*FREE ONLINE MAG *ISSUE 53 *FEB 2019
Manifesting
Abundance
5 Health Benefits
Of Turmeric
Post Holiday
Detox
How To Use
Top 3
GREY WATER
DANGERS Of LED Lights
7 Gifts to Increase
PRODUCTIVITY
Photo by Alisa Anton on Unsplash
Conscious Life Magazine
CONTENTS 10
[
LOVE STARTS WITHIN
SELF DEVELOPMENT & PERSONAL GROWTH
14
HOW TO EXPERIENCE MORE LOVE IN YOUR LIFE
16
PLAYING THE GAME OF LIFE
19
EBB AND FLOW
21
MANIFESTING AN ABUNDANT LIFE
24
SEVEN GIFTS TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY
28
5 COMMON NEEDS UNHAPPY COUPLES EXPERIENCE THAT MOULD & DESTROY THEIR RELATIONSHIPS
32
ADDICTION
R
NATURAL HEALTH & WELLNESS
38
THE TOP 3 DANGERS OF LED LIGHTS
45
ARE YOU WASHING YOUR AVOCADOS? YOU SHOULD BE.
CONSCIOUS HEALING
50
WHAT IS AYURVEDA
54
WHEELS OF LIFE
58
HOW TO FREE OURSELVES FROM THE PAST
R
HEALTHY INTAKE
67
5 HEALTH BENEFITS OF TURMERIC
72
YUMMY, SUPERFOOD SMOOTHIES
b CONSCIOUS BODY 76
POST HOLIDAY DETOX
78
SPIN CLASS: A CHECKLIST FOR BEGINNERS + BENEFITS OF INDOOR CYCLING
83
STEERING CLEAR OF SUN DAMAGE THIS SUMMER
Conscious Life Magazine
CONTENTS H
89
GREEN LIVING A GUIDE TO USING GREY WATER
_ ANIMAL WORLD 94
WHAT YOUR DOG’S DROOLING MAY BE TELLING YOU
P WORKSHOPS, COURSES & RETREATS 100
FIND YOUR ZEN WEEKEND RETREAT
101
ANTANEEA TECHNIQUE COURSE
102
RETREATS AT DHARMAGIRI SACRED MOUNTAIN RETREAT
106
RETURN TO ANCESTRAL ROOTS
110
SPIRITUAL TEACHER TRAINING COURSE AND BURSARY
P
GETAWAYS, SHOWS & EVENTS
122 AWESOME SHOWS AND EVENTS INCLUDING VALENTINE’S EVENTS 126 TRANQUIL GETAWAYS
_ REACH OUT 135 REACH OUT & HELP: DESERVING CHARITIES AND CAUSES
21
67
29 89 38
14
24
Contributing Team & Experts
ABOUT US www.childoftheuniverse.co.za PUBLISHER 2Luni Media Articles from the late
EDITOR/OWNER Candida “Cj“ Matticks 087 802 6102 candida@childoftheuniverse.co.za
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Articles written by the late
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DR. WAYNE DYER
The Good Things Guy
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SALES & MARKETING Sales & Marketing Manager Cj Matticks Sales Linda Navon CREATIVE TEAM Designer & Creative Director Cj Matticks
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Articles written by the late
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Author, founder & director Reiki Academy London
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Contributing Team & Experts
MARGI McALPINE
PENNI DU PLESSIS
Angel Connection School
Divine Space
MICHELLE LESKE
DR SHAVIT SACHS
Egypt Tour Goddess
Naturopath
SIMON WING-LUN
VERONICA HAUPT
Founder: Unconditional Love Healing
Re-code Your Life
WHAT WE ARE ABOUT We believe in the ‘FIRST DO NO HARM’ principle and we select our content and advertisers accordingly. Our focus is on conscious lifestyle. We cover topics around natural health & wellness: body, mind & spirit; conscious living for a cleaner planet, healthy recipes and fitness. TO SUBSCRIBE Subscription to Conscious Life Digital Magazine is free of charge. Simply send an email to subscribe@childoftheuniverse.co.za with the subject line: Subscribe Conscious Life Mag and we will email your mag to you monthly. ISSUU APP Conscious Life Magazine is published on ISSUU. Please download the ISSUU app via the Android and Apple App Stores. It is free to use. Please follow us on there. www.issuu.com/2luni-media DISCLAIMER The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the editor, advertisers or endorsers. While every effort has been made to ensure that the contents of this publication are both accurate and truthful, the publisher and editor accept no responsibility for inaccurate or misleading information that may be contained herein.
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Conscious Life Magazine
Starts Within
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Hello beautiful souls!! This month of love, I invite you to learn to LOVE YOURSELF, 1st and foremost. I know that we cover this topic often…and it is because it is important!! Your relationship with yourself is the basis for every other relationship you will ever have on this planet. This does not only apply to your human relationships, but your relationship with everything and everyone around you. How you relate to and treat yourself dictates how you treat other people, animals – your pets or those in the wild, nature, your home etc. Don’t believe me? Starting today… pay attention to your self talk. Is it positive and encouraging, loving and kind? Do you approach yourself with anger or love? Next, see how this is reflected in your relationship with the world around you. This is such an awesome exercise and is best done from an objective perspective, simply allowing yourself the space to observe, with curiosity, your thoughts and actions. This gives you a great basis point to start from in shifting your self talk, self perception and the way you treat yourself, to that of love, acceptance, kindness, and care. Each time thereafter that you notice your actions and self talk are not rooted in positivity, respect and love, you can consciously shift this. Another very important aspect that many of us neglect… TAKING TIME EACH DAY to do something that MAKES US HAPPY, something that is just for us, that fills our cup. When last did you do something to pamper yourself? Now I hear some of you saying that you simply don’t have the time and/or that taking time to treat yourself is selfish! The truth is… the less time that you perceive you have, the more you need to take some time out. And regarding selfishness, how can you possibly give energy to others if you have not taken regular time to recharge yourself? It is in fact not fair on the world around you when you try to pour from an empty cup. So, I lovingly invite you, starting from today to take at least 30 mins each day to do something which energises and recharges you. Something just for you!! Do this for 30 days and see the difference it makes. We will join you! If you are going for gold add a daily practice of meditation and journaling, even if you only have 15 minutes available per day. Meditation helps to quiet and focus the mind, and journaling provides a safe space to offload your thoughts and emotions, a safe place to just be and to see your growth. This edition of Conscious Life is full of awesome articles to help you create and live your best life. So sit back, get comfortable and enjoy. If you are not already subscribed to receive Conscious Life Magazine free via email each month, please mail subscribe@childoftheuniverse.co.za and we will subscribe you. Conscious Life Magazine
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The Sunflower Fund 2018-2019 Special Edition of Conscious Life Magazine
Filled with inspiring articles on the Montessori Method, bringing Montessori into the home; conscious parenting, conscious living, wellness, self improvement, fitness &more.
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The Sunflower Fund 2018-2019 Special Edition of Conscious Life Magazine
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Conscious Life Magazine
By Louise L. Hay How to Improve All of Your Relationships When you’re happy with yourself, then all of your other relationships improve, too. A happy person is very attractive to others. Therefore, the first relationship to improve is the one you have with yourself. If you’re looking for more love, then you need to love yourself more. This means no criticism, no complaining, no blaming, no whining, and no choosing to feel lonely. It means being very content with yourself in the present moment and choosing to think thoughts that make you feel good now.
10 Healing Activities to Experience More Love in Your Life Now There’s no one way to experience love, for we all experience love in different ways. For some of us to really experience love, we need to feel love, through being hugged and touched. Some of us, however, need to hear the words “I love you.” Others need to see a demonstration of love, like a gift of flowers. Our preferred way of experiencing love is often the way we feel most comfortable demonstrating it back. I suggest that you work on loving yourself nonstop. Demonstrate the growing love you have for yourself. 1.Treat yourself to romance and love. Show yourself how special you are. Pamper yourself.
2.Buy yourself flowers for your home. 3.Surround yourself with colors, textures, and scents that please you. 4.Look in the mirror, deep into your own eyes, and say to yourself, “I love you.” Say it every day until you mean it. And keep saying it! Conscious Life Magazine
5.
Take yourself out on a date somewhere special. Go to a coffee shop and read through that novel you’ve been meaning to read.
6.
Take yourself out for a walk to a park. Find a beautiful spot and lay out a blanket and have a picnic.
7.
Go out to a movie or see a musical with yourself.
8.
Help out at a soup kitchen, or volunteer your time at a homeless shelter. Pick up trash at the beach or your local park.
9.
Donate clothes, belongings and books you don’t use anymore. Get rid of clutter. If it doesn’t bring you joy, give it away!
10. Get out some colored pencils and color a coloring book like you did when you were a kid (check out my new coloring books for adults)! Life always mirrors back to us the feelings we have inside. As you develop your inner sense of love and romance, the right person to share your growing sense of intimacy with will be attracted to you like a magnet. If you want to go from loneliness thinking to fulfilment thinking, then you need to think in terms of creating a loving mental atmosphere within you and around you. Do let all those negative thoughts about love and romance just fade away; and instead, think about sharing love, approval, and acceptance with everyone you meet. When you’re able to contribute to the fulfilment of your own needs, then you won’t be so needy and co-dependent. It has to do with how much you love yourself. When you truly love who you are, you stay centered, calm, and secure, and your relationships at home as well as at work are wonderful. You’ll find yourself reacting to various situations and people differently. Matters that once may have been desperately important won’t seem quite as crucial anymore. New people will enter your life, and perhaps some old ones will disappear-this can be kind of scary at firstbut it can also be wonderful, refreshing, and exciting. Once you’re clear about this issue in your mind, and you know what you want in a relationship, you must go out and be with people. No one is going to suddenly appear at your doorstep. A good way to meet people is in a support group or night class. These types of get-togethers enable you to connect with people who are like-minded or who are involved in the same pursuits. It’s amazing how quickly you can meet new friends. Be open and receptive, and the Universe will respond to you, bringing you your highest good.
