illegible, damaged, irregular, have been submitted through illicit means, or do not conform to or satisfy any condition of the rules may be disqualified.
6. Potential winners will be notified by telephone and announced in The Chatham Kent Daily Post.
7. BALANCE POINT ENERGETICS and contest sponsors are not liable for any damages or injuries as a result of participation in any contest or as a result of attendance at events where prizes are awarded.
8. This contest is subject to the laws of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada as may be applicable.
9. Chances of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received.
10. BALANCE POINT ENERGETICS reserves the right to amend these rules as and when they deem necessary. Rules may change from time to time in any given contest. BALANCE POINT ENERGETICS and contest sponsors are not responsible for any typographical, production or distribution errors that may occur during the contest or in any contest material.
11. Decisions of BALANCE POINT ENERGETICS and contest sponsors are final in all cases.
12. Winners agree to allow their names and photographs to be used for promotional purposes without compensation.

Enter now by going to http://www.bpewellnesschatham.com/events-and-promotions/feng-shui-chatham-kent-contest/

Firefly Walk

2009-07-04T22:03:00.000-07:00

There are many things in life that are priceless and I just experienced one of them. It is quite late, but I have just been inspired by the fireflies of July and I hope to convince you to go out and connect with them too. I live right smack dab in the middle of the urban sector of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. I am in walking distance of the downtown, several schools and plazas. Yet in all of this urbanity there are still magical pockets of wild places tucked here and there. We are quite fortunate to live in a small city that quite often has a peaceful vibe. I know that many people find this boring and lame, but if you engage it and ask it to share its peace with you, it can soothe
a frazzled nervous system and let you hear the whispers of guidance available to you.
I have lived in other places, but I have spent the majority of my nights sleeping in Chatham-Kent. Some of the other places offered soothing and refreshing sleeps. Some of them even offered fabulous dreams as I slept in fields of wild sage and lavender. Other places offered little refreshing sleep as I buzzed from the hum of the big city caffeine rush that continues all through the day and night.
I am blessed to live in a quiet neighbourhood in Chatham-Kent, where sometimes I awaken just to listen to the stillness of the night.
On these gentle and warm summer nights I often go for a quiet wander just before retiring to connect with the peacefulness of this time and carry that into my sleep. Not far from my house is a small creek that is wooded on both sides and offers a haven for many forms of wildlife. In July the fireflies begin to appear and offer their blessed glow after the sun sets. Tonight the fireflies put on another
light show as I stood and marveled at their magic. As they hovered above the stream their reflections doubled their display. I breathed it in deeply letting it take me completely into the moment. This kind of experience fills me up, recharges me and gives me power that I bring forward when working with my clients. It is medicine and it is priceless.

Wishing you priceless medicine too!

No Excuses for Disrespect

2009-06-27T12:16:00.001-07:00

I have been thinking a lot about respect lately. Thinking about how different people have different ideas about what respect is. Thinking about how to act when people are treating me disrespectfully. Thinking about how I am human and make mistakes and sometimes treat other disrespectfully. And why it is that some deliberately choose to treat others with disrespect. I have come to a personal conclusion that there is no excuse for treating oneself or anyone or anything else with disrespect. Yes there may be reasons such as lack of awareness, unconsciousness, woundedness etc. that are at the root of someone’s disrespectful behaviour. But these are not to be used as excuses. If mistakes have been made, apologies should be offered, not excuses.
I have met some truly amazing people lately that have helped me to forge this opinion. They have lived through adversity that would have been the death of most of us. And these people choose to see their experiences as awakening ones that show them the value and beauty of life. They chose and continue to choose to keep their hearts open and warm and truly understand that life is to be lived fully, gracefully and respectfully. Victimhood is far from their thoughts and actions.
These people have helped me to remember that it is our own lack of respect for ourselves that motivates us to deliberately disrespect anyone or anything. As I continue through my life along a path of healing and growing I find myself respecting myself more and more and becoming more aware of some of the ways that I have acted in the past that are disrespectful to my own person or to things, people, or situations in my life. My desire to find better ways to react and behave has led me to ponder the concept of respect for many years.
As my self-love grows I find that I am unwilling to put up with many kinds of behaviour from others. I now have the guts to simply walk away when I am not being treated properly. In the past I have stood there and taken the abuse while trying to come up with the right words or actions to inject into the situation. At this point in my life I realize that there are no words or actions that can counter this kind of treatment, so I simply and gracefully walk away from it, don’t respond to it, and outright ignore it. I don’t give it any energy or take any energy from it, and allow it to travel back to the issuer with the intent that they can feel and experience the kind of energy that they have just expressed in the world. For some individuals this does serve to awaken their awareness about their personal needs, for others it simply adds fuel to their fire. It simply comes down to choice. What kind of person do we want to be, and what kind of energy do we want to put out into the world? Many have forgotten that we truly are the creators of the temperament and climate of the world that we live in. What we sow is what we reap.
Jamie Sams writes about respect and Sacred Space in her Sacred Path Cards resource
http://www.jamiesams.com/sacredcards.html . She has this to say: “Every inch of our Earth Mother is the home of one life form or another. We are guests in another’s space when we leave our own. We share air, food, soil, water, and sunlight and by her grace we are given the Guardianship of our Sacred Spaces during our Earth Walk. We must clean our personal Sacred Spaces in order to learn respect for others. The time is NOW and the power is in understanding the validity of each life form’s right to life.”

Wishing you openheartedness with whatever life brings you so that you too may live respectfully.
With Jin Shin Jyutsu® we can learn to keep our hearts open by holding our little fingers with the opposite hand

My Definition of Passion

2009-06-08T12:27:00.000-07:00

I am heading off to Pelee Island this weekend to Total Recall 8. This will be the 7th Total Recall event that I have attended. I missed the first one because I was busy with Teacher’s College or something of the sort. I travel to the island annually for this event to get my estrogen fix, merge with the quietness of the island and share some of the wisdom that has been shared with me by some of my great teachers.
Sorry guys, this is a Women’s Only event, you can still travel to the island this weekend, but you will be prohibited from entering the retreat grounds where all of the power & magic is being generated and shared. You will also have to share the ferry ride with lots and lots of women who are leaving their everyday life behind to let their wise wildwoman out to play, learn and grow.
So I am presenting a workshop about the Feng Shui of Passion and I have yet to put my thoughts and ideas to paper. I always like to give the women a handout for them to take home so they can apply what they have learned, and I thought that by writing my blog about it it would get me started and I would be completing 1 ½ tasks with one effort.
So I am wondering, what is my definition of passion? There are many definitions of passion, but I will stick with my own because it is my workshop so I get to deliver it the way that I want to! To me, passion is the force that drives us, motivates us and fires us unrelentingly to express ourselves in the world. This expression of ourselves is unlimited only by the limits that we set upon ourselves. Passion shines out of us every moment through the thoughts that we think, the choices that we make, the actions that we do or don’t do. Sometimes it whispers repeatedly to us very quietly from deep within, other times it screams at us keeping us awake at night until we listen to its message. Passion is the language of our soul. It guides us back to our path or propels us along it even when we think we have no more courage to spare. It picks us up and carries us through the most difficult parts of our lives.
My task this weekend is to help the women who attend my workshop understand how they can use the art of Feng Shui to turn up the volume on their passion, or turn it down if needed. Feng Shui is all about balance & harmony. Adjusting one’s exterior environment can help one to find inner harmony. It works the other way around too, as when one invests time & energy on their inner work they often find themselves wanting to make changes in their home & work environments.
If you want to learn more about the Pelee Island Total Recall 8 go to http://www.peleeislandretreats.com/ And for Feng Shui tips and wisdom stay tuned to my blog for future postings.

Great Passion to you!

Things I Have Been Creating Lately - Part 2

2009-05-28T07:04:00.000-07:00

Yes, I have been quite busy of late manifesting some of the inspired ideas that I receive while meditating, journeying, yogaing (new word!), walking, sleeping, dreaming, sweeping my floor, gardening and just being. Yes I have an active mind, and at this time of year when the fire energy of heart and small intestine are at their peak, my creative fires burn brightly. Maybe one day I will have a team of great people helping me to keep up with all of the inspiration!
Last Thursday night I hosted my first Third Thursday and it was exactly as intentioned, FUN, informative, healing, interesting, and relaxing. So what is this Third Thursday? The third Thursday of every month between 7 & 9 p.m. (come at 6:45 p.m. if you haven’t pre registered) at my office @ 149 St. Clair Street Chatham, for a low fee of $20 (includes gst) you can join with a group of curious, interesting, and caring people who have gathered together to learn the Art of Jin Shin Jyutsu®. We sit in circle while learning and experiencing a new concept every month. The proposed schedule for the rest of the year looks like this:

Thursday June 18, 2009 The Five Fingers and the Five Attitudes of Dis-Ease – Learn
how each finger corresponds to the organ systems of your body
and how simple hand holds can assist you to energize the
144,000 energy flows of your energy body.

