True health comes from True happiness, and nothing brings us greater joy than love.
Love is the great healer of all our ills.
I write from my heart.
Words i long to share....
We are living through a most challenging time. However you view the world, you will see that its current state seems to be perpetual disarray and nothing much makes sense anymore. With this state of world affairs as a constant backdrop to our lives, all our personal challenges can seem insurmountable as we try to cope. When we are having a tough time personally- caring for a poorly loved one, battling with an illness, facing financial stress, it can seem as though we have been dealt a particularly harsh blow. Although these problems are not unique to the times we are living in, somehow these experiences are more complicated when it feels as though the world around you is reflecting your own feelings of helplessness in the gravity of its challenges. Its times like these when those with faith really do come out on top. By faith I am not referring to a religion, but an absolute certainty that something greater than you exists. That in its very essence instantly gives our lives a context, because it means simply that you as a being are part of something and not simply a sole entity bumbling through a meaningless existence. Those who have faith at the centre of their being have something that others can only marvel at and admire. They move through life with grace, no matter how hard it seems. I knew a lady who had that kind of strength. Her adult daughter took her own life, so lost was she in the depths of her own darkness. Her mother who loved her daughter very much, although broken hearted by her daughters fate, dealt with it in the most calm peaceful manner I have ever witnessed. Her eyes held such sadness and yet at their centre you felt her inner peace, something strong that moved within her, the very lynchpin of who she was. How did she do it? What was the secret to her ability to still get up and live her life every day, when her only daughter had been so cruelly taken from this world? Her strength. Her strength that came from her faith in something she could not see, touch, taste, smell or hear, but she could feel, deep within her soul. Her solid faith that everything will ultimately be ok. She believed that everything in her life was exactly as it was meant to be; that there is a pre-destined plan for her, and that she must learn what she can about herself and the world at large during her time here. This incredible lady, had found her strength through her religion, her faith was through her church. However to believe that we are a part of something much greater than us, begins in our own hearts, and not in an institution. We, as humans are here to experience life on earth, for whatever reason that maybe. To know that your life means something offers us an anchor in a sea of “what ifs?”. It may not be the answer to life’s great mystery, but it gives us a sense of purpose. This offers us self worth, and through this we find we can also draw on that same quiet strength, that carries us through the trials and tribulations of our lives. We find our grace from within.
What is it about betrayal that hurts so deeply? When we trust someone with our heart, and they break it. From lovers to best friends to close family members, when someone betrays us, the feelings of disloyalty and disrespect, coupled with the painful realisation that perhaps you didn’t mean as much to them as they did to you. We have all felt that familiar indignation when we feel someones treatment of us is unjust or uncalled for, especially from someone we love. Our internal dialogue says to us “I’d never do that to her/him; or how could they do that to me?” We are judging the other person by our own standards, our own expectations. We simply cannot comprehend how this person can have done or said whatever betrayal we perceive to have happened. Our inability to really see things from others points of view makes this experience so much more painful than it needs to be If we could only step into the mind of our loved one to truly understand what made them do, or say or act in a way that has caused us pain, maybe we would get something different from the experience. We may simply learn that the person who has hurt simply doesn’t feel the love for us that we do for them and consequently can treat us unjustly without conscience. In this case, our lesson would be that we are much better off without them in our lives, and then we need to find the strength to walk away and focus on our self healing, from the rejection.