Conscious Life Magazine
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Article by Simon Wing-Lun Judgement, fear and worry is the result of not seeing the true nature of existence. Not seeing that everyone's life is a game we've all chosen, and that you an eternal being who never dies, swimming in an infinite soup of eternal love. There are eternal infinite realities, infinite versions of earth and versions of you, each being deliberately created by consciousness as a playground for new experiences. Time as we experience it is an illusion. Just a temporary train ride we choose for while, until we return to total freedom of simultaneous existence and experience, free to move forward, backwards and sideways to any moment as we choose. You are being guided, supported and held by a huge spiritual support team of angels, guides, ancestors, ETs, and everything else
you can imagine, all lovingly assisting you to take the easiest and most joyful path. And at the end of this physical incarnation, you will see it was all a game, that you can do it all again, with any change you wish, taking the lessons you learned to make the next ride more rewarding and fun. You'll see every aspect of consciousness in
Conscious Life Magazine
existence is playing it's own game, on a different scale and level. The ants are playing the ant game. The lettuces are playing the lettuce game. Humans are playing the human game. The earth is playing the earth game. The galaxies and universes are playing bigger games still. There are countless trillions upon trillions of games being played by different aspects of consciousness, each with a different flavour and expression of the one divine love. But the nature of every game is the same. A cyclical experience of consciousness for the purpose of fun, expansion and discovery. From inside the game, some other games may not make sense. Why would you choose to be an ant being washed down the drain? Why would you be a bee, that stings an intruder, has it's guts ripped out and dies? But from outside the specific game of physical fear and limitation, everything makes sense. Every game every aspect of existence is playing has been chosen for a specific reason, and is being enjoyed to the fullest. The spirit of ants, the spirits of bees, the spirits of lettuce are not bemoaning their lot, wishing they were lions. They don't even see themselves as separate from the lions. They are part of the one nature, and are revelling in the perfection of the divine play as they are. So if you find yourself worrying about or judging things, perhaps the antidote is to more deeply understand the game your playing, why your playing it, and how it relates to others. The more you look into this, the more you'll see who you thought of as your opponents are actually your closest teammates. What you thought of a failure or loss, was actually a winning strategy. And you'll see those who think they're winning at life because of superficial measures, are those who've most completely forgotten that they're playing a game at all.
Simon Wing-Lun rediscovered a deep connection to unconditional love during a time of intense spiritual awakening at the age of 23. This lead to a deep journey of discovering how we can actually use the power of unconditional love to heal anything. Seeing many healers and spiritual teachers promise ‘unlimited healing’ results, yet not able to consistently deliver them, Simon continued to learn all the most powerful methods and philosophies he could to master the process of healing. But nothing provided the answers or results he know in his heart and spirit were possible. Until eventually, building on everything he’d learned and been given from spirit, Simon developed a healing process that worked powerfully, quickly, and effectively with ever issue. This process became Unconditional Love Healing.
Conscious Life Magazine
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Remember even the ocean has an extreme high and low tide every single day. it just doesn't get too attached to them. The ocean is at peace that things constantly ebb and flow and change. It has it's own biorhythms as do you. Surfers understand to ride the waves when they are pumping, and to sit on beach quietly watching when the waters are flat and dead. They also only paddle furiously when a surge comes along that they want to ride along with, the rest of the time they just sit on their boards and stare at the mountain peacefully while the waters are flat and dead. The waters of earth hold its emotions. As do your own. Nathan Raaths – Founder of the Mad Hatters Community and more‌
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Article by Kendal Taytasac
This sounds so easy, yet why are some so abundant and others not. People talk about the Law of Attraction, vision boards, manifesting lists, manifesting abundance daily and yet it does not appear for them or to them. What is the secret behind manifesting abundance is a question I am very often asked. One first needs to understand the background to the meaning of Manifesting and Abundance from a spiritual perspective. Manifesting means something theoretical made real – a thought an idea projected into a physical form as a possession. The origin of manifestation came from religion and spirituality as if something was spiritually requested or prayed for and it became real it was said to be a manifestation. The word manifesting has now spread to include all areas of our lives. More love, more money, more health, more friends, more
Success, more status possessions, more adventure, more attention, more acceptance, and on it continues, it all begins with more of. Yet we do not understand why we do not receive more when we have done what the gurus say – how can this be possible. Is it because we do not actually understand what lays behind – in our sub conscious thinking and beliefs or is it … …The Secret. What is Abundance really – a myth or a reality? The spiritual meaning of Abundance is
Conscious Life Magazine
having an abundant life filled with joy, love, compassion, kindness, tolerance, patience, temperance, hope, faith, which are all virtues, for the strengthening of our mind body and soul. So how this does this fit in with having more money love success and possessions? It does not and that is the key to understanding the want factor of abundance. You often hear people say “I want this or I want that” without realising that want actually means lack, which creates a dissatisfaction translating into a negativity thinking pattern as their focus becomes centred on what they do not have rather than having gratitude for what they do have and who they are. People live with scarcity and fear- based thinking, believing that if they only have more money, or love, or success, their lives be acceptable to them and in so doing they lose their connection to their natural state of Abundance. Abundance is more of a mindset than it is your actual circumstance, so the first step to opening your abundance is to cultivate a positive abundant mindset. When you have a positive abundant mindset, you will naturally attract, recognise and act on the opportunities that surround you including those that you create. As you practice they can become instant manifestations for you.
We are always manifesting so what you think and feel you will draw to you like a magnet. Your intentions create your reality so if your intentions are masked by a fear, or are not specific, how can it possibly come to you, as the manifestation is blocked by your fear or is not clear enough. Therefore being very specific is another key element to successful manifestations. If your intention is not very specific how can it come to you? Detail in manifesting is essential, for example “I want a new car”, add to the statement “I have a new car” or “I affirm I have a new car” or “I now create an opportunity to bring to me the following car…” adding in the detail of what kind of car it is, what colour is it, what is the
year model, size, type of car, is it manual or automatic, is it petrol or diesel, will you buy it or is it a gift… Then imagine yourself driving the car daily, test drive the car. In effect when we are manifesting we bring it to life through what we think and feel about what we are asking for. On one hand you are creating a manifestation but behind the scenes in your mind your belief may be “good things happen for others not me, I am not worthy of good luck, I have no money, I owe money, my car will be stolen”. The thought which wins is the one you focus most of your energy on. This means you need to be very mindful of your thinking and become very aware of your limiting beliefs, creating a mindset where you have a mastery of self – who you are and who you want to be. Clearing your thoughts, your space, and asking yourself what do I need to release. When our manifestations are not coming through it is normally because we are learning lessons and virtues from not immediately receiving. For example, a person may lose their job to learn self- reliance, tolerance and self-love. While manifesting we are asking ourselves to believe what we cannot see, to have hope beyond our timing for it to come true, to believe it beyond everything anybody else says, to have faith beyond our expectations and to accept that we could receive even more than we asked for, or could imagine, or to be happily surprised. Whenever traveling I manifest a smooth and safe flight with happy, kind and considerate people who wish to support me, to happily surprise me, and to have great conversations filled with laughter. I believe this will happen without any doubt and am also surprised by the outcomes including being upgraded, creating new friendships and opportunities through them, as well as help with taking down my cabin baggage and even receiving free tickets.
Conscious Life Magazine
Having pure intention sets the tone for manifesting and abundance and our habits create our internal experience – review yours. What are you really asking for when manifesting – what sits behind the manifestation – ego, success, self- acceptance, self- love? What we think, we believe, so when we are not receiving it is ultimately due to the lessons and virtues we are learning or needing to learn. The good news is that the Universe does have your back and you are co creating your life with the Universe with each thought so keep them positive and your intention pure. When you know you deserve, you no longer vibrate with fear or disbelief, because you just know. Those who do believe in themselves can afford to wait as they know they will receive. We try to control time, our space, others and ourselves, and in so doing block our manifestations. You can have it all and the only thing that holds you from this is only you, your thoughts and your feelings. Kendal Taytasac Theta Abundance
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Like Kendal’s page on Facebook to learn more. Kendal is also available for one on one sessions to help you overcome that which holds you back from being abundant: https://www.facebook.com/thetahealingsouthafrica/
Conscious Life Magazine
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Article by Michael Howard We all have seven gifts within us that we can discover and use to increase our productivity. I first formulated the Seven Aspects of Spiritual Intelligence eighteen years ago, and I wrote a mystical love story that features them two years ago. They are the go-to guides for my relationships and my working life – and they’ve stood me in good stead. This article introduces the seven in the context of a quest for productivity at work, and reveals how to increase them in your life. They are:
• • • •
Commitment Enthusiasm Openness Generosity
• Self-control • Trust • Modesty
Conscious Life Magazine
Commitment Being committed is one of the strongest drivers of productivity. It encompasses loyalty and devotion, and it often requires fortitude and perseverance. It always requires a conscious decision to take up, and maintain, a position.
Not just a once-off decision – we have to reaffirm our commitments regularly because we too easily forget the reason for, and value of, commitment. We are inclined to ditch them for immediate, or short-term, gratification. Commitment and loyalty amongst people in a company, institution or society are essential to counterbalance the modern culture of indiscriminate change, and the frenetic pursuance of easy paths to quasi-success.
Enthusiasm Enthusiasm fuels productivity. It’s an eternally renewable source of energy. What a gift that is! In the business world, enthusiasm has long been recognised as one of the essential traits of successful people. Truly enthusiastic people can get so excited about potential that some of their energy rubs off on the world around them, and latently influences things towards fulfilling that potential. Enthusiasm overcomes lethargy, stagnation, regression and depression. Without it we don’t appreciate the potential in reality. Therefore, we have no energy to be productive. Instead, things seem pointless, and productivity wanes, no matter how hard we may try to apply ourselves.
Open-minded people are able to conceive of the importance of their work, both directly and indirectly, and keep that significance at the forefront of their minds. Our creative and innovative natures emerge when we are open. And with that, productivity is elevated above dreary repetition to the level of inspiration. Openness also helps us cope with the amount of new information and mental stimulation we are bombarded with. It is the ability to not get bogged down, or lost, in detail – to not close up – but to unify and correlate important stuff instead. It’s like looking at the forest from the trees.
Generosity Generous people are often the most reliable and productive because they hate to disappoint anyone who depends on them. A generous person is the type all employers want on the payroll. There is nothing that creates meaning and a sense of purpose in our lives more than giving our selves completely to a cause – to serve. We are heroic and altruistic by design. This doesn’t necessarily mean we all have to help out in a war or famine zone. We can all give ourselves to the cause of serving, and helping those around us, through our work, right where we are. There is no stopping productivity once you see your work as a genuine service, as a realm of meaning.
Self-control
Openness
When we are in control of ourselves, we are able to do what has to be done, even if habits of non-productivity distract us.
Openness is the ability to connect with the subject of the work – to immerse oneself in activity that holds one’s attention.
Sometimes we have to achieve this by exerting appropriate levels of self-discipline.
Conscious Life Magazine
But self-discipline is not the same as selfcontrol. The former is a tool we can use to help us see the gift of self-control at times when we may forget.
that we all make mistakes and that patience helps in fixing these mistakes. So they return effectively to the productive path after a deviation.
But ultimately self-control comes from within – from a state of being.
