Healing Isn’t Fixing, It’s Reconnecting

Vol. 17

Many Questions & A Life Changing Discovery

My present and evolved understanding of health and healing came after years of research, study and finding ways to understand why my mother passed away from cancer within six months of diagnosis at the age of 67. I watched how the medical profession failed her, how they were only treating the symptoms of that disease and merely making her comfortable – no one was actually able to “fix” her. I further realized that after she had tried hypnotherapy, something shifted, and she became “happier”, but it was not enough to save her.

I was left with so many questions after she passed on: “what happened, where did she go, why isn’t she coming back, why couldn’t the doctors help her, what is health and healing as well as life and death all about?”; which led me to other deeper questions like “who am I and why am I here?”

Many healing techniques and workshops later, I was left increasingly frustrated as I couldn’t work out what was missing in all of it, but something was missing. It wasn’t until I went on a self-discovery journey travelling worldwide, albeit inwardly, that the answers to all my questions appeared together with an inner wealth of wisdom around health and healing that I didn’t have words for.

This was when Reconnective Healing came into my awareness. I watched a YouTube video of Dr. Eric Pearl explaining the philosophy and art of this work. I was awestruck. Finally, there was someone out there speaking “my truth”, having words to express all my inner beliefs and thoughts around health and healing that I had come to understand. I truly felt like I had “come home”, because every single cell in my body resonated with this truth, and I couldn’t get into the seminars fast enough.

Healing Isn’t Fixing, It’s Reconnecting

“Healing is not about fixing what is wrong with us, but about reconnecting us to what is right with us.” These words came to me, while living with the frequencies of Reconnective Healing, in my attempt to describe what it really is; it is so all-encompassing and comprehensive with so much to inform and to share.

Reconnecting with what is right with us means remembering who we are, the love, the peace and joy that we are, the very essence of our being. In this state of love, healings can take place on all levels, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually, as they are so interconnected.

We are accessing a Universal Intelligence beyond time and space that knows exactly what each and every one of us needs in a holistic way. As we set ourselves increasingly free to be all we can possibly be, our potential true human evolution is also taking place.

Reconnective Healing, being a bandwidth of frequencies of energy, light and information, that is new to this planet, according to scientists, returns us to a whole and balanced state with an increased awareness, more clarity and understanding of ourselves and everything around us.

As we resolve that which is unresolved within us, life opens up and we start living from a different perspective; one of more clarity, peace and joy, and those around us start reflecting exactly that back to us. Physical healings may be instantaneous but often they come about as life unfolds while we live life from this new, peaceful and happier perspective, if this is what is meant to be on our life path.

Tuning our awareness into these frequencies when we are feeling unbalanced or emotional, or when we see chaos around us with our attention on the situation and/or person, a shift may suddenly take place and an improved story play out. Not only will the situation and/or person change, but so will we.

The Reconnection: Heal Others, Heal Yourself is the title of Dr Eric Pearl’s book explaining how his story unfolded from chiropractor to an energy healer. Facilitating healings for others is not about “doing” but about “being” these healings. And in being them we share them with anyone we put our attention on. These frequencies ripple outwardly and touch anyone we are in contract with locally in our presence as well as non-locally.

Reconnecting Healing is truly not about “fixing” anything within us. We are always perfect in our present creation as we exist in every moment in time. There really is nothing to change but to return, if we so desire, to our balanced and divine optimal state of being, which is love… to love ourselves and live from our truth, rather than from a fear-based state. Reconnective Healing carries the Intelligence of the Universe to allow for this. The amazing thing is we do not need to know what needs to improve or how it needs to happen. All we need to do is move from expectation to expectancy and awe of what the Universe may have in store for us.

I have time and time again been left in total awe of results I could not even have thought of, when acting as the catalyst for these frequencies to do their balancing.

We are so much more than this physical manifestation… And to think I used to buy into the belief of this body being a machine with spare parts is just beyond me now! We are frequencies and vibration that needs to be re-attuned to our music like an instrument out of tune!

Reconnective Healing is our Human Evolution – it is about us walking to our full potential and living in awareness of who, what and why we are here, and becoming the Masters of our very being. We don’t need anyone or anything to make us more – we are enough, and everything we can ever be. As we become the certainty of this and start living this deep knowingness from our hearts, it starts to ripple outwardly affecting everyone around us… And we become the change we wish to see in this world!

Could Stress Actually Be Good For You?

Vol. 13

The more I study the body, the more I am in awe of what our bodies do for us. The body has all these cool mechanisms. We have a built-in heating system: when we get very cold, we automatically start shivering which gets the body moving to keep warm. When pregnant, the human body is more sensitive to bacteria and what happens as a result? The sense of smell becomes more acute during pregnancy, so the woman can smell when food is off.

The Body Is An Orchestra

In order to create beautiful music all parts of the orchestra need to be in constant communication with the other parts and the whole. The musicians need to be rested, fed and have their instruments tuned. The first violin needs to listen to the other violins, the strings need to be balanced to the brass, and everyone needs to play what they are meant to and follow the conductor. This is also the case with the body. Everything needs to be in tune with everything else to create solid health and wellbeing.

This is why health care that addresses the whole body together with its environment as a system is more effective over the long term for our well-being than just addressing different parts of the body in isolation.

What leads to this communication breakdown in the body? Stress in its widest sense does. Biochemical stress in the form of toxins, structural stress, such as sports injuries, work stress, traumatic events, etc.

Put Your Glass Down

There is an example often used by motivational speakers to explain the impact of stress. You ask a person to hold a glass of water, and ask, ‘How heavy is this glass of water? Not so heavy, right? If you hold it for a minute or two it’s not a problem, right?’ The absolute weight isn’t relevant, but it depends on how long you hold it. If you hold it for a day, a week or a year, your arm will become paralyzed and non-functioning. It is the same with stress and worries. If we spend too long in superpower mode, we end up overtaxing the body and our health will suffer. We need down time in healing and rest mode to repair, maintain and recharge.

It would never be possible to remove ALL stress from your life, but in theory, if it was possible, it would mean deep depression and a shutting down of the body and mind. We need to challenge our bodies and our minds in order not to become rigid and fossilized.

We All Need Our Autumns Too

Your body is built to go to that job interview and to meet that deadline. We are built to go through grief in the same way that trees are designed to get rid of their leaves in autumn. We need to say goodbye to some people, habits and life periods to make room for spring and new beginnings.

We have two modes: superpower mode and healing / rest mode – also known as the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous response. The superpower mode is for high-performance situations mentally, emotionally or physically. The adrenal glands pump out adrenalin, which increases heart rate and blood pressure, expands lung capacity, sends more blood to the muscles and change metabolism to maximize blood glucose levels. All this to enable higher performance of body and mind. When in healing / rest mode the body gets the space to do the amazing repair work it is designed to do.

Make Stress A Powerful Ally

American health psychologist, Kelly McGonigal, used to be on the bandwagon that vilifies stress, until she came across the following study: 30,000 Americans were tracked for 8 years. They were asked two questions: ‘How much stress have you experienced in the last year’, and ‘Do you believe that stress is harmful for your health?’ This information was correlated with public death records.

The study concluded that people with a lot of stress sure enough had a 43 percent increased risk of dying. BUT here is the interesting fact – that was ONLY the case for the group of people who believed that stress was harmful to their health. In fact, people with low stress and a belief that stress was bad for them had a higher risk of dying than the people with high stress but an embracing attitude to that stress.

Our awareness of stress impacting our health negatively has come back to bite itself in the tail and created unhelpful belief systems around stress and how the body works.

McGonigal also quotes another survey looking at the impact that helping others has on stress*.

1,000 people in the United States were again asked to estimate their stress level. This time it was correlated with how much time people spend helping others and public death records. The study showed that there is a 30 percent increase in our risk of dying for every major traumatic life event. The good news on the other hand is that for people who spent time caring for others on a weekly basis, there is no increment.

A Self-Correcting Mechanism

The reason for this significant difference is to be found in the neuropeptide, oxytocin. This hormone increases trust and empathy and has anti-anxiety properties. It is mostly known for its prevalence during and after birth and in the honeymoon phase of a new relationship.

One of the lesser-known facts about what is also called The Love Hormone, The Cuddle Chemical or The Bliss Hormone is that it also serves as a stress hormone. Under stress, as part of the sympathetic nervous system response, the pituitary gland pumps out oxytocin which increases our empathy, trust in others and makes us crave closeness with others. In doing so it motivates to seek support from people around us to help us get through tough times. Furthermore, the heart has receptors for oxytocin and it helps regenerate the heart after stress.

Work With Your Body

Work with your body and embrace the ups and downs in intensity rather than being scared of stress.

Fostering and nourishing close relationships and helping others will create natural biochemical stress resilience to help you through stressful times without compromising your health.

But you must ‘put the glass down’, and create routines and practices to aid that process, such as meditation, breathing exercises and mindfulness.

Lastly, when you experience compromised health, look for health care solutions that respect the body’s complexity and connectedness, as that is the most effective way.

*Source: Kelly McGonigal: How to Make Stress your Friend, TEDGlobal 2013

6 WAYS TO LIVE A FULFILLING LIFE AFTER THE DIAGNOSIS

I thought it was a stomach bug because I had always been healthy prior to that, other than having an occasional cold every one to two years. I was shocked and in complete disbelief that both of my kidneys were no longer working!

No Spare Left

I was only 19 at the time. “How did this happen?” Other questions started to roam around in my mind after receiving this life-altering news: “What did this mean for my life? What would my life look like while pursuing my career to become a doctor? Would I still be able to pursue this career that I had always envisioned for myself? How would I pay for my medical bills?”

There I was, a sophomore in college who had recently migrated with my mother from Jamaica to the U.S. to start college. This move was in pursuit of my mission and vision to serve the health of others by becoming a physician. I knew I wanted to be a doctor from a very early age. My love of the sciences, my passion for dance, my curiosity about the amazing functioning of the body, and my strong roots in wanting to help others all influenced my desire to serve in the health and wellness field.

We are born with two kidneys yet only need one functioning kidney to survive. When both kidneys no longer work, like in my case, only two treatment options were available to replace their function: dialysis treatments for the rest of my life or a kidney transplant. My only option then was to do dialysis treatments because a kidney transplant was not readily available.

Everything Happens For A Reason

After the initial shock of my diagnosis, there was this inexplicable inner feeling of conviction and passion for continuing the path of my dream to become a doctor.

From childhood, I always knew I was on a spiritual journey with my mother, who served as my spiritual guide and teacher. So although this new diagnosis was drastic, it was easy for me to realize that this experience was happening in my life for a reason. It was for me to grow deeper into my spirituality and serve others more meaningfully and expansively.

The 6 Ways To Live A Fulfilling Life After The Diagnosis

Experiencing end-stage chronic kidney disease for almost 20 years, I have learned many lessons along the way as both patient and doctor, which I am sharing with you in this article.

Regardless of what the medical diagnosis may be, here’s how to continue living a fulfilling life:

1. Ask The Right Questions
When faced with a challenge, in this case, a medical diagnosis, it is important to ask yourself the right questions after the initial shock.

Instead of asking yourself, “Why is this happening to me?” ask, “What am I to learn from this experience?” and “How can I grow into a better version of myself after experiencing this diagnosis?”

Shifting how you view your medical condition and having a solution-oriented mindset are keys to living well.

2. Accept The Diagnosis
The second important lesson that I learned was to accept the diagnosis and understand the shifts that were taking place in my mind, body and spirit.

Along with that was the importance of evaluating how I managed my overall health by asking, “What is the current relationship that I am having with my health — in mind, body and spirit?” and “What is the relationship that I would like to have?” Asking yourself these questions will allow you to plan and act according to your health goals.

As a Family Medicine physician turned health and wellness coach, I have always practiced medicine from a holistic perspective. I am a big proponent of being aware of the connections made with the mind, body and spirit because those connections influence all aspects of life, including health, relationships, work and finances.

3. Treat Yourself Well
We live life disconnected when we are not intentional about making the holistic connections I previously spoke of. This brings me to my third essential point: making sure you live your life by intentionally practicing to treat yourself well.

This surpasses eating the “right” foods and exercising or moving your body in a healthy way. It also includes being mindful of what you are mentally, emotionally and spiritually consuming.

Are you surrounded by a negative environment that makes you feel angry, sad or anxious? Or do you have a strong support system that will uplift you, especially when things get tough?

Are you reading, listening and watching content that drains your energy, or are you consuming positive and inspiring things? These things are crucial to evaluate and will definitely affect your overall well-being.

4. Be Okay With Asking For Help
Another key point related to your support system is being okay with asking for and receiving help. I learned this lesson almost immediately after receiving the news about having end-stage chronic kidney disease.

As a teenager at the time and excited about my independence as a soon-to-be young adult, I realized that so many people cared about me and were ready to support me on the challenging journey I was to embark on. I had to learn very quickly that it was okay to ask for and receive help without feeling embarrassed, ashamed, unworthy, or that I was being a bother.

Building a community and feeling a sense of belonging is a part of human nature. Most people love to give, especially when there is a need. Think about your family, your friends or your work environment.

We need each other — learning, teaching, giving and receiving — in order to thrive in life. Animals, too, are the same. Most must work together to hunt for food and be safe. Once I became okay with asking for and giving help, the energy exchange of giving and receiving was so beautiful to witness and experience.

5. Harness The Power Of Giving
One of the things that my mother taught me about giving and receiving was that when you stop someone from giving, you stop their energy flow from receiving. So even if you may not like what they are giving you, you can accept it and then choose to do something with it, for example, give it away if you don’t find any use for it. This way, the energy flow of giving and receiving continues for both the giver and the receiver.

This lesson highlights my next point: the power of giving. Giving is crucial when you are in a place of need or hardship. My point above about continuing the energy exchange shows how important it is to keep the energy flow moving.

Similarly with giving, if you feel you are not receiving, that is the signal for you to give, whether it is time, advice, love, prayer, forgiveness, or a physical item.

In addition, when you give, you take the focus off of yourself and your problem, and your energy has now shifted to something more positive and meaningful. Do you agree that it is impossible for you to give something with the kindness of your heart and simultaneously be upset, angry or sad? Exactly, you can’t — not at the same time.

6. Be Grateful
This is also true about having an attitude of gratitude, which is my sixth major point.

There is no way that you can be grateful for something and at the same time feel down in the dumps, frustrated or hurt. No, there is just no way. I stress the tremendous value and reward of starting our day filled with gratitude to the clients I coach. This could be thinking about what to be thankful for, going for a gratitude walk, or writing thankful thoughts in a journal.

The Whole Of Mind, Body & Spirit

Becoming a patient before becoming a doctor has taught me so many things, allowing me to become a better doctor and a more spiritually aligned individual.