However in most cases the hurt comes from the inability to really empathise with the other. Why have they said or acted this way? Is it “out of character”, something they wouldn’t normally do, or did you not really know them, thinking in fact that you did? If its out of character, why would they choose to hurt you in this way? Or have they done or said something thats not about you at all, but you feel as though it is?Sometimes its rooted in jealousy or revenge, but often it is because we do not understand each other. The human emotions are so complex; so intricate in their design, that we can never fully know what it is to be in someone else’s shoes. We haven’t walked their path. We may have walked part of it with them, but ultimately each journey is unique. What makes you who you are? Your life experiences. The things that happen to you along your way, happen to only you, because it is your unique life experience. These are the things that shape you, formulate your ideas, your views and values that carve you into the individual human being that you are. So how can you truly know what another person feels? Even if they sit and explain, you will only ever understand as much as their ability to express their feelings allow, or as much as they want to tell you. It’s their story, and however close you might feel to them, its different from yours. It isn’t easy to remember not to measure ourselves against others. We become so wrapped up in our own lives, our own existence, that anything which challenges our perceived equilibrium, becomes a threat and makes us quick to judge and slow to forgive. The more betrayal and hurt we experience in our lives, the more we want to build a protective wall around our own heart to reduce the chances of further attacks. This is a natural human instinct, that can if used with emotional intelligence help to strengthen our innate intuition, meaning we do not trust too easily and are more aware of people who may not be what they seem. However when we have been hurt repeatedly we can build a wall that’s so impenetrable that we let no one in and consequently deny ourselves the chance at loving, open, honest relationships. These relationships, wether familial or through friendships are the mainstays of our existence, without them life would be a much harder journey. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise to feel such excruciating pain, when one of these bonds breaks, and betrayal is perhaps one of the most painful ways to break them. Betrayal is a lesson. A painful lesson, that takes years of work to heal from. But it is a lesson all the same. The lesson, is that betrayal is your perception of a situation or set of circumstances, that in reality will look totally different from the other persons perspective. Mostly they will not see that they are betraying you, because they will, in their mind be able to justify their actions based on their own life experience.
The question you must ask when you have felt betrayed, is wether the relationship is worth investing further emotional energy in. This would mean communication, with the other person in an effort to try and understand why they have acted, or said or done whatever is it that has caused you pain. Sometimes, it is best to walk way, and other times its worth the investment to talk, to listen and to try and build a bridge of connection, where you can both heal and grow together from the experience. The betrayal is a crossroads in your relationship; a time to choose which way to walk on your journey – with or without them on your path.
Ultimately we need to learn to trust no-one in the same way we would trust ourselves. Listen to your own “gut feeling”. Your intuition, will always tell you the truth and guide you in the right direction, through life.
As a writer, words have always held a fascination for me. The way you can create an image in the mind of another, by structuring words into sentences, paragraphs and stories. For someone without the sense of sight, whose world is without the visual dimension, words can offer them the bricks to build their own internal image of a scene, an object, or a face.
Sound is a vibration, a movement oscillating through the atmosphere at a particular frequency, that is audible to the ear. The Word, is the first sound of creation. In yoga this is embodied by the “ohm” sound actually spelled “AUM” each letter representing a different part of the vibration, made in the back of the throat. .
A word or thought when spoken out loud i.e. producing sound, is now thought plus sound. The sound gives the thought creation. It is the beginning of the creation of that thought. For example, if I could visualise the most effective way to find your soulmate, in my mind, but I never describe it to another in words, that vision stays within me, unexpressed, not yet created. Our ideas need expression in order to become creations, and words are the primary source of expression.
When we begin to understand this concept we can see where the power in the word, lies. Our words can manifest into tangible objects, so thus the meaning of “spells” is really the power of the words that make the spell. The greater the intention behind the words, the greater the power within them. When we wish our loved one a happy birthday, we truly mean those words. It is our intention that this wish comes true and that have a special and enjoyable day.
Why a spell? If a word is misspelt, it is mispronounced and its intent or meaning is missed. This is so apparent when we are trying to communicate in a language that is not our own. We often misspell or mispronounce a word, so much so, that it means something entirely different from our thought. Even to those who are fluent in a second language, the brain becomes tired of speaking and listening much faster than when communicating in one’s mother tongue.
Language is like music. It tells a story, it paints pictures, and creates our reality. It is a gift that connects us with our fellow humans, and wether spoken or written is an art, that we must hold in high esteem, and realise its true value.
In our current age we are allowing our love of quick and convenient ways of communicating to lead us to misusing words e.g A text message, “wat u doin l8er”, to deprive us of experiencing the tapestry of language. Misusing words takes meaning away from them diminishing their worth, making the message casual, a passing thought, rather than being a message that the person has given a little thought to, even if that’s only to write whole words. Another example of our reduced way of communicating is the swiping of visual images on online dating platforms, judging only at face value ( as in swiping images away), means you miss out on hearing a voice (just an accent or tone of voice can attract or repel us), or experiencing the words and the thoughts that that person might have to share with you, that may have shown you much more about them, then just how they appear on a small screen.