Modesty is vital for successful work relationships because it enables individuals to settle into their roles without being distracted, or concerned with what others are doing. It is self-knowledge. And contentment with self.
When we lack control of ourselves we create negative energy and uneasiness. We may feel like we’re living on the edge and about to crack up, or break down, from a chaotic lack of stillness in the mind. We find it difficult to remain focussed – so difficult at times that productivity goes out the window.
Trust Conversely, with trust we focus innately, like laser beams, because we feel we are exactly where we’re meant to be. We believe that we affect the universe through our integral connection to it. Trust drives productivity because we feel we are on the right path. We sense our efforts paying dividends. Perhaps the greatest benefit of trust is the relief it brings from stress and worry. Stress and worry stifle productivity. In fact, they can completely immobilise us with fear. With trust, we can proceed, even if just one ginger step at a time, while fear is on the back foot.
Increasing the seven aspects So here’s the trick: you can’t increase these seven aspects by any effort of your own. You can try, and you may seem to have some short-term increases, but they won’t be sustained. That’s not how these things work. They’re gifts. Not prizes to be earned. You simply need to discover them and allow them to come out. Gratuitously. Without you in the way. The greatest irony of our culture is this: to discover these gifts of productivity, we must be completely unproductive. We must do the exercise of nothingness.
Trust gives us courage. And productivity often requires courage.
Modesty Modesty nullifies the negatives of ego. We can focus on work in the here and now without personal goals, identities and expectations disturbing us. Work becomes an exercise in mindfulness. We simply work, for the joy of the present moment, and all the rest falls into place.
Productivity is very often determined by how deviations or mistakes are corrected. Modest people are patient and tolerant. They realise
Photo by Afonso Coutinho on Unsplash
Conscious Life Magazine
This exercise goes by the name of meditation. But don’t get stuck on what meditation is – here it simply refers to the practice of interior quiet. Meditation is the most passive exercise you’ll ever come across. It is doing nothing, being nothing, and thinking and feeling nothing. But, counter-intuitively to many modern people, it has profound results. A helpful analogy is to think of meditation as the key to an internal reservoir of quiet where the gifts float serenely. Visiting the reservoir allows us to dip into the gifts, and let them stick to us, so we can bring them up into the world with us. Every time we dip into them we emerge more productive – truly productive. For productivity, properly understood, is simply the most natural and healthy human state of being. You Can Buy My Mystical Love Story, On The Fifth Night, Featuring The Seven Aspects Of Spiritual Intelligence Here Death is a delusion. See for yourself. Greta, Anne and Mark make an unusual love triangle. Greta is the late wife who died of Huntington’s disease. And Anne, the volatile second wife, sees dead people. Husband Mark is a consulting engineer with no inclination toward flights of fancy, until Anne’s shocking death. He’s convinced he spent hours in conversation with her, but she was already lying lifeless in a coroner’s office miles away. The doctor tells him his experience is typical of psychotic episodes induced by trauma. So begins Mark’s journey into the paranormal. He worries his experiences are symptoms of his cracked mind, but the enlightening presence of Anne, and a spiritual teacher’s wisdom, begin to convince him otherwise.
Click Here To Buy My Novel
Then indisputable proof. Mangled metal and dismembered bodies fade from his sight as he enters the eternal sea of consciousness. It is time to know that the good doctor’s diagnosis was wrong. Time to look and see for himself that the line between this world and the next is blurred, and death is a delusion.
Conscious Life Magazine
5 Common Needs Unhappy Couples Experience That Mould & Destroy Their Relationships & How To Eliminate These Needs.
By Sergio Salotto
Do you ever think or say things like, “No matter how much or what I do, it is never enough.” Sound familiar? Have you ever reacted automatically from your emotions button being “pressed” then wished you could take things back because you hurt someone and you feel guilty? What does it require to have great and loving long-lasting relationships? To resolve any issues and challenges, you first need to identify and eliminate their source... and that may not be what you think – your partner Let’s start the count down of the 5 beliefs…. Conscious Life Magazine
NEED # 5 – YOUR EXPECTATIONS How do you feel when your partner does not consider your desires and wishes, does not meet your expectations?
Many people may claim not to have expectations of their partners. Yet they get upset when things don’t happen the way they would like/expect. Some of the reasons for you getting into intimate relationships is to experience love, caring, belonging, friendship, support, parenthood, etc. To fulfil your emotional desires and needs or overcome fears of being alone, not wanted, feeling “not good enough.” In other words, you are there because YOU WANT SOMETHING from the relationship – your partner. Your partner is equally likely be in the relationship for the same objective, TO GET SOMETHING from YOU. Both of you therefore have expectations that the other needs to satisfy. And as you may have experienced, provided your respective expectations are met, things go well. However, the moment that changes, issues and challenges begin to emerge. That kick starts the game of BLAMING one another. This leads to the next need # 4
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NEED # 4 – “WORK AT IT” How are you “working on your relationship to make it work?”
It’s what you have been told and expected to do right? “No pain – no gain” (... “no working at – no sex”). The “working at,” however, could be compounding the problem because of need # 3.
NEED # 3 – COMPROMISE How often you / do you give up on what you really want and compromise to “keep the peace”, out of feeling guilty, because you believe you are “not good enough?” Compromise is considered essential to make relationships work. But is it really? Why do you compromise? Mainly, to avoid the possible consequences you may have to face if you didn’t. Which means that your reason for COMPROMISING is really to satisfy your fears and emotional needs. If it wasn’t for that, it is unlikely you would compromise.
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What you (likely) do not know, is that COMPROMISE actually is the source of your issues and challenges in your relationship/s... and many other parts of your life. As compromise requires you to give up on what you really want, this leads you to need # 2
NEED # 2 – FREEDOM OF CHOICE (real) “Would you really continue to do everything you are doing right now in your life IF you had absolute free choice to change without facing any adverse consequences? The bottom line effect of compromise is giving up / foregoing exercising FREEDOM OF CHOICE for fear of the possible consequences you might face – guilt, rejection, feeling “not good enough” and so on. To avoid facing these, after duly considering all the possible consequence, you take a DECISION to do what is expected of you. As your DECISIONS are based on FEAR, you end up a VICTIM OF YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES – the source of your frustrations, stress, depression, anxieties, etc.
The core driving force for your fears and compromise is to satisfy need # 1.
NEED # 1 – “I AM NOT GOOD ENOUGH” ... the fundamental source of the problem Despite everything that is said and the efforts made to overcome this feeling, most people I have spoken to tell me how, not matter what they do, they still experience feelings being “not good enough.” Whilst conventional therapy “tools” for changing your mind set and mental re-programming of life-time internalised negative messages may address some issues, they do not address the underlying source and guide the person to ELIMINATE it. These “tools” only deal with the “tip” of the problem, the top 10% of your emotions iceberg. Whereas the real destructive force is a greater, underlying 90%. In my experience, conventional methods or therapy and mentoring are having the effect of greatly “trivialising” the actual impact these feelings have in your life... and in your relationship/s. The solution to your relationship issues and challenges is achieved by managing the top 10%. It lies in addressing and eliminating the greater underlying 90% of your “iceberg” as that is also the source trigger and driver of the other 4 beliefs above (and others).
unMOULDing yourself from this belied will reshape YOUR life and resolve your relationship issues and challenges I have developed the sole unique technique of mentoring you to unMOULD and reshape your life and relationship/s. Sergio Salotto is a Life Purpose Mentor, to learn more and to work with Sergio, go to www.sergiosalotto.co.za
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By Anna-Marie Jansen - Soulflight
Addiction is something that has affected so many of us, whether it's been our own addictions or those of the people we love. When we walk through that valley of death it feels like nothing will help us ever. Not a hope or a prayer or a helping hand. I've walked that dark valley for most of my 43 years and I know the despair it brings. I was lucky enough not to have a substance addiction of my own. There but for the grace of God or Source or the Universe. I was also lucky enough to have an alcoholic mother. Lucky because it made me hyper aware of the dangers of addiction. She was functional and held down a job and firmly believed that this fact proved that she wasn't an alcoholic. She couldn't go a single day without a drink though and usually a drink meant a bottle of something. She was denial at its finest. And the effects of those drinks? She was unpredictable and her moods changed in an instant. She was emotionally and physically abusive and her emotional abuse carried on throughout my adult years until I finally drew a line. She died six months later.
Personal stories are so much fun, aren't they? You know what I've learned? Just about everyone has a story about addiction. Some are worse than others. Some people dealt with it for a short while and other people dealt with it for a lifetime. The effects were always the same though. The Conscious Life Magazine
strange thing is that the effects are similar for both addicts and those who love them. Addictions lead to self hatred, anger and years of emotional pain. They result in low self esteem and feelings of despair.
So where does that leave us? Is addiction really a disease? I suppose it's similar to any mental illness as it doesn't present many physical symptoms aside from those caused by withdrawal. I'd venture to say that it's a disease of the spirit. It not only attacks our souls, it almost possesses them. I don't know of anyone who has died as a direct result of their soul being damaged but I do know people who have taken their own lives because they reached a point of such hopelessness and despair that they felt it was the only way out. Overdoses kill. Liver damage kills. The greatest death though is the spark inside us that dies as a result of substance abuse. The good news is that as long as we draw breath that spark is never truly dead. Sometimes it sleeps for a while but it can always be rekindled. Rekindling it may take an act of will beyond anything we believe we're capable of but the beauty of our souls is that they are so much stronger than we give them credit for.
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As a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist I can tell you unequivocally that no craving originates from nothing. There is always a trigger. Unfortunately once we are in the addiction spiral it becomes a vicious circle of event to craving to use to event to craving to use. We forget that in between the event and the craving it triggers is a thought. We're so often unaware of those thoughts but it is in identifying those thoughts that we are able to find the true triggers, avoid them and slowly cure addictions. So what do we do to reach a point where the damage starts to either heal or no longer has an effect? Some of the points below are going to apply to both addicts and their loved ones but all are helpful in minimising the pain. 1.
2.
3. 4.
Seek help. Nobody on either side of the spectrum can walk this path easily without some sort of help. There are so many organisations that will help you. I'll include contact details at the end of this article. As an addict, you are never truly free of the addiction. You can't quit for a while and risk using again “just once in a while�. It's a slippery slope and using again will take you back to the start of your journey through hell. Maintain a network of trusted friends. You never know when you need someone to calm you down and help you through a situation. Stay calm. Once again this covers both addicts and their families. Withdrawal symptoms are not just physical. The anger that rears its head and causes someone to lash out at you can be devastating. Try not to react because it adds fuel to the fire.
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5. 6.