Now, as a holistic health and wellness coach, I can teach my clients these and many more core principles they can apply in their lives. These principles allow them to thrive within their bodies and become more wholesome in mind, body and spirit, even though they each have a medical condition.

A Happy & Purposeful Life

My journey of experiencing a chronic illness for over 20 years has been nothing short of magical! I see the magic because of how I look at life: growing, learning, and becoming more in tune with myself. I practice what I preach, and I lead by example. I am a living testimony that taking care of one’s mind, body and soul can evolve into a happy, meaningful and purposeful life despite a diagnosis.

“You Are Greater Than…”

If you leave with nothing else after reading this article, leave with this, “You Are Greater Than…”

Everything that you could ever need or desire already lies deep within you. You just have to find a way to let it out. Be still and silent to hear the answers to the questions, knowing that the answers will also arise from the same place, that is, from within the core of your being.

You can go from trial to transformation to triumph with any diagnosis or challenge you have in life. So begin to allow your beautiful light to shine even brighter by showing up in life so that you can truly GLOW Up!

Managing Diabetes: Understanding the Stress Connection

Diabetes, characterized by elevated blood sugar levels, manifests through various symptoms, such as facial puffiness, frequent urination, and unexpected weight loss. To diagnose this condition, physicians often recommend the HbA1c test, which measures glycosylated hemoglobin. An HbA1c level above six typically indicates impaired glucose control or diabetes, highlighting the body’s adverse reaction to food and underscoring the importance of monitoring blood sugar for managing diabetes effectively.

Now, what affects diabetes?

The exact cause of diabetes is unknown, but it is influenced by multiple factors such as unhealthy eating habits, inactivity, obesity, genetics, insufficient sleep, and poor lifestyle choices. Among these, stress is a significant contributor, as it can lead to conditions like insulin resistance, PCOD, obesity, and hormonal imbalances, all of which can impair glucose regulation and potentially lead to diabetes.

Diabetes is a complex condition with no singular cause, involving a variety of factors. Research indicates a significant connection between stress and diabetes, highlighting that disruptions in stress hormone regulation can impede proper blood sugar metabolism due to insufficient insulin. This establishes a deeply interwoven relationship between stress and blood glucose levels. Stress profoundly influences metabolic functions, affecting mental health through conditions like depression, anxiety, and chronic stress. Our brain’s response involves several areas:

1. The Amygdala governs our emotions,
2. The Putamen directs our actions and preparations,
3. The Anterior Cingulate and Prefrontal Cortex enhance our logical thinking and creativity, shaping our mental and physical responses to daily challenges.

Mental health and chronic stress significantly affect our eating behaviors, not just due to hormonal imbalances but also due to their intricate relationship with our dietary choices. Research and clinical observations reveal that individuals under chronic stress often gravitate towards high-calorie, comfort foods. This stress response is linked to reduced activity in the brain’s frontal cortex—the area responsible for problem-solving and rational thinking—which gets suppressed during stress, enhancing emotional responses driven by the amygdala and putamen. This disruption can prevent rational decision-making about food, which negatively impacts health and well-being.

To cope with emotional trauma, individuals often seek comfort in food as a means of feeling better. The amygdala processes emotions and, in response, releases chemicals that enhance cravings, providing a temporary sense of relief. Meanwhile, the putamen plays a role in action-taking based on these emotional responses. However, under lower stress levels, the brain can engage more logical thinking, enabling better decision-making regarding food choices.

Stress and Its Impact on Diabetes

Some stress is essential for human existence, acting as a catalyst for growth and improved performance. Spiritually, overcoming everyday challenges can lead to a state of “Samadhi,” signifying unity with a higher reality. While stress can contribute to various health issues, a manageable level motivates us to excel and engage effectively in daily activities, reflecting our nature as spiritual beings in a material world.

Stress activates our body’s response to critical situations. For example, if you’re threatened, the brain, through the amygdala, detects danger, prompting the hypothalamus to initiate a fight-or-flight response. This system, regulated by the autonomous nervous system, primes your body to either confront the threat or escape it, demonstrating stress’s crucial role in survival. This response is a fundamental biological process that enhances our ability to handle challenging situations effectively.

The process initiated by the autonomous nervous system is complex. This system, like a wiring network, transmits signals from the brain to various organs, such as the eyes, heart, and liver. It’s split into three parts:

• The Sympathetic Nervous System, activated during stress or danger, handles the fight-or-flight response.
• The Parasympathetic Nervous System, which counters the sympathetic system, manages rest and digestion.
• The Enteric Nervous System, primarily responsible for regulating digestion.

The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems collectively establish our daily physiological equilibrium. When activated, the sympathetic nervous system signals the adrenal gland to release adrenaline, which heightens the senses and increases heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels to energize the body. This intense activity is balanced by the parasympathetic nervous system, which calms the body down, restoring energy and decreasing these heightened responses. This dynamic balance is crucial for managing stress and maintaining overall health.

The HPA axis, a vital network connecting the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal gland, becomes active following adrenaline release. This axis maintains the sympathetic nervous system’s activation by releasing corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) from the hypothalamus. CRH prompts the pituitary gland to secrete adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which in turn stimulates cortisol production—the stress hormone—keeping the body in a high alert state until the parasympathetic nervous system intervenes to restore balance.

Chronic stress activates the body’s sympathetic nervous system, which in turn releases cortisol, a hormone that can lead to increased blood sugar levels. Elevated cortisol prompts the liver to produce more glucose through a process known as gluconeogenesis, continuing until stress diminishes. If not regulated, persistently high cortisol can cause chronic high blood sugar, contributing to fat storage and insulin resistance within cells. Consequently, the pancreas works harder to release insulin, but due to the resistance, cells cannot effectively use the glucose, maintaining high sugar levels in the bloodstream. This imbalance can lead to a range of health issues, including the potential for insulin resistance to become more widespread throughout the body.

Elevated cortisol levels can lead to an increase in visceral fat storage, potentially causing conditions like fatty liver. Cortisol also moves triglycerides into vital organ cells, which disrupts normal metabolic processes. Excess glucose in the bloodstream, if not utilized, can lead to lipogenesis and an imbalanced lipid profile. These issues extend beyond weight concerns; persistently high blood sugar levels can cause irreversible damage to the kidneys, increasing the risk of chronic kidney diseases or failure.

Managing Stress to Improve Diabetes

Chronic high blood sugar can damage the autonomic nervous system, negatively affecting nerves and blood pressure regulation. This can lead to serious kidney issues, including failure or end-stage renal disease. However, managing stress effectively can help mitigate these risks. Here are some strategies for managing stress and its effects on blood sugar:

1. Prioritizing sleep and rest
   Our world is saturated with information that can overstimulate the brain, reducing our average sleep time. Proper sleep not only helps regulate blood sugar levels but also strengthens our immune system and improves our daily functioning. Research indicates that rest and relaxation can aid in recovering from daily stress, highlighting the importance of making sleep a priority for overall health.
2. Engage in breathwork
   Incorporating breathwork into daily routines, such as deep breathing exercises, can realign the sympathetic nervous system and activate the parasympathetic system, promoting relaxation. Starting with simple focused breathing, one can gradually progress to more complex techniques like belly breathing and alternate nostril breathing to enhance overall well-being.
3. Meditation
   Practices like meditation and humming “Om” can center your focus inward and offer detachment from daily pressures. These techniques foster peace and assist in aligning with one’s spiritual self, contributing to a more positive mindset.
4. Be Active!
   Incorporating regular physical activity into your routine can trigger the release of endorphins, often known as ‘happy hormones.’ This can help mitigate stress and promote a positive outlook and higher productivity. Moreover, exercise can enhance immune system function and assist in managing blood sugar levels by influencing cortisol production.
5. Balanced Diet
   Eating a balanced diet rich in vitamins and engaging in regular exercise can aid in stress management and improve overall well-being. It’s beneficial to consult healthcare providers for personalized guidance on nutrition and gut health to address any deficiencies and maintain blood sugar levels effectively. Including probiotics in the diet is also recommended for better digestive health, which can impact stress levels and general health.
6. Nispand Bhaav
   Nispand Bhaav is a meditative practice fostering a detached awareness. Sitting comfortably, one listens to surrounding sounds neutrally, without judgment. It’s a process of observing without attachment, encouraging a mental state of tranquility, aiding in disengaging from daily life’s routines.
7. Practice gratitude and positive thinking
   Keeping a journal to note positive points helps manage daily stress. Be thankful for relationships and joys. Our brains often focus on sadness, but practicing gratitude helps remember positive experiences, reducing chronic stress.
8. Seek Help
   If stress has been bothering you, it’s best to consult an expert who can assist you. Do not hesitate to meet a psychologist, coach, or even speak to a friend who can help you navigate stressful situations. Sometimes sharing helps find answers to our problems.

Ultimately, a small amount of stress can drive growth and success, but chronic stress can lead to downfall. The choice is ours. Make informed decisions. Your health and well-being should be the top priority. A balanced lifestyle is key to better physical, emotional, and mental health. The human body has the ability to heal itself if given a chance.

The Ultimate Guide To End Your Food Craving

Malaysians love to eat. Due to its multicultural heritage, there is no shortage to the variety of food found in Malaysian homes and restaurants at any time of the day. It is no surprise that studies published by The Lancet and in the New York Times have found that Malaysia is the most obese country in Asia.

Mindfulness 101 At Breakfast

Without a doubt, I love my food. One day not long ago, I found myself in a café ready to indulge in a breakfast buffet. I thought it would be another routine morning meal for me but this time, it was not to be.

As with all buffets, there lay a selection of dishes. They were very tempting, especially at breakfast after not having eaten for 8 hours. Naturally, I was ready to wolf down a big meal.

I stood there surveying the spread before me. As usual, my wide eyes quickly zoomed in on my favorite dishes. I was silently telling myself, “I want that, and I want this…” and this inner chatter went on until all my favorites were on my plate.

But something else happened that morning. For some reason, this time I didn’t just walk back to my table to dig into my huge breakfast. Pausing, I asked myself, “Why do I eat so much? Is it because I’m at a buffet?”

So, I decided to do an experiment. Slowing down my thoughts, I subtly went into my feelings. I wanted to understand why I craved food.

An Unbearable Temptation

I continued to just stare at the food sitting on my plate. My mind started to loop, saying, “Grab it! Just grab the mashed potato and the braised mushrooms. It’s just this one last time. You can stop eating the next time. No need to stop now!”

The temptation was unbearable. Because I loved potato I would take it daily in any form – mashed, fried, in dhal, in curry puffs, in anything!

Again, I called upon all my mental strength to stop my inner chatter so that I could understand why
I wanted to eat the potato. I observed what was driving me.

Intense feelings were prodding me to just eat and not think about it. That’s when I suddenly realized that even thinking about consuming the food made me happier. I felt a surge of energy shooting upward from my sacral chakra, opening up a feeling in my heart, making me feel unbelievably good..

A Past Cause

For many of us when we eat, the satisfaction from eating actually replaces the relief from stress or even the pleasure of happiness. When I started thinking about that deeply, I had a flashback to my childhood in school.

I was a timid child who was fearful about many things. I saw myself in Primary 3, in the morning school session, living in an environment I would consider too stressful for a 9-year-old. The mornings were spent under the supervision of an extremely strict teacher who punished me for test scores that were less than the perfect 100. In the afternoon, I would be tutored by an equally-strict home tutor. Later in the evening, I went home to parents who expected nothing but the best from me.

Back then, my happiest moments were when I was transiting between school and tuition in the car.

That was when I had the luxury of time to enjoy my home-cooked lunch packed in a tiffin box. That trip was about the only time of the day that I could enjoy some relief from the stress caused by those dreaded teachers. Such simple happiness meant a lot to me then.

And perhaps this is why to this day, I still associate food with happiness. Food brings back memories of those tiffin-box lunches and relief. I was not just eating. I was eating AND feeling happy. I was consuming for emotional reasons or what I would regard as “emotional consumption”.

Why Dieting Can Be Difficult

My realization at breakfast and the memories of my childhood brought me to understand further why it can be difficult to diet, because food has emotional value. For many people, it’s not about the food. Making a person go on a diet is like taking away his happiness, leaving him feeling dissatisfied or even “empty”. He may suppress the negative feelings but still feel down. Then he would return to the normal unhealthy eating again to regain his “happiness” that is represented by food.

If you want to lose weight, you should understand that you are eating to cover something. It could be the black hole of your heart, unhappiness, feeling trapped in life, stress, guilt, bad careers, bad relationships or financial issues. You are using food to cover something that’s missing and you want to be happy for that moment through such comfort eating. This is why it can be difficult to go on a diet. It’s not impossible but difficult, which means you’ll have to find your happiness through other means other than eating.

Smart Dieting

It’s important to know this link between diet and happiness. Because even if you manage to diet successfully, you need to realize that you would need another way of being happy. Therefore, it’s good to know, acknowledge, and have a permanent fix for whatever emotional problem within. This could be stress, unhappiness or anything at all. Once you identify the emotional cause, it’ll be a lot easier to go on a diet and change your lifestyle. It comes back to knowing yourself.

But How Do You Find Out What Your Emotional Drive Is?

Before you eat any food that you crave, pause 5 minutes and look at the food to understand why you’re feeling that intense craving. You’ll realize that this isn’t easy and you’ll see how that craving is very emotionally-driven. You’ll realize that actually you want nothing less than love, or happiness, or freedom, or even peace.

You may need to go back to the time when you first liked that food. What were the surrounding circumstances then? Eating is like an instant release, and you are actually looking for all the positive emotional value from eating that favorite food that’s laid out before you.

What’s The Cause?

When you’re hungry, it’s a biological reaction. But if you are in touch with your body, it will tell you what it needs and you won’t need a nutritionist or a doctor to tell you.

The problem is that people have become disconnected from their bodies. They don’t know that they can actually communicate with their bodies to obtain vital information about what their bodies need.

However, before you can communicate clearly with your body, you’ll need to get rid of the unhealthy emotions that are causing you to comfort eat. If you don’t resolve those drives, it’ll be hard to believe what your body tells you.

Once you identify the unhealthy emotional drive, you’ll have to release those experiences that had brought you to this point. For me, it was the unconscious stress I had when I was a young child in school. If it wasn’t for that stress, I wouldn’t be eating so much and driven in such a way.

The bottom line is not to address the desire or craving. Instead, address the stress or unhappiness that caused the emotional eating. Once you address that you’ll be relaxed or happy from the inside. You won’t need anything else, e.g. food, to substitute those good emotions any more. There is nothing wrong with the desire, it’s the stress that causes the desire. When the stress vanishes, so too will the desire.

How To Release Stress From Your Body Cells

The easiest way is to communicate with your body. Say, “Hey, this stress and tension is no longer needed in my body system. I no longer need this in my life. I would like to surrender this up to the Light through
my breath.” Then breathe it out. That’ll help you to release it.