Thursday July 16, 2009 Going with the Flow – How to get unstuck & continue growing
into your full potential.

Thursday August 20, 2009 Keeping your cool! Regulating body temperature and
de-stressing with Jin Shin Jyutsu®

Thursday September 17, 2009 How to laugh when life doesn’t feel so funny. Filling the
Glass half full.

Thursday October 15, 2009 First Aid with Jin Shin Jyutsu® Class One – the first of three
sessions demonstrating the use of Jin Shin Jyustu® in emergency
situations. ALWAYS CALL 911 FIRST!

Thursday November 19, 2009 First Aid with Jin Shin Jyutsu® Class Two – the second
of three sessions demonstrating the use of Jin Shin Jyustu® in
emergency situations. ALWAYS CALL 911 FIRST

Thursday December 17, 2009 First Aid with Jin Shin Jyutsu® Class Three – the third
of three sessions demonstrating the use of Jin Shin Jyustu® in
emergency situations. ALWAYS CALL 911 FIRST

…and upcoming topics for next year include:

· Headache & migraine management with Jin Shin Jyutsu®
· Pain management with Jin Shin Jyutsu®
· Jin Shin Jyutsu® for Athletes
· Jin Shin Jyustu® for Pregnancy, labour & delivery
· Jin Shin Jyutsu® for newborn children
· Jin Shin Jyutsu® for children’s ailments
· Blood sugar & Jin Shin Jyutsu®
· Allergies & Jin Shin Jyutsu®
And more, including those topics suggested by you!

So I am off to do some more creating to help spread the benefits of Jin Shin Jyutsu® right after I complete my own self-care regimen for today.

Fortunate Blessings to you!

Things That I Have Been Creating Lately-Part One

2009-05-22T19:16:00.000-07:00

I have spent the last several posts explaining several ways that I have learned to assist others to recover their health and empower themselves. So I thought that I would use this post to show you some of the ways that I offer these services in Chatham-Kent. Over the last several years, as I have attended and experienced Shamanic Trainings, worked with my helping spirits, developed academic curriculum for elementary students, journeyed for my personal needs, and lived my life breath by breath, I have woven together a set of experiences that I believe offers individuals a good, full introduction to the Shamanic Way. The first year of this Shamanic Apprenticeship program introduces participants to the core basics and gives them sufficient time and understanding to assimilate it all to a cellular level. By the time the second year of training rolls around, most participants know whether they want to continue their Shamanic studies further and step into to a deeper commitment to the Shamanic way.
This is the outline for the Shamanic Training that I share with interested parties:

Do you…

…often feel like you are a puppet of our culture and the economic factors driving it?

… feel like you are missing something?

…want to discover another way to live - a way that helps you to live in harmony with all other living things?

…want to truly understand and experience what it means to be empowered?

…want to understand more about your life’s purpose?

If these questions call to a deep part of yourself then you may want to consider joining others searching for answers to these questions as a participant in an introductory shamanic program.

What is Shamanism?

“Shamanism is a spirituality that reveres everything, including our planet, Earth, as alive. In the shamanic worldview, everything that exists is interrelated with everything else. We are all related, not just to each other as families and humans, but also to all things in nature - trees, rocks, animals and so forth. We are all alive beings, privileged to live upon our relative, the Earth.
Shamanism is a tradition of personal and planetary health, empowerment, relatedness, and spiritual growth. It recognizes that we live in a Universe of both ordinary and non-ordinary realities, and that these worlds are vitally connected to the well-being of all.”
Nan Moss & David Corbin

“Once upon a time a spell was cast upon people across the land. The spell made people believe we are all separate beings with no connection to each other and no connection with nature or the rest of life. The spell continued with the belief that anything we could not see, hear, feel, smell, or taste with our ordinary senses did not exist. And the spell caused people to believe that only humans had a soul, which a punishing God judged the nature of. Happiness only came from financial gain, collecting material objects, and having power over people, the animal world, and all of nature. The spell also set the belief that individuals were not creative and their role was to behave and conform to society.
The possibilities of re-establishing communication with nature and our souls and reconnecting with the cycles, rhythm, and flow of the river of life reminds us that the light we seek is not far away.”
Sandra Ingerman

Introduction to Shamanism
A One-Year Apprenticeship Program Facilitated by Sally Joyce In Southwestern Ontario

Spring
“The Shamanic Journey” an introduction to the three worlds

Reading Material: “The Beginners Guide to Shamanic Journeying” – Sandra Ingerman
Format:Audio Book (CD) Published:November 1, 2003
Published By:Sounds True ISBN:1591791111

Personal Work (homework) – using the shamanic journey to answer a set of questions, and then preparing yourself to share your findings with others in the group

Summer
“The Rattle” creating sacred space

Reading Material: “Shamanism As A Spiritual Practice For Daily Life” – Tom Cowan
Format: Trade Paperback Published: December 31, 1990
Published By: The Crossing Press ISBN:0895948389

Personal Work (homework) – creating your own rattle using inspirations from your journeys and your shamanic experiences thus far

Fall
“The Drum” connecting to great mother and the rhythms of the universe

Reading Material: “Drumming at the Edge of Magic” and/or “Planet Drum” – Mickey Hart
Format: Trade Paperback Published: April 10, 1999 Format: Trade paperback Published: October 10, 1998
Published By: Grateful Dead Productions Published By: Grateful Dead Productions
ISBN:1888358181 ISBN:1888358203

Personal Work (homework) – creating your own drum using inspirations from journeys

Winter
“Power Animals” non-ordinary assistance for everyday life

Reading Material: “Soul Retrieval” – Sandra Ingerman
Format: Trade Paperback Published: August 17, 2006
Published By:HarperSanFrancisco ISBN:0061227862

Personal Work (homework) Acquainting with and integrating the power of your animal spirit and the option of preparing to continue on to Year Two of the Apprenticeship

Introduction to Shamanism
A Two-Year Apprenticeship Program Facilitated by Sally Joyce
In Southwestern Ontario
YEAR TWO
Spring
“Your Earth Work” prebirth contracts, awakening to your divine potential

Reading Material: “Sacred Contracts” – Caroline Myss
Format:Trade Paperback Published:January 28, 2003
Published By:Crown Publishing Group ISBN:0609810111

Personal Work (homework) creating a piece of art representing your divine potential

Summer
“Spiritual Hygiene” – reclaiming and protecting your power

Reading Material: “Sacred Space” – Denise Linn
Format:Trade Paperback Published:December 26, 1995
Published By:Random House Publishing Group ISBN:034539769X

Personal Work (homework) develop personal practices for maintaining power and be prepared to teach them to your circle mates

Fall
“Continuous Healing” finding your personal medicines

Reading Material: various complimentary healing texts, recommendations will be made

Personal Work (homework) prepare a short lesson about your medicine of choice and be prepared to demonstrate its use on a circle mate

Winter
“Community Work” working together to bring healing to the planet

Reading Material: “Welcome Home” Sandra Ingerman “City of Beasts” Isabelle Allende
Paperback: 208 pages Publisher: Harper One; Format: Trade Paperback Published: April 15, 2004
1st edition (February 1994) Published By: Harper Collins Publishers
ISBN-10: 0062502670 ISBN-13: 978-0062502674 ISBN:0060535032

“Medicine for the Earth” Sandra Ingerman
Format:Trade Paperback Published:January 16, 2001
Published By:Crown Publishing Group ISBN:0609805177

Personal Work – continue integrating shamanic ways into your life, references to other teachers and trainings

Introduction to Shamanism
One & Two Year Apprenticeship Programs Facilitated by Sally Joyce
In Southwestern Ontario
YearOne Year Two

Spring June 20 & 21, 2009 Spring May 15 & 16, 2010

Summer August 22& 23, 2009 Summer August 14 & 15, 2010

Fall November 21 & 22, 2009 Fall November 13 & 14, 2010

Winter February 20 & 21, 2010 Winter February 12 & 13, 2011
*dates subject to change with facilitators need or group consensus

Fees
First and last season must be paid in advance for each year
$200 per season +GST/$800+GST per year
Free tuition to those who find two other full tuition students to attend
Bartering is a possibility to be negotiated if Barter Spaces are Available
Registration Deadline is 2 Weeks Prior to first Session
Year One – June 6, 2009
Year Two – April 30, 2010
All other seasons to be paid two weeks prior to date of session

Registration Information

To receive registration information contact Sally Joyce
@ (519) 360-9276 or wisewomanway@hotmail.com

A registration form with time, location and supplies list will be sent to you upon request.