Set boundaries and communicate them. And then stick to them. Find a spiritual connection. It doesn't matter your religion or belief system, it always helps to feel that there is something bigger than you out there. 7. Don't lose your sense of self worth. Addictions are not personal. Your intrinsic value never lessens. 8. Have compassion. Addiction hurts addicts too. Just don't allow yourself to be held hostage by your compassion. 9. Remember that you can't control the situation, only your reaction to the situation. 10. Most importantly, if you can no longer deal then quit. Quit the substance or quit the relationship. It's okay to walk away to preserve yourself.
Important Contact Details: Alcoholics Anonymous South Africa - 0861-435-722 Narcotics Anonymous South Africa - 083 900 69 62 SANCA - 011 892 3829 or whatsapp on 0765351701 Nar-Anon (for loved ones of drug addicts) – www.naranon.org.za Al-Anon (for loved ones of alcoholics) – www.alanon.org.za Alateen South Africa (for teenagers affected by addictions) – www.alanon.org.za Lifeline – 0861322322 or safetalking@lifeline.org.za
Anna-Marie is a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and spiritual coach working with people to overcome addictions, depression, anxiety and repetitive damaging patterns. Find her on Facebook as Soulflight or visit her website at www.entersoulflight.simplesite.com.
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*2018-2019 COMPASSIONATE NO ANIMAL-TESTING PRODUCT GUIDE*
2018-2019
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The Top 3 Dangers Of LED Lights
By Dr Joseph Mercola
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The amount and quality of light you're exposed to every day can have an enormous impact on your health. The healthiest light, of course, is natural sunlight, which has a number of benefits beyond the making of vitamin D in your skin. Unfortunately, most of us spend very little time outdoors during the daytime, thereby missing this important health component. What's worse, most have replaced their incandescent light bulbs — which most closely resemble full spectrum analog natural sunlight — with energy-saving light-emitting diode (LED) lights, which have a number of detrimental biological effects.
On the next page, I've also included my October 2016 interview with Dr. Alexander Wunsch, a world class expert on photobiology, in which he reveals the hidden dangers of LED lighting that most people are completely unaware of.
LEDs emit a large amount of aggressive blue light that generates high amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress, and are devoid of near-infrared light that would help counteract some of that damage.
The main problem with LEDs comprises two aspects: First, they emit excessive amounts of blue wavelengths, which are embedded in other wavelengths and therefore invisible to the naked eye and, second, their spectrum lacks the counterbalancing healing and regenerative near-infrared frequencies. They have very little red in them, and no infrared, which is the wavelength required for repair and regeneration.
Here, I review some of the top dangers of LED lights, and provide guidance for how to remediate these issues to protect your health.
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When you are exposed to these higher amounts of blue light frequencies they catalyze excess ROS formation that contributes to biologic damage. So, when using LEDs, you end up with increased cellular damage and decreased repair and regeneration. The end result, as one would expect, is a higher risk for chronic disease and an impaired ability to heal.
Danger No. 1: LED Lighting Deteriorates Vision As mentioned, virtually all LED lighting bulbs have no near-infrared frequencies to balance their blue light frequencies. The near-infrared frequencies are especially valuable for healing and affect your health in a number of important ways. In your eyes, near-infrared helps priming your retinal cells for repair and regeneration. In addition, LEDs emit an excess of digital blue light, that in combination with a deficiency of the near infrared frequencies, generates ROS. Taken together, this explains why LEDs are so harmful for your eyes in particular.
You probably know that blue light in the evening reduces your melatonin production in your pineal gland. But you also have cells in your retina that are responsible for producing melatonin in order to help regenerate your retina during the night. If you use LED lights after sunset, you reduce the regenerative and restoring capacities of your eyes. Needless to say, with less regeneration you end up with degeneration. In this case, the degeneration can lead to agerelated macular degeneration, which is the primary cause of blindness among the elderly. Lack of sunlight exposure during the day has also been implicated in the massive rise in myopia (near-sightedness).1 Sunlight releases dopamine in your retina, slowing the growth of your eye and therefore possibly slowing the elongation of the eye and changes to your sight.2 Blue light also reduces your production of melatonin which, beyond impeding sleep, also increases your risk of insulin resistance, which also raises your risk of myopia.3
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Danger No. 2: LED Light Exacerbates Chronic Disease Through Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Suppressed Energy Production Importantly, LED light affects your mitochondrial function and may exacerbate health problems rooted in mitochondrial dysfunction, including metabolic disorder and cancer. Chromophores are molecules that absorb light. There's an optical tissue window ranging from 600 to 1,400 nanometres, which means it is almost completely covered by the nearinfrared- part of the light spectrum. This optical tissue window allows the radiation to penetrate an inch or more into bodily tissues. Chromophores are found in your mitochondria and in activated water molecules. In your mitochondria, there's also a specific molecule called cytochrome c oxidase that is involved in the energy production within the mitochondria. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) — cellular energy — is the end product. ATP is the fuel your cells need for all of their varied functions, including ion transport, synthesizing and metabolism. Your body produces your body weight in ATP every day. And, while you can survive for several minutes without oxygen, were all ATP production to suddenly stop, you'd die within 15 seconds. This is why lighting is so important. Light is a sorely misunderstood and overlooked part of the equation for biological energy production, specifically at the mitochondrial ATP level. Since the cytochrome c oxidase is responsible for an increased production of ATP, the cell has a better supply of energy, which allows it to perform better, and this is true no matter where the cell resides.
This means liver cells with more ATP will be able to detoxify your body more efficiently; fibroblasts in your skin will be able to synthesize more collagen fibres and so on, because ATP is crucial for all cellular functions. The key take-home message here is that your body's energy production involves not just food intake. You also need exposure to certain wavelengths of light in order for your metabolism to function optimally. This is yet another reason why sun exposure is so vitally important for optimal health, and why LED light bulbs are best avoided
Danger No. 3: LED Light Impedes Your Sleep LED light, including that from electronic screens, also suppresses melatonin production, thereby disrupting sleep, and this too can have far-reaching consequences for your health. Light-sensitive cells in your eyes track blue light, which in turn triggers different processes in your suprachiasmatic nucleus, a small region in your brain's hypothalamus. Among them is relaying to your pineal gland the news that when there is a lot of blue light, the production of melatonin should stop to facilitate wakefulness. Under normal conditions, as the sun sets and blue light decreases, production of melatonin increases, which helps you fall asleep. However, if you're exposed to unopposed blue enriched LED light, especially if it is bright, in the evening this sequence is interrupted, resulting in sleep problems. Indeed, research4 confirms that "blue light from LEDs elicits a dose-dependent suppression of melatonin in humans.” Looking at a tablet for even two hours in the evening is enough to suppress your body's natural night-time rise of this hormone,5 and research6,7 shows using an electronic device
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within one hour of bedtime can delay falling asleep for more than an hour. study8
Another that compared melatonin profiles in individuals exposed to standard room light (<200 lux) versus dim light (<3 lux) found exposure to room light before bedtime shortened the time of elevated melatonin levels by about 90 minutes. That means it may take you an extra hour and a half before you're sleepy enough to fall asleep once you're in bed. Combine room light and electronic displays right before bed and it's easy to see how sleep may remain elusive for hours on end. Most of us enjoy watching TV in the evening as a form of relaxation before bed. I certainly do and watch many great Netflix documentaries. The key here is most TVs can't filter out blue light, but if you use a computer monitor as your TV screen you can use Iris; simply install the blue light filtering software on your computer. This will allow you to safely watch TV at night without suppressing your melatonin.
For Optimal Health, Address Your Daily Light Exposure The good news is that you can remedy all of these health dangers by modifying your light environment and resynchronizing your body to the natural cycles of light and dark. Here are four key considerations: 1. Replace LEDs in key areas with incandescent light bulbs â&#x20AC;&#x201D; While LEDs are indeed more energy efficient, the price you pay in terms of your health far outweigh such cost savings. In areas where you spend most of your time during the day and evening, such as your kitchen, dining room, living room and office, swap out your LEDs for regular incandescent light bulbs, and leave the LEDs for areas such as hallways, closets, garage and porch, where your exposure to them is minimal. The key here is KEY areas. You do NOT need to replace all the LED bulbs in your home, only the ones you use all the time. In my case that is my kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. All the other rooms have LEDs that are virtually
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never turned on, but when they are turned on and someone forgets to turn them off, not much electricity is wasted. 2. Get bright, natural light exposure during the day — Light intensity is important, as it synchronizes your master body clock, comprised of a group of cells in your brain called the suprachiasmatic nuclei. These nuclei synchronize to the light-dark cycle of your environment when certain wavelengths of light enter your eyes. To get good sleep, you need properly aligned circadian rhythms, and step No. 1 is to make sure you get a sufficient dose of bright light exposure during the daytime. Your pineal gland produces melatonin roughly in approximation to the contrast of bright sun exposure in the day and complete darkness at night. If you're in darkness all day long, your body can't appreciate the difference and will not optimize melatonin production. Ideally, to help your circadian system reset itself, get at least 10 to 15 minutes of light first thing in the morning. This will send a strong message to your internal clock that day has arrived, making it less likely to be confused by weaker light signals later on. Then, around solar noon, get another "dose" of 30 to 60 minutes' worth of sunlight.
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3. Avoid blue enriched light at night — Melatonin acts as a marker of your circadian phase or biological timing. Normally, your brain starts progressively increasing the hormone melatonin around 9 or 10 p.m., which makes you sleepy. Somewhere between 50 and 1,000 lux is the activation range within which light will begin to suppress melatonin production. However, wavelength is also important. Red and amber lights will not suppress melatonin while blue, green and white lights will. So, be sure to avoid the blue light wavelength after sunset. This includes artificial light, and light emitted by electronics such as your TV, computer and other electronic screens. There are a number of ways to avoid blue enriched light in the evening depending on your lifestyle and personal preferences, including the following suggestions. You can also learn more by reviewing my 2014 interview with researcher Dan Pardi. • Turn off or dim all lights after sunset, and avoid watching TV or using light emitting electronics for at least one hour before bedtime (ideally two hours or more). • After sundown, shift to a low-wattage bulb with yellow, orange or red light if you need illumination. A salt lamp illuminated by a 5-watt bulb is an ideal solution that will not interfere with your melatonin production.