I would say that this is the easiest way on your own to do it. You’ll find that your diet will change. Plus, you’ll be less afraid to pay more attention to the needs of your body from time to time, rather than listening to all the “experts” out there. Eventually you’ll become One with your body. Then you’ll eat because you’re hungry, not because you’re tense or stressed.

Emotional Consumption Is More Than Just Food

Emotional consumption is a habit for many people in the world. It comes in many forms and not just emotional eating. It can be emotional shopping, emotional vacationing, emotional sex, etc., all of which are done to fill an “empty hole” within oneself. What is your emotional consumption?

3-MIN ENERGY BOOSTER MEDITATION

A fast & simple pick-me-up to brighten your day!

This is a simple yet powerful meditation for you to boost your energy when you are feeling lethargic or emotionally negative. You may also kick start your day with this short meditation for a focused and productive day!

1) Find a safe space without any distractions, be seated or standing.

2) Start breathing in deeply and allow the air to flow all the way into your lower abdomen and exhale slowly. Every time you inhale and exhale, feel yourself getting more and more relaxed.

3) Visualize the sun shining on you. As the light is falling onto you, breathe it in through your skin. Starting from your head, feel the warmth and light of the sun shining on your scalp, your face and continue downwards to your shoulders, arms, chest, stomach, entire back, down to your hips, thighs and feet.

4) Feel your whole body lighting up as if you were breathing in the light. As you breathe out, your light expands and it forms a bubble of light around you. Just like the sun, you are now shinning so bright and feeling warm.

5) End your meditation with a positive affirmation such as “I am energized & charged up!” or “I am ready for a productive day!”

WHEN THE BODY TALKS

Her Physical Heart Spoke To Her

It happened after a rather long weekend. After my parents’ visit, after my one-hour swim and another hour in the gym. My heart twitched while I was preparing ingredients in the kitchen on that Sunday evening. Somewhat concerned, I decided to speak to my heart about it.

In meditation, I connected to my body and thought of my heart. Then, I asked it – what was the matter? What do you want to tell me? I got an answer – tired.

I reflected on this during the meditation itself. My body was tired. My heart had twitched to advise me to rest.

I found it surprising. Being me, if I were in a town where there were exercise classes, I would have gone for one or two more classes. Simply because I didn’t feel very tired.

I lived like I would live forever. I lived like I was indestructible. I could go on and on and on like the Energizer bunny.

However, now I knew that my body wasn’t on the same page with me. It had been a long day. It was getting late. It was time to slow down and relax. No more “work” of any kind.

Taking Care Of Our Body

It is important to respect our body and treat it well. We each only have one body. What would we do if it breaks down, right? That was an important revelation for me.

There’s a lot of advice from the experts available everywhere you turn, but how many people actually take note of it? How many make it a point to incorporate it into their lifestyle?

We shouldn’t wait until something serious happens to ourselves health-wise before we take the necessary steps to safeguard our health.

Simple practices like eating three proper meals a day on time and including natural nutrient-rich foods instead of processed foods. Practices like exercising regularly, not working too hard, getting adequate sleep every night and having a balanced life. All are important.

Meditating regularly, even for 5-10 mins at a time 1-2 times a day is also beneficial for our health. It helps us to calm down, relax, focus and center ourselves. You will enjoy the added benefits of more clarity and focus in your thoughts. Ideas will flow more easily too. The feeling of being more relaxed and serene will result in being slower to anger and less inclination to be irritated as well.

Talking Positively About And To Our Body

Treat your body as your partner. It has been working tirelessly to help accomplish your tasks and goals every day. Your body has served you very well, and so respect it and treat it with loving care. Never neglect it nor abuse it.

Before you drift off to dreamland, pat yourself on your shoulder or give yourself a hug. Thank your body for doing a great job today. When you look in the mirror, tell your body:

• I look nice today.
• I have nice eyebrows.
• This new hairstyle makes me look so much better.
• I love my hair.
• This dress/ suit makes me look good.

These simple words and gestures will brighten up your day.

After all, your body is intuitive and intelligent, and it’s listening. So, positive affirmations when spoken out loud regularly will have a positive effect.

When you care for your body with love, just as you tend to a beautiful garden with devotion, you will reap the rewards of a more wholesome and fulfilling life. If your body is healthy and happy, so will you be too. Remember, health is wealth.

A NATURAL APPROACH TO EASE PAIN

The Multimodal Approach To Pain Management

In terms of pain management, modern healthcare employs a multimodal treatment approach, which includes modern medical pharmacological tools, physiotherapy and supportive therapy. Some patients, may benefit from a combination of approach, and for others, a modern pharmacological approach may not be suitable. For these people, complementary medicine (utilization of a non-pharmacological approach) may provide a solution. Clinical Hypnotherapy is one of these complementary medicine approaches.

Changing The Experience Of Pain

In 2000, a study by Dr Steven Lynn and colleagues, documented that, Clinical Hypnosis has the ability to change the psychological components of the experience of pain. Dr. David Patterson conducted a review of clinical studies which showed pain scoring, need for additional analgesics or sedation, nausea and vomiting, and duration of stay in hospitals, were reduced with patients treated with hypnosis as compared to without hypnosis.

Hypnosis has also been linked with better overall outcome after medical treatment and greater physiological stability. Many healthcare providers have found that patients treated with hypnosis (as an adjunct to their treatment) have documented more patient satisfaction as compared to patients without hypnosis.

Clinical Hypnosis involves steps to focus concentration and to increase responsiveness to suggestions to alter one’s thoughts, feelings, and physiological state. In most clinical situations, hypnosis is not a treatment by itself. It’s a procedure that can be used to assist other modes of treatment, examples being to relieve a person’s anxiety for MRI scan or other medical procedures, wound care/ dressing and to assist in labor pain.

Hypnosis is useful for chronic pain conditions such as headache, backache, cancer related pain, and other long standing pain illness. This mode of therapy doesn’t involve expensive medical equipment and specialized medications. Since this is a natural therapy utilizing the patient’s perceptions, it does help in saving medical cost for some people.

A Natural Mind Shift?

It’s important to know that hypnosis is not some special mystical experience that only qualified hypnotists can induce. In fact, it is part of our everyday experience. Any time you get really engrossed in something (such as, a good book, or an interesting task) you can shift into a hypnotic state. Often a sign of being in a hypnotic state is that time is distorted. People may describe, losing track of time. Hours can fly by and yet only seem like minutes. So, we all go into hypnotic state naturally on a frequent basis. The trick about developing skills in self-hypnosis is to take control of when you go into a state and what you do with it. Developing skills at self-hypnosis is an opportunity to take control of your physical and emotional experience.

Long standing pain conditions, needs individualized treatment plans that look at physiological and emotional aspects of pain. Patients may require help in motivating them for habit change such as, exercise and good diet, or simply to make a drastic mind shift. Instead of focusing on unproductive thinking patterns, Clinical Hypnotherapy can help patients to have more productive thought processes. For example, instead of dwelling on thoughts of, “ I have to suffer with this pain”, patients can be encourage to invest in new thoughts, “I don’t have to suffer with this pain, but I can manage this pain while I enjoy carrying out my daily routine with passion” . In hospital based practice, clinicians using hypnosis, are usually experts in pain management and may consult with appropriate consultants to formulate effective treatment strategies for patients.

A Valid Possibility For Pain Relief

Certain individuals respond to Clinical Hypnosis therapy with amazing positive outcomes. Since it has no negative side effects and if it doesn’t work for you, you can choose to cease the therapy any time. Self-hypnosis is an opportunity to use your creative mind for your physical and emotional well-being. You may well find that it is an opportunity worth taking. Therefore there’s no harm in trying it out. Talk to your doctor  and explore this possibility for your pain needs.

SURVIVING NARCISSISTIC ABUSE
Volume 21

The Pandora Box Opens

Up until that moment, my life had been very normal. But in a split second, everything changed.

I fell unconscious at the door of a restaurant my best friend had invited us to, before driving us to the airport. My partner and had just spent 3 days holidaying in her country house in the South of France.

My best friend was beside me and managed to catch me before I fell to the floor. When I got back up, I just stood there dazed, still by the entrance. My partner was already about to seat himself down at a table. I was looking at him when suddenly I heard this voice ring in my ear, “He is your mother”. I knew that voice! It was my voice like I never heard it before. It was distinct, firm, and convincing. But those words did not make any sense! What could they possibly mean?

I joined them at the table. I sat next to him when suddenly, a pain in my lower belly kicked in. A pain I had never felt before. I don’t know what it was but it intensified by the minute. By the time we got back to Oxford later in the early hours, the pain as unbearable. I couldn’t talk, I couldn’t breathe. I just wanted to be home, alone and away from him! And as soon as I got home, my body settled, relaxed and the pain slowly dissipated.

When I finally fell asleep that night, I recalled through dream the memory of something I had long suppressed – the first time my mother physically abused me. I was 9 and that was when my childhood ended.

The pandora box opened that night. Thereafter, I started recalling countless episodes from my past. I spent a week in bed, unable to stop crying. I was entering the first stage of my spiritual awakening – the dark night of the soul.

Into The Deep

When I got back from France, I was asked by a friend to cat-sit on her narrowboat for a month. Yes! These would be the perfect conditions for me to recover – I did not have to work, I had all the time for myself, I was with nature in the summer and I had a cat for company. The boat was Kismet, which means fate or destiny in Turkish/ Arabic. For me, all these were divine synchronicity, telling me it’s time to put the pieces of my puzzle together.

Since childhood, I had been scapegoated, bullied – by family, at school and even at work. I had lived in 5 countries, with different settings and different people, but yet suffered the same situation. I was experiencing the same over and over again, repeating the same patterns of behavior. Each repetition got more dramatic, sinking me deeper and deeper into a very dark hole. The deception, humiliation, smear, drama, distrust and lies.

My relationships? Friends were mostly full of histrionics whilst my romantic relationships ranged from getting involved with paranoids to one full-blown psychopath. Although running away from my dysfunctional family, I was actually re-creating the same toxic dynamic wherever I went.

Too Much To Process

This was too much to process. I could neither sleep nor eat for days. I became a pale shadow of my former self. I heeded the call to meditate which helped me tremendously.

I started having mystical experiences, visions of which became anchors to rebuild my mental strength. I was discovering both the darkness and the beauty of human nature. A world beyond the tangible and the visible… my inner world, my Spirit.

My body was a wreck, riddled with chronic pain. I experienced panic attacks, dissociative episodes, gut issues, insomnia and all manner of physical body issues. I had no drive for anything.

My body was remembering, through what are called emotional flashbacks. I was reliving the abuse as if it were happening there and then, experiencing the emotions and feelings of the abuse all over again. My nervous system was completely hijacked. I would feel numb, lethargic, or the opposite, bursting out in anger for no apparent reason.

The Search For Relief & Discovering I Suffered From Narcissistic Abuse

I sought help for my condition in cognitive therapy, zen shiatsu, and craniosacral therapy. All of them offered some relief during their sessions, but the relief didn’t last. I got frustrated. None of them seemed to align with what I was going through.

Months later, I found out myself that my symptoms were a clear sign of what is called complex post-traumatic stress disorder or C-PTSD, a common consequence of narcissistic abuse. It is “complex” because the trauma cannot be traced back to any one specific event. The cause is repeated exposure to abuse causing:-

• neurological impairment (experienced as amnesia, brain fog, dissociation), and
• dysregulation of the nervous system (with swings between depression and anxiety).

What I Did To Recover From Narcissistic Abuse

1. Meditation

   Meditation and mindfulness exercises were important in my recovery. It was crucial that I knew how to come back to the present through meditation. Being in the present helped me master my expectations and experiences. Through the mindfulness process, I learned what it was to feel “safe” and “in control” or “in charge” all over again.

2. New Diet

   I had to keep my food intake in check. I became a vegetarian most unexpectedly. One day I was on my usual diet, and he next day my body could not tolerate any more animal protein. From that point on, my body guided me in every nutritional choice I made. I even had some issues eating certain types of vegetables. It was only when I started studying Ayurveda that things fell into place for my eventual healing. Please read my article Boost Your Immune System Naturally with Ayurveda in Volume 30 of this magazine.

3. Decluttering

   It was time to get back to the world but I felt hesitant. If I could, I wanted to be alone on Kismet forever. I was afraid I would get entangled with narcissists again. Although awoken to certain realizations of how not to fall into the hole again, I felt not ready to return. To heal meant redefining my humanity, outside of my conditioning, outside of my people-pleasing tendencies. Who would I be without pleasing people, without my obsession with other peoples’ lives, without my excessive need for approval and validation from others? How can I do without my compulsive need to rescue others and usurp responsibility for their behaviors?

   To break the cycle, I had to declutter my life. So I got rid of all the things, situations, and people that no longer served my best interests. A tabula rasa. I quit my soul-crushing job in an office, changed my phone number and moved to another place. I blocked family and friends from reaching me.

   This was the biggest step in my healing journey. It was a step I had to take to help me evolve, transform my karma into my dharma and turn my pain into purpose.

4. Reiki & EFT

   Codependents and people-pleasers are more vulnerable to narcissistic abuse than others so healing the people-pleaser in me came next. To do that, I learned to harness my energy through 2 techniques – Reiki and EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique). Reiki helped me with grounding and EFT with emotional awareness, the 2 things people-pleasers struggle with most. Both these energy healing techniques can be learned and used as self-care tools but I recommend having practitioners guide you first. To find out more, you can watch bodymindsoul LiveTalk 069: Group Healing With EFT.

5. Nia

   It’s well documented that cases of domestic violence spiked during the pandemic. As I could not practice energy healing in-person anymore, I had to find a way to reach clients and sufferers online. And being online was how I discovered Nia or Neuromuscular Integrative Action.

   Based on both Eastern and Western philosophy Nia is designed to be healing, conditioning yet playful. It does not require special abilities and anyone can learn Nia. You can watch a Nia demo that I did for bodymindsoul at bodymindsoul LiveTalk.

   Everything begins with the body. The soul speaks to the mind through the body’s nervous system. The body tells us what is needed. Moving our body is opening a conversation with our spirit, our soul, and Nia is a fantastic platform to do that. Nia teaches us to “dance through life” no matter what the circumstances are.

Finally Living For Me

Since embracing my calling fully, my life has been falling into place with exceptional clarity. The perfect opportunities, people and support are showing up in divine synchronicity. There’s lots of work to do, but I do them without the drama. Instead of drama, I am now driven by purpose, creativity, and passion. The rewards are infinite. I know I’ve made my place in the world. I no longer try to fit in or prove myself to others, I no longer try to earn the right to be. I am living and contributing to both my own and others’ healing journeys, in a most humble and fulfilling way. I am blessed.

