Archive for March, 2009
Herbs at bathtime
Author: Callie
It’s easy to bring a little herbal health to bath time with you and there are lots of reasons why you should.
Relaxing in a warm bath is, in itself, beneficial as it soothes the skin, stimulates circulation and helps your muscles release any tension that’s built up during the day. Add herbs to the equation and you have the perfect remedy for a tired mind or body. Herbs have many healing and therapeutic properties that benefit not only the skin but your whole self. Some will encourage relaxation, while others will stimulate brain waves, helping to clarify or solve a problem that may have been bothering you.
Herbs that Help
* For relaxation, choose chamomile, rose and hops
* For soothing aching muscles, try thyme, lavender and rosemary
* To relieve stress, combine, rose, jasmine and sage
* As a pick-me-up, choose between peppermint and rosemary
* To stimulate, try lemon verbena, bay leaf and basil
* If you’re suffering with a cold, lie back in some eucalyptus-scented water
How to Do It
There are several ways to bring the power of herbs into your bathroom: in a bag, through an infusion, through a decoction, or combined with a milk powder. We’ve suggested one combination of herbs for each method but you can experiment and choose herbs you like or to meet your need.
A Herb Bag
We’ve used cups for measuring out ingredients. The measurements don’t have to very accurate and we suggest you use a medium-sized mug. For information, a cup is 8 fl oz, which is slightly smaller than most mugs, which are 10 fl oz (half-pint).
Make a drawstring bag out of a piece of cheesecloth or muslin. You’ll need to end up with a bag about 4” square to hold the herbs. Place up to ½ cup of your favourite herbal mix into the bag and pull it tightly shut so the herbs can’t escape. When you’ve used the bag once you can empty it and wash it gently ready to be re-used.
If you can’t face even the little bit of sewing involved in making a drawstring bag, you could have a large square of cheesecloth, place the herbs in the centre and tie some string around the top. Alternatively you could use an old (clean) and worn thin sock!
Let the bag hang under the running water as you fill the bath. Then use the bag as a cloth for washing. For an extra luxurious bath, add ½ cup honey to the running water. Or for a different experience add a couple of tablespoons of sea salt.
For a Herb Bag
* ½ cup lavender
* ½ cup sage
* ½ cup rosemary
* ½ cup rose petals
Mix and store in an air-tight container and use as desired.
To Make an Infusion
* ¼ cup sage leaves
* ¼ cup mint leaves
* ¼ cup thyme leaves
* 2 tablespoons orange peel (infuse with the herbs)
* a few drops of grapefruit essential oil (add after straining)
Place herbs in a bowl and pour over 2 pints of freshly boiled water. Leave the herbs to steep for about 30 minutes and then strain and add to your bath water.
To Make a Decoction
* ¼ cup lavender flowers
* ¼ cup rose geranium leaves
* a few drops of grapefruit essential oil (add after straining)
* ¼ cup rose petals (add to the bath water)
Crush the herbs slightly and then place in a saucepan (not aluminium). Cover with an inch or so of water and bring to the boil. Simmer for about 20 minutes. Strain and add to your bath water.
Milk Bath
* 2 cups powdered milk
* ½ cup cornflour
* 4 tablespoons dried herbs
Make in advance and store in an airtight container to use as required. When ready to use, make a smooth paste with hot water and add to the bath.
(c) Herb Expert
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read comments (0)Relax and de-stress the simple way!
Author: Callie
We are absolutely thrilled to announce our latest addition to our workshops … the Art of Being Still
The Art of Being Still is a toolbox of simple techniques which allows you to experience deep relaxation of your conscious mind and body, and also enables you to relax at the deeper subconscious level.
While in this relaxed state of subconscious, you will discover that you can bring bring about changes that beforehand were difficult – such as giving up smoking or working through a phobia, for example.
Just a few of the benefits you may gain from “The Art of Being Still” practice:
:: deep relaxation of your mind and body
:: improved sleep patters and quality of sleep
:: emotional stability
:: a heightened feeling of well-being
:: better breathing patterns
:: improvement in concentration
:: positive thinking
Continue reading to discover more benefits …
We are currently investigating delightful new venues to hold the workshops but if you wish us to come visit you and hold a workshops in your area – or if you are interested in a two hour one-to-one session with Callie – please get in touch with us.