The words that you hear, or read formulate images in your mind, literally shaping your thoughts. This is how we are so influenced by the media sources we choose. Your opinions, your values and your choices will come from the words that enter through your senses.
This is why its important to be selective about the words that you are exposed to. From the media you watch to the friends that you have in your life, choose those that bring you the truth, with love and that resonate not only in your ears but also in your heart.
What is it exactly that attracts us to drama? When we see public displays of emotional discord why does it draw us in? Are we just plain nosey or is there a more simple explanation that compels us.
We have such a great desire to watch people engaging in love and war and all the various relationship entanglements that arise from entire communities, that we have a whole TV genre dedicated to it.
Drama. Let’s just ponder the word. It comes from the word dramatic. One might use the word dramatic to describe something as vivid, amazing, powerful, impressive, exciting.
These words can also be used to describe fire. Fire is light, heat and movement. Both light and movement draw the eye towards them. They are both very attractive qualities. Drama attracts our attention because it is the opposite of dull, boring and monotonous.
However just like a mesmerising fire, if we allow ourselves to become too drawn in, too close, it will do us harm. If we allow it to, it can hypnotise us into not even feeling the heat until its too late and we experience physiological harm.
Whereas a physical fire will burn us; the heat from immersing ourselves in too much drama causes the heat to intensify within. Experiencing emotions such as anger, hate, jealousy, prejudice, aggression, and lust during the viewing of an event either on the street, or on TV, causes an inflammatory response in the body. Repeated or prolonged exposure to these emotional triggers keep the body in an inflamed state, and there you have your hotbed for disease to manifest. Inflamed joints, rashes, headaches, haemorrhoids, malignancies, growths and tumors are just a few indications of inflammation in the body.
A fire that burns too strongly needs the cooling, heaviness of water and earth to bring it back under control. Keeping away from dramatic, inflammatory situations that do not concern you, in real life, and choosing to stop immersing yourself in the false dramas the entertainment industry constantly offer, will help perhaps more than you could imagine.
In real life there are times we cannot avoid drama. Perhaps its within our family, friend circles or work-place. If it doesn’t involve you, or if your involvement would make it worse instead of better ( i.e. if you cannot be the water to the fire), then stay away. If it does involve you, then have the courage to use the strength of your integrity to mediate the situation as best as you can. Look to find a remedy. Try to understand where the emotions are coming from around you, and distance yourself from its source. Understand, observe, use your awareness to help bring calm, clarity and cool but don’t get drawn in.
Remember, it isn’t just what you eat that effects your health. Its everything. Pay attention to what you watch or listen to. Choose informative programmes that broaden your mind, or switch off and listen to some calming music. Choose your friends and even your acquaintances carefully. Stay away from dramatic people who always seem to have chaos as their constant companion. Spend your time with folk who care about others, about animals and the world around them, about their own health and well-being. People who, like you, want to make the world a better place, a place where peace and harmony are the mainstays of our existence.
It should be noted that ghee is made from butter, which of course is an animal fat. Ayurveda is not traditionally a vegan practice, however please use coconut oil if you are a vegan. Ghee is a very special food, and that is highly regarded in Ayurveda, with the ability to promote memory and immunity. It contains the richest source of butyric acid, which is very beneficial to the gut bacteria, making it a powerful probiotic and healing to the intestines. It has the ability to penetrate deep into the tissues of the body, making it a great vehicle to the transport of herbal remedies making it the No 1 choice as a medicinal carrier. Ghee comes from the cow’s ability to churn grass into milk, from which buttermilk, butter, yoghurt and ghee are made. Many conscious people are against consuming milk-based products because of the terrible corruption involved in this industry. The animals, which are kept in confined spaces, and fed hormones and anti-biotics, and have their milk taken away from them when their calves need it most, are stressed and miserable. Not only will you be contributing to the mistreatment of these animals but also you will be ingesting all the harmful substances they have been forced to take, along with their stress hormones. Ayurveda is about living consciously. We must love and respect all animals and if we are to live in harmony with the world around us, we must treat our beloved animals with the honour they deserve. Any milk product should only ever be sourced from an animal that lives a natural life in a field, where she can wander freely, eating natural grasses full of phytonutrients. Any milk taken should only be taken well after delivery of her calf, so that the calf gets the very best of her mother’s milk. When we are conscious about where our milk is sourced not only are we respecting the animal and putting her calf first, but also we are getting milk that is nutritionally much higher. Whole milk from organic, 100% grass-fed cows has more omega-3, higher levels of CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), and a better ratio of fatty acids. Ghee is made by gently boiling grass-fed organic butter, which removes the enzymes that encourage bacteria. It doesn’t require refrigeration as the properties that cause butter to go rancid, are removed in the process of making ghee. This process removes the milk solids, which in many people cause lactose intolerance –making it safe to use for everyone. It needs to be stored in an air-tight container away from direct heat or sunlight. It blends well with the nutrients in food, is very stable at high cooking temperatures, and is a totally nourishing food. It is very good for all doshas but especially the pitta (fire) and vata (air/space) types. Ghee is used during panchakarma (Ayurvedic detox), as it attracts fat soluble toxins from the tissues. Most detox protocols only deal with water soluble toxins, making panchakarma one of the most powerful detoxification protocols in the treatment of disease. Ghee is anti-aging as it prevents the drying out of tissues.