As for those of you who have gone through or are still going through the abuse, do start your awakening and healing. No matter what practice, strategy or tool you choose; commitment, consistency and a community are what you absolutely need in your journey from self-discovery to self-mastery.

MUSIC, FUR KIDS & THEIR HUMAN
Volume 24

I have always loved instrumental music, especially piano music which is light and easy. When I was exploring similar music on Spotify, one particular album cover photo and its title caught my eye.

The cover featured a beautiful golden retriever. The album was titled The Divinity of Dogs. It brought back memories of my dog Jasper, a Maltese. Imagine – I’ve always loved dogs but never knew there was music written specially for them and other pets. What a find!

Incidentally, I later learnt that Jennifer Skiff had written a book with the exact same title. The book contains true stories of miracles inspired by dogs. The cover uses the same picture of the golden retriever.

So, why create music specially for dogs and other pets?

Music Resides In A Dog’s Memory

Years ago, I had asked an animal communicator to help me understand my dog, Jasper. I was going through some difficult life challenges which left me little time for her, making her behave abnormally.

According to the communicator, Jasper remembered the music of Beethoven’s “Für Elise” which I always played at home on the piano.

By accessing Jasper’s memories, the communicator described a scene in my then husband “V”’s car. He was playing the song “Forget Love Potion”, an Andy Lau number. The communicator even described how when the car stopped at the lights, “V” looked at Jasper and sang that song to her! I laughed when I heard this. “V” confirmed that this was exactly how it happened.

Dogs Pay Attention To Music

2 years ago, I was preparing a student for her music exam at my home. As practice, we would repeatedly run through the same exam pieces and scales. My dog YK would sit by me during those long sessions.

Whenever the student played “Sonata in B minor Kp.377 L263” by Scarlatti, YK would seem to pay rapt attention. When the student made a mistake or paused, he would turn to look at me and then look back at the piano or at my student. However, when she played scales (technique passages), my little doggie would just ignore everything and nap. From that I realized that dogs do listen to music.

On top of these personal experiences, I’ve come across studies that show music has a positive effect on dogs and cats.

Proven Positive Effects Of Music On Pets

A Colorado State University study showed that relaxing music can improve dogs’ sleep and moods. Such music also reduces agitation, stress and anxiety.

Another study involved female cats undergoing surgery. After listening to classical music, the cats were calmer and more tolerant throughout the clinical evaluation.

Garrett Charles Nash, an American singer-songwriter composed for his rescue dog, Daisy. When the song for Daisy was played in a dog rescue shelter home, the music almost immediately relaxed and calmed the dogs. Nash was moved that his music could touch animals at such a deep level.

A World Of Choices

Surprisingly at my last count, there were at least 347 albums for pets, dogs, cats; and even one album each for fishes and horses on Spotify! Now, that’s a lot of music for our fur (and scaly) friends!

These albums are meant for animals with stress or anxiety, or pets with issues of hyperactivity. There are even albums to sooth your pet’s separation anxiety when you are away.

Pet music ranges from lullabies to Christmas music. And your pet can even have its favorite pick: piano, guitar, other  instruments, birds’ sounds, nature sounds, and so on.

One of the newer albums in my list is 2020 Relaxing Music for Animals. This is a collection of 15 songs for your pets. There is soothing sleep, ambient music, healing nature and piano melodies that can heal your pets’ anxiety and fear.

Do explore the vast choices available on different online apps.

I found this album very soothing and relaxing. Mostly made up of piano instrumental pieces, the music is light and easy and would make a great addition to your list of pet music.

There are 13 pieces in the album. The ones I like are “Divinity of Dogs”, “You Are My Sunshine”, the calm and gentle “Spacious Skies”, the calm and harmonious “Shenandoah”, the joyful yet peaceful “Twinkle-twinkle Little Star”, “Sanctuary” and  Amazing Grace”.

Some of the titles above may be familiar to you. The music has been modified from the original versions although the title remains the same. Gradually I fell in love with this album. It has found its way into my favorite music list. I play them whilst reading, cooking, handling paperwork, at bedtime and when I meditate.

Once I played the album in one of my meditation classes. I did not tell the participants that the music was specially created for dogs. After the meditation, all of them felt so relaxed, calm and peaceful.

Some who had listened to this album did give it good reviews online. My dog YK went missing before I came across this album, so I didn’t get the chance to listen with him.

It’s always good to explore more music for yourself, and whilst you’re at it, do it for your pet too. And it also doesn’t matter if you don’t have a pet. Listening to this genre of music not just helps you to unwind, but it also helps you to relax and quiet your mind, especially for meditation and yoga.

HOW TO USE MUSIC FOR FUR KIDS

I sincerely hope that this type of music will be used by more people, especially pet owners and animal caretakers.

Music for pets is useful when:

• your pet is sick or moody
• you deal with rescued animals
• you are away from your pet for days or weeks
• your pet is staying overnight at a pet boarding facility
• your neighbors set off fireworks during the festive season
• you and your pet move house
• you have just adopted a pet or will give it away to new owner

Let’s be more considerate towards the animals which share this world with us as they too have feelings. In fact, many species are actually more sensitive than we are.

Our pets have an immense amount of unconditional love for us. For all the joy and happiness they bring, let’s show them our love in return. One surefire way to do that is play relaxing pet music for them.

How will you know what’s right for your pet? Experiment!

• Choose a piece that you yourself love. Listen to it together with your pet.
• Observe your pet’s response. Play the music again if the response is positive to confirm your pet’s resonance with the piece. Or just pick something else. Find something that both of you love.
• You could also hum the tune to your pet. Gently stroke her as she gets sleepy and continue letting her feel your love.

Are you game to meditate with your pet? Here’s how:

• Choose an album composed for pets that you both love.
• Get your pet to sit near or next to you. Or you could allow her to lie down. Or let her freely choose to sit or lie where she feels comfortable. Let her be. Don’t control or force.
• Let your pet know that you are going to meditate with the music. Invite her lovingly to participate. Your pet instinctively knows your intention. It doesn’t matter if she doesn’t sit still during the meditation. Allow.
• When the music starts, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths.
• Quieten your thoughts. Relax your body from head to toe.
• In the state of peace and calm, visualize your pet sitting in front of you, facing you.
• Connect to your heart and imagine it opening up. Send love and light from your heart to your pet.
• Visualize your pet receiving your love and light into her heart. See your pet surrounded by the love and light. See her in a bubble of love and light.
• Give thanks and gratitude to your loving pet.
• When done, slowly open up your eyes. Look at your precious fur kid. With all the love you feel from your heart, spend some time talking with, petting and cuddling her.

GEOPATHY, Harmonizing Your Place On Earth
Volume 27

There is this house off a very popular district – pretty, unpretentiously sleek, fresh-off the-paint, bargain-of-the-decade: a non-typical 2-storey terrace. What’s more, it’s pet-friendly, located about 2 km away from a nature reserve, with attractive amenities.

Two paragraphs into the advertisement and you are sold. Your index finger inches towards the dial button on your phone, for an immediate viewing before the house keys land in someone else’s eager hands. Not even a dodgy third paragraph would  make you think otherwise. But you had to look at it, and it reads: “T-junction, a century-old cemetery in a corner.” Oops. Now try convincing your Chinese mom about that Feng Shui dilemma!

Stress Waves

Feng Shui aside, there is a little-known related phenomenon called Geopathic Stress, that you should consider. Geopathy is  the study of Earth energies and how these energies affect the well-being of humans. To put it simply, Geopathy is an amalgamation of Feng Shui, electrosmog (or electromagnetic radiation) detection and dowsing.

Let me get back to how it works.

You see, to live is to live with – not without. We live in a physical dimension where energies exist alongside us side by side. These energies vibrate at different frequencies and wavelengths. These vibrating energies include you, me, the bougainvillea in your backyard, and most certainly the Earth. Earth emanates various types or wavelengths of energies that may be  complementary or deleterious to our health depending on the presence of natural and/or man-made activities.

For example, the flow of underground water through fissures and fractures (due to the fact that water passages emit their own magnetic fields) that collides with the Earth’s natural energy fields which, in return, create geopathic stress.

Frequencies That Interfere

It’s important to note that these energies are not insidious in nature. They are simply too strong for the human body and with prolonged exposure, they render the body’s immune system feeble.

They interfere with the body’s healthy frequencies and in turn, provide a breeding ground for illness or dis-ease to develop without the person’s slightest clue.

Geopathic stress occurs at a very subtle level, gradually over time, and claws in to distort the body’s own electrical activity. They distort brain rhythms, affecting the cell renewal process. Abnormal cell growth happens, leading possibly to chronic immune problems or cancer. It’s a slow, sinister encroachment on an otherwise robust body.

Identifying The Radiation

Most people are not aware of any geopathic disturbances or even their existence until health challenges hit and treatments do not seem to work properly as they should.

Perhaps, geopathic stress shows up even at work when machines malfunction with no apparent cause.

You might even want to observe the behaviors of animals like cats, ants, beetles, and even plant life on the site – do they behave in an odd manner and are drawn toward certain spots?

Unlike humans, these “negative” frequencies affect animals and plants differently. In the presence of these types of radiation, animals and plants flourish and bask in these energies with a heightened vigor. Very bizarre indeed.

However, the best way to confirm whether a home or workplace is overflowing with geopathic stress is by dowsing or asking a building biologist. Feng Shui masters can help here but if the matter concerns whether these energies have affected your physical health, it’s best to consult a kinesiologist or a naturopath through a resonance test.

Corrective Measures

The simplest and most practical method to correct these energies is to shift and relocate your furniture from these areas, especially places where you will spend the most time in, to another location.

You will begin to notice changes to your health. If such corrective measures are a daunting task and very inconvenient, you might want to explore several other options to tackle these stresses and that includes harmonizing your personal space or strengthening your personal energies.

Crystals are a preferred choice to absorb these energies and you simply have to place them at different locations in the affected spaces. This works to harmonize and strengthen these areas.

As a more comprehensive solution, Bioresonance therapy is capable of detecting, harmonizing, and strengthening your body from geopathic stresses.

SEE WHAT YOUR EYE PROBLEMS ARE SHOWING YOU!
Volume 22

The “Evil Eye”

Centuries ago, people gave the eye “mystical powers”. For instance, an angry person who cast an “evil eye” at his victim would have him running for dear life. One never knew what negative energy would be flung one’s way.

True or not, but this is a belief that exists in many cultures including Asian, Hawaiian and European.

Power Behind The Eyes

Then there’s spiritualist Caroline Myss’ wise words, “Power originates behind your eyes, not in front of your eyes. Once power becomes visible, it evaporates. True power is invisible.”

Your eyes are a beautiful creation that transmit information of who you are. They are the doorway to your soul, brimming with all the emotions that flow through you.

The Connection Between Eyes & Body

But here’s what you may not know – your eyes reveal what other parts of your body are undergoing. In traditional Chinese medicine, the eyes are said to be related to the liver. Any eye issue is an indication that your liver may not be functioning that smoothly.

Also, the health of your eyes immediately shows how you view the world. If your eyes are fine one day but not the next, observe what’s going on in your life. Note the thoughts and emotions that have been running through you all day long.

Take a look of what 6 common eye issues could mean for you.

6 Common Eye Problems And Solutions

CATARACTS ~ This is the clouding of the eye’s natural lens and one of the main reasons people worldwide have impaired vision. Cataracts are like a foggy pair of spectacles, causing the world to appear blurry. Have you noticed how it’s usually the older generation who have cataracts?

Observe the way older folks view the world and their future. Both may appear grey, gloomy, and joyless to them. If so, they would likely have greeted old age and retirement with sadness. The “clouding“ is a sort of self-imposed veil of despair that they created.

A prescription of constant gratitude mixed with the habit of looking at the bright side of life is the first step to reduce the possibility of cataracts.

Instead of locking yourself away in your golden years, share the love, knowledge and time that you have on your hands with others, particularly the young. Connect with your heart to paint a new world that excites you.

CONJUNCTIVITIS (PINKEYE) ~ This is a pretty common problem, especially amongst children. One or both eyes turn a pinkish color with a gritty feeling. This may be accompanied with itching and a discharge. Plus, it may be difficult to open the eyelids in the morning.

In this case, something or someone in the world may be so unpleasant that the eyes do not wish to see it. The emotions churned up could include anger and frustration.

This would be the time to try to view the unpleasantness with love and acceptance.

GLAUCOMA ~ This disease could happen when pressure builds up inside the eyes, eventually damaging the optic nerve that links the eye to the brain.

Eventually, it leads to vision loss. It’s a process that happens over many years.

A person who has glaucoma may have a tendency to be stubborn and hang on to things. It could be anything, from old relationships, belief systems, criticisms to hurts that no longer serve them. This is where the need for forgiveness comes in.

“Unforgiveness” comes with its own low vibrations. You could say it’s like pressure building up in the body. It is time to relax, make your peace with the past and see the world through fresh eyes.

LONG-SIGHTEDNESS ~ Many older adults are able to see what’s in the distance clearly, but not what is near them. Ever wondered why?

As age creeps up on people, they fear the future. This causes them to try and anticipate all the things that could go wrong. That’s the only way they can feel prepared for unwanted events like accidents, loss of home or job, etc. So much so that they forget to live in the present. And that is why their eyes can’t clearly see the beauty right before them.

This calls for more trust, and to let go of the need to control life so much. Trust that all will be well.

NEAR-SIGHTEDNESS ~ It’s common for the young to be near-sighted. They can see well what’s near them but not what is far away.

There may be a fear of danger from somewhere close by. So, they anxiously focus on what’s near them to ensure safety. The source of danger (real or imagined) could be someone close to them, e.g. parent or teacher.

Another reason for near-sightedness or myopia is the reluctance to look at or accept the future. By not looking beyond their nose, they also run away from responsibilities and new undertakings.

Here, it’s not only trust that’s needed but also strength and confidence to walk into the future.

STY ~ This is a small, sore swelling that’s located at the edge of an eyelid. A sty can hurt. It makes the person conscious of it and feel irritated.

The question to ask is, “Is there something painful staring at me, but that I don’t want to look at? Or acknowledge? Does it bring out feelings of anger?”

When an unwelcome sty pops up, the person has to stop to reflect and accept. Accept that it is happening and that it hurts.

Tibetan Eye Chart

LOVE YOUR EYES

Some exercises seem simple but are amazingly effective. Here are some that you could try.

Palming

• Sit up straight in a chair. Place feet flat on ground, and elbows on a table.
• Rub both palms together. Then place palm on eyes. Avoid pressing the eyes. Relax and take
  slow deep breaths. Repeat several times.

Tibetan Eye Chart

Although today there’s no scientific proof that this exercise works, numerous individuals who have used it claim it does. Yoga instructors do teach how to move the eyes in different directions whilst focusing on the chart. This has helped some eye problems.