Choose your balloon
Author: Callie
What for?
Ahhhhh, the clever people at www.energybalancing.com have given you the gift of choosing YOUR balloon …
Stop and refuel before you hit burn-out
Author: Callie
Overworked? Underappreciated? A bit stressed out? If so, you may be thinking you need a holiday! But what if you can’t take that holiday for several weeks? You need it now. You need it bad. Don’t wait. Instead, take a holiday in place – a restorative refuelling break. Okay, that’s not the same as a week at the beach, but it’ll keep you from burning out completely or from being too exhausted to move when you finally do take time off
The problem with our 24/7 society is that most of us think in all-or-nothing terms. At weekends, we relax, rest and play. But then comes Monday, and we go non-stop, leaving all relaxing behind. Suppose that instead, whenever your energy waned (for most of us that’s about every two hours) you stopped and gave your battery a ten-minute charge. Your productivity would climb, your stress would diminish and you might even feel like going out with friends during the week. See if any of these recharging breaks appeal to you.
Take a Power Nap
When you find yourself yawning in the middle of a conversation, it’s time to surrender! Lock your door, take the phone off the hook and set your alarm for ten minutes. Sit in a chair with your feet propped up, stretch out on a rug or curl up on a sofa. Close your eyes, take a few deep, slow breaths and rest – just as if you were out in a hammock taking an old-fashioned, lazy-days-of-summer nap. Hey, if it worked for Edison and Einstein, it just might refresh your inner genius too!
Indulge Yourself
Think about a treat that you haven’t had in a while – one so delicious that just thinking about it makes you smile. Today, don’t settle for any substitutes or next-best things. Take a break from all things practical, and go find exactly what you want. It might be a childhood treat that you once adored, like chocolate dipped in a tall glass of cold milk. What makes your mouth water? Walk the extra block to get what you really want.
Wash Away the Stress
What better way to escape for a quick respite than to find some water? It can be soothing, sensual, quiet or stimulating. Whether you bathe in it, play in it, listen to it or drink it, water is very therapeutic. If you can take a quick shower, do. If it’s warm and happens to be raining, take a walk, lifting your face to the raindrops. Sit by an outdoor fountain or bring a small desktop variety to work. If you’re near the sea, stop to listen; if not, listen to a tape of the ocean waves. As you indulge your senses, imagine the water washing away any stress – toxic people, toxic thoughts, toxic fears.
Engage in Holiday Play
One of the problems with all-or-nothing thinking is that we engage in certain activities only on holiday, when we could enjoy them anytime. True, you can’t scuba dive in your garden or go deep-sea fishing from your office window, but there are many holiday-type activities that you can do anywhere. Stop and read one chapter of a beach novel, or work on a crossword puzzle for ten minutes. Practise your putting or ask the office ‘pro’ for a few pointers. Chat with someone you care about. Share a few jokes. By briefly disengaging, you’ll be more mentally alert when you resume. Ever notice how solutions come to you in the shower, on a run or when you’re weeding the garden? That’s the power of a mini break. If you spend ten minutes a day ‘playing’, by the end of the year you will have holidayed a total of 61 hours – more than one full work week!
Laugh Out Loud
When you’re feeling weary, is there any better recharger than a belly laugh? Laughter not only lifts your spirit, but new research indicates it burns calories as well. Need help? Tell a joke or ask someone else to tell you one. Read today’s comics, buy someone a Dilbert card or flip through your Larson calendar until you experience a true belly laugh. That’s not working? Remember the time you led the entire school assembly – with your zip open – or something equally mortifying? It’s impossible to laugh and feel burdened at the same time. Don’t wait for holiday to refuel. Do it now, wherever you are!
(c) Suzanne Zoglio
* * Why not try our Art of Being Still course … we also offer one-to-one private sessions * *
Treating your feet
Author: Callie
Your feet are a frequently unnoticed part of the body. We cram them into shoes and don`t even look at them all day long. But your feet are the foundation for good posture and keep you headed where you are going, so good foot care is important. You can improve your foot health with proper shoes, moisturizing treatments, and massage.