Recipe to make Ghee
Ghee is the separation of the parts that make butter.
It is a type of clarified butter, made when water is evaporated by heating and the milk solids separate leaving the liquid fat which is called ghee, which becomes solid at room temperature. Those with lactose intolerance can both tolerate and enjoy the benefits of ghee. This is because the sugar-lactose and protein-casein are removed with the butter’s milk solids
You will need: • Organic grass-fed butter • A heavy based stainless steel saucepan • Spatulas • Clean, dry storage jar with airtight lid • Muslin or very fine sieve
Chop butter into cubes and place in the pan
Melt over a low-medium heat
After a few minutes the butter will begin to form a white foam on the surface. This is the milk solids
Allow the foam to gather. When a thick layer has formed begin to skim off the white milk solids.
Once you have removed as much of the white foam as possible, strain the golden butter through a fine cloth or muslin, the residue at the base of the pan.
Allow to cool. Store away from heat or direct sunlight.
“Brrrrrrrring….” The sound of my old fashioned alarm clock erupted, tearing a gaping hole in the fragile mists of my morning dreams. My arm moves reflexively to shut off its intrusive noise.
Peace again. “Mmmm” I think to myself snuggling further into my duvet, “just a few more moments….”
Half an hour later I jump up, realising I´ve overslept and am now going to be late to start my day. I have a to-do list as long as my arm, and now I’m already behind.
Flying around in a panic I gather up what I think need for the day, wash and dress without any thought, and race out of the door and to the car throwing my things and myself into it, before driving off at a far greater pace than I know I should be going.
By the time I arrive at my first destination I’m already exhausted; I’m hot and flustered, I can hear my pulse racing and I know I am showing huge clues as to just how my day began, in my dishevelled appearance! My day is only just beginning, and I’ve got off on the wrong foot! Why?
I didn’t sleep last nightAND today is a New Moon
I ate dinner around 10pm – a bowl of pasta. A couple of glasses of wine and I was asleep on the sofa in front of some movie id started watching and fallen asleep through.
Around midnight I woke up feeling chilly and found my way to bed.
I went straight back to sleep and slept until about 3am, when I woke up perspiring and restless. I tossed and turned with my to-do list jumping in and out of my head as I fought with it. Finally exhausted I fell back to sleep around 6am
When I woke up with my alarm at 8am I didn’t want to get up. Mainly because I hadn’t slept but also because today was the day of the new moon, and the last thing I needed was a full and busy day.
If I could do this again what would I do differently?
The evening before, I would eat my meal much earlier, by 7pm and include some protein to balance my blood sugar and allow time for my food to digest long before bed-time.
I would avoid the wine and instead choose a calming tea or a herbal warm milk before bed.
I would avoid the TV and any screen time after my meal and ensure that no electrical devices were on in my sleeping area.
The evening can be spend having a warm herbal bath, reading with a soft light, listening to music, spending time with close friends and family, or meditating.
Planning my evening like this means my liver will not be overloaded as I’m trying to sleep and be fully able to cope with its job of detoxifying my body without waking me up!
Sleeping in total darkness, not going to sleep with a heavy meal in your belly, and giving yourself permission to switch off mentally are all vital habits to help you sleep.