About Sally Joyce
Sally is a native of Southwestern Ontario and has been a student of ancient ways for more than 20 years. Her studies include Jin Shin Jyutsu®, Reiki, Feng Shui, and Shamanism. She has studied Core Shamanism, Peruvian Shamanism, and Celtic Shamanism with teachers from the Foundation For Shamanic Studies, Peruvian Elders, Spirit Allies, and many wise people sitting in circle. Her understanding of our world has also been complemented by her experiences with Waldorf and Montessori Education, and her degrees in Environmental Studies and Education. She has used her training to clarify her path as a marriage partner, mother, teacher, wellness practitioner, artist and community member. She has worked professionally in her community as a consultant, teacher, retailer and administrator using her Shamanic training to empower her work, and she is passionate about sharing her experiences with others to help them flourish through harmonious living.

So, if you have any wonderings about any of this just contact me and I will do my best to provide additional details for you.

Happy Trails to You!

EXPANDED RECIPROCITY

2009-05-13T09:45:00.000-07:00

If you go to this site http://www.religioustolerance.org/reciproc.htm you will find these words of wisdom
· Bahá'í Faith:
o "Ascribe not to any soul that which thou wouldst not have ascribed to thee, and say not that which thou doest not." "Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself." Baha'u'llah
o "And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself." Epistle to the Son of the Wolf
· Brahmanism: "This is the sum of Dharma [duty]: Do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you". Mahabharata, 5:1517 "
· Buddhism:
o "...a state that is not pleasing or delightful to me, how could I inflict that upon another?" Samyutta NIkaya v. 353
o Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." Udana-Varga 5:18
· Christianity:
o "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." Matthew 7:12, King James Version.
o "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." Luke 6:31, King James Version.
o "...and don't do what you hate...", Gospel of Thomas 6. The Gospel of Thomas is one of about 40 gospels that were widely accepted among early Christians, but which never made it into the Christian Scriptures (New Testament).
· Confucianism:
o "Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you" Analects 15:23
o "Tse-kung asked, 'Is there one word that can serve as a principle of conduct for life?' Confucius replied, 'It is the word 'shu' -- reciprocity. Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.'" Doctrine of the Mean 13.3
o "Try your best to treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself, and you will find that this is the shortest way to benevolence." Mencius VII.A.4
· Ancient Egyptian:
o "Do for one who may do for you, that you may cause him thus to do." The Tale of the Eloquent Peasant, 109 - 110 Translated by R.B. Parkinson. The original dates 640 BCE and may be the earliest version ever written. 3
· Hinduism:
o This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you. Mahabharata 5:1517
· Humanism:
o "(5) Humanists acknowledge human interdependence, the need for mutual respect and the kinship of all humanity."
o "(11) Humanists affirm that individual and social problems can only be resolved by means of human reason, intelligent effort, critical thinking joined with compassion and a spirit of empathy for all living beings. " 4
o "Don't do things you wouldn't want to have done to you, British Humanist Society. 3
· Islam: "None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself." Number 13 of Imam "Al-Nawawi's Forty Hadiths." 5
· Jainism:
o "Therefore, neither does he [a sage] cause violence to others nor does he make others do so." Acarangasutra 5.101-2.
o "In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self." Lord Mahavira, 24th Tirthankara
o "A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be treated. "Sutrakritanga 1.11.33
· Judaism:
o "...thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.", Leviticus 19:18
o "What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. This is the law: all the rest is commentary." Talmud, Shabbat 31a.
o "And what you hate, do not do to any one." Tobit 4:15 6
· Native American Spirituality:
o "Respect for all life is the foundation." The Great Law of Peace.
o "All things are our relatives; what we do to everything, we do to ourselves. All is really One." Black Elk
o "Do not wrong or hate your neighbor. For it is not he who you wrong, but yourself." Pima proverb.
· Roman Pagan Religion: "The law imprinted on the hearts of all men is to love the members of society as themselves."
· Shinto:
o "The heart of the person before you is a mirror. See there your own form"
o "Be charitable to all beings, love is the representative of God." Ko-ji-ki Hachiman Kasuga
· Sikhism:
o Compassion-mercy and religion are the support of the entire world". Japji Sahib
o "Don't create enmity with anyone as God is within everyone." Guru Arjan Devji 259
o "No one is my enemy, none a stranger and everyone is my friend." Guru Arjan Dev : AG 1299
· Sufism: "The basis of Sufism is consideration of the hearts and feelings of others. If you haven't the will to gladden someone's heart, then at least beware lest you hurt someone's heart, for on our path, no sin exists but this." Dr. Javad Nurbakhsh, Master of the Nimatullahi Sufi Order.
· Taoism:
o "Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain, and your neighbor's loss as your own loss." T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien.
o "The sage has no interest of his own, but takes the interests of the people as his own. He is kind to the kind; he is also kind to the unkind: for Virtue is kind. He is faithful to the faithful; he is also faithful to the unfaithful: for Virtue is faithful." Tao Teh Ching, Chapter 49
· Unitarian:
"The inherent worth and dignity of every person;"
"Justice, equity and compassion in human relations.... "
"The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;"
"We affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part." Unitarian principles. 7,8
· Wicca: "An it harm no one, do what thou wilt" (i.e. do what ever you will, as long as it harms nobody, including yourself). One's will is to be carefully thought out in advance of action. This is called the Wiccan Rede
· Yoruba: (Nigeria): "One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts."
· Zoroastrianism:
o "That nature alone is good which refrains from doing unto another whatsoever is not good for itself". Dadistan-i-dinik 94:5
o "Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others." Shayast-na-Shayast 13:29

So, as you can see, the golden rule is multi religious and multi cultural. The versions above lead us to think that this way is appropriate for our interaction with other people, and I agree. But what if we expand this concept and apply it to all interactions in our lives. You see, to me, humans are only one part of the spectrum of living things that I interact with on a daily basis. I also consider the air that I breathe, the water that I drink, the food that I eat, the birds that sing to me, the plants that provide scent and colour, the earth that sustains me, and more, as part of the living spectrum of my life…all of it is deserving of my respectful treatment.
When I compost and lovingly return organic matter to the earth to become rich soil, when I refrain from using toxic chemicals in my garden or home, when I ride my bicycle instead of drive I am living the golden rule with the planet in mind. When I give thanks to the car that does deliver me safely to the destinations that I choose to travel to, when I thank my bed for providing a place for me to sleep at night and when I bless the wood (that was once trees) that makes the frame of my home I am also exercising reciprocity.
So why do I take the time to do all of this? Because it does enrich my life and all of the positive energy is returned to me on an ongoing basis. As I write this posting it is occurring to me that I need to put down in words all of the stories in my life that live as examples of this expanded reciprocity. I will share one of those stories with you here now, hoping that it helps you to understand how it works. First of all I must explain to you that I have always been an environmentalist, even when I didn’t know that I was! I have always felt greatest comfort and connection to the divine when I am in natural, unadulterated settings, and my desire to protect these settings is simply my selfish need to always have this available to me. It is truly the best medicine for my soul. So when it came time to head out of the nest and study something worthy in the world, it is not a big surprise that my first degree was Environmental Studies. Fast forward a few years after graduating when my family and I chose an old farmhouse (which had become enveloped by the city) on a big lot with old trees to make our home. My first home! Composting, organic gardening, blessing ceremonies and more became a part of our regular life
here. One hot summer day, a late afternoon storm full of crashing thunder, shocking lightning, and destructive winds came barreling our way. The girls and I were home and I felt the need to head to the basement for safety. Down there in the cool darkness we waited while the storm raged and expressed its strength. About twenty minutes later things had become quiet and still and I began to hear the birds singing again so we ventured out of the basement. I was afraid to look outside and check the condition of our beloved maple and elm trees that were more than 100 years old. So with eyes closed, I poked my head out of the door and slowly lifted my lids to see that the trees and surrounding property had been spared any significant damage. THANK YOU! So the girls and I went about the rest of our day mostly unaffected by the storm, and it was not until later when we went for a walk in the neighbourhood that we realized how destructive the storm had been. Only a few doors down from us, big old trees had been uprooted, roofs damaged, and general destruction was evident everywhere. A state of grace filled me as I realized that we were spared from this destruction. As we continued our walk around the next blocks we continued to see ruination all around us, and I felt the compassion and protection that the spirits had offered us. I began to understand the true power of reciprocity in all of its forms. Sir Isaac Newton understood this, and I think that it is time that we understand the full ramifications of this natural law. Newton's Third Law of Motion states that any time a force acts from one object to another, there is equal force acting back on the original object.