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If using a computer, smartphone or tablet, install blue light-blocking software like Iris,9 or use amber colored glasses that block blue light.10 Studies11,12,13 have confirmed that when using blue-blocking glasses,14 people produce as much melatonin as they do in dim light, even if they're in a lit room or using light emitting technology. Other studies15 have shown that people using blue-blocking glasses had major improvements in both sleep quality and mood. Shift workers who use them before bedtime (i.e., in the morning when it's bright out) also report improved sleep.16
4. Sleep in darkness — Once it's time to go to sleep, make sure your bedroom is as dark as possible. Exposure to room light during sleep has been shown to suppress melatonin by more than 50 percent,17 but even a small amount of light can decrease your melatonin. Simply closing your eyes is not enough as light can penetrate your eyelids. If blackout shades are too great an investment, a sleep mask can do the job for far less money. Also keep in mind that digital alarm clocks with an LED display could have a detrimental effect, so either swap out your clock, or cover the display. Alternatives include a sun alarm clock, which wakes you up by gradually increasing the intensity of light, thereby simulating sunrise, or a talking alarm clock,18 designed for the visually impaired. Available from www.wantitall.co.za for R1245
Features • Sunrise simulation alarm clock help you wake up gradually with natural light and natural sounds, giving you a relaxing mood in the morning. • It could also use as bedside lamp, atmosphere lamp, alarm clock and FM radio. • Six natural sounds and FM radio can be selected as alarm sound. • Wake-up alarm has multiple colors including warm white, green, red, blue, purple, orange and indigo blue light. • Powered by: USB Charger/2 x AAA Batteries(Not Included)/Power Adapter(EU/UK/US Plug)
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Are You Washing Your Avocados? You Should Be Article Credit: By Gretchen Lidicker mbg Health Editor
Here at mbg, we love avocados. And who doesn't? They're the perfect addition to pretty much any meal, whether it be a salad, sandwich, or smoothie. If you're someone who's putting this magical fruit on everything, there's something you need to know. According to a new report released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, you should be washing your avocados before you cut into them. If you're thinking "Excuse me, what? Isn't that what the peel is for?" I hear you. Sadly, the skin isn't quite as protective as you might think. The FDA found Listeria monocytogenes bacteria on the skins of about 18 percent of the avocados they tested. When you cut into one of those avocados, you can drag these germs into the pulp part of the fruitâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and then into your body.
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L. monocytogenes is no joke, either. According to the CDC, it can cause symptoms like diarrhoea, nausea, fever, and in serious cases, disorientation, convulsions, and a stiff neck. It can even be fatal, and pregnant women, children, and elderly people are particularly at risk. Now, before you freak out, the report did show that although 64 of the 361 avocado skin samples were positive for Listeria monocytogenes (about 18 percent), only 3 out of 1,254 of the pulp samples tested positive for the presence of these bacteria. The risk is relatively low, but with that list of symptoms, it's better to be safe than sorry. And so, next time you're making guacamole on Taco Tuesday, slicing avocado to top your salad, or trying one of these 11 new ways to use avocado you hadn't heard of before, give them a nice scrub and then wipe them down with a towel. Ready to learn more about how to unlock the power of food to heal your body, prevent disease & achieve optimal health? Register now for our FREE Functional Nutrition Webinar with Kelly LeVeque.
Gretchen Lidicker is mindbodygreenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health editor and has worked on the academic and clinical side of integrative medicine for many years. Originally from Sedona, Arizona, she has a B.S. in biology and earned her masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in physiology with a concentration in complementary and alternative medicine from Georgetown University. She's the author of the upcoming titles EVERYDAY SECRETS OF CBD OIL (The Countrymen Press, 2018) and THE POWER OF MAGNESIUM (The Countrymen Press, 2019). A Kripalu Center for Yoga and Ayurveda-trained yoga instructor, expert bread baker, and farmers market fanatic, she believes that no day is complete without a good dance party.
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By Wendy Young of Wise Living
“It is called Ayurveda because it is the knowledge that teaches us which substances, qualities and actions are beneficial or harmful to life.” Charaka Samhita, the earliest Ayurvedic text, 150BCE – 100CE Translated as the ‘Science of Life’, Ayurveda teaches us a way of living with insight and balance that is in harmony with our individual nature and Mother nature. It is the medical system from India which includes aspects of philosophy, mythology, nutrition, massage, herbal therapy, yoga as well as spiritual teachings and practices. As well as treating illness, Ayurveda focuses on preventing disease and maximising vitality. Without health, we cannot pursue or enjoy our life purpose! When I first discovered the wonders and wisdom of Ayurveda, I found the vastness of its knowledge slightly intimidating. I realised that I needed to understand the basic principles in order to apply its practical teachings. The key to this understanding is the five elements, the pancmahabhurta. By studying nature and learning about the qualities of the elements, we can then develop a deeper understanding of our unique body/mind constitution or dosha. In this article, we explore the elements, the building blocks of nature and of the three doshas namely Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Conscious Life Magazine
According to Ayurveda, everything in the Universe is composed of the 5 elements – ether, air, fire, water and earth. The human body is also composed of these 5 elements, so the body is a reflection of the greater Universe – it is a microcosm of the macrocosm.
What is a Dosha? There are three primary life forces or subtle energies that come from the five elements. They are known as doshas. Vata, Pitta and Kapha are responsible for all the physical and mental functions in the body. When our doshas are cared for and in balance they maintain our health and wellbeing. When there is a build up of the dosha, imbalance arises and we become unwell. Each of us is unique, born with our own distinct individual constitution or balance of the three doshas. This balance determines our physical body, our emotional and mental traits and our tendency to certain health problems. We generally have a predominance of one or two of the doshas. This is largely determined when we are conceived and depends on our parents’ constitution, their physical and emotional state at the time of conception and of course Karma. The characteristics of our dominant dosha will be most noticeable in our make-up and remember we all have all three doshas and all five elements in our being, just in varying degrees.
THE PANCMAHABHUTA: The Five Great Elements The natural world is comprised of building blocks that move from the subtle to the gross, from ether to earth. These ‘bricks’ are known as the ‘five great elements’ (pancmahabhuta) or ‘that-ness’ (tattwa) and are Ether/space; Air/motion, Fire/heat, Water/fluid and Earth/solid. These elements combine in different
proportions to make up the material universe and form the basis of the doshas. They also form the basis that determines tastes and properties of herbs and foods. These five elements are closely associated with states of matter. AKASA: Ether (Space) • Quality – expansive, light, without temperature, infinite and allencompassing. • It is the potential – space creates the place for life to take place. • It is subtle – ether can’t be seen or felt, but you can become aware of space! • It is the spaces in our communication – the pauses. • It is the spaces in the body – every cell, spaces between nerve fibres, cranial spaces, nostrils and sinuses, lungs as well as the thoracic, abdominal and pelvic cavities. • Ether relates to the sense of sound and the ear. Sound is carried on the ether. VAYU: Air (Motion) • Quality – like the wind, light, mobile, rough, dry, cold, erratic, stimulating and dispersing. • It is the principle of movement and change stirring all of creation into life. • It is responsible for all the other elements. • In the body it moves everything, creating life and relates to prana, the vital life force. • It is responsible for creative energy in the mind – the imagination. • Too much air is depleting as it moves the prana out. • An imbalance manifests in the body as palpitations, flatulence and constipation. • Too much movement in the nervous system creates anxiety and restlessness. • Air relates to the sense of touch, the nerves and the skin. Sensation travels through the skin and nerves just as you can feel the wind on your skin.
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TEJAS: Fire (Heat) • Quality – hot, sharp, penetrating, luminous, ascending and dispersing. • Fire governs all transformation in the body. • It is high energy and manifests as passion, anger, aggression and action. • It is responsible for mental, emotional and physical digestion. • It is the light of the mind – intelligence; and the brightness of the body – colour. • Too much heat in the body increases light and colour which results in inflammation. • Fire relates to the sense of sight and the eyes. Light and perception travel through the eyes due to the metabolic activity of light sensitive photons in the eyes. JALA: Water (Fluid) • Quality – liquid, fluid, heavy, wet, lubricating, cool, cohesive and dense. The water of life that holds everything together. • 75% of the body consists of water. • It eases movement in the body, lubricates and protects. • It is the mucus, synovial fluid, saliva, tears, cerebral spinal fluid and sweat. • It provides nourishment and hydration to the body. • Imbalance manifests as emotionally watery, lacking in substance and easily manipulated. • Water relates to the sense of taste and the tongue. Flavours and tastes are only perceivable when the tongue is wet. PRITHVI: Earth (Solid) • Quality – thick, dense, solid, heavy, stable/static and grounded. • It gives the body form and substance. • It is responsible for growth and nourishment. • It relates to the physical structures of the body – bones, tissues and muscles. • Earth element provides emotional stability, calmness and dependability.
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Too much earth manifests as dullness, stubbornness and complacency. Earth relates to the sense of smell and the nose. Earthy and dense objects give off smells. The Pancmahabhuta are the building blocks of the Universe and of us!
“Nowhere on earth is there any creature which is immortal. Yet, although death is unavoidable, a person may avoid many diseases… health brings happiness.” 13th century Ayurvedic proverb If you feel inspired to find out about your unique Dosha, body/mind constitution, or need Ayurvedic Nutritional & Lifestyle Coaching to treat and support any health issues, please contact Wendy Young, Wise Living wendy@wise-living.co.za to book an Ayurvedic consultation.
About Wendy I’m a Alchemist – a facilitator of inner and outer transformation from OpenHhearted Presence.
My qualifications and experience include: transpersonal somatic counselling, metaphysical medicine, Ayurveda, life coaching, yoga and meditation teaching. I offer spiritual guidance and mentorship, as well as intuitive energy healing.