Eye Affirmations

Say these affirmations out aloud. Connect or pay special attention to your eyes as you say them from your heart.

I see the world afresh.
A colorful world awaits me.

I am grateful to my eyes.
I see a beautiful safe place through them.

The present is safe.
The future is safe.
I am safe at all moments.

I am releasing the past.
I am releasing all hurt and pain.

I am ready to look at the world with peace and kindness. 

I am at peace.
It is safe for me to see the world.

YOU CAN HEAL YOURSELF
Volume 28

Body Harmony

When our body is unwell, many of us would almost certainly visit a doctor or an alternative therapy practitioner. But have we considered that the “who” doing the healing is actually our own body? Yes, our body is designed to heal itself. Let me explain.

Doctors or therapists can assist only if the individual is in harmony with Nature, the subtle energy. Whilst the doctor may give the medication, what happens is that the actual healing is done by a Higher Intelligence, also called Life Force by some, when the individual is so in harmony.

For example, have you ever wondered how, when you get a cut (one that’s not deep or serious) in your body and even as you ignore it, it gets healed without any medication? This is the self-healing mechanism of our body at work.

No matter what we call this capacity to self-heal, the sacred influence is within each and everyone of us and it is important that we recognize this Infinite Wisdom, be in tune with It and invoke It for our benefit.

Body Intelligence

Self-healing can be very powerful and if you discover this secret strength within yourself, you will be able to fight off disease more successfully, enhance your energy and vitality, and enjoy more peace and well-being.

Lifestyle Choices

Many people abuse their body on a daily basis with lack of sleep or rest, improper diet, overwork, emotional stress and other undisciplined lifestyle choices. But they still seem to escape the adverse effects. This happens because, unbeknownst to them, their self-healing system has been operating and working hard to keep their body unaffected – so far. Over time however, the accumulated effects of “bad” lifestyle choices will eventually catch up with them, overwhelming their self-healing mechanisms to result in health problems.

Body Communication

All of us suffer from aches and pains in our body at some point in our lives. Aches and pains are basically messages that we are not listening to our body to change our lifestyle and stop abusing our body.

In my pursuit of knowledge of the unseen energies, I had the opportunity to learn and experience self-healing methods from renowned spiritual masters in India. All of them say that the answers to every person’s woes are within the person, but people are just not sensitive to the signals they receive from their body senses.

Healing is happening in our body every moment. It’s therefore vital that we communicate with our body with good and positive thoughts because these thoughts play a major role in self-healing.

According to some masters, people who regularly attend or visit places of worship of any faith or pray individually are less likely to have health problems than those who seldom pay attention to such sacred sites or events. Could it be that they have a stronger immune system, because of their faith? Or could it be that because they observe healthier lifestyles, these people have a stronger sense of well-being and satisfaction than others?

Body & Thought Awareness

The best way to start believing that you can heal yourself is by reprogramming your thoughts. Our minds are powerful tools, which we can harness to create our reality through thoughts. Using thoughts, we move the unformed energy of the Universe into form, which gives direction to our words and actions. Each thought is like a stone dropped into a lake, sending ripples out into our world to affect all that they touch.

We can choose where we focus our thoughts and how we invest our energy, which then give us the power to design our lives and be whatever we choose.

It is important to talk to your body openly (or silently if you think others around might see you as weird). Repeat the daily affirmation: “Every day, I am getting healthier and happier” or “I’m connected to the Life Force and always have enough energy and vitality to be healthy and happy”. Visualize and imagine that you are healthy and vibrant with light and see your body being filled with radiant healing Life Force.

Self-Healing Method

You can tap into the Life Force for protection and better health or whenever you want to ease pain, stress or get relief. Here is a simple exercise to connect with this energy:
► Find a quiet spot and hold your left hand and palm outward.
► For healing energy to flow through you, visualize the Life Force coming into your body through the palm of your left hand. It can be a white light or any warm color.
► As you hold up your left hand and allow the energy to enter, place your right hand and palm down on the area of your body which requires healing.
► You may feel some warmth entering your left hand and your right palm getting hot. You may also experience the feeling of vibration which means the Life Force is moving through you.
► You can practice this exercise for about 10 to 20 minutes whenever you have an issue like indigestion, tense muscle or shoulder, headache, stress, joint pain, etc.
► After completing the exercise, relax and be grateful for connecting with the energy. Remember to say “Thank you” silently to show appreciation for the Life Force.

YIN, YANG & YOU
Volume 2

Fire and water! Day and night! Male and female! Life and death! We live in a majestic Universe of duality.

The ancient Chinese understood this concept of Yin and Yang, which became the foundation of many of their classical sciences as well as philosophy. The most well-known symbol of Yin and Yang (not merely a religious symbol), shown above like two opposing “tadpoles” in an eternal harmonious dance, reveals a subtle secret: in the sea of black, there is the seed of white, and vice versa. One can seemingly understand it on a rational level, and yet continually find new expressions of it in everyday life. You may be curious and ask, “What has this got to do with me?” and “How does this benefit my life?” And the answer to that is… “Everything!” Let’s find out how.

But before we begin, let’s get familiar with Yin and Yang using some examples:

While Yang represents movement/activity, heat, masculinity and assertiveness, Yin represents stillness/rest, coolness, femininity and nourishment. Think of the honeybees – they are full of Yang energy compared to the Yin flowers that they visit.

The bees provide the “male” aspect in this equation, spreading pollen to fertilize the flowers and get them turning into fruit, while the flowers, in the Yin role, attract and yield to the bees, providing sweet, nourishing nectar, which is eventually turned into honey by the bees, said to be nature’s most complete food and classified as a Yin nutrient in traditional Chinese medicine.

Now keep in mind that Yin and Yang are always relative and contextual.

So, for instance, if we compare Arnold Schwarzenegger to say, Steve Jobs, we could say that in terms of physical presence, Arnold is more Yang and Steve Jobs, more Yin.

But if we’re talking about techno-savviness, then Steve is more Yang compared to Arnold. But wait. Before one gets the idea that Yang is “better” than Yin, let’s be certain about one thing: there is no “better”. Both Yin and Yang are equally important, just different, opposing and complementary.

Fire is Yang and water is Yin, but each has its role. For instance, a car engine is all about internal fire; moving pistons and gears. But too much fire and what happens? The engine overheats. This is why a car engine has pipes running around it containing moving water, which is the radiator system.

Fire and water working together – both are opposite sides of the coin, yet equally important.

The above introduction now brings us to how the Yin-Yang duality affects your life:

1. Harmonious & Complementary

Yin and Yang are inseparable, and need each other! At first glance it looks like they are opposites that just don’t get along. But if we look at the symbol again we notice that the two “tadpoles” are actually rotating in the same direction.

They are complementary opposites, like night and day. The warmth, brightness and energy of day allows living things to flourish and thrive, but the cool, dark and peacefulness of night allows them to rest, heal and grow. There is harmony, with both sides participating in an eternal dance.

Picture a cow chewing grass. In this context, the cow is Yang, being more active, assertive and “destructive”, while the grass is Yin, being dormant, yielding and nourishing. The grass nourishes the cow, and… the cow nourishes the grass in turn, with its manure! Here’s another example: after her chicks hatch, the female eagle (Yin) stays at the nest and does most of the feeding of the chicks, while the male eagle (Yang) does most of the hunting to provide food. The male also stands guard nearby to protect the nest and territory. Harmony in duality.

A key lesson here is to realize that in one way or other, we are part of this eternal dance of duality, and it is helpful for us to realize the role(s) that we play in our everyday life. There is a time for giving and there is a time for receiving. Knowing how to receive is as important as knowing how to give, allowing us to flow in harmony. Seek to enjoy both the Yin as well as the Yang moments of your life, for both experiences are essential to the fullness of life.

2. Balance

A natural force of the universe is balance; all things are constantly striving to achieve this. For instance, if you are working in a highly stressful job which sacrifices your health, peace of mind, and relationships, you will feel “pain” as a result, which manifests itself in various ways. It is simply the Universe trying to reel you back into balance.

Honoring natural cycles is part of this idea. For instance, day is the time for work, and night is the time for sleep. One can do the opposite, but not in good health for very long – many studies show that long-term night-shift workers are at higher risk for many diseases. Other studies show that using back-lit devices (bright screens) before bedtime will affect your sleep quality – this makes sense if we recognize that bright light belongs to day and not to night. Our ancestors had only candlelight or oil lamps before they went to bed!

The principle of balancing Yin and Yang also plays out in our diet, for instance. Yang foods like spicy foods, alcohol and meats, need to be balanced by Yin foods like vegetables, fruits and honey.

Too much Yang will burn out Yin, and in fact this is what we are seeing on a large scale in modern, stressed-out lifestyles – much like an engine burning up all the water in its radiator system, and then melting down.

Excessive or extreme effort in any endeavor if not balanced with an equal and opposite amount of rest builds up tension and stress in your body. Yin and Yang energies ultimately balance out and you should seek balance regularly so that the tension and stress do not build up to the point where they manifest as illnesses and disorders. There is a season for everything in life: a time for birth, a time to grow, a time to labor and a time for rest.

3. Continually Transforming

Yin and Yang give us comfort in the knowledge that nothing lasts forever – neither good times nor bad times. This is because Yin and Yang are not static, but they actually transform into each other. As pointed out before, summer changes into winter, day changes into night, life into death, joy into sadness, and vice versa. You can see this gradual “blending” happening in the Yin-Yang symbol too.

It is only by embracing the natural cycle of things, in recognition of this principle, that we can find peace no matter what our circumstances may be. Peace is simply the letting go of the idea of permanence and accepting that the environment and things around you are constantly changing like the ebb and flow of the tides. Embracing change aligns you with the great forces of the universe and results in synchronicities of events which makes for a more harmonious and successful life in the universal flow.

4. Interconnectedness

Finally, Yin and Yang teach us about the interconnectedness of all things. Even though they seem to be opposites, at odds with each other, they are really “one house”. This teaches us the universal principle of Oneness. A passage from a commentary of Zhuangzi (an ancient Taoist text) illustrates: “There are no two things under Heaven which do not have the mutual relationship of the ‘self’ and the ‘other’. Both the ‘self’ and the ‘other’ equally desire to act for themselves, thus opposing each other as strongly as East and West. On the other hand, the ‘self’ and the ‘other’ have at the same time the mutual relationship of lips and teeth… therefore the action of the ‘other’ on its own behalf at the same time helps the ‘self’. Thus, though mutually opposed, they are incapable of mutual negation.”

When every human being sees that we are all interconnected and interdependent in this bio-energetic system known as “Earth”, we will become more trusting and compassionate towards each other instead of harboring the mutual fear and suspicion.

Now wouldn’t the world and you be more loving, peaceful and happy if seemingly opposing views recognize this interconnectedness?

The Long & Short Of It

Even though Yin and Yang seem quite simplistic, the applications of this concept are endless. Through understanding the harmony of duality and the principles of balance, constant transformation and interconnectedness, you can realize the ancient wisdom of the sages, and apply these universal principles to the attainment of love, peace, happiness and abundance in your life.

THE POWER OF BARING YOUR SOLES TO THE EARTH

Barefooting For Your Wellness

Surely you have already experienced, in your lifetime, numerous moments of how good it feels to take off your shoes and put your feet on the grass, or just stand still in the rain (yes, barefoot). Don’t many people go vacationing or on holiday just to walk alongside the ocean barefoot on a sandy beach?

In my case, the barefoot journey began when I met a friend who introduced me to barefoot running at the beach. I had no clue it was a thing for adults to do; for children… of course but not for adults.

Like seriously, who can actually get a child to stop running barefoot all over the place? And how many adults do you actually encounter that are avid marathon runners who bare their soles on to the road with no need of running shoes? Not many I would have said, at that time, but now, after researching it for myself and giving it a try, I have encountered another lifestyle, a practice for wellness called Earthing.

Earthing It

Have you ever heard of Earthing or Grounding?  This age-old practice involves connecting your body, mind, and spirit to the planet. The approach is about the effects that this direct physical contact with the electrons of the earth’s surface has on our health.

How does this happen? Well, when walking barefoot in nature, or walking on the sands in the beach you are automatically connected with the earth’s surface. You probably have done this and have been unaware of that.

Personally, I decided to walk, not run, barefooted every day as a way of reconditioning my feet to the earth. That turned out to be a fortuitous decision, as I have now found out. You might like to give it a try! Just bare your soles to the Earth with no specific theory in mind and just as simple as standing barefoot or laying in the grass-anything that allows your body to connect directly with the ground has you now Earthing.

The Lost Connection

In prehistoric times, people walked either barefoot or in footwear made of animal skins to better protect their feet. In addition, prehistoric people slept on the ground, usually on animal skins or furs, to better protect themselves from the cold. At that time, humans were always in direct contact with electrons on the earth’s surface.

By wearing shoes with thick soles, living in massive houses or walking on asphalt surfaces, we are nowadays almost completely cut off from the flow of electrons from the earth’s surface.

The foot is naturally made to walk barefoot. Unfortunately, we modern-day folks are no longer used to walking barefoot. Often, we can’t even walk for more than 10 minutes without footwear, as muscle tension or even pain occurs after a short time. People who have been walking exclusively in modern footwear for years have to get used to it and recondition their feet to get the muscles developed, and the ligaments and tendons more flexible again.

Feeling Good With It

But why does it feel so good to touch the surface of the earth with bare feet?

Quite simple, when walking barefoot there is an exchange of energy with the earth. Our body is electrically charged just like the earth. By earthing, we connect with the earth’s energy. By walking barefoot, unwanted electrons that cause stress and fatigue are set free and beneficial energy is charged.

There is no general answer to how often you should do earthing in order to feel the positive effects. It is important to listen to your own body. Once you have consciously experienced the benefits of earthing on your own body, you will know best when you need the healing earth energy again.

By the way, it is not absolutely necessary to always walk barefoot. Earthing can also be done comfortably in a garden chair, simply by placing your bare feet on the natural ground and reading a book. To achieve a greater effect, you can lie down on the grass with your whole body or do exercises such as yoga, qigong or taiqi.

Other Cool Benefits

A growing body of research online have found numerous health benefits resulting from the physical body being grounded. Here are 6 of them:

1. Better control of your foot position when it strikes the ground.
2. Improvements in balance, proprioception, and body awareness, which may help with pain relief.
3. Better foot mechanics, which may lead to improved mechanics of the hips, knees, and core
4. Maintaining an appropriate range of motion in your foot and ankle joints as well as adequate strength and stability within the associated muscles and ligaments.
5. Relief from improperly fitting shoes, which may cause bunions, hammertoes, or other foot deformities.
6. Stronger leg muscles, which support your lower back region.