So what kinds of forces are you expressing in the world?

Wishing you many blessings as you reap what you sow!

Extraction

2009-05-03T09:47:00.000-07:00

In keeping with my Shamanic theme of late I will try to fill you in on the basics of Extraction. Coincidentally, or perfectly as I see it, I received an email this morning from a friend describing Djwhal Khul’s ideas on Thought Forms. Here is an excerpt from that: “So thought consciousness can resonate in any tissue. However, when we get specifically into the way in which we store a lot of belief systems, they are through the brain network. So if you hear for example that swine flu is pandemic, the brain records that information and then each time it is heard or written or seen or any variation of that, it gets ingrained a little deeper in that particular tissue even though your physical body doesn’t particularly have a memory of it.”
So why did I quickly switch tracks from extraction to thought forms? Because Extraction is one method of ridding the body/mind/spirit of these forms that may be keeping us from our truest, healthiest form. So as you can see from above, we can absorb energies unconsciously from many sources, and some of these have the ability to make us sick. If you do not have a particular daily practice that assists you to cleanse your body/mind/spirit of misplaced energies, or you have not been particular about what you expose yourself to, you may have energies hitching a ride with you. Sometimes these energies affect how we experience and react to the world around us. These energies can be things such as negative thought forms (fear, shame, feelings of unworthiness, belief in limitation & lack etc.), unexpressed emotions, aggressive emotions from others, addictive patterns, or even lost soul parts.
So how does Extraction work? The Shamanic Practitioner will enter into a journey to assess the needs of a client who has come to them for assistance. In the journey, it is sometimes indicated by the helping spirits, that extra energy resides somewhere in the client’s energy body, and it is best to remove it. As the non-ordinary reality conversation continues, the spirits will provide specific information about that intrusion of energy, and the most efficient way to remove it, and manage it post-removal. If the client is in need of learning about protecting their personal energy or powering themselves up in any way, the helping spirits will usually provide that information to be relayed to the client so that similar energy intrusions will not occur again. The Shamanic Practitioner then returns to ordinary reality from the journey and reports their findings, and with permission from the client, proceeds to undertake the extraction as instructed by the spirit allies. The spirit allies also assist this process by providing non-ordinary power/energy and ability. Generally the extraction involves some sort of sucking of the energy from the body. Sometimes the energy is also simply gathered with the hands and energetic tools provided through the connection to non-ordinary reality. After the energy has been removed from the client the Shamanic Practitioner temporarily embodies it until it is deposited into some water, a stone or another object indicated during the initial journey. Specific details surrounding the after care of this energy are usually delivered during the initial journey, and if they involve ceremony, this ceremony is directly related to the healing needs of the client.
It is important to understand that no energy is truly bad from a shamanic perspective. If energy is misplaced or it isn't in harmony with the environment that it is in ( i.e. the human body, a body of land, a building or home, a body of water, an inanimate object etc.) it will bring illness. The world is filled with both creative and destructive energy. Examples of creative energy include the radiant energy of the sun that provides warmth, colour, and illumination, that in turn powers most life on earth. Destructive energy is evident in the digestive process constantly at work to transform our food into the nutrients and energy needed to fuel our physical form. When health and harmony prevail these two kinds of energy, creative and destructive, are working in balance with one another – think of the yin yang mandala - a very simple and simultaneously complex and elegant symbol for the interaction of creative and destructive energies.
All of my wellness & empowerment work simply involves assisting the return of a balanced natural state to environments and their inhabitants. I can get into involved conversations about all of the details and complexities of this work, and I will when needed and when I have attentive ears. But, for the most part, I stick with the KISS rule – Keep It Simple Sally! One of my personal mottos is SIMPLICITY IS POWER.

Wishing you Simplicity & Balance!

Healing with Soul Hiding

2009-04-21T20:24:00.000-07:00

In an earlier posting I wrote about retrieving and reuniting with soul pieces to bring healing and empowerment to individuals. I explained that people can suffer from soul loss when traumatic or highly charged emotional experiences occur. The retrieval involves replacing something that has been lost. Temporarily removing and hiding soul pieces can also be used to instigate healing.
Here is what I wrote in the brochure that I use to explain my work to others:

“We all have parts of ourselves, physical, mental, emotional & spiritual, that we would like to strengthen. With the help of spirit allies I can assist you to temporarily release a vulnerable part of yourself and take it to a sacred place for healing and strengthening. After a period of weeks or months this part is retrieved and returned to you in a more powerful state. This technique has been used successfully to help people overcome addictions, phobias, panic & anxiety disorders, and stress related illnesses.”

So far I have personally used this technique to overcome travel anxiety and shyness with authority. I trust it as a valuable tool to use when an aspect of myself is blocking my way to growth & happiness, and I am sure that I will use it again when needed. As a sensitive, traveling used to be excruciatingly nerve wracking. The noise, sensory overload, rapidly shifting energies and my old core beliefs about being unsafe in the world would dance together to make traveling an ordeal, not a pleasure for me. I tried exposing myself more and more to desensitize. I tried the inner chanting of ongoing affirmations. I tried homeopathic & flower essence remedies. All of these would help a little, but nothing made a significant difference until the idea of Soul Hiding was introduced to me by Tom Cowan when I studied Celtic Shamanism with him and several other awesome classmates (some of them will be meeting for a reunion this weekend at the Kellogg Biological Station near Battle Creek Michigan – I send my warm thoughts your way!)
Last fall I traveled solo to Churchill, Manitoba to work in a cooperative art gallery and hang out with the Polar Bears for a couple of months (more details in a later blog if the need arises). I Robert Qued it to Toronto, then flew West Jet to Winnipeg then Calm Air (ha, ha, ha why do you think they call it that? – so you will get on the plane!) to Churchill. I was only a little nervous but mostly excited, and thoroughly enjoyed the adventure. This definitely would not have been possible if I hadn’t hidden those travel vulnerable parts of myself away until I was grounded in Manitoba for a few days. I did not even need to hide these parts for the return trip as they had been significantly healed during this hiding experience and one that I did 1½ years earlier when traveling to depart for a Caribbean Cruise from Florida.
For a particular issue considerable healing can occur with a single soul hiding experience. Some deeper issues may require two or three experiences to bring lasting change.
So make a list of the habits, reactive patterns, weaknesses, and addictions etc. that you would like to grow beyond. Consider how they have shaped who you are and ask yourself if they have held you back in any area of your life. Ask for increased awareness as to how these are at work in your life, and consider temporarily letting go of a piece of yourself so that it can be lovingly attended to by powers of nature and returned to you in a stronger state. What would life be like then??? Imagine it!

Happy Day Dreaming!

Everyday Miracles

2009-04-13T19:27:00.000-07:00

"People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle.
But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth.
Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child -- our own two eyes.
All is a miracle."
~ Thich Nhat Hanh

Wishing you everyday miracles.