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Chakras are centres or anchored energy vortexes in the human etheric body that correspond, in etheric matter, to the respective, and relatively more physical, glands and organs of the physical body. In the Hindu tradition the word chakra means “wheel.” Many people are familiar with the non-physical aspects of the individual human form ~ besides the physical body, each of us also has invisible etheric / physical, emotional, mental and soul bodies. Those who can see ethereally (as mystics and intuitives) have sensitive visual apparatus enabling them to recognise these subtler aspects of the form, and in this way may assist others in tuning into them. The four overlaying etheric human bodies ~ physical etheric, astral / emotional, mental and soul ~ connect by way of channels of energy that converge in energy centres or vortexes ~ the chakra centres ~ as their paths form the invisible scaffolding inside of which the physical body is formed. Relating to this, when we look at charts of the human physical nervous system, or at diagrams showing the energy meridians and acupuncture points recognised and used in traditional eastern medicine, we’re seeing maps that chart the “effects” of these channels of energy and their hubs ~ namely, the centres. These energy centres differ in relative size, and in each human body number in the hundreds. The four etheric bodies together form an energy field surrounding the entire physical body; depending on the person this can radiate out in distances ranging from six inches to far wider, in Conscious Life Magazine
all directions. This energy field is actually generated by two major components, the first of which is comprised of the seven major chakras / energy centres ~ vortexes or nerveplexus points where the flow of energy through the four subtle bodies comes together in seven major chakras along the spinal channel. The second major component is the central energy channel running from the base of the spine to the top of the head, connecting these seven major nerve-plexus points. One of the major gateways through which energy enters the body is the top of the head. Where there is alignment and balance in the being, energy generally moves down the front of the central channel to the base of the spine, where it is collected, blended, amplified, and propelled up the back, through the spinal column, directly through the seven energy centres, and out the top of the head. It is this simultaneous movement of energy up and down the central channel and in and out of the seven centres that creates the electromagnetic field surrounding the physical body. Our understanding of the chakra system is handed down from ancient Hindu teachings; this is where the Sanskrit word “chakra” originated. These ancient teachings have been validated over the ages in practices of meditation, yoga and healing techniques.
patterns of light, to simplify the concept, that flow in the shape of flower petals, to which they are compared by way of description. In the human etheric body, each of the seven major centres is comprised of a different number of these so-called petals, increasing in quantity with each centre moving up the spinal column. This number signifies much concerning the centre, describing what nature of energy coalesces there. More essentially, the centre itself is the “jewel” or point of consciousness at the heart of a chakra. It is at that point that the spark of consciousness sounds the creative note which sets etheric substance in motion. The motion of etheric substance creates a vortex of etheric force, which moves energy into, through, and out of the centre. In looking at the respective functions of the seven major chakra centres, one analogy is that each of the centres is like a certain type of computer, programmed to handle different tasks and specific functions that then are synthesized in the individual’s overall personality makeup ~ the way the person experiences life and expresses themselves. And as energy from the environment is channelled towards and directed away from the person, in their day to day expression, you could say it is “routed” through the appropriate computer for handling ~ that is, to the centre that “handles” that type of energy.
The human body’s subtle vehicles form an aura that is actually observable: various reactions can be detected with instruments such as dowsing rods and pendulums as these react in noticeable ways when held near to one of the body’s chakras or energy centres. The lines of force forming the centre itself are made up of refined particles of light energy that travel in an organized manner, inscribing
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Each of the chakra centres in fact consists of rapidly rotating spiral-shaped openings in the front and back of the body, that act as points of transformation by regulating and distributing energy as it flows in and out of these centres. This energy then serves to stimulate the endocrine glands that control the body’s chemical balance, as well as powering the nervous system and organs.
The chart presented just below gives a comprehensive overview of the functions and other significances of the seven major centre, plus the eighth, the Soul centre, which we could analogise is yet another computer designed to regulate and govern the seven computer centres along the spinal column, each of which corresponds directly with important areas of the human physical body.
Our chart lists the Sanskrit names from Hindu tradition, as well as the planetary influences which assist in understanding the ray influences directly hooked up to each of the chakra centres. Note: In the first column, where two planets and rays are given for a centre, such as Pluto / Ray 1 and Mercury / Ray 4 for the Base (or Muladhara) centre, the first is the correspondence for the mass of humanity, and the second planet is the correspondence for disciples and initiates. To further assist with reading the chart, we’ll consider the Base centre, located at the base of the spine. Known as the “first chakra,” for the system of study generally begins counting at the bottom, this centre is seen ethereally as having four petals or energy loops that rotate similarly to how electrons rotate around the nucleus of an atom ~ in the case of the root centre, inscribing the shape of four petals in various patterns depending on the individual.
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While the colours seen in the chakra petals can vary almost infinitely from person to person and even for an individual person, significantly from time to time, there are general similarities in the predominant colour / s found there, these are listed on the Chakra Chart. For the first centre, for average humanity the predominant colour is red at the centre, with white glowing in the petals. However for more spiritually evolved or focused humans, the centre actually transforms to become white in the centre, with red in the petals. The organs controlled by the base or first centre include the last three inches of the digestive tract, the bones or skeletal system, the blood, and the adrenal glands. Actually the emotional energies focused in the first centre are concerned with survival, such as fear. As fear and even stress are known to be connected with the adrenal glands, notice this is one way the form and the emotions “connect” in each of the chakra centres ~ each of the seven major centres has an astral component in part forming the chakra centre. For the lower three centres, there is also a mental component to each of the chakras, or
energy centres. This is how the Soul, our higher mind, contacts the physical plane through the lower mind ~ the mental aspects of the three lower centres are its channel. The Soul animates the personality, “speaks to the vehicle.” Indeed, the mental and astral bodies are the eyes and ears of the Soul on the physical plane. Through the mental component of the respective chakra, the mind and mental plane are affected by thought forms that flow in and out of the first, second and third centres. Whereas the higher four centres ~ the heart, throat, third eye and crown ~ instead consist of a soul, or higher mind, aspect of the person’s mental body. Note: In all seven centres, for some people the petals are more opened and “flattened” while in others they are more closed and erect, like flower buds and their petals in varying stages of maturity. Also for each individual, depending on the situation in time and space, the size, shape and colour of each centre can vary widely; typically, when the person is agitated or disturbed, the lower chakras appear to be larger and congested with darker energy than when the person is calm and resting.
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By Penni Du Plessis, of www.divinespace.co.za
What if it is the perfect time to let go of our old ways of being and operating and to start our journey being willing to embrace the 5th dimension and all that it offers us. So letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s begin with our own personal stories. The first step to knowing yourself can be uncovered through a deeply insightful colour reading. Your choice of 9 different bottles lays out a map of your life at this moment in time. Each bottle represents a different aspect of your life and will indicate whether the issues have been overcome and mastered Conscious Life Magazine
– or are something you are still struggling with. This is a counseling session, which offers you the opportunity of opening your heart to share your story with the therapist. The next step is the willingness to let go of the old conditioning and trauma that has been locked in the cells of the body. The most supportive way to do this is through a gentle massage called Antaneea Technique. During this treatment the therapist is able to pick up specific ages where memories have been stored in the body and to begin the process of releasing them. The body is gently massaged 3 times in one treatment, using divine oils, sound and symbols. Her loving voice and touch holds you safely as the release begins, and each time you experience one of these treatments, you will go deeper and release more layers. This therapy is true bliss and is a life-changing experience. The third step is to work on clearing the mind – so that we don’t re-anchor the old ways of thinking. If we dwell on the lessons of the past – it locks itself back into our consciousness. The Access Bars treatment is a perfect modality to assist you in clearing the mind chatter and clutter. The trained therapist gently rests their fingers on your head, activating 32 different points, and, while working with these specific points, they are able to clear the past programing. This therapy is very relaxing, with most people either falling asleep or into a deep meditative state. When they awake they often say that it feels like the lights have switched on. Everything looks and feels brighter, and they are lighter in so many ways. This therapy clears the closets of the mind… making space for new creative ideas, thinking and a far more expansive state of being. I suggest alternating the Antaneea therapy with the Bars treatment and having at least one a month. It is so rewarding to see the changes in people who have been willing to commit to this protocol. I offer training in all of the above modalities and have a team of brilliant therapists who are ready and willing to support you. Please check out my website for more information on each modality – or to choose a therapist. The next step in the journey is the COLLECTIVE MATRIX CALIBRATION, and I will be teaching this level later in the year. At this time it is still being developed and I am having such fun allowing it to unfold. As we begin playing in this energy with the 11-dimensional aspects of ourselves, we begin to move through our finite or imperfect states of physicality, learning from each fractured parts of ourselves, and supporting each other in our collective growth. Ultimately, we will all move on to another level of existence at the same time – so let’s do whatever it takes to speed up this process. And here is something to really ponder over…. what if the earth itself also has 11 different aspects…. Which earth do you choose to play on? As we hold that information, I wish you all lightness, love and a sense of joy in every moment. Until next time. Colourful blessings, Penni
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Archangel Michael -ClearingClearance brings in clarity!
Today the Angels are telling you that it is time to clear all the clutter out of your life. This includes your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual bodies. On a physical level it may be time to clear out all your cupboards and clutter that is cluttering up your life. If you are no longer using it then give it to someone who needs it and can use it. Open all the windows and allow the fresh air to circulate through your home. Perhaps you can even do a cleansing with noise, incense and light so that all negative energies are also removed from your home. You also need to cleanse and clear your body by drinking lots of water and eating a nourishing and healthy diet which includes exercise of some sort. Clear yourself emotionally by writing down all the negative things in your life from as far back as you can remember and then burning them so that you release them to the Universe. Cut ties to anything and anyone that is holding you back with ties that are created when things are not done in unconditional love.
Ask Archangel Michael to use his golden sword to cut the ties between you. Review your mental and Spiritual condition. Perhaps you need to think in a different way about certain things. You might need to break a negative habit and create some positive habits instead. It might take lots of work and discipline as well as awareness but you will get through and change these patterns if you keep repeating and honouring the new thought process. Create a new space for yourself with an inner stillness and calm. Ask Archangel Michael for the courage and strength to clear away the clutter and destructive ties and patterns in your life. In this way you will take control of your life and bring in amazing new Angel light and blessings Margi (Angel Connection) Interpretation by Margi of Goddess Guidance Oracle Cards by Doreen Virtue
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Article by Dr Mercola If you ever notice bright yellow stains on someone's fingernails, and they happen to be health conscious latte lovers, you can safely assume they're in on one of the latest trends: turmeric latte, aka "Golden Milk," boasting turmeric root juice as its main ingredient along with coconut, cashew or almond milk. Turmeric showed up on Google's 2016 Food Trends Report,1 earning "rising star" designation. Internet searches for turmeric increased by 56 percent between November 2015 and January 2016. Associated with that search was another one for the golden milk lattes, which are gaining "sexy/edgy" status from San Francisco to Sydney. When one shop in Oxford, England marketed its new brew as "Golden mylk" (using a "y" in "milk" to denote non-dairy), it quickly shot past the number of regular latte requests. However, a similar concoction has been on other U.K. menus for two years. The golden milk mania is just one sign indicating a renewed interest in this exotic spice, described as slightly aromatic, vaguely floral and pungent, depending on the amount used. People who appreciate spicy cuisine are partial to turmeric use in curries and rice dishes. In fact, it's turmeric that gives curry its vibrant yellow hue.
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Hipsters seem to be on the cusp of the turmeric wave, not just because it's the socalled latest thing, but holistic health advocates say another trend is the rising number of people seeking alternative health and food options, for a few different reasons. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center: "Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 80 percent of people worldwide rely on herbal medicines for some part of their primary health care. In Germany, about 600 to 700 plant-based medicines are available and are prescribed by some 70 percent of German physicians. In the past 20 years in the United States, public dissatisfaction with the cost of prescription medications, combined with an interest in returning to natural or organic remedies, has led to an increase in herbal medicine use."2
Turmeric: A Pungent Path to Healing The reasons to make turmeric part of your life (if it isn't already) are almost too numerous to count, especially when you consider its incredible restorative, disease-healing and preventive capabilities.