The immediate effect people describe from being grounded is that they “feel better with a greater sense of peace, calmer, and reduced stress”. Reports also indicate that walking barefoot on the earth or sustained contact with the earth boosts immunity and promotes health and well-being.

So it makes sense to reason that when we are barefoot regularly, the sensory feedback from our feet become more detailed and refined, just like anything else done habitually.

Head Outside Now & Soak It In!

Let us remember that we are part of nature and belong inside this web of life, it does not take much time nor energy to bare our soles to the earth and connect.

Today, we walk with our feet cushioned in shoes and sleep in beds. Yes, while life has gotten more comfortable, over the past 50 plus years chronic diseases, immune disorders and inflammation in the body have also increased. So why not try a bit of Earth healing energy?

Head outside, lay in the grass and enjoy the beautiful breeze. Take a walk barefoot, if you are able. Take time to connect yourself with the Earth and soak in all these natural benefits to your mental and physical health.

Much peace and blessings to you all.

CRYSTALS AS AN ENERGY ENHANCER & PROTECTOR

Not only does each type of crystal contain energy within its own spectrum, but each individual crystal also contains its very own individual energy signal and aura.

Magnify a crystal sufficiently and get down to the atomic level, what you will see are single atoms in motion, surrounded by a lot of space, which is quantum energy.

If we are choosing a crystal and feel drawn to a particular one, this is because it is either in harmony with our own energy vibration or it possesses some essential qualities within its energy that can raise our vibrations to benefit us in some way.

Crystal healers work with this energy by feeling what an individual requires in terms of re-balancing or emotional healing; and then choosing a crystal or crystals that will help that person to heal themselves and re-achieve harmony within their emotional and physical bodies.

There are numerous ways that crystals can be utilized to benefit our home environment. They can be used to help clear negativity, create a relaxing room or energize the atmosphere. Protection for the home is another way to use crystals.

Cleansing Negativity

The best crystal for maintaining a positive environment is a nice large Amethyst Cluster. You can place it in the room that you wish to treat and leave the crystal to do its work. The Amethyst Cluster can also be used for protection against electromagnetic energy emitted by computers and televisions. To do this, place a small Amethyst Cluster next to these electrical items. Alternatively, use a Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) as it is believed that this plant happily absorbs potentially harmful EMF (electromagnetic field) radiations and can still thrive.

Relaxation

Rose Quartz is a gorgeous stone to have around the home. It is suitable for use in creating a relaxing room. Usually sold as solid pieces of rock, this beautiful pink stone is also known as the Love Stone. Use a piece of at least ½ kg in weight to treat a normal room. Place tumble-polished pieces of Rose Quartz in a crystal bowl to spread the feeling of love in a personal space.

Energizing

You might wish to create an environment that is full of pure energized vibrations. For this, a Quartz Crystal Cluster or Large Quartz Point is ideal. It is perfect for use in an office as well because it is reputed to inspire brilliant ideas and allow people to function to the best. Quartz is also used for developing latent psychic ability, so it is perfect for inspiring intuition and creative thought.

Protection

We all wish our homes to not only be relaxing but also safe. For a little extra help in creating a perfect retreat from the world, a large piece of Smoky Quartz is the crystal of choice; whether in the form of a Point, Cluster or Mineral Rock, it will do its job well. Or as with Rose Quartz, get some beautiful tumble-polished ones and place them in a crystal bowl.

Meditation

Quartz or Rock Crystal acts as a magnifier of our emotions, thoughts and feelings. Personally, I find that if I meditate while wearing a Quartz Point pendant, the insights gained tend to be deeper and the experience is more consciousness-expanding.

There are large Quartz Points weighing anything upwards of a kilogram up to giant ones weighing as much as a person; these all make excellent meditation pieces.

I once buried one of these next to a tree I meditated by and believe me the insights gained during that time were definitely transcendent!

For protection when meditating, have a Smokey Quartz point in the room or upon your person.

For journeying during meditation, hold a piece of Rutilated Quartz in the hand you write with or wear jewelry containing this crystal.

A Rewarding Journey With Crystals

I love crystals, for their beauty and all that they have given me over decades of getting to know them. My own journey began well over thirty years ago and continues every day, always discovering new insights and applications for crystals.

May all your discoveries be happy ones, and may you live within love and peace.

WOMEN EATING WELL: HORMONE-BALANCING FOODS

The female sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone play important roles in a woman’s reproductive health, from menstruation to pregnancy to menopause and more.

Estrogen & Progesterone

Estrogen – women are pretty familiar with this hormone as it is responsible for the physical changes during puberty, the start of menstrual cycles and childbearing. It also keeps cholesterol in control, protects bone health, and affects a woman’s mood, heart and even her skin. Estrogen levels change throughout the month and are highest in the middle of a woman’s menstrual cycle and lowest during her period. At menopause, estrogen levels begin to drop.

Progesterone helps to regulate the menstrual cycle and gets a woman ready for the possibility of pregnancy. After ovulation, progesterone prepares to accept a fertilized egg. If there is no fertilized egg, progesterone levels drop, and menstruation begins. When women go through menopause, ovulation rates begin to decline and stop at the onset of menopause.

Women who experience imbalances in estrogen and progesterone levels may experience one or more of the following:

• Menstrual periods that are irregular or have stopped altogether;
• Hot flashes or night sweats;
• Worsening premenstrual syndrome (PMS);
• Fatigue;
• Weight gain;
• Loss of sex drive;
• Depression or anxiety;
• Abnormal uterine bleeding, miscarriage.

Testosterone

Testosterone, the primary sex hormone found in men, also plays an important role in a woman’s body. Women who produce too much testosterone may experience irregular or absent menstrual periods, frontal balding, acne and has more body hair.

How To Remedy?

One of the most common misperceptions about hormones is that there is nothing we can do to improve our health symptoms and quality of life. However, while women are quick to put the blame on hormones, it could in fact be due to stress and lifestyle related choices rather than hormonal changes.

Good nutrition is key to women’s health and hormonal balance. A healthy, well-nourished woman will have less premenstrual syndrome (PMS), healthier menstrual cycles, easier menopause and better overall health.

According to a study¹ in Malaysia, approximately 60% of 158 women surveyed did not use any remedy to lessen the effects of their PMS.

Managing Your Hormones

To establish normal hormonal levels and general well-being, women might be better served with herbal and natural remedies prescription under qualified complementary practitioners. In addition, women need to empower themselves with the right knowledge to care for and support their health.

For a start, women can incorporate a hormone-balancing diet that is rich in nutrients and healthy fats into their meal plan. As for dealing with unpleasant PMS or managing those nasty peri- and post-menopause symptoms, the following are some effective lifestyle tips:

1. Sleep

Relax. Breath. Sleep.

Make sure you are getting enough sleep. Find the root cause of why you can’t doze off easily. If it is stress-related, you can go for a jog, opt for a free 15-minute sun bathing session, or simply give yourself a “me-time” off your busy schedule.  If it is a health-related issue, see a health professional about it.

2. Exercise

Water. Weight. Active.

Hydration is key for healthy weight management, digestion and muscle function. Women tend to put on extra weight after menopause due to declining estrogen levels, muscle loss, lifestyle and diet factors. We also tend to be less active physically prior to menopause. Hence, it’s good to kick start a moderate and vigorous exercise regime to prevent the on-coming menopausal weight gain. Maintaining a healthy weight according to your BMI (body mass index) is crucial.

3. Diet

Eat a balanced diet that includes fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Plan your fiber goals. Malaysians are recommended to consume 20-30 g of dietary fiber a day². Get hold of fiber-rich foods such as seeds, nuts, beans, colorful vegetables and fruits as part of your shopping list and achieve your fiber goals.

4. Healthy Fats

Healthy fats not only provide the body with energy but also help with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, healthy weight management and protection of the heart. Include good fats such as olive, nuts, seeds (pumpkin seed, flaxseed, walnuts) and avocados in your diet. Adding more of these healthy fats may also help you feel more satisfied after a meal, reducing hunger and thus promoting weight loss.

5. Natural Remedies

Incorporate herbs and spices like ginger, lemon grass and cinnamon by adding it to your tea, stew and soup to help better manage PMS. If cooking is not your forte, drink herbal tea such as Chamomile, Black Cohosh and Red Raspberry leaves. Another wonderful herb is Kacip Fatimah³, a local Malaysian herb which is rich in isoflavones and phytoestrogen. This female tonic herb has traditionally been used to regulate menstrual cycle, relieve menopausal symptoms and PMS.

6. Mental Attitude

Positive. Recharge. Love.

It is not selfish to love and care for yourself. Self-care is all about making sure your well-being is your top priority. When feeling blue, ditch the Smurfs in you and get yourself a Troll. Be happy, silly and grateful, for life is a blessing. We are never too old for cartoons!

Have you been giving yourself the love and attention you deserve? If not, the best time to start is now.

References:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4565918
2. Ng TKW. Dietary fat and fibre intake in adults. Mal J Nutr 3: 137-147, 1997 https://nutriweb.org.my/mjn/publication/03-2/e.pdf
3. Kacip Fatimah https://www.forestry.gov.my/my/tumbuhan-ubatan/item/kacip-fatimah

Self-Care Sunday will present 3 INSPIRING & ILLUMINATING TALKS by 3 experts in their fields:

1. EAT WELL: HORMONE BALANCING FOODS

   Reclaim your physical wellness through consuming the right hormone-balancing foods.

   – presented by Alyssa Ng, Naturopath

2. CHOOSING YOURSELF

   Why honoring your choices in life can be the very thing that sets you free.

   – presented by Shazmin Shamsuddin, Editor – Culture & Lifestyle, The Vibes

3. DON’T BREAK UP, MAKE UP

   Learn how taking time for self-care makes it so much easier to create balance in your life and in your most important relationship.

   – presented by Siobhan Coulter, Love Relationship Specialist, BA (Psych) Q’ld, BPsych (Hons) Griff Certified Meditation Instructor

Self-Care Sunday will also feature 3 EMPOWERING GUIDED MEDITATIONS led by 3 TGSM spiritual mentors:

1. RHYTHM OF YOUR HEART

   Intuitively move your body for a deeper self-connection. Be one with your body and breath; and reconnect with your heart.

   – presented by Sucy Chan, Reiki Master, In-house practitioner

2. SELF-HONOURING

   Experience this self-honoring session and reclaim your self-love, self-respect and self-confidence.

   – presented by Low Sheau Shy, Certified Meditation Facilitator, In-house practitioner

3. RECONNECT WITH YOUR FEMININE POWER

   True power lies in fully accepting who you are. As you embrace your feminine body, mind and soul, you will naturally exude love, power and confidence!

   – presented by Beatrice Lee, Women wellness specialist & Certified Meditation Facilitator, In-house practitioner

YOUR TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS SEMINAR WORKSHOP
Only when you can honor and nurture yourself will you be in a better space to naturally share your love with your loved ones!

1. Truly pamper yourself by self-caring body, mind and soul.
2. Deeply reconnect with yourself.
3. Immerse yourself in compassion, love and kindness.
4. Gain simple, practical and effective tips on how to take care of yourself.

SO, HOW MUCH DO YOU PAY FOR ALL THESE BENEFITS?

RM 18.00 (USD4.35)

YES, YOU READ RIGHT!

ONLY RM 18.00!!!

Use promo code:  selfcare_bms3

Do share this specially-priced workshop with your sisters, relatives, friends and colleagues… share this event with anyone who is a woman! Help them also to honor and care for themselves.

Please note that this Workshop is for women only.

What’s more amazing, each ticket is entitled to a goodie bag filled with surprises worth more than RM1,000.00 to help you continue your self-care journey after SELF-CARE SUNDAY. Yours when you today!

HOW TO PURCHASE SELF-CARE SUNDAY
Click on this  to purchase or for more information. Or call +6014-951 1450

Use promo code:  selfcare_bms3

POSTPARTUM: BOUNCE BACK WITH A “NEW YOU” MOMMY BODY THROUGH NUTRITION
Volume 27

Body Mindfulness

Have you been paying attention to how your body has been changing? Honestly… how has it been changing?

What does it mean to honor your body? Is it about pampering your body, grabbing some coconut oil and putting a few drops of lavender essential oil on your palms and then rubbing it all over your body? We just need to be mindful of any reaction or allergy, although I have not heard of many: use the “just in case, let’s be safe” mantra when we share information like this.

We understand our bodies more, when we practice mindfulness of our bodies. When we listen to what our bodies are telling us, when we pay attention to the changes we experience in our bodies, we learn so much about ourselves. It could be a pregnancy, it could be dis-ease or it could be just the natural process of aging. When we listen, watch, pay attention and take notes, we receive valuable insights and clues on ways we can transform the state of our bodies – if we are determined and choose to make certain changes.

When Pregnant… & After

When you decide to become pregnant, you will be aware of the various changes your pregnant body goes through while making space, shifting, growing, nurturing and eventually birthing a human. It may even be quickly forgotten that the time it takes for this beautiful process is 10 months. Yes, almost a year of changes with the body, some subtle, but many obvious changes will occur. Suddenly, you become the proud owner of a postpartum body. Now what?

A Winning “New Mommy-Body”

Enlarged breasts, widened hips, curves with extra definition might be widely sought after by some, while others are definitely looking forward to bouncing back from a postpartum body as fast as possible – getting rid of that belly, trimming down the thighs and arms, and literally getting that butt into shape.

Oftentimes, a healthy nutritional regime results in a winning “New Mommy-body”, regardless of the time it takes. Yet everyone is different, what works for some may not work for others. Even still, some people have other issues with hormones and health that prevent them from toning up or trimming up their bodies as they wish. We all benefit in one form or another when we use good food and healthy nutrition in honoring our bodies.

Honoring Your Body

Honoring your body has a lot to do with listening to its messages and respecting them.

Do you know when you feel dehydrated? Honor your body and hydrate.

Do you know when you feel fatigued just walking up a few steps? Honor your body and be active a bit more.

Do you know when you are consuming more sugar than you should? Honor your body and use nutrition to help ease sugar cravings.

Improving Your Body Image

Improving your body image doesn’t mean that you need to make yourself love your body every time you look at yourself in the mirror. To improve your body image you need to be open about what you think about when you see what you see. How do you see yourself? How do you view your body? A healthy “thin”? A healthy “fat”?

You will be aware of what your body is telling you, for instance, what you are willing to change and what efforts you need to make to sculpt the postpartum body into a ”New Mommy-body”.

Yes, look at what you see as your extra weight, and yes, look at all your blemishes and your stretch marks. But honor these, respect them. Give yourself and your body the compassion you deserve.

Through your pregnancy, you have done a lot of work, your body has not failed you, you had birthed a whole human being.