Power Animal Retrieval

2009-04-12T18:59:00.000-07:00

I have written a little bit about Power Animals in an earlier posting, but since we are on the topic of Shamanism lately, I thought that it is a great time to discuss them in greater detail. In many cultures around the globe it is known that every baby born is accompanied by its guardian animal spirit. Oftentimes in these cultures children are given two names, their animal name and their family name. Christianity teaches that every child born has a guardian angel that watches over it. The veils of forgetting and the hurried pace of today’s North American lifestyles, in many cases, seems to have pushed the importance of these spirits to the background, leaving many people without access to all of their potential resources. When the guardian spirits are not recognized or accessed regularly their relationship with their human ally fades and eventually disintegrates.
When a client comes for an initial Shamanic healing session, the diagnostic journey often indicates that the person is in need of reuniting with their Power Animal. Similarly to Soul Retrieval, I will journey to non-ordinary reality, usually the Lower World, to find a Power Animal and bring it back to the client. The Power Animal will instruct me how and where to reintroduce it into the client’s body. After this reintroduction, a period of reintegration occurs in which the clients are given the following guidelines:
"You have just been reunited with one of your Power Animals. This is a powerful process that requires some time to complete. Your attention and assistance is required for this process, but you will be well rewarded for all of your efforts as these animals bring you energy, skills and personal power. Be patient with yourself as this process unfolds as you may experience some tiredness, challenging emotions, and even physical detoxification symptoms.

To assist yourself try to follow these steps:
1. Allow yourself 3 to 4 days for these new energies to simply gather within you and reacquaint with you.
2. Ask your animal to come to you in your dreams to help you get to know it.
3. Next begin developing a relationship with this animal by inviting it to get to know you. Two to three times a week set some time aside to have inner conversations with your new friend (brew a cup of tea, burn some incense, clear the space with your rattle etc.). Tell it about yourself and your life and then ask it questions and wait for responses – listen deeply and you will begin to “hear” responses. Don’t forget to ask why this animal is with you and what it can assist you with.
4. Conduct some research. At the library take out a few books that describe the habitat, diet, family life, and special abilities of your animal. Take some time to read these and ponder how these might affect your life. On the Internet search for power or totem animal sites and read some of these.
5. Stay open to inner urges to make changes in your lifestyle habits. Do you feel like exercising more? Does your diet need to shift to meet the needs of you and your animal? (what are their dietary needs?) Does junk food have less appeal to you now? Do you want to get to bed earlier? Are some of your addictions ready to slip away? Ask your animal to assist you with these positive changes.
6. Whenever you feel challenged, call upon you animal for assistance, and just let go. Watch how these situations develop – is this different than before? Do you have more courage to face your fears? Are you handling things more positively now?
7. Honour your animal partner with GRATITUDE regularly. RECIPROCITY is powerful. Keep your animal busy and content by calling upon it regularly for help."

The benefits of reuniting with Power Animals may include:
· Improved Self Awareness
· Improved work, personal & social relationships
· Increased abilities and new skills
· Improved health & immunity
· Improved Intuition & Creativity
· A better connection to and understanding of the natural world
· A better understanding of a healthy personal lifestyle
· Feeling more empowered, protected and balanced
· Increased courage to move forward in life

Individual benefits vary from person to person, but generally it can be said that life will never be the same again once a Power Animal has been invited to participate.

Wishing you wonderful animal encounters!

Soul Retrieval...Shamanism Continued...

2009-04-03T12:36:00.000-07:00

To continue my blogging about Shamanism I want to discuss the concept of SOUL LOSS and SOUL RETRIEVAL. In the Shamanic way it is believed that when a person suffers from a trauma, a part of the soul splits off and no longer contributes to the person's whole being. Instead it stays fixed in the event, but in non-ordinary reality. This dissociation is called soul loss, and it often results in loss of memory, depression, fatigue, addictions or feelings of incompleteness. This disengagement of the soul makes it easier to survive traumas such as accidents, abuse, or emotional disturbances. Children can suffer soul loss from events that are traumatic to them, but may seem trivial to adults. Soul loss can also occur when another person "holds" onto a part of us, and doesn't let go (an old lover? a parent?). Once the traumatic event is over, complete healing can occur when the soul part that is missing is returned.
In my work I accomplish soul retrieval by journeying into non-ordinary reality and, with the help of my power animals and others spirit allies, find the missing soul parts and bring them back to ordinary reality. Sometimes the soul pieces are well hidden and I must work with my power animals to go on a hunt for them. This is often the case when the soul loss has occurred because of severe abuse or trauma. At other times I must communicate and negotiate with the soul pieces before they are willing to come back, sometimes because they left due to self destructive or harmful behaviour on the part of the client. When the soul parts have been found and negotiations have been made, the soul parts are blown back into the client in ways directed by the soul pieces or the allies who assisted me.
Following the retrieval process the client experiences a period of integration, in which a reacquaintance with the returned soul parts occurs, and together they work to heal the old wounds. During this process the client sometimes has to undertake lifestyle changes requested by the soul parts during the negotiation to return. This process usually unfolds over several months and is often accompanied by new insights, more will power, better health, more courage, new talents and a stronger sense of self.
When I describe soul retrieval to those who have no shamanic understanding I describe it as being similar to placing a rechargeable battery that is low into the recharger and restoring its power. There are many ways to charge our personal batteries, and I am not talking about caffeine – it is only a temporary fix that leads to further drain. Whole foods, fresh air, sunshine, exercise, positive attention, doing the work we love, vacations and many other things can recharge us. If you have tried many of these things yet still feel out of gas maybe you are missing part of yourself. Here is a checklist of the most common symptoms of soul loss:
· depression
· a feeling of incompleteness
· an inability to move forward on some issue
· addictions
· lost memories
· feeling like you are not in control of your life
· “a part of me died”
· “I’ve never been the same since”
· feeling that something is missing
· a lack of joy in life
· inability to feel or receive love
· feeling emotionally flat
·
And in the worst cases:
· despair
· suicidal tendencies

Living with soul loss is not easy (been there, done that, and still working on it! I am the classic wounded healer), yet in our culture it is rarely addressed and treated simply as a disease of the physical body, not as a loss from the soul.
If you know anyone who fits the description above, there is hope.

Wishing you full batteries!

Drum Roll Please!!!!!

2009-03-27T09:25:00.000-07:00

Spring is finally upon us! TA DA The birds are singing! TA DA The frogs are singing! TA DA And some of you are singing again! TA DA And I have brought my blog out of the darkness into the light!
In my conversations with many people over the last several months I came to understand that it was indeed a challenging winter for most. Old shadow beliefs and patterns stepped forward to get attention and ask for the healing transformation that they so need. Because of this many have embarked on new ways of thinking and have initiated themselves into healthier ways of living. This is fabulous, but it is not an easy task, for at the first moment of weakness it is so easy to slip back into the old ways. So in support of this new season unfolding around us, and the new paths that people are embarking on, I have decided to dedicate this posting to the explanation of Shamanism as a way of living, because Shamanism is all about surviving and thriving!
The title for this blog is Drum Roll Please!!! because the drum is a core part of Shamanism in almost all parts of the world where it is practiced. Different geographic regions have different practices because of the challenges that they face to survive. You see, Shamanism is not a religion, as many believe it to be. It is a group of practices and ceremonies that people of a particular region use to survive and thrive – it is a way of living. These practices have ancient roots that precede all world religions and are deeply connected to nature and the Earth’s teachings. Shamanism survives today and is experiencing a revival because our souls have managed to break through layers of forgetting to call our ancestral practices back into our lives. Pick up a drum one day and just sit and pound out a beat of your choice. Drum for as long as you heart tells you to drum. Listen very carefully to the drum. Do you hear anything else? Do you hear your heart responding to the drum? Do you hear your ancestors singing to you through the drum? Some of you have already heard this before in your dreams, or in your very still waking moments. For some of you this is a big stretch and all that you hear is thump, thump, thump. But that is all okay too, as the thump, thump, thump is reminding some part of you of your connection to the Earth and all living things. Step by Step, Beat by Beat.
The drum is used in Shamanism as a vehicle to assist one to travel to non-ordinary reality. In the Shamanic worldview there are three distinct, but interconnected worlds – The Upper World, The Middle World (ordinary reality), and The Lower World. Sound vaguely familiar? Heaven, Earth, Hell?
That is how most of us in the Western world “know” how to separate our world. This separation was borrowed from Shamanism, but you will be quite surprised, to learn that the original interpretations of these parts of our world (and ourselves) had somewhat of a different description. Typically the Upper World is where one finds teachers, guides, and spiritual mentors. It is often landscaped with light coloured architecture, crystals and mysts. Here is a description written by David of http://www.urbanshamanism.com/ “My experiences in the Upper Worlds have been beautiful, awe inspiring and sometimes a little strange. There is a Middle Eastern style city of white marble and beautiful temples and palaces that I have visited a number of times. On the other hand there is a 20 story tall statue of an in-line skater that I have to pass by on my way to a group gathering place that I call the Meeting Meadow.”
The Middle World is the realm that we live in when we are awake (what is awake? – another blog topic later…). Ask 100 people to describe it and you will get 100 perceptions. It is the world that individuals have created through their thoughts and beliefs.
And the Lower World - here’s the big surprise – no burning pitchforks here, but many wonderful beautiful natural settings that are home to power animals that can assist humans with their earthly lives.
So after all this, what is Shamanism? It is the awareness that there are many interconnected dimensions within and around us, some readily visible, and some not.
And with the proper tools and skills we can access all of these dimensions to acquire guidance, healing energy and assistance for our daily lives.
In upcoming posts I will explain some of the Shamanic techniques that I use to help others and myself in greater detail. In the mean time if you want to begin to learn about this way, go outside, plant your feet firmly on the Earth, and with sincerity, ask to begin remembering the ancestral ways that empower you.