Derived from the Persian word for "saffron," turmeric has been on the proverbial "top 10 superfoods" list in Chinese medicine for millennia3 and just as long in the Indian Ayurvedic healing tradition. Turmeric with milk has long been a popular beverage in those regions, so rather than being a new thing, it's simply being revisited. The Guardian noted: "Like many trends, the turmeric latte may seem to have come out of nowhere. But it has been brewing for a while … It has done the rounds of the wellness circuit
— the blogs, websites and Instagram accounts of 'clean eating' advocates — for several months, and recipes for the drink abound on Pinterest."4 There are reasons for that. Turmeric has (again) attracted attention for many of the health benefits it provides.
Incredible Anti-Inflammatory Advantages of Turmeric In terms of the nutritional profile for daily recommended values (DRV), turmeric provides 26 percent of what's needed in manganese and 16 percent in iron, along with excellent amounts of fibre, vitamin B6, potassium, vitamin C and magnesium. All of them provide benefits for better health.
Scientists believe inflammation is involved in nearly every chronic disease, including cancer,5 obesity and metabolic 6 syndrome, heart disease and accompanying atherosclerosis (hardening and narrowing of the arteries),7 degenerative disorders and Alzheimer’s. One component in turmeric, curcumin, has been proven so effective as an antiinflammatory that it's compared to prescription medications, without the toxic side effects8 such as ulcer formation, internal bleeding and a lowered white blood cell count. Perhaps most importantly, curcumin battles inflammation at the molecular level, as it does other disorders.9 NF- κ B is a molecule that passes into a cell's nuclei, where it can "switch on" the genes related to inflammation in a number of serious diseases, but curcumin is able to prevent the transfer.10 Further, research suggests turmeric (sometimes simply referred to in studies as curcumin) may be helpful in treating
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inflammatory bowel diseases, joint pain relief, rheumatoid arthritis, reduced joint swelling, and greater range of motion when ingested regularly. Besides lowering your cholesterol, turmeric is shown to be heart-protective while relieving indigestion and improving liver function.
Curcumin's Effectiveness on Harmful Free Radicals
other detoxifying enzymes."13
Turmeric May Prevent, Suppress and Kill Cancer Cells Cancer is negatively affected by curcumin, as numerous studies have demonstrated. One study (among many) showed that it may inhibit the development as well as the spread of cancer at the molecular level.14
Free radicals age you and can cause disease, but the curcumin in turmeric is active against disease in several ways.
There's also evidence that curcumin intake may prevent cancer, particularly of the digestive system, such as colorectal cancer. Large numbers of studies indicate that curcumin has the ability to: • Reduce the growth of new blood vessels in tumors (angiogenesis) • Decrease the spread of cancer (metastasis) • Help destroy cancer cells15
Besides the inflammation fighting, 11 antioxidants in turmeric neutralize free radicals throughout your body (including your brain, kidney, liver and heart) by its chemical structure.12 According to Oregon State University's Linus Pauling Institute:
Similar effects of curcumin on colon cancer have been seen both in the lab and in test animals.16Research also showed that when 44 men with lesions in the colon, which can turn cancerous, were given 4 grams of curcumin a day for 30 days, they came away with a 40 percent reduction in the number of lesions.17
It's hard to say just how much damage free radicals do to individuals in today's atmosphere with all the pollution, chemicals in the air, water and food, not to mention stress and other factors.
"Curcumin taken orally may reach sufficient concentrations in the gastrointestinal tract and protect the intestinal mucosa against oxidative DNA damage.
Studies Show Curcumin May Help Prevent and Treat Alzheimer's
In addition to a potentially direct antioxidant activity, curcumin can induce the expression of phase II antioxidant enzymes, including glutamatecysteine ligase (GCL), the rate-limiting enzyme in glutathione synthesis.
One of the most common neurodegenerative diseases is dementia. Scientists believe the very best way to combat it is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. Your body is designed with a natural barrier to protect your brain from toxic molecules that can enter and damage neurons.
Glutathione is an important intracellular antioxidant that plays a critical role in cellular adaptation to stress. Curcumin was found to upregulate the expression of GCL through the activation of different signalling pathways (and) increases the expression of GCL and
Curcumin has the ability to cross the bloodbrain barrier. In one study, researchers designed a curcumin atomizer for curcumin to be breathed in and delivered to the brain18 for significant cognition improvement.
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Turmeric Latte
Photo by Osha Key on Unsplash
An overview of many benefits delivered by turmeric (besides those for cystic fibrosis , liver disease, hemorrhoids, atherosclerosis and gastric ulcers) showed that in regard to Alzheimer's, turmeric: "Decreased beta-amyloid plaques, delayed degradation of neurons, metal-chelation, antiinflammatory, antioxidant and decreased microglia formation, the overall memory in patients with AD has improved."19 To explain the significance of beta-amyloid plaques: "Scientists at the Stanford University School
of Medicine have shown how a protein fragment known as beta-amyloid, strongly implicated in Alzheimer's disease, begins destroying synapses before it clumps into plaques that lead to nerve cell death. Key features of Alzheimer's, which affects about 5 million Americans, are wholesale loss of synapses â&#x20AC;&#x201D; contact points via which nerve cells relay signals to one another â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and a parallel deterioration in brain function, notably in the ability to remember."20
Things to Remember Regarding Curcumin While curcumin is the most active ingredient in turmeric, there's only about 3 percent concentration in turmeric per weight.21 Authority Nutrition reported:
that it doesn't absorb very well into your bloodstream, but there's a remedy for that, too; black pepper, which contains a natural element called piperine, is able to increase absorption of curcumin by 2,000 23 percent! Although turmeric is considered generally safe to eat, adverse effects of turmeric may include gastric problems, nausea, diarrhoea, skin reactions, and interference with your body's ability to form blood clots. All in all, turmeric is a root that has innumerable benefits for those who care to explore them. If you're the adventurous type, you can try making "golden milk" at home:
Ginger and Turmeric Latte Combine 1 heaping teaspoon each of grated turmeric and ginger, 1 tablespoon of coconut sugar, 2 teaspoons of coconut oil and a pinch of sea salt in a blender. In a small saucepan, heat 1 cup of almond milk over medium heat until it's just simmering. Pour the hot almond milk into the blender and whir until smooth and frothy. If you can't find fresh turmeric, you can use 1 teaspoon of turmeric spice instead.
"Most of the studies on this herb are using turmeric extracts that contain mostly curcumin itself, with dosages usually exceeding 1 gram per day. It would be very difficult to reach these levels just using the turmeric spice in your foods. Therefore, if you want to experience the full effects, then you need to take an extract that contains significant amounts of curcumin."22 Another thing to remember about turmeric is
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Cj's Green Smoothie Ingredients: • 1 Sachet Nature's Choice Smoothie Mix Greens • 1/4 Cup Nature's Choice Miracle Plus Plus Seed Mix • 1/4 Cup Nature's Choice Chia Seeds • 2 Granny Smith Apples • 1.5 glasses of water Method: 1. Blend the Smoothie Mix and Seeds together. 2. Add the cut Apple pieces and water 3. Blend, pour into glasses and enjoy!
Summery Berry, Mango, Apricot Superfood Smoothie: Ingredients: • • • • • • • •
1/4 Cup Nature's Choice Chia Seeds 1/4 Cup Nature's Choice Miracle Plus Plus Seed Mix 1 Heaped tsp of Nature's Choice Cinnamon Powder 1 medium sized ripe mango 1 Granny Smith Apple 3 small Apricots 1/4 cup frozen redcurrants 1 glass water (add more or less if so desired)
Method: 1. Blend the Seeds and Cinnamon until they become powder 2. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend 3. Pour into glasses and serve
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Article by Dr Shavit Sachs - Naturopath The holidays were great, weren’t they? There’s some down time, letting loose, quality time, indulgence... My holidays were met with lots of naps, sun, friends and family, laughs and lots of delicious food. While I allowed myself that amazing artisanal homemade croissant (more than once), too much coffee, delicious desserts and our amazing South African wines, my body did decide that a few too many food combinations weren’t appreciated as the new year began. When I was a student, I used to start my academic year off with a 6 week “detox”. It was a great way for me to eliminate the holidays binge drinking and get my routine set. The past few years, I’ve found that I prefer to make this post holiday detox a bit easier and less stringent.
DETOX: FACT OR FICTION? DETOX is quite a taboo word nowadays, as people say “detoxes/cleanses are useless. Your body detoxes itself.” And they’re 100% correct. You have organs of detoxification that act to get rid of toxins (de-tox). But sometimes our system can be overloaded, or we haven’t given our liver the correct nutrients in order for it to detoxify correctly, or we have a pre-existing issue with our detoxification systems so it’s just THAT much harder for our organs to detoxify. So yes, don’t fall for programs that claim to detoxify your body, look for ways to aid your body in its detoxification function. After all, you can walk barefoot on shards of glass but isn’t it much easier if you have shoes on?
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TWO EASY TIPS:
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The easiest ways to help your body detoxify are by drinking lots of WATER and herbal teas (bonus if these teas support the liver such as dandelion root, peppermint, rosemary, chamomile, green tea, fennel, milk thistle!) and eating more vegetables.
•
It sounds easy, right? It sounds doable, right?
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The best thing is that IT IS! It’s not too far out of the norm to drink more water and add more colourful vegetables to your plate; and it’s not expensive.
•
Water will help cleanse out all your cells, tissues and organs, help waste removal (by excretion and urination), improve brain function, increase physical and mental energy and aids digestion! Keep a 750ml or 1l bottle of water on you so it’s accessible and easy to reach out to drink. Add lemon, mint, cucumber, orange or strawberries to give the water a fun taste! Having a colourful, rainbow plate of vegetables at each meal adds much needed vitamins and minerals to your body, adds fibre to help with bowel, cholesterol and hormone regulation and they’re great for your teeth!
BUT IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A STEP UP FROM JUST ADDING WATER AND VEGGIES, I’D SUGGEST: • Cut out wheat and wheat products (and gluten if you are affected by it). • Cut out processed and refined foods and sugar. • Take a medium dose probiotic (1530billion CFU). • Cut out or reduce alcohol. 1-2 drinks a week if you are still drinking. • Get moving – go for a walk, join a fun dance class, find a way to make exercise fun for you.