Honoring The Journey

This is no easy task. Love the journey as best you can. Recognize that the path to improving your body image is not linear, we all have challenging days. We all sit with discomfort, overcoming negative thoughts around what we would like our bodies to look like, whatever that image is for each of us. This is a critical part of healing. Healing our mindset and healing our bodies and honor them.

If this is something hard to do alone, remember you are not alone. Reach out to a therapist, a nutritionist, or even a coach. These are great options whenever you feel stuck or just need that extra push or help. Never forget you are good enough as you are. You deserve a life you are content and happy with. Honor yourself and bounce back with greatness!

YOUR “NEW MOMMY” BODY STARTS HERE

The time to begin your physical transformation is whenever you are ready to discipline yourself to work at this mission without quitting. Give yourself challenges.

Try the following 2 challenges and check out how you fare. Have fun with them. If you happen to fall short, as we all do when it comes to leading healthy habits, you can always start again until you get it done.

1. 7-day Water Challenge

   Start the day with warm water and lemon. It changes the pH of your body to more alkaline. Then remind yourself throughout the day to drink water. Taking half your body weight in pounds and drinking that amount in ounces of water is a great guide as to how much water to consume.

2. 30-day No-White-Foods Challenge

   Here you remove white bread, white potato, white rice, white pasta, milk, cheese, white sugar and white ice cream from your diet for 30 days. This is a bit more challenging but your body will go through a starch and sugar detoxing.

   You will trip up and accidentally catch yourself eating something you should not be eating but it’s all fun when you accept occasional lapses as part of the challenge. You do not need to stop eating those favorite comfort foods forever, just give it a shot for only 30 days. See what changes occur in your body during this phase. You might even surprise yourself when you realize you do have the willpower to do this, just for 30 days.

These are small steps to honor your body. As you try these challenges, you will learn to focus less on what everyone around you is doing and you will notice how your body feels.

The more you practice the stronger you develop your sense of body awareness. You will be more in tune with your strengths and limitations.

You may not feel amazing in the beginning, but somewhere in that space of time, just before you feel like quitting is when you will feel pretty awesome.

PLANT-BASED DIET
Infotorial

Just A Craze Or Here To Stay?

These days, people are looking to eat less meat and are reducing their consumption of animal products. Vegetarianism, veganism and most recently, the plant-based diet have grown in popularity.

More and more people are switching to a plant-based diet. It certainly looks like it is not a fad but is here to stay! Even restaurants everywhere are revamping their menus to cater to these increasingly popular plant-based demands, lest they lose out to their competitors.

People everywhere are embracing this plant-based diet fervently. Why?

Save The Planet​

Global greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, air and water pollution, and biodiversity loss are undesirable environmental effects resulting from animal agriculture. Going plant-based can substantially reduce such impact and help save our Earth.

Eat Healthier

The term “plant-based” typically refers to a diet that is based primarily on plant foods. A plant-based diet helps prevent, treat, or reverse chronic illnesses and reduces risks of lifestyle diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and cancer. With proper planning, we can have all the nutrients we need in a plant-based diet to live healthy and vibrant lives!

Care For The Animals

​Animals are subject to extreme and cruel conditions of confinement, trauma and inhumane slaughter, all for the sake of food production. By adopting a plant-based diet, we exercise our choice to not put animals through such deep suffering.

If you would like to go for a lifestyle change to make a positive impact on our planet and reset your health, join the MyVeganuari challenge from 1 – 31 January 2021! To get a good head-start, pledge to go on a 100% plant-based diet for 3, 5 or 7 days each week during this month-long campaign. Special deals and great perks are available to support and keep you on track!

Register now on: https://tinyurl.com/y5o8vodf

To find out more, contact MyVeganuari. FEEL GOOD, DO GOOD with your every meal!

FB: @myveganuari | IG: @myveganuari | Website: www.myveganuari.com

OUR CROWNING GLORY
Volume 26

With so many idioms on hair alone in every culture, we can be sure that our hair plays an important, and even sacred, role in our lives. After all, our hair is one of the first things that people notice about us!

Hair Reverence In Different Cultures

Most of us know that the Native Americans have a deep respect for hair. They believe that our hair is an extension of us – what we have gone through – just like our thoughts and dreams. They also believe that our hair is a connection to everything around us – nature, sky and Universe. To cut our hair would be to cut off our connection with the world and Higher Intelligence. Even if they do cut their hair, it is not discarded as trash but the hair is revered through a “ceremonial burning”, usually with specific herbs. The burning of hair transforms the energy in the hair and releases it into the air. This ritual returns its energy to the environment in a respectful manner.

Chinese men and women too, did not cut their hair until as recent as 1911 when the Han men cut off their queues with the end of the Qing dynasty. It was believed by the Chinese then that hair was a parent’s gift and hence cutting hair equated to cutting off the parents and so it was considered a very unfilial act. But no one practices this anymore today although other filial acts are still being carried out.

The Sikhs also have the culture of not cutting their hair. I remember when I was about 8 years old asking my Sikh playmate why he kept his hair long. He told me that Sikhs are forbidden to cut their hair as they believed that hair is given by the Creator, and they are to treat their hair with utmost respect. Being 8 at that time, I was fascinated and yet doubted his answer as he had a habit of pulling a fast one on me. I recall going home and asking my mother if it was indeed true!

What Is Hair?

A simple description of hair as found in Wikipedia is that it is a protein filament that grows from follicles found in the dermis.

Hair follicles have sensory nerve fibers at the base, thereby enabling hair to act as receptors. So if one’s hair is “moved”, the nerve endings will be stimulated, and one would feel the “touch” or “movement”. Amazing, right?

Hair And Chakras

Chakra roughly translates to “energy center” or “energy field”. Students of energy medicine and metaphysics see these energy centers as energy distribution hubs for the nearby areas and parts of our body, making them essential to our continued health and well-being.

In terms of the chakra, the hair on our head is closely related to the crown chakra and also the third eye chakra. The crown chakra is located at the top of our head while the third eye chakra is located around the middle of the forehead, slightly above and in between the eyebrows.

The crown chakra connects us to the Universe and allows us to access infinite wisdom. Our third eye chakra has the ability of “All-Seeing” enabling us, for example, to see the truth and know with clarity which direction to take in life.

Therefore, it is important to keep our head and hair clean at all times to avoid any blockage of energy to these two important chakras as any blockage can diminish our ability to receive intuitive guidance or messages.

Hair And Energy

It is believed that the tips of our hair are like antennas, receiving information from our surroundings.

How many of us have experienced goosebumps and the hairs on our neck or arms standing on end when we enter a hotel room or go to a new place, or hear someone say something that is “creepy”? This is because of the vibration of the information, or the energy, from the environment being received by our hair and transmitted through our body.

In the same way, our hair also receives frequencies from the Universe. Déjà vu and the “aha!” moments are such frequencies and information that we receive.

When I was small, I loved it when my mother combed and tied my hair for me before school. Looking back now, I realized that it was the energy of her unconditional love for me that I felt. The gentle, nurturing energy of love and care flowed from her hands to the tips of my hair and on to my entire being. Although I can’t “see” the energy, I most certainly felt it. Recalling those times flushes my entire body with waves of her love all over again.

Men or women taking drastic haircuts and “cutting it all off” when they go through transformational shifts in their lives are nothing new. Many speak of feeling light and free after the big cut. The sense of a new beginning infused with a feeling of newfound freedom. The effect of cutting away hair in this case is extremely powerful as it is that of cutting away energies that no longer serve us. This results in an immediate shift in energy and is very empowering.

Hair And Emotions

We have heard that stress has an effect on our hair and some of us may also have experienced it. Prolonged unhealthy emotions such as fear, sadness, anxiety or depression can cause stress which in turn may result in hair breakage, hair thinning, hair shedding, or even dandruff.

Emotions can get trapped in the hair, too. For example, when we’re upset or overwhelmed, our hair usually feels heavier and can look limp or dull. An easy way to resolve this is by washing the hair as it helps to rid such trapped energy in the hair.

An effective coping technique for stress would be to meditate. Meditation can bring us into a deep state of tranquility, quieting our thoughts and enabling inner calm. Numerous studies show that meditation is a very effective stress-management tool. Join meditation classes on a regular basis to fully reap the benefits of meditation, including having luscious hair!

Our hair not only reflects our personality and health, it also holds our power and is sacred. Let’s treat our hair with respect and love, and we’ll see ourselves with a full head of beautiful and bountiful hair!

ARE YOU NOW HERE, OR NOWHERE?
Volume 26 – Infotorial

It Doesn’t Only Happen In The Movies

As humans, we are on a journey which allows many realities to emerge through us. Our human body is very much like an instrument that allows many realities to be experienced. Playing different roles in different relationships is like playing the guitar which creates beautiful music when the different strings are strummed together in harmony.

Also, each of our body’s chakras is like a guitar string which allows different tones or pitches to emerge. When we learn how to wield the power in our chakras, we can end imbalances in our lives and easily manifest the things we want.

As many of us are busy earning a living daily, this “guitar” that is our body plays the same old “song” day after day. But without self-mastery, the song becomes repetitive, dull and laborious. Therefore, we need to transform at the personal level. To transform, we first need to “tune our guitar”, and do mindfulness training after that. There are many masters and modalities that we can learn from to take us through this incredible human journey and one of the secrets is actually to master our mind.

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” ~ Rumi

Lemuria Light has experienced, professional teams to help humanity transform. We integrate technology with spirituality to aid humanity’s spiritual development.

We have the following unique services to help you gain clarity about your well-being:

1. Energy Aura Scanning and Reading (in Chinese) with a photograph of your aura – this is Lemuria Light’s way of giving back to the community (this will also be available online soon). We read and interpret troubling emotional issues and guide people to be free from negative emotional struggles. Coaching is available for self-management and coping strategies.

2. The Biophoton Acupuncture Pen (pictured below) helps clear energies in your home so that you and your family can enjoy an energetically clean and harmonious home space. The pen can also be used to clear your energies before you meditate. An easy way to cleanse energies quickly. Lightweight and can be carried anywhere.

3. Tachyon Chamber Healing – Tachyons have an extraordinary healing and harmonizing effect. Not only are they used to tune chakras back to balance, they also infuse cosmic energy into the person resulting in:

• more energy sensitivity
• higher happiness and creativity levels and
• a great increase in the body’s vibrations.

For more details, visit Starfield Wellness Sdn Bhd at www.lemurialight.com

BEAUTY INSIDE OUT
Volume 25 – Infotorial

What Is Beautiful?

Presently, the most common idea of “beauty” still focuses a lot on external looks, and based mainly on Western standards of what “beauty” is. Promoted by global media and the glamor industry, this idea of beauty is ingrained into women, men and children everywhere.

Arguably, true beauty should be holistic beauty, which means to say that the “inner” beauty is as important, if not more important, than the “outer” beauty of how someone looks.

Scientific studies in psycho-dermatology have shown the relationship between mind and skin, that we can actually beautify and heal the skin through a happier “inner” life without unhealthy stress, and this translates into inner beauty.

Developing Inner & Outer (Holistic) Beauty
“We see the beauty within and cannot say no.” ~ Dave Eggers, writer.

So how do you develop inner beauty?

By MEDITATING, having a positive mindset and doing body detox. These practices de-stress the skin (and the entire body) making it look healthier, more radiant and more beautiful. Holistic beauty also requires us to exercise and practice proper diet that balances the body and not stresses it unhealthily.

“External” assistance may be needed to boost the healing and health process when our body cannot do it by itself. This is where good organic-based products and services may be used depending on one’s condition and preferences on “outer” beauty.

The Golden Space® Malaysia has just the very programs needed for people to cultivate their inner and outer beauty through the Privileged Membership.

At only RM 199/-, this Privileged Membership gives you an unlimited pass on your way to your “inner” beauty – 35 meditations in a month, special discounts to exclusive workshops at The Golden Space® Malaysia, merchandise, +Energy Solution packages and more.

The Privileged Membership also offers you special deals with participating merchant partners where you can get organic-based products and services you need for your “outer” beauty.

It’s surely time for everyone to make that transformation to real wholesome beauty.

CREATE AN ENERGY PROTECTION BUBBLE IN 5 MINUTES!
Volume 25

Everything Is Energy

Our body is energy. Even the chair that you are sitting on and the clothes you are wearing are energy. Inanimate objects vibrate at very different frequencies compared with human beings. Say you have an attachment to a piece of jewelry. This is because the jewelry is vibrating at a frequency that you resonate with – its frequency matches that of your body’s and you feel very connected with it. When you lose it, you would feel a sense of loss. Or when it’s time to let this piece of jewelry go, you would feel resistant as you feel that it’s dear to you.

Even the space you are in vibrates at its natural frequency. You may feel good at home because it has your energy imprint and so the energy of the space vibrates at a similar frequency as yours. But if you were to be inside a hotel room, you might feel uncomfortable if the space vibrates at a lower frequency than you. And this is why you need to protect your energy or maintain its vibration at a certain level. Otherwise, you may not feel comfortable in a certain space or even when interacting with certain people.

Manage Your Energy

Your vibrations and energy are always shifting. This happens not only at an individual level but on a collective level as well due to the effects of the energies of the people and things around you. When we feel negative emotions like anxiety, anger or frustration, our energy field goes out of balance. In the long run this creates disorders in our physical, emotional or psychological energy fields and impacts our well-being.

I always start my day by practicing this 5-minute meditation, building a bubble of protection in my energy field. I find that without this energy protection bubble, I’m not as efficient at work and my energy level drains faster resulting in tiredness and stress.

5 Minutes That Make You Feel Positive & Safe

Practice these steps to feel more positive and ensure that the day goes smoothly. You can also do this whenever you feel your energy needs a booster. Don’t do this in the toilet or anywhere near a dumpster.

1. Take 5 deep and slow breaths.
2. As you continue breathing deep and slow, your thoughts will start to slow down.
3. Visualize a clear crystal in front of your heart and focus on it.
4. Visualize white light from the crystal going into your heart and visualize the light in your heart expanding.
5. On each exhalation, visualize the white light expanding and spreading outward from your heart to your shoulders, neck, face, head, arms, hands, stomach, hips, thighs, legs and feet.
6. Next, focus on expanding the white light further away from your body to outside of your body. Expand the light to an arm’s length away from your body, from left to right, and from top to bottom.
7. Strengthen this bubble of white light around you with feelings of love, happiness, gratitude, compassion, courage, peace, optimism, passion or any positive emotions that you had last experienced. The more positive emotions you have, the stronger your energy protection bubble will be.

Now you can step out the door and start your day with a clear mind and a great smile on your face. Have an awesome day, every day!

THE HEALTHY GOODNESS OF YUKIGUNI MAITAKE MUSHROOMS

Introducing The Maitake Mushroom

The maitake mushroom is a well-known medicinal and culinary mushroom native to Japan. The maitake is also called the “dancing mushroom”.