Happy Drumming!

A World of Information

2009-03-16T10:05:00.000-07:00

I haven’t been writing much this week as I have been attending to the formalities of starting a business in an official way. Yes there is a lot to do, overwhelming at times, but when you are finally doing what you really want to do, think you are designed to do, and look forward to doing; the overwhelm is worth it. I am taking it “one bite at a time” just the way that, in the past, I asked my elementary students to do it when they felt overwhelmed by a task. I would say to them “Think about it, when you sit at the dinner table with your full plate in front of you, do you pick up the entire plate and proceed to off load it into your mouth? No, you tend to use a spoon or fork and take one bite at a time.” Some of us who are global thinkers (big ideas, the big picture, past-present-future etc.) can get overwhelmed quite easily as we are constantly connecting to a great body of information energy. This is a great gift and a great challenge, and we can learn how to use this gift and develop strategies to deal with the challenging aspects of it. Meditation, journeying, working with power animals, yoga, creating art, Jin Shin Jyutsu®, Reiki, walking, biking, pacing myself, making lists and using calendars all assist me to work with the abundance of energy around me. Sometimes my work is just to let go and let all the energy come through me and rearrange my way of being/knowing/seeing/believing in the world and get a new perspective on things. As I write this blog entry I am letting it happen that way – surrendering, surrendering, surrendering.
All that said, I need to choose a name for my business practice that fits the box of our current local culture. I also need a name that has sustainability as I plan to do this for a long time. This name should: 1. Be memorable and easy to spell (makes finding it on the web easy). 2. Create a clear visual image when you consider it. 3.Have a positive connotation – who wants a bad reputation right out of the gate? 4. Contain information about what the business does – of course! and 5. Has to be short - so its easy to say, print, display etc. So I have been brainstorming, playing word association with those in my midst, and using a thesaurus to get a list of possibles. I also spent some time yesterday laying on the ground with my forehead pressed into the earth, asking for guidance & clarity (this is a name for the earth realm – I will ask my helping spirits if they have names for what I do). Later today I will take a walk and journey for guidance. My drum will be beaten, my ears will be listening to the whispers of the trees, and in the right moment it will all come together. Then I have to check this name with the business name registry to see if it is still available.
Whew, I didn’t expend this much energy naming my daughters. My oldest daughter, Jessica, intuitively communicated her name to me every time I held her through her first day of life on earth. Yes, to this day, she is a clear communicator! My younger daughter, Chloe, who prefers to observe and learn, let my husband Jim and I collaborate on her name. By her second day of life we both agreed that Chloe suited her fine, and yes she is still an intent observer – want to know what happened, what someone was wearing, what the details of a moment were – ask her.
So when someone says, “What’s in a name?” my answer is "a world of information".

Spring is on its way, I send wishes for a fruitful blossoming to you!

What is Reiki?

2009-03-06T10:47:00.000-08:00

I haven’t been posting as often lately, I have been a little busy sharing good energy with many of the beautiful people of Chatham-Kent. I am still waiting on the process to allow my business practice to become official so I decided to offer free demonstrations of Jin Shin Jyustu® and Reiki during the months of February and March. I have been having so much fun and fulfillment while introducing local residents – most of them first timers - to energy work. I have spent many years studying, practicing, sharing and waiting for the right time to “come out of the closet” with these powerful assistive energies, and the enthusiasm and positive results that people are reporting affirms that the time is right for moving forward with this way.

During the last few weeks I have had the opportunity to gather words to describe Reiki and when I explain this healing art to others I say something like this: “Reiki is known as Universal Life Force Energy. It is the same energy that makes seeds sprout, stars twinkle, your hear beat, and your cells die and form anew when needed. When sharing a Reiki treatment I gather this energy in the way that I have been trained to, and I give it to you. I am very fortunate, as I also receive the energy for myself when I am receiving it for you. I call Reiki a general healing modality because it has wisdom of its own and I don’t have to intellectually guide it where it needs to go. Whether you need release of tension, detoxification, physical, mental or emotional healing, Reiki knows exactly where to travel to in your body and how to assist you. If I had to describe Reiki in one quick sentence I would say, It is like receiving a vaccination of positive energy”.

While trying to wait patiently to become an official business in our community I kept feeling, day after day, the fear of the economic changes that are at everyone’s doorstep. The heaviness is very apparent to me, I have a great need to ease suffering, and I have been using several daily practices to keep myself lifted up out of these energies ( I am not always successful, I am human!) in order to see the abundance and opportunities that surround us. Since I have been sharing Reiki and Jin Shin Jyutsu® I feel that I have been able to help others lift out of the heaviness, even if for just a short while, to connect with the possibilities and limitlessness that surrounds them. Sometimes having a quick glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel allows people to orient themselves in a good direction and take another step on their journey of a thousand miles.

Happy stepping!

Clean Out the Old, Bring in the New

2009-02-28T10:06:00.000-08:00

Lately have you felt that you are working on old issues that have come around, yet again, to be attended to? Have you found yourself spiraling around in old unhealthy patterns that you thought you had abandoned long ago? In conversations that I have had with friends, family, colleagues and others it seems that this is a trend right now. I just want to remind you that you have the choice/ability/control to decide if what these feelings are telling you, if the beliefs that they represent, are true or not. At any time we have the right to choose happier and healthier beliefs for ourselves to replace the old dysfunctional ones. Now that these feelings/ideas have come to the surface again, you have the ability to choose to let them go and replace them with more positive ones. This won't automatically make you feel better, "quick fixes" are rare in my opinion, but you can take it step by step, day by day, to build a more positive way of being/feeling in the world.
I have mentioned the Sedona Method before (you can purchase the book downtown in the mall at Coles – a worthwhile investment I would say, or go to http://www.sedona.com/ )and consider learning the release technique to help you let go of the past and move into a healthy future. This technique requires a commitment of time and energy to practice and master it, but it will bring you benefits. If you don’t give up on it too soon, give yourself a few months to get the hang of it and let it become a part of how you live, you will change & grow in positive directions. I recommend this strategy to individuals that I share Reiki, Jin Shin Jyutsu®, Shamanism & Feng Shui with because all of these methods instigate healing processes that almost always involve releasing old buried emotions and learning how to feel again. I will give you a few details about how it works here, but I do recommend a further look into it for a deeper understanding of the process.

The Sedona Method works with 4 basic questions that you ask yourself over and over until you have released an uncomfortable feeling. The questions are:

1. Can I welcome this feeling? (relax and allow the entire feeling to come into your body - often the most challenging part as we have been taught to suppress, ignore or not allow very uncomfortable feelings)

2. Could I let this feeling go? (you bring up the idea that it is possible to let it go - practice this just as you would practice dropping a pencil that you had grasped in your hand)

3. Would I let this feeling go? (continue to affirm that it is possible to shift & change)

4. When? (letting the process fully activate)

Repeat this sequence of questions over and over until the feeling has diminished and a sense of relaxation has replaced it.

Once you have cleaned out the old stuff you can fill in the newly created voids with affirmations and intentions for your life. Affirmations are positive statements about yourself that reprogram your subconscious so that your conscious can react accordingly. A very good general affirmation that comes from the Silva Method (http://www.silvamethod.com/ ) is "Everyday in Every way I am Better and Better" - you can repeat this several times throughout the day for several months, even years and you will undoubtedly experience positive changes. For more information about affirmations see Louise Hay's book "You Can Heal Your Life" and/or you can go to websites like this one.

http://www.gems4friends.com/affirmations.html

With a little effort you can grow & change. Hang in there, don’t give up too soon, and build a team of supportive people around you to help you keep going in the right direction.