FOOT CARE CREAMS
Commercial foot care creams contain ingredients such as lanolin or beeswax, glycerin, sunflower oil, cocoa butter and Vitamin E. To moisturize and nourish, look for one with a cream base, such as lanolin or shea butter. Creams containing cucumber extracts also soften. Foot creams specialized for diabetics can prevent skin lesions. Avoid creams with camphor, as they can be irritating. Rubbing coconut oil on your feet at night replenishes moisture lost all day in shoes. You can make a soothing foot cream by adding lavender oil or other soothing herbal tinctures to olive oil, coconut oil, or cocoa butter.
BUY SUPPORTIVE SHOES
Good shoes provide support and cushioning. They should be bigger than your foot, or they will squash your foot and reduce circulation. The bones in your foot are fairly rigid. A shoe that is too soft may feel comfortable at first, but will lead to over flexing and discomfort later. Look for brands listed as “comfort shoes”. Check the bottom of your old shoes to see if you are wearing out the outside edges of the inside edges. Most people “pronate.” This means they wear out the inside edges of the soles of their shoes. Ask a salesperson to help select a shoe that will keep you more evenly on your feet.
NATURAL FOOT CARE
Many home remedies can treat foot inflammation, foot fungus or other minor foot irritations. Common household honey is an antiseptic and can be used as an antibactericidal. Sal Tree is antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. You can apply the contents of a capsule of Vitamin E to your feet for nourishment or use tea tree oil as a natural fungicide. For softening, apply cocoa butter, shea butter, or coconut butter. Foot massage and foot baths also aid in foot health and relaxation. Epsom salts are an inexpensive addition to a foot soak.
FOOT CARE TOOLS
Massage balls can stretch your feet after a day of walking. Foot rollers are manufactured by various massage product companies. Or try rubbing your foot over a regular tennis ball. Orthotics help stabilize your feet while you walk and prevent injuries. Custom and over-the-counter products are readily available. Ask your medical provider if you are considering custom products. For many, an insert can help cushion and provide support to an otherwise average shoe. Inserts should have a metatarsal lift and a heel cup, which helps align the feet.
Take good care of your feet and they will take care of you.
http://www.foot.com/
http://www.wwd.com
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/…
(c) Melanie Grime
Writer, homeopath, screenwriter, journal editor, and adjunct faculty member at Bastyr University
Virtuous game … the VirtueScope
Author: Callie
I popped along to the MBS Festival at Kempton Park racecourse, Surrey, on Saturday afternoon.
It was a really gorgeous day where you definitely felt that Spring was just around the corner. I had popped along really just to say hello (and maybe give a helping hand, if needed) to my dear friend Joanna Bristow-Watkins of Harmony Healing, who had a stall at the Festival. It was great to catch up with her and her sister, the very well-known angel author Angela McGerr, as well as making new friends.
On my toddle around the Festival, I stopped at the Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga stall … I’ve seen these wonderful people at plenty of mind-body-spirit shows before, and always stop to have a chat.
This year they’ve introduced the VirtueScope game so I eagerly queued up to have a go. It was free (as all of their events and talks are) and I didn’t have to wait too long before I was able to share a table with a couple of ladies whom I’d never met before.
We were given an A5 piece of paper with a wheel, sectioned off for the 12 months of the year – we then took it in turns to take a card which had a “virtue” on it (such as cheerful, forgiving, loving) and discuss how we felt that fitted into our lives.
Benefits of the VirtueScope
Virtues are the natural power of good within each of us and they are our reality. The VirtueScope is a way for you to get in touch with your true virtues. It offers a map to develop these positive energies during the coming year. It is about re-establishing the very best in yourself and being that so you can improve the quality of your life and the quality of your relationships …
(c) Brahma Kumaris
My virtue for meditating on this month (March) was Trust, with the affirmation being “Knowing that the ups and downs of life are opportunities in disguise, I accept the journey at hand”.