If at all possible, the day of the New Moon, I would plan a quiet day, aligning with the new moon’s quiet energy. Even if I must work, I can try to schedule jobs that don’t require social contact, catching up on tasks that allow me to work alone.
I would factor in a late start, quiet-time breaks or an early finish. My phone would be off, on silent or on calls only so I could filter out the barrage of social media interference, that generally only causes over-stimulation in our already information-saturated brains
I would not feel guilty for wanting a lay-in, a duvet day or for just feeling plain anti-social but would instead embrace those feelings. We spend our lives rushing around for everyone else, today is the one day each month I need to nourish my own energy.
Ideally, if I have a chance to have the day to myself, I would spend it in pursuits such as meditation, gardening, reading, gentle walks, writing, drawing, listening to music and generally spending my time quietly, calmly and slowly, paying attention to how and what I feel.
Applying a natural face mask, self-massage with a nourishing warm oil, an epsom salts foot soak or a bath with soothing essential oils are all wonderful ways to provide what we need at this time of the month. Eating a warming casserole, a hearty soup with wholewheat bread or a gently spiced rice dish, will give our bodies the nourishment needed to build strength around this time. Practicing these habits and aligning with the lunar energy, and the cycles of natural daylight and nightfall, will restore healthy sleep patterns and leave you to wake up refreshed, on time and not wanting to fatally crush your poor alarm clock.
I’m going to go out on a limb here, and hopefully not offend all those creative folk who make their own natural products, or those of you who heavily invest in buying all natural, organic delicious products to use on your skin, in your hair, on your face and also around your home.
Don’t worry I’m not about to tell you that all those wonderfully natural ingredients are bad for you, not at all! They work beautifully to nourish, soften, cleanse, tone, smooth, protect etc, but all I’m here to tell you is, that you don’t need them. They can be a delightful treat, to use once in a while, but you really do not need ANY products AT ALL.
Natural products are really lovely but let’s face it, they are not cheap! All those organic, ingredients, carefully treated so as to preserve all their nutrition, and creatively put together, cost a fair bit to make, and then to market, driving prices higher. I know this because years ago I made all my own products. I didn’t sell them as it was time consuming and costly and I didn’t want to go down the official channels making the production costs higher still. I made products for my family or friends who wanted to try them.
In my book Love and Wheatgrass there are chapters on both personal care products and homecare products, with recipes on how to make them.
See the comments below for a hormone balancing perfume recipe you can make at home.
My message here, won’t make me rich, or even buy me a coffee, but it’s the truth. The personal and homecare product industries have been raking it in, making you feel as though you need their products to keep you clean, moisturized, beautiful and your home sparkling.
Not only do you not need them, but the commercial products will also harm you and your family.
The average person uses over 200 chemicals per day – and that’s just in personal care products! From bathing, showering and, rubbing them all over, we inhale them, and inadvertently ingest them too. We are literally drowning ourselves in chemicals. Let’s take a closer look at some of the more common chemicals used in most products, where to find them and what they may do, and then we can look at how we can start to make changes…..
Common Toxins found in Everyday Products.
Toxic chemical
Effect on the body
Product found in
Fluoride
Neurotoxin – may effect neurodevelopment[i] and cognitive function, decreased thyroid function; immune function
Toothpaste
SLS; SLES
Contaminated with dioxane a carcinogenic by product[ii] – maybe toxic to brain, nervous system, liver and kidneys
All emulsifiers, surfactants, foaming products such as Toothpaste; Shampoo; Shower Gels and soaps agents
Triclosan
Bactericide – may interfere with muscle function and hormone regulation[iii]
Toothpaste, deodorant, shower gels and soaps.
Fragrance – anything with harmful chemicals that do not legally require listing by name..e.g synthetic musks
Contains carcinogenic phthalates which may cause decreased sperm counts, early breast development, birth defects and liver and kidney damage[iv]
Shampoo, shower gels, deodorant and perfumes.
Note: As yet little is known about the effects these toxins have when they are combined in a product, because the majority of clinical trials are done on individual chemicals NOT as interactive ingredients!
This is without considering the cleaning products we use around our homes, in our laundry, on our beloved pets….