Blessings of healing to you!

P.S. when you have 17 minutes to spare, take the time to view the "Validation" video at the Jin Shin Jyutsu® Blog link in the upper right corner. It will make you smile!

Walk the Talk, Be the Change

2009-02-20T12:24:00.000-08:00

This is a recent Letter to the Editor that I sent to my local newspapers.

Last Wednesday evening I took the opportunity to attend the Create CK forum that was held at River Rock on King Street and was sponsored by the Municipality of Chatham-Kent and the Community Futures Development Corporation of Chatham-Kent.
I did this because I, like Mahatma Gandhi, firmly believe that I must be the change that I want to see in my community. It is time for us all to walk the talk, not just sit around and complain about how lacking the community of Chatham-Kent is. I am taking the time to write this letter and share it with as many local media sources as I can because the guest speaker for the evening, Steven Thorne, of team Tourism Consulting, firmly believes that educating our community about the value of investing in culture and the arts is the first step to renewing and revitalizing our municipality. Did you know that when Kelowna B.C (an even more conservative community than our own if you can imagine that!) found themselves floundering in economic and cultural malaise in the 1990’s, they renewed themselves when they began investing financial support toward development of arts and culture, and they are now a flourishing community? Did you know that according to the National Endowment for the Arts that “for every dollar spent on the arts, nearly $4 are generated in additional spending”, and in Kelowna the statistics were closer to $7 returned for every dollar spent? Did you know that according to Steven Thorne “30% of Ontario’s work force are now creativity based, producing 50% of our provincial income”? Hmmmm something to think about…
According to the Create C-K brochure that was distributed at the forum “Cultural assets can include: performing arts, visual arts, media arts, libraries and archives, local folklore and heroes, festivals and events, historic districts and museums, commercial arts such as architecture and graphic design, waterfalls, historic vistas, ancient trees (did you know that there is a 300 year old Shumard Oak in Tecumseh Park?) and natural assets”.
I invite you, especially those of you who have time on their hands because of unemployment or underemployment, to spend some time imagining what kind of community you would like Chatham-Kent to become, make notes about your imaginings, then bring those notes out to the next Cultural Action Team (CAT) meetings to become a part of the process of bringing our community back to life (for some inspiration go to www.creativecity.ca or www.ontariomcp.ca or www.thecounty.ca ). Contact the Cultural Development Coordinator at (519) 360-1998 to find out when and where the next CAT meetings will be held.
Once a community gets buzzing with life, excitement and positive activity it becomes a bright spot on the radar for organizations looking for a new home where they and their employees can develop a good quality of life. We can become an attractive community to the creative sector as we transform ourselves from an old industry based identity, to a new, healthy, green, sustainable, alive and flourishing community. That transformation has to begin within each and every one of us. We must create an inner vision for it, hold that vision, believe in the possibility of transformation and renewal, and become a part of it – GET INVOLVED! Sitting back and waiting for someone to come and rescue us, for some large industry with many well paying job openings to move into the area, is a strategy that one can choose at this time. I for one don’t think that this is an effective strategy and one may end up sitting and waiting for a long time. We have to work together to create the buzz here in Chatham-Kent and become that bright spot on the radar.

Here's to your wild and unlimited imagination Chatham-Kent!

Assist Yourself to Integrate Abundance

2009-02-16T15:52:00.000-08:00

If you take a look at the big picture for a few moments and get in touch with how you are feeling, I think that you will agree that we are experiencing great change. The nature of nature is change so what is all the fuss about? Well, I think that it is the speed of the changes that is changing. Couple this with the transformation of our energetic bodies that we are experiencing, and it makes for quite interesting times.
I did sit in meditation on Saturday morning offering myself to be available for the dawning of Aquarius. I don’t have any earth shattering visions or insights to share with you from that meditation, but I continue to have new understandings of how I need to proceed and care for my family and myself during these times.
Sometimes meditation is like that – it seems that absolutely nothing is happening – yet days and weeks later I am gifted with new perspectives and insights. At other times during meditation I feel like I am sitting in the front row seat of a movie theatre for a 3D feature, and I try to engage all of my senses so as not to miss anything. One experience isn’t “better” than the other they are simply different. This is why I don’t listen to a portable listening device while out of doors but I prefer to listen to nature as carefully and as often as possible. The crows nattering away while I walk to the office, the sound of the ice on the lake groaning and cracking, the whispering of the wind through the trees – these and other sounds are all teaching me, helping me, and guiding me to be prepared and aware of what is happening in my world.
I also read what others have to write to get a smattering of other human perspectives. There are some very insightful people out there who aren’t afraid to share their wild & wonderful experiences to assist others to find their way. I must thank the Internet for the ability to reach out and connect with these great people.
Here is another resource of some interesting ideas about our times. Simone Butler’s ideas can be found at http://www.astroalchemy.com/articles/mayan.html
If you are keenly interested in understanding how to engage fully in these exciting times you too will connect with perspectives to ponder and integrate if you choose.
So back to the title of this posting, “Integrating Abundance” – since the meditation Saturday morning I have come to understand that we are in the process of fully integrating our lower charkas (instinct, nurturing, creativity, personal power) with our upper charkas (highest consciousness, communicating truth, clear vision & perception) in order to receive and experience a full, whole, prosperous life – the age of Aquarius. This process involves clearing away old limiting ways of thinking and being, and releasing old wounds to allow the physical charkas to work in cooperation with the spiritual charkas to become our whole selves. When we live wholly (some would spell it holy!) abundance of all kinds becomes our birthright, not something that we struggle toward.
My personal Jin Shin Jyutsu® practice currently involves keeping the following Safety Energy Locks (SELs) open (to find maps of these points just search “safety energy locks”:
· 1’s - moving forward, stepping into the new, flowing – these SEL’s are found on the inside of each knee, right at the fulcrum of the joint. Keeping these open and flowing helps us to evolve with the changes, grow and move into our new harmonious ways, and prevent us from getting stuck somewhere along the way.
· 10’s – warehouse of abundance, limitless life energy – these SEL’s are found between the spine and the shoulder blade, half way down the shoulder blade. Keeping these SELs open assists us to attract and accept opportunities for abundance and provides us with unlimited energy to live wholly.
· 14’s –where heaven and earth come together to give us that ability to absorb and assimilate everything in perfect balance – these SEL’s are found just below the curve of the lower ribcage. These SELs assist us to integrate all that we have experienced and to allow the upper and lower charkas to function cooperatively.

To keep these SELs open simply place the middle three fingers on each hand on the SEL and hold gently until you feel energy pulsing through them, continue to hold them until the SELs on both sides of the body are pulsing in synchronicity.

Happy harmonizing!

Blood Memory

2009-02-10T13:18:00.000-08:00

I had a dream last night, which has prompted me to ask for assistance beyond myself to be lifted out of old fearful patterns that are at least three generations deep. The force and clarity of this dream was powered by last night’s full bear moon that radiated healing medicine. I awoke from the dream with a belly full of old fear and trauma that my grandmother experienced when she learned that she could no longer live on the land that was her home, and had been the home of her family before her. It was the Great Depression, another time of great change, and she and her family lost their farm because they were unable to pay
the land taxes. This loss forced a move into the city where life continued in poverty for many years. My body reaction to this dream indicates that a great deal of trauma and fear remains in my lineage from this event. My intentions at this time to rise above old patterns of limitation and lack and to experience this time as a time of great opportunity and positive change have brought this healing dream to me. Thank you. As I continue to feel and release the rawness in my gut, I am grateful to have this energy lifted out of my subconscious and brought into awareness where I can focus intentions of healing toward it.
Many cultures believe that we walk this earth with the seven generations that came before us and the seven generations that will follow us. Today I have the opportunity to positively affect five generations, and maybe more if this pattern of loss extends to before my grandmother’s time. While trying to explain this kind of healing to my clients I have used the phrase “Blood Memory”. Our ancestors have lived through many ages including the most recent Industrial Age and Technological Age. I believe we are currently in and evolving deeper into the Age of Healing. It is time to let go of old heavy traumas and break the chains of patterns that hold us to disease, disharmony and dysfunction. I believe that many of the modern diseases manifesting today are the result of the build up many generations of unhealed trauma.
Right now, at this time, we have a cosmos full of energies to assist us to transform these old scars into beautiful legacies that empower and assist us rather than weaken and obstruct us. Call out to that toolbox of energies. Allow yourself to be shifted into healthier patterns. Let go & let God, as some say.
Talk to your family members, friends, and colleagues about this. Let’s get it out into the open. What are they experiencing? Let’s support one another through this challenging and rewarding time. Seek help if you need it. There are many Lightworkers ready and waiting to assist you. They agreed to come here at this time to do just this work. You may find them in your community working as counselors, intuitives, holistic practitioners, energy workers etc.. If you need help to find your way, call out to the great cosmos and verbalize your needs. And as I have said before, ask for the awareness and wisdom to understand and accept the assistance when it is being offered.