A really interesting concept and well worth a visit to their stalls if you bump into them at an exhibition later this year – or why not pop along to some of their free events in your area? I’m off to see them in Kensington …
Angels
Author: Callie
When I first started working with Angels, I was reading a book in the garden and had just turned to a new chapter. My father suddenly arrived and as he walked towards me, across my newly laid lawn, I saw him bending and picking up something. He stopped a few times to repeat the same action and when he reached me he handed me a handful of beautiful white feathers. They had not been there earlier as they would have been spotted on my new green lawn but as I looked down at the chapter I had just turned to, I noticed it was entitled ‘Feathers’. This was my first conscious experience of Angel whispers, those magical reminders that we
are all being loved and cared for.
Feathers are just one sign and there are many others including butterflies and rainbows. Sometimes you can see magical formations in the clouds such as feathers or a full-blown Angel. I always thought that they would look like cherubs, made out of fluffy clouds but it is the wispy clouds you need to look for. I was driving home from a show and got stuck behind a horsebox. Instead of getting frustrated I decide just to bimble along behind and that was when I saw my first Angel. It was huge, with a sword and a harp laid carelessly on one side. The colours of the sunset were beginning to fade and left a turquoise and blue hue to the sky. There was no doubt in my mind that it was Michael and I almost crashed the car when I saw it.
So what are Angels and where do they come from?
The word Angel is derived from the Greek word for Messenger and the halo represents virtue and innocence. The wings represent an Angel’s role as a messenger travelling between Heaven and Earth. Originally Angels were not depicted with wings and the earliest example of a winged Angel in art is in a 5th century mosaic in the church of St.Prudencia in Rome. Angels in biblical and ancient non-biblical Jewish and Christian texts are portrayed as spiritual being, superior to humans in both power and knowledge.
In Angelology there are nine choirs of angels divided into three groups of ranks and spheres.
:: 1st Rank, Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones.
These Angels are entirely turned towards God.
:: 2nd Rank, Dominions, Powers and Authorities.
These Angels know God through there concern for the cosmos.
:: 3rd Rank, Principalities, Archangels and Angels.
These Angels oversee nations, are involved with human beings and know God through his creation.
There were many questions that arose when I started to work with the Angels and trying to decide which ones to produce. I knew that people needed to connect to something outside of themselves and seemed to be searching for hope, peace, love, healing, comfort, strength and beauty.
So I picked these seven Archangels because they are perfect in every way to deal with most of the life problems we encounter. I then added five Zodiac Angels, so that we would have an essence for each star sign and giving additional qualities to help and guide.
The Seven Archangels:
Archangel Michael
The Archangel Michael is the Angel of courage, strength and protection and he will stand by your side with his mighty sword and
shield, ready to protect you. The Archangel is associated with this words truth, courage, strength, success and faith. Call on Michael’s mighty sword to protects you, cutting through the cords that bind you to people, places and things.
If you are afraid, lack courage or in need of protection, imagine his protective cloak around you, helping you to speak and live your
truth.
Michael is a mighty warrior and will give you initiative, willpower, drive and energy to follow your path and complete tasks without too
much effort. He will help you to develop the strength and focus needed to be successful.
The colours associated with this Angel are dark peacock blue and turquoise.
Archangel Gabriel
Let Archangel Gabriel’s shining light surround you with protection to guide you through your darkest moments, keeping loved ones safe. Imagine the people and things you want to protect surrounded by pure white light and Gabriel will keep them safe.
The words associated with this Archangel are protection, intuition, clarity and discipline.
In order to follow your higher path, Gabriel gives you the discipline and guidance to take the first steps, followed by vision and
clarity to follow that path. Sometimes your life choices can be hard but Archangel Gabriel will be with you all the way.
The colours of this Archangel are gold and white.
Archangel Raphael
Archangel Raphael is a sage, a seer, gives healing both physically and emotionally through giving and receiving love.
The words associated with this Archangel are healing, communication, knowledge and vision. This Angel encourages you to communicate and share you inner wisdom to heal with thoughts, words and creativity and you should call on this Angel if you are doing group work or wishing to exchange knowledge and ideas.