We are so focused on what we eat, that we pay little attention to what we take in through our skin and respiratory systems.
Let’s go through some popular products and what you can do as a natural and free or very cheap alternative!
Shampoo and conditioner
This was perhaps my most challenging product to lose. I tried everything from bicarbonate of soda, to using just a shampoo base, but nothing made my hair feel clean, and everything made it need the use of a conditioner too! That’s when I finally realised that shampooing the hair may just be one of the biggest beauty scams out there.
Each time you shampoo, you strip the hair of its natural oils. Its soft and fly-away. So now you need to condition it, to make it manageable and put back the oils you just washed out. Your body thinks your hair has too little natural oil, (because your shampoo stripped it out!), so it produces more oil. You see that as greasy hair and wash it again, and so we go on!
To break this vicious cycle, you need to stop washing your hair, but not stop cleaning it! How do we do this? With a good hairbrush! Our granparents used to tell us they brushed their hair 100 times a day! They knew how incredible and simple it is.
Regular brushing is amazing. It does 3 things.
It removes dust, dirt and particles from the hair
It massages the scalp, stimulating hair growth
It distributes any natural oils through your hair, conditioning it evenly
You can rinse your hair in warm water weekly if you feel you want to or have been perspiring or doing dirty work! Other than that you only need to brush, brush, brush.
Tip: once a month- around a new moon use a raw egg as shampoo. Your hair will feel amazing
2.Toothpaste
Another myth! We do need it, and even my dentist agrees with this! A good brush, used twice a day thoroughly but gently will do the job adequately. To get them extra clean, wrap a clean flannel around your finger and clean all around the gum area.
For an extra clean, you can occasionally put a little white fire ash or bicarbonate of soda on your brush – but don’t do this too often or you will wear the enamel. If you want to have that minty fresh feel, rinse with a water steeped with fresh mint.
3. Soap
You need soap. But only to wash your hands, and if necessary your feet. A good natural soap will work for this and last ages because you do not need it anywhere else! Warm water unless your skin is visibly dirty will clean your skin without altering your ph or interfering with the production oif vit D from sunlight.
A few times a week dry brush your skin before you shower. Working upwards towards the heart stimulates the lymph, and the action will remove dead skin cells and keep your skin soft and clean.
4.Deodorant.
Again, you don’t need it. Eat clean. Do not eat processed food, and you will not suffer with odour. If you require something sweet smelling in your pits, put a couple of drops of your favourite essential oil in filtered water and spritz.
5. Perfume
Walking through the departure lounge at any airport will leave your sense of smell overwhelmed with an assault of artificial fragrance. Inhaling these synthetic perfumes can bring on headaches and respiratory tract irritation. The chemicals used to make these perfumes are not only short term irritants but have been shown to cause hormonal imbalances, organ damage, and even cancer.
The cosmetic industry have been able to put toxic ingredients in their products because regulations have made it totally legal to keep their ingredients top secret to “protect” their formulas.
In 1991 the EPA tested conventional, synthetic perfumes and found a long list of toxic chemical ingredients, including acetone, benzaldehyde, benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, ethanol, ethyl acetate, limonene, linalool, methylene chloride as well as phthalates, stearates, and parabens.
The effects of these ingredients have only been tested in isolation but are very worrying. They have been known to cause organ damage, respiratory and skin irritations, reproductive system damage, convulsions and depression. However when used in combination the results are even more powerful, but have not been widely tested.
The good news is that you can very easily make your own beautiful perfumes from natural essential oils, that not only smell amazing, but also will actually support your health and well-being at the same time.
See comments below for a hormone balancing perfume recipe
When we consider the 5 elements from the Ayurvedic perspective we tend to focus on the elements that dominate us and set about bringing them into balance.
However, an important point that is often missed is to bear in mind the individuals state of maturity.
Infancy and Childhood
An infant is predominately water and earth, having most of the Kapha-like qualities. This is very apparent when you observe a baby or toddler with their adorable rolls of “puppy fat”, coupled with that super soft skin on the one hand and the runny noses and endless supply of tears they seem to produce when they cannot express what they are feeling on the other. They are watery little beings, that crawl on sit or lie on the ground (safest place!), close to the earth.