On your mark, Set your intent, Go, Feel, Release!

Cleaning House or Sharing Good News

2009-02-06T08:57:00.000-08:00

Recently my sister had the opportunity to participate in a phone conversation with Neal Donald Walsch, the author of the “Conversations with God” series of books or attend her son’s Science Fair, which were both scheduled for the same moments in time. Her husband lightheartedly remarked, "well that’s quite a decision, God or your Son!" Hmmm the choices that we have to make sometimes! I do believe that my sister went to her son’s science fair.
Well right now I have the choice to write and post another blog or get to cleaning my house for the weekend training that I am hosting. Well as you can read, the writing came first and the cleaning will come next – I am sure that these participants have seen dust and the lived-in look before. Yes, for those of you who are curious, my decorating style is “Lived In with Infusions of Feng Shui”- I should start a new trend. Anyone out there want to trade housecleaning services for wellness services???
The reason that the blog came first is that I am excited to post and focus on GOOD NEWS. Please share this post with others if you like it. Much of the information that makes up the remainder of this post comes through other very good people, and I am doing my part to spread the word. In her most recent email sending to me Brenda MacIntyre http://www.brendamacintyre.com/ wrote “40 years ago, the intuitive words of a song called Aquarius, brought the dawning of the new age into our collective awareness:

"When the Moon is in the seventh house
and Jupiter aligns with Mars.
Then love will rule the planets
and peace will steer the stars"

At dawn on 14th February the Cosmos actually embodies this perfect alignment to support our collective manifestation of love and peace and dawning of the Age of Aquarius.

Aquarian chart of 14th February reveals an incredible concentration of cosmic influences blending with the energies of Aquarius in the twelfth house. Expansive Jupiter and energetic Mars are aligned with the higher purpose of the North Node. The presence of Chiron the wounded healer offers us the opportunity to heal the schisms that have separated us for so long. Neptune emphasizes collective humanitarian movements and the co-creation of social justice. And the presence of the radiant Sun enlightens the entire alignment.

Mercury also in the twelfth house but just beyond the cusp in Capricorn, allies with transformational Pluto to communicate and anchor the Shift throughout our global structures and institutions.

The Moon in Libra in the seventh house emphasizes harmonious real –ationships.

Venus in Aries in the first house energizes and empowers dynamic co-creativity.

And whilst Saturn the great task master in opposition to Uranus the unexpected awakener is suggesting an ongoing confrontation as the dregs of the unsustainable old paradigm reluctantly give way to the untested hope of the new, their placements in Virgo and Pisces brings practical altruism and visionary inspiration to the transition.

At 7.25am on 14th February – and for the 18 minutes of the alignment, I invite you, in the universal heart, to add your own intention for love and peace and to co-create the dawning of the Age of Aquarius to that of the Cosmos. In whatever way feels appropriate for you, you may choose to align with 7.25am (UT) or 7.25am local time energizing a wave of intention that will surge around the Earth.”
Brenda received her information from
Jude Currivan PhD, http://www.judecurrivan.com
So what does it all mean? It means that we are truly in a time of great change and that for those 18 minutes on February 14 we will have cosmic assistance to lift out of old dysfunctional patterns and move toward peace, love and wholeness (yes I am a hippy at heart!). So if you want to enlist this assistance that is being offered, use these few days previous to set your intentions for positive transformation, loosening the ties to old unhealthy patterns and getting ready to leave them behind forever, opening yourself to previously impossible possibilities, and surrendering to becoming who you really are. Whew!!! Cosmic makeover time!
I plan to sit in silent meditation offering peace and love and opening myself to accept the same during this 18 minute alignment on the morning of February 14. Please join in if you feel inspired, the more the merrier. Maybe you will be the 100th monkey! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hundredth_Monkey

If you need help to prepare just ask for assistance and the awareness to accept it when it is being offered.

Happy Transformations!

Some of My Best Friends are Power Animals

2009-02-02T17:04:00.000-08:00

Does anyone else out there have trust issues? Yeah, that’s what I thought.
Well mine are better than they used to be, have been for quite a few years, because I have spent a fair bit of time and energy developing relationships with my spirit allies – especially my Power Animals. Recently I was working on my notes for my Shamanic Apprenticeship class – the one focusing on Power Animals, and I came across this piece of writing by Renna Shesso (http://www.harusami.com/soul2soul/althealing/retrieval.htm )
“If we could each trace our own ancestry back far enough, I suspect we would all find ancient relatives engaged in shamanic practices. I believe that our capacity for this human-animal connection dates back to the origins of human consciousness. In the earliest times, our ability to communicate spirit-to-spirit with animals (and with each other) was perhaps a given, and I believe we all retain the potential for that connection.
The trust and connection between people, and the joy inherent within the person/Power Animal alliance are forms of energy that create well-being. Having your soul-parts back, feeling whole again after months, years, or even decades of fragmentation, that's magical.”
Renna describes the kind of wholeness that one experiences when they have reunited with guardian animal spirits and received healing from them. I think that one of the big reasons that I facilitate shamanic workshops and trainings is that I can openly talk about my relationship with these animals with other human beings – it is like bragging about your children or pets – you just can’t help it. It is not the kind of subject that comes up in daily conversations about the weather with my neighbour, or the cost of food with my grocery store cashier. We are still way too repressed here in many parts of North America to openly talk about concepts that are “outside of the box” without someone running after us with a prescription for some mind altering pharmaceutical. Relationships with spirit allies are able to provide us with something that humans can’t because these allies are not limited by the human condition. Don’t get me wrong; spirit allies aren’t like genies that make your every wish come true (I don’t live off the grid yet!), but they offer support, protection, understanding without fail, humour (especially when I am lacking it-even dark nights of the soul are funny to them!), teachings, perspectives different from my own, and power if we are willing to take it on.
I still feel fear, get confused, make mistakes – basically experience humanness, but I never have to experience any of these completely alone and unsupported. I walk through fear differently than I did before power animals (there we go, a new dating system BPA – before power animals) and I rarely run from it unless I know that my very life is at stake. There are days that go by that I don’t think of my Power Animals at all, and we both begin to fade, but now that I am spending more time assisting others with Shamanic techniques, our communications are frequent - YEAH!
Lately when performing ceremony and creating sacred space I have been inspired to send blessings of gratitude out to the spirit allies even before I invite them in. Blessings for all they have done, all that they do, all that they will do and especially blessings to all that they do that I am unaware of. I do feel so blessed to have them in my life to assist me with all of its challenges. I really don’t know how other people function in our culture without this kind of help. Renna also writes “As there are fewer and fewer living animals on our planet, perhaps the remaining creatures have a greater-than-ever need to manifest in spirit through us. We need them: they have access to information we're going to need to survive.” I also facilitate teachings because I can feel the great imbalance that exists on this planet and the desire of the spirit allies to connect with us and assist us to reestablish the balance. Their survival and ours depends on our cooperative interrelationships.
If you want to learn more about your personal guardian spirits, just ask them to make themselves more apparent to you. Pay attention to your dreams and your affinity for certain animals, and if you have the ability to communicate with them ask them to begin working with you. Once you ask, out of respect, pay attention, or they will get your attention in ways that they think are funny but you may not! If you want to learn more check out these great books:
Harner, Michael. The Way of the Shaman.
Ingerman, Sandra. Soul Retrieval: Mending the Fragmented Self
Ingerman, Sandra. Welcome Home: Following Your Soul's Journey Home
Ingerman, Sandra. Shamanic Journeying: A Beginner's Guide.
Cowan, Tom Shamanism As a Practice for Daily Life

Or contact your friendly neighbourhood shamanic practitioner – they are probably the one with pictures of animals in their wallet!

Wishing you great fun with your animals!