The colours associated with this Archangel are shades of green.
However the complimentary colour of green is pink (see Chamuel) and I sometimes use both colours.
Archangel Uriel
Archangel Uriel is the Angel of Fire and can help you to release your fears and anger, letting go of the past.
The words associated with this Archangel are peace, wisdom, light, understanding and change. Ask for this wisdom and light to help let go of the past, bringing inner peace, transformation and harmony into your life.
If you are experiencing major changes in your life, call on Uriel to make the transitions as smooth as possible. If you need to let go, in order to move on, imagine his wings of burning flames releasing you from the past into the present.
The colours traditionally associated to this Archangel are purple and gold but I have been guided to use orange to represent the flames of the fire.
Archangel Chamuel
This Angel of unconditional love lifts you from your sorrow, helping you to love yourself and others, expressing your innermost feelings.
The words that this Archangel is associated with are love, pleasure, creativity, tenderness and compassion. In order for you to give love to others, you need to release negative emotions, helping you to find forgiveness to mend that bruised and battered heart.
Chamuel will lovingly guide you to be creative and imaginative and to find special inspiration from the depths of your heart.
The colours associated with this Angel are shades of pinks going through to magenta.
Archangel Zadkiel
Called the Angel of Freedom, Archangel Zadkiels silver violet flame can purify body, mind and soul, to heal emotions and negative beliefs. This will help you to move on with your life, bringing freedom and forgiveness for yourself and others.
The words associated with this Archangel are forgiveness, mercy, cleansing and freedom.
To call on Zadkiel’s silver violet flame simply imagine a circle of these flames and place the people, situations or emotions into the
centre. This cannot harm you or the people you love but will burn away the negative emotions and beliefs.
The colours associated with this Archangel are violet and silver.
Archangel Jophiel
Jophiel brings understanding to illuminate your path in life, bringing enlightenment, health and wealth.
The words associated with this Archangel are joy, wisdom, insight, inspiration and intuition. Call on Jophiel for those sudden flashes of inspiration and answers to ongoing problems, as well as developing intuition, inner wisdom and insight.
Jophiel brings JOY, laughter and light, removing negativity. Call on this Angel for help with studying, examinations and concentration or if you are giving a talk or presentation.
The colour associated with this Archangel is yellow.
The Five Zodiac Angels:
Archangel Cassiel
The words associated with this Archangel are good fortune, luck, purpose and positivity. Cassiel is the Angel of good fortune, helping
you to create your own ‘luck’ so you can reap the vast rewards of positive thinking. His greatest gifts are patience and strengthening inner convictions giving us strength to work hard, have inner discipline and belief in ourselves.
The colours associated with this Archangel are earth colours, from rich russets and browns to oranges.
Archangel Sammael
The words associated with this Archangel are victory, stamina, courage, leadership and passion. Sammael gives courage and stamina to overcome adversity and liberate the soul. He rules over battlefields and represents the warrior, guiding ambition, drive and passion, as well as the pursuit of love and romance.
The colour associated with this Archangel is red.
Archangel Anael
The words associated with this Archangel are love, fertility, joy, pleasure and sensuality. Anael rules over love, romance and desire. Through this earthy, sensual energy, Anael teaches you to respect Mother Nature and her creatures, and to love and protect our planet while celebrating its wonderful gifts.
The colours associated with this Archangel are blues, green and sometimes lavender.
Archangel Azrael
The words associated with this Archangel are truth, understanding, insight and strength. Azrael is a powerful Angel who teaches you about truth and illusion, life and death to bring strength of soul and helping you to transcend your fears. Call on this Angel in times of grief for love, comfort and strength.
The colours associated with this Archangel are burgundy and magenta.
Angel Asariel
The words associated with this Angel are emotions, dreams, intuition and creativity. Asariel has dominion over the waters of the world and the abundance of life within and so guides the deep ocean of your spirits. Asariel watches over your emotions and the ebb and flow of life, encouraging creativity and teaching through dreams and inner wisdom.
The colours associated with this Angel are aqua and blue.
** No author is known, was read in a weekly digest from Dolphin Healing (Yahoo group)