Food As Medicine – The Healthy Goodness Of Yukiguni Maitake Mushrooms

Hippocrates said that “food is medicine”. This describes maitake mushrooms very well because it contains many nutrients to promote health, beauty, vigor and vitality.

The nutrients include:
1. Vitamin D to enhance the immune system, bones and muscles of growing children, facilitate motor function, and protect against osteoporosis.

2. High alpha and beta glucans to boost the immune system.

3. Strong antioxidants to arrest cellular deterioration and aging.

4. Insoluble dietary fiber to help maintain healthy intestinal environment and regularity, and expel
cholesterol from the body.

5. N-hexane extract to moderate blood sugar.

6. Low-cholesterol, low-sodium, fat-free and low calorie components to promote a healthy heart.

Medicine As Food – The Delicious Goodness

Yukiguni Maitake mushrooms contain a type of “umami” flavor which make them tastier. Together with sweetness, sourness, bitterness, and saltiness, “umami” is one of five basic tastes. Yukiguni maitakes can be roasted, grilled, baked, deep fried, sautéed or stir-fried. They are crispy even when boiled or stir fried.

This makes Yukiguni Maitake mushrooms perfect as a food that’s both versatile and delicious!

Ready To Eat

Yukiguni Maitake in 1983 succeeded in mass producing all-natural, pesticide-free and chemical-free maitake mushrooms using unique technology. The mushrooms are grown in the mountain farms of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It’s this unique combination of factors that enhances the healing and delicious properties of Yukiguni Maitake mushrooms.

Yukiguni Maitake mushrooms are hygienically cultured in special clean and controlled facilities based on the ISO 22000 standard. The mushrooms can be enjoyed without washing. The quality and technical capability in farming Yukiguni Maitake mushrooms make it possible for the company to offer the world fresh, healthy and delicious maitake mushrooms.

Who Should Consume Yukiguni Maitake Mushrooms?

Health-conscious individuals, family with or without kids, and married couples who home-cook, shop for groceries and who are willing to spend a little more on delicious, high-nutrition foods which heal and protect the body.

Available at major AEON malls in the Klang Valley, Malaysia. If you wish to prepare these yummy healthy mushrooms for  your loved ones but are not sure how to do so, check out delicious maitake recipes at https://www.maitake.co.jp/english/

OH, HE DIED OF A BROKEN HEART
Volume 23

It Doesn’t Only Happen In The Movies

You’d watch this movie scene play out with disbelief, a little disappointment and a silent eye roll, as you were really hoping for a better executed and more thoughtful ending for the character.

Well, as it turns out, it is POSSIBLE (although extremely rare) that a person might die from a broken heart. Our minds and bodies are intricately connected and that isn’t just a New Age type of thing to say. Mental and emotional states can profoundly affect our health or lack thereof, as the case may be.

We’ve all read or heard stories about an elderly person who passes away, and her death is soon  followed by the passing of a longtime spouse. Onlookers might even say, “Oh, he died of a broken heart.”

Takosubo What?

It is quite possible for our emotions to affect our heart, to the point where a person could die as a consequence, if the symptoms and signs are not recognized or dealt with promptly. This condition is referred to as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or “TCM”.

TCM occurs when the left ventricle balloons out and does not contract effectively, so the heart does not pump efficiently. Takotsubo comes from the Japanese words tako (octopus) and tsubo (trap), because that is what the left ventricle looks like when it balloons out. It is usually triggered by an intense emotional stressor and mimics a heart attack in how it presents.

Heart Attack Compared 

Just to briefly go over, the symptoms of a heart attack are crushing chest pain (that may extend to the left upper limb), associated with shortness of breath, palpitations, profuse  sweating and sometimes a jaw or toothache. Those are the classical symptoms.

However, women sometimes present with symptoms that are more vague and different from men. They may not have overt chest pain, but, rather, a vague discomfort. Reflux symptoms can also be a symptom of an impending heart attack. If a person is experiencing any of these symptoms, they should go and see her doctor as soon as she can. This applies even more so if they are in a higher risk group. Level of risk increases if they have a family history of cardiovascular disease, have other co-morbidities (especially chronic illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension), are smokers, are obese and other factors such as gender and age (heart attacks are more common among men and in an older demographic).

What Happens

Back to TCM, often times, the sufferers are post-menopausal women, although it has been reported to occur in children and young adults. It is a completely reversible condition, with proper management. However, there are instances when the condition may escalate and go on to cardiogenic shock and ultimately, death. This usually occurs in younger patients, where they may also be a physical precipitant. The difference between TCM and an actual heart attack, however, is that, in TCM, there are no actual blockages in the heart vessels.

ECG (electrocardiogram) changes are generally non-specific in TCM and cardiac enzymes (that are assessed in all patient’s who present with symptoms of suspected Acute Coronary Syndrome), are only slightly elevated. The enzymes decrease rapidly upon subsequent testing.

“No Man Is An Island”

The management of TCM is mainly supportive. Symptoms are managed via the administration of beta-blockers, a type of drug that lowers the heart rate and allows it to pump effectively. Other medications for heart failure may also be administered, if indicated. Anxiolytic medication is also prescribed, in order to address the emotional state that triggered the symptoms in the first place. With proper care, the patient will completely recover within a few days.

Pre-emptively, it would make sense for a person to either seek out or have other people approach to support them during periods of emotional duress.

The phrase, “No man is an island” could not be truer, especially in times of turmoil. Check on your friends and loved ones, when they are going through challenging times. Periods of intense stress can be such as the death of a close family member, divorce or if they have been made redundant at work. Some people may not express their need for help or they may put on a stoic face, as they still have to deal with everyday life.

Being a source of support could be as simple as making a phone call or sitting with them through their grief/anger/stress and offering a non-judgemental, listening ear. It could also be via acts of service, such as offering to watch their kids (while they sort out what they need to do) or even inviting them over for a meal.

So, next time you come across that cheesy scene in a movie, think about TCM and how it is actually based in reality.

* If you are experiencing symptoms that are alarming and indicative of a heart attack, do NOT self-diagnose yourself with TCM. Seek medical attention immediately

BEAUTY IN DIVERSITY

The Last Acceptable Prejudice?

A few months ago, I watched an interview of Farizah Ahmad by Maryam Lee ironically titled “Perempuan Sihat” which translates to “healthy woman”. It is also colloquially used to refer to an overweight woman. In that interview, she was talking about her experience with fat shaming, with the underlying message that fat shaming is not acceptable.

She also mentioned how prejudice towards those who are overweight is the last acceptable prejudice, as opposed to any other form of bigotry. People openly make comments regarding weight and criticize those who are overweight, often times making negative assumptions about their character or health status because of their weight.

At one point, she said that she actually had an “all clear” from her doctor, on some medical tests. Many people took this to mean that she was endorsing being overweight/obese. I think that misses the point that she was trying to make, which was more of, respect for individuals, regardless of their size and calling out those who think that fat shaming is acceptable.

This brings me to my topic, which is about body acceptance and being body positive. For the purpose of brevity and this article, I will be talking about body positivity with regards to weight, although the term applies to a positive attitude about the body, in general. To me, body positivity means simply being comfortable in the skin that you’re in, regardless of your shape, size, skin tone etc. It also means that you are free to decide to change your appearance, if you choose.

Weight Isn’t An Indicator Of Health

The Body Positive Movement is a movement that encourages people to adopt more forgiving and affirming attitudes towards their bodies, with the goal of improving overall health and well being. Wanting to lose weight does not negate your right to be body positive at your current size. However, weight loss isn’t always the answer as being body positive is ultimately about self love.

Body positivity is not the same as condoning being overweight/obese. It is a fine balance of self-acceptance, healthy lifestyle choices, self-improvement and engagement with life. Body positivity does not mean that you do not strive to improve yourself.

Weight isn’t always the best indicator of health. There definitely are certain health conditions that are related to being overweight/obese. More importantly, fat distribution is what has a greater degree of influence on health. For example, an outwardly slim person with a lot of visceral fat is less healthy than an overweight person whose fat distribution is concentrated at their hips and thighs (not visceral in nature). “Central obesity is the number one factor associated with diabetes, hypertension, and infertility, in their respective orders.” (Aditi G. Jha, M.D.)

Some people in the Body Positive Movement go as far as to say that in order to be body positive, you should not change anything about your body. That is akin to cutting off your nose in order to spite your face. In order to prove a point, someone who follows this type of viewpoint might engage in self-sabotaging and destructive behaviors that eventually lead to disease or a decreased quality of life.

There are two separate issues to address. Firstly, respect for all persons, regardless of their appearance and secondly being body positive about the current body you are in. A body positive attitude encompasses both these issues. You respect others only in so far as you respect yourself.

Body Positivity Is Relevant To Everyone

Being body positive does not mean that you are in denial about the health issues that are associated with being overweight/obese. It means that you do not allow your appearance to dictate your level of engagement with life. Your self-worth and personhood is so much more than just your appearance.

On the flip side, how many times have we heard the phrase “Real women have curves” or “Strong is the new thin”? While they may attempt to sound body positive, they aren’t really, as they operate on the onus that the women who don’t fit these criteria are somehow less of a woman. These don’t sound positive at all.

Critics of the body positive movement think that the concept of “body positivity” still bases a woman’s worth on her appearance. However, body positivity is relevant to everyone and in a world where the definition of attractive/ acceptable is very narrow, it is important to reiterate the message that there is beauty in diversity.

NATURE’S MEDICINE FOR A HEALTHY FAMILY
Volume 4

The Importance Of Nature In Our Lives

Does the thought of a child being outdoors, exposed to the natural world; depressed, overweight, and disconnected from reality, frighten you?

Although many of us would prefer not to think about the possibilities of what could happen to children outside the safety of their home, the risk for their future health and the health of our planet is much greater if children stay indoors and avoid the possible dangers from the natural world.

As leaders in our community we must not forget the powerful medicine that nature provides each of us on a daily basis, and how we can reintegrate this power into the lives of our children, families and communities. It has been proven that nature is not just a luxury to be experienced on vacation, but is an essential part of healthy child development and the well-being of every person, regardless of age.

Wired Technology – A Phony Alternative Connection?

As much as we could assume that our world is wired to the internet for good reason, we are genetically wired to feel our best when we are exposed to the natural world and all its wonders, away from the electronics that keep us distracted.

Over the past 3 decades people have become increasingly more connected to each other’s ideas and images through the use of the internet and cellular devices but more disconnected than ever from nature and our place in it. This phenomenon has contributed to the disconnection people feel with their spiritual self. The disconnection from the true self leads to depression, anxiety, and a lack of compassion and understanding for the earth and all creatures. Unfortunately this disconnection affects the choices we make in our daily lives, which affects the future of our existence.

Spiritual Well-Being & The Direct Experience

Nature is the source of spiritual growth. The consequence of cutting ourselves off from this natural source is the real danger that humans face today. Families, with children or not, can all benefit from a stronger connection with nature. We must rekindle the spark of interest that comes naturally to us all from thousands of years of living primarily outdoors, playing and working without modern technology. If we want to know something, we often type a few letters into our Google app and find the short answer. This usually fulfills our immediate desire to know, but the deeper more important sense of true wonder is only satisfied with direct experience.

To see a squirrel collecting acorns for the winter, curiously observing its varied patterns of delightful behavior, physical abilities and how it communicates, leaves a much bigger impression on our mind and spirit than a summarized sentence about the basics about squirrels on a website.

If we choose to keep ourselves indoors, away from nature, we miss out on so many learning experiences, and opportunities to align ourselves with our true self, and as it turns out, we miss the chance to make some of the best memories with our family. We just don’t sit around and recall facts we read on a website when we are older and reminiscing with family. We will more likely recall the time we had a picnic by the ocean and saw an eagle flying through our camp or the way the beauty of the lake at sunset made us feel.

How The Great Outdoors Nurtures Healthy Intra-Family Relationships

It is said that families who spend time in nature together bond in ways that greatly strengthen the entire family dynamics. There is learning, laughing, and love present in the very act of exploring together in nature because people tune in to the natural world, their inner child and innate wildness during such encounters.

1. Stress Relief
In extreme cases of nature deprivation a person could experience nature in complete fear and unhappiness, but it only takes time to find ways to open up more, as nature is the most effective natural relief for stress. Just the acts of breathing fresh air and putting our feet on the earth align us with a higher frequency than the vibrations in a room indoors, stifled by electronic waves and noise pollution.

2. Together, As Individuals
Healthy family relationships are developed with a balance of togetherness and awakened separateness. This means that each member has his or her own sense of well-being when given space to be alone in a safe environment, with the awareness that the family is still spiritually present and caring for them. When the family is spending time together there are various factors that contribute to the relationship strengthening. In addition to learning values, skills and certain behaviors, humor is also important to loosen tension. We can express ourselves in so many ways.

3. Sharing, Harmony & Flow
Everyone has the need to love and be loved. Part of the way we express love for ourselves and others is by sharing activities together and showing gratitude for each other and other parts of our life. When we place our self in nature we are open to the natural flow of love in the world, and we see a healthy reflection of togetherness and separateness in the way nature works. Natureʼs medicine is abundant and naturally increases the ability for families to engage in crucial aspects of any healthy relationship.

4. Interdependence
In addition to the learning, laughter and love that nature stimulates in us, we are also given opportunities to rise as responsible leaders in our family, our community and the world. We are inspired by the clear awareness that we are all connected. This awareness shifts our perspective and reminds us of the fragility of this precious earth we call home.

We also realize that our family is part of the human family; that we are interdependent on all life. That we may discover this awareness in our daily lives would benefit the social interactions that happen between family members, friendships, and larger communities. Nature helps us appreciate each other’s strengths and understand the weaknesses. Squirrels aren’t the best swimmers but they sure can teach us about planning for the future.

5. The Lessons From Nature
Contact with nature builds loyalty to the earth and all who inhabit it. Whether we are admiring the magnificent elder tree and pondering its history, or seeing the polar bear struggle to survive, we learn about the necessity to stay together and work together to sustain life. We can learn from both failure as well as success.

Our Natural Affinity With Nature & The Earth

On a soul level we yearn for contact with nature. We are innately devoted to the pureness in our hearts, connecting to the elements and the seasons. We flourish when our family recognizes the wholesome real food and medicine nature provides.

Nature’s medicine is not only the food we eat, the fresh water we drink or the herbs we cultivate for healing. Nature’s medicine is the vibrating pulse of spirit within all of us. To enjoy the simple beauty and harmony of nature heals our spirit and awakens us to the potential within each of us.

Make changes in your life, to bring nature back into your family’s awareness. Choose nature every day and watch how your life and the lives of those you love are nurtured. Go outside and open up to the nature that surrounds you. Give thanks for what comes naturally.