Adolescence
During adolescence the hormones rage, stoking the fire element. Rapid changes take place within the body as the child develops into early adulthood. Fire is dynamic, creating heat in the system. The red angry rashes of acne, the feisty testosterone-fuelled bravado displayed by young men, the fires of passion as young love is experienced often with the sharp pain of heartaches are part all of becoming an adult. Later during this phase of life, we continue to feel the heat of ambition and drive in our developing careers, and the surge in desire to become parents as the hormones again drive our instinct to reproduce and continue our line of existence. For all of these to happen the fire within us needs to be burning brightly. It is the bright light that shines from within us, that potential partners are attracted to. Its heat, draws admirers, like moths to a flame.
Middle Age
As adulthood turns to middle age, the elements can again be observed in the older person. The increase in air element causes a drying of the tissues. This is evident in the wrinkling of the skin; the loss of fluid around the joints, leading to their degeneration; the greying of the hair and the drying out of the eyes resulting in many eyesight conditions. You can see the increase in the space element too most particularly in the mind as the memory fails and the elderly person feels confused or easily overwhelmed.
The elements are visible, tangible in us throughout our lives. Being aware of this in relation to our phase in life, as well as our naturally dominant elements helps us to create a fuller picture of the best way to find balance again.
Through infancy and childhood, the water and earth elements should be supported because this is a naturally healthy state for a young child. The excessive mucous we often witness in little ones is a natural way of cleansing their respiratory systems as they learn to cope with the pathogens in their environment. As they mature and these resistances develop the mucous production slows and only occurs when the respiratory system experiences a pathogen that it needs to clear from the body. e.g. a virus or allergen. The mucous production is a healthy, cleansing process and should never be suppressed with medication.
If the mucous becomes infected, then steps need to be taken to manage the rate of the infection so that the immune system can deal with it, and it doesn’t overwhelm the growing child. The ways to do this are through supporting the immune system with specific nutrients and treating the infection with medicines and/or herbs.
Apart from understanding how the water element is crucial in a child’s early life, we need to ensure their environment, lifestyle and diet all support it, and its earth counterpart. Children need to be outside exploring nature as much as possible. Fingers in the earth, crawling on soft grass, paddling in the shallows of the sea. They need to be eating sweet juicy fruits, whole milky custards, and easy to digest grains such as rice. This is the type of nutrition young children need, as opposed to crispy, dry foods like potato chips, corn crisps or deep fat fried foods or stimulating foods like hot spices, or caffeinated fizzy drinks ( fire and air). Apart from the well-known health risks these type of foods proffer, they also place the child’s elements in a state that is non-conducive to their health.
Through the dynamic phase of young adulthood, our fire element rages with passion, motivation, and drive. We are enthused, as our desire to succeed in our chosen path is at its highest. We feel strong emotions of jealousy, attraction, anger, frustration. We are competitive in all we do from our jobs to our appearances; our outward image being all important as we aim to attract a partner, all a natural part of our survival instinct.
However, being aware of the fire element especially during this phase of life is really important. It can become very easy to let the fire get out of control, and become destructive to the persons health. Emotions of anger, jealousy and resentment are all firey emotions that can have negative effects on our health. An excess of the fire elements causes inflammation in the body. Hot swollen joints, hyperacidity in the digestive system, increase in heart rate and blood pressure. Keeping the fire in check, will help to keep us healthy through this phase of life.
This means watching our intake of heating foods, hot spices, coffee, alcohol, processed foods. It also means although we are going to be attracted to competition in our life from engaging in competitive sport to getting the most “likes” on a social media picture, we need to balance this with non-competitive pursuits and mindsets. Once again taking time in nature just to observe, listening to calming music or taking time to meditate helps us to find calm and coolness within. If we honour these principles the transition into further maturity will be easier and healthier. If we arrive into our later life, already `burnt out´ then the air and space elements have a great basis to grow from. However if we have supported water and earth, keeping fire in check, the air and space elements will not get a head start!
The senior years are naturally dominated by the elements of air and space increasingly during this phase. To support the “drying out” of the tissues its important to increase the water and earth elements. Staying hydrated not only with water, but the right mineral balance to enable good hydration. Watching ones intake of diuretics (substances that draw the water out of our tissues and cause its excretion), such as coffee, tea and alcohol, is really important in managing hydration. Once again fresh sweet fruits are natures little hydration packages, offering us sweet, nourishing fluids packed with vitamin, minerals and enzymes. Along with fresh fruits (water element ) the aging body requires a good supply of fats and whole foods ( earth element). The elements of air and space are light and mobile. The earth element is heavy and grounded.
We can also support this element through our diet by including fats. Some still believe that fats are bad for us and advise the elderly to choose low fat, or skimmed products. But this will only hasten degeneration. The type of fat to avoid are unnatural trans fats. These are the type of fats found mostly in processed foods and commercially baked goods. They are vegetable or nut-based oils which have been hydrogenated (heat-processed) to act like saturated fat. For example margarine, acts like a solid butter, but isn’t naturally. Therefore, inside the body it also tries to mimic the role of saturated fat (such as for cell messaging) but fails to do so properly. Over time these functions breakdown.
They need real butter, ghee, lard. Full fat milk and cream. Beneath the skin we store a layer of fat. Elderly folk have “thin skin” because they lose this fat layer, which begin as wrinkles. The consumption of whole, saturated fats and adequate complete hydration are both vital in the support of an ageing constitution.
Support the balance of the elements within your body, throughout the phases of your life and you will be healthier, happier and enjoy a better quality of life.
Wearing a piece of beautiful jewelry, can attract the attention of many-an-admirer! It can captivate and allure the beholder, its beauty a magnetic source of charm. The iridescent sparkle that catches the light, draws in even the most oblivious amongst us. A precious stone, a precious metal creatively crafted into an attractive design, can not only provide a timeless piece of great beauty, but can also be a good way to invest. With the state of the world economy, and the money markets flailing in the recession, it can be a tough time to know where to put any savings or investments. Precious metals are usually a safe bet, because they are have a tangible value – something that lends this type of investment a greater level of security. It can be stored in safe, or a bank if you feel it’s the safest place, or you can wear it, enjoy it, and know that it is as safe as anything we have about our person, can be, as long as we take good care of it.
But there is yet another incredible gift that wearing a piece of quality jewelry can offer us. It can positively affect us on a physiological level. Wearing gold or silver can influence our mood, help us fight off infections and regulate the circulation!
Top benefits of wearing silver:
Warding off infection – Silver is a powerful anti-microbial. Its positively charged ions bind to negatively charged oxygen receptors found in bacteria and can neutralize it. It is also anti-viral. It reacts and changes colour when it encounters chemical toxins, acting like the canary in the goldmine!
Improves Circulation Silver boosts circulation and helps to regulate the bodies temperature. Silver is both an electric and thermal conductor.
Helps prevent against electro-magnetic radiation The positively charged ions can help to reflect EMR away from your body by creating a conductive field. This naturally improves your mood, circulation and your bodies temperature.
From an ayurvedic perspective, silver is cooling and helps pacify both pitta and vata
Top benefits of wearing gold:
Improves rheumatoid arthritis, via its healing effects on the circulatory system.
Improves the bodies healing ability Wear gold near an area that is infected or sore. It has a relaxing effect on the blood vessels, boosting circulation and healing, as more oxygen can flow freely into the tissues.
It also helps to regulate the body temperature. Can help with both chills and hot flashes.
Gold can strengthen the heart, helping prevent heart attacks and enhancing stamina.
Gold has been known to help control the growth of cancerous cells, and is used in alternative medicine for treating various cancers such as prostrate and ovarian.
Gold is great for the skin, again due to its circulatory effects. Cell regeneration is greatly improved through its use. It can be used to treat fungal infection, rashes and eczema.
Healing with metals is an ancient ayurvedic therapy . Ayurveda has long suggested storing water in copper vessels overnight to consume during the next day, and many medicines use gold or silver ash (bhasm) as part of their ingredients. Not only the Indians but also the Egyptians used gold, silver and copper for their innumerable health benefits.
It is suggested that gold be worn close to the upper body, to generate warmth, and shouldn’t be worn below the navel. Here it has better control of your circulation, and flow of oxygen. It will only bring healing, never harm, particularly when worn around the upper body.
So what are you waiting for? You no longer need an excuse to wear your beautiful precious metals! Get enjoyment and health benefits from wearing your favorite pieces everyday!
LORRAINE EREIRA 