• •
•
•
Take tissue salt number 11, Nat Sulph. It is an awesome liver specific biochemical salt that aids in the body’s detoxification process. Breath deeply and wholly. We like to discount the idea that deep breaths are so vital to our daily survival. Deep breaths can help our body relax and detoxify efficiently! Eat until you are full and stop before you pop. Although easier said than done, I found dishing up smaller portions and going back for more helps us feel like we aren’t missing out but we also don’t pop. Keep digestive enzymes on you and take after each meal for a week! Thereafter, keep them handy and take when you feel you need. Be aware of your meals and meal times and chew slowly and mindfully. If you are a dessert person (like me), allow yourself some indulgence whether on the weekend or during the week! If you’re going to obsess over wanting that piece of cake but won’t have it, you may cause an unnecessary stress reaction and uncontrolled overindulgence later on Lastly, be kind to yourself. Don’t stress your body out more by worrying about what food you ate in the holidays or if you ate something that you’ve decided to cut out. That stress reaction caused is going to do worse to your body that whatever it is you think the food will do. Any time you feel you have a hiccup, you take a deep breath and move on!
Before you start any cleansing program, ensure to consult your local naturopath or healthcare practitioner and report any adverse signs. If you want a guided detox or a personalized lifestyle assessment to get to know how to live your life in optimal health and well-being, be sure to contact your naturopath or healthcare practitioner to assist you on this uplifting journey.
Check out Dr Shavit’s Blog on https://lovehealthwellnessblog.wordpress.com
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Spin Class: A Checklist for Beginners + Benefits of Indoor Cycling Article by Leah Zerbe, MS, NASM-CPT, NASM-CES of Dr Axe Spin class is in a class of its own when it comes to cardio workouts. Crushing the pedals to the beat of the (usually really loud) music, infectious instructor energy and maybe a touch of competitive spirit with the person riding beside you makes this form a cardio almost addictive.
But is spinning, also known as indoor cycling, the best use of your time, depending on your wellness goals? And what are the potential risks people rarely hear about? Let’s take a look at spin class benefits, set the record straight on some of the bad press and learn how to dive into a sensible indoor cycling routine to maximize the benefits of spinning. What Is Spin Class? Indoor cycling, also known as spinning or spin class, involves pedalling on a stationary bike, also known as a flywheel, using various levels of speed and resistance. Different positions on the bike are also used to target different muscles. Spinning is actually the trademarked name associated with one particular type of indoor bike, but it’s synonymous with “spin class” and “indoor cycling.”
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The spin class definition? It’s a form of exercise using a stationary bike with that focuses on (1): • • • • •
Endurance Strength Intervals High intensity Recovery
The concept of riding an indoor stationary bike has been around for some time. In fact, there’s a photo of a woman indoor cycling in the Gymnastics Room of the Titanic in 1912. And long before that, Francis Lowndes patented his “Gymnasticon” in 1796. Other early indoor cycling models resemble a bike set up on rollers. (2) Things are much different today. Modern-day spin classes generally include charismatic instructors, music and lighting effects. A small study even found that an indoor rider’s sense of pleasure was significantly higher when riding to music during class. Music and dimmed lighting during spinning class actually led to riders feeling less tired after a ride. And interestingly, the music and lighting didn’t cause participants to work harder, but they enjoyed the class more. (3) Technology also brings even more spinning class opportunities. The Peloton bike, for instance, allows home riders from all over the country to take live and on-demand indoor cycling classes with instructors and riders in New York City.
Top 6 Benefits of Spinning 1. Weight Loss/Calorie Burn/Better BMI Is spinning a good way to lose weight? Many studies suggest it is, but even if you’re taking indoor cycling classes and don’t see the scale budge, don’t panic. In a small study of female adolescents, researchers found a 16-week spinning program didn’t result in weight loss but did improve BMI chart readings and reduced body fat percentages. It also triggered healthier blood glucose levels. (4) In another small, but promising, spinning weight-loss study in Italy, researchers found that women leading a sedentary lifestyle experienced the following results without making any changes to their diets. After 24 spin classes: (5) • 2.6 percent decrease in body weight • 4.3 percent reduction in fat mass • 2.3 percent increase in lean mass • 6.5 percent lower resting heart rate After 36 spin class sessions: • 3.2 percent decrease in body weight • 5 percent reduction in fat mass • 2.6 increase in lean mass • 9 percent lower resting heart rate • Increase in cardio-respiratory fitness How many calories do you burn in a 45minute spin class? That’s a question I get a lot, and of course, the answer varies depending on a number of factors, including your weight and intensity of your workout. But a general calorie-burn range is 400 to 600 calories per hour. Calorie burn isn’t the only benefit, though. Spinning two to three times a week for three months has the power to greatly increase your exercise capacity, along with lowering triglyceride and cholesterol levels, too. (6, 7)
Photo by Valkovav on Pixabay
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2. Time-Crunch Friendly If you’ve only got 20 or 30 minutes for a workout, indoor cycling interval training is a great option because it also pumps up your post-workout calorie burn. Post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC), also known as the “afterburn effect,” means your metabolism is revving even though you’re not exercising anymore. It’s one of the top benefits of high-intensity interval training. That’s why so many spin instructors work intervals into spinning classes. (8, 9) 3. Better State of Mind In psychology, “affect” means how someone experiences feelings or emotions after interacting with some sort of stimuli. A study published in 2015 in the Journal of Mental Health found that taking an indoor cycling ride at home or in an instructor-led class improves your post-exercise mood while diminishing negative emotions. However, participants reported enjoying the instructorled indoor cycling session more than the solo spin workout. (10a, 10b) A 2015 study published in the Journal of Diabetes Complications found a 12-week spinning class also lowered anxiety and depression symptoms in participants. The spinning workouts increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels, which helps alleviate central nervous system dysfunction. (11) 4. Leg and Bum Toning Is spin class good for toning your bum? I consider it a solid butt workout, but recommend using it as a supplement to gluteus medius and gluteus maximus resistance training, not a substitute. (In other words, you’re not off the hook when it comes to clamshells and squats!) What muscles are used in spinning class? Here are some of the main ones: • Lateral head of the gastrocnemius (12)
• • •
Hamstrings Quadriceps Gluteus maximus (13)
Indoor cycling is most commonly known for its cardio benefits, but we now know it can build lower body muscle, too. In 2015, a team of researchers from Japan and the U.S. published a study showing that indoor cycling takes longer than traditional resistance training to build muscle due to a slower hypertrophy rate. Still, spinning does build muscle, particularly in older riders. The researchers concluded that “higher-intensity intermittent cycling may be required to achieve strength gains.” (14) 5. Better for Joints Than Most Other Cardio Exercise If your joints are begging you to give up on high-impact, long runs, spinning could help fill your cardio void while salvaging your joints. As always, check in with your doctor before beginning a spinning routine. They’ll want to clear you if you have any heart issues, injuries or, recent surgeries or other pre-existing conditions. (15) 6. Community Whether you’re taking online spinning classes on a Peloton bike or heading to your local gym for a class, one thing is for sure: spinning builds community. And in the exercise world, that also brings accountability and consistency. Who knows, someone in your new spinning class could end up being the inspiration you need to really get back on track.
What You Need to Know About Spin Class (Before Going!) This is really important if you’re about to hop on a home spin bike or head to a spin studio: Know your limits, monitor your heart rate and resist the urge to overtrain. There are some legit spin class horror stories out there. (Yes,
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lawsuits about pedal lacerations and getting stuck in pedals are a thing). (16, 17) But if you use your head, prep properly and understand your limits, hitting the saddle for a ride could be the start of a truly positive, life-changing experience. Before we jump into a spin class Q&A for beginners with one of my favourite indoor cycling instructors, let’s first clear the air regarding some recent bad spinning press. It’s true that rhabdomyolysis is a risk when you go too hard too soon with most forms of exercise, including indoor cycling. Also known as “rhabdo,” the complex condition involves skeletal muscle quickly breaking down. This leads to the leakage of muscle proteins and other muscle breakdown products from the cell and into the blood. Myoglobin, creatine kinase, aldolase, lactate dehydrogenase and electrolytes are all things that can start leaking out of cells and into the bloodstream when rhabdo sets in. Symptoms range from none to life-threatening acute kidney failure. And spinning is sometimes the culprit, along with other forms of exercise like CrossFit, weightlifting, long runs and exercising in hot, humid weather. A new term coined “white-collar rhabdomyolysis” developed as more and more sedentary and untrained working professionals started coming down with the condition due to training too hard too soon. Related to that, a 2016 study published in Internal Medicine Journal found that cases of spinning-induced rhabdomyolysis are on the rise. Korean researchers found that spinning could be a significant cause of rhabdo in young, unfit women. And symptoms can be severe, requiring hospitalization. The study authors recommendation? Take it easy during your first spinning sessions. Don’t push too hard. (You’ll still get a great workout.) (18) Article Courtesy of www.draxe.com
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By Down To Earth
The summer holiday season is around the corner in the southern hemisphere and certainly most of us are looking forward to spending more time outside. Since our summer coincides with the festive season, it is important not to let the excitement of the season prevent us from caring for our skin properly to avoid sun damage. While prevention is key and sun safety is very important, the sun is not only responsible for sunburn; it can cause a variety of damage to the skin not usually considered. Broken capillaries Prolonged exposure to the sunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s harmful UV rays can lead to broken blood vessels, especially on the face. Further sunlight can aggravate this problem, so be diligent with applying your natural sunscreen before going out in the sun and regularly while spending limited time in the sun and water. Wear a hat and sunglasses to protect the sensitive skin on the face. Reduce the appearance of broken capillaries with Revive Moisturiser for the face and African Potato Cream for the body. Both products contain a high content of Aloe Vera to soothe the skin and help fight redness, and African Potato which has an anti-inflammatory effect on the skin and prevents blood vessels from rising to the surface of the skin.
Heat rash Hot, humid weather can cause heat rashes to develop in children and adults that tend to be itchy and irritating, and sometimes unsightly. It can be caused by blocked pores when sweat canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t escape or by friction to the surface of the skin.
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Avoid heat rashes by making sure your skin is exfoliated to minimise blocked pores and make sure your swimsuit does not continuously rub parts of your skin. If you do develop a heat rash, use aloe gel to cool and soothe the skin. The Clear Skin Gel contains 83% organic Aloe Vera and is the perfect remedy, so make sure to include it in your travel bag.
Chaffing Sweaty skin that rubs together can cause chaffing, where the skin becomes sensitive, red and swollen. It is often the result of outdoor exercising, so if you are planning a game of volleyball on the beach, pat your skin dry as often as needed and if chaffing occurs, reach for your aloe gel to calm the skin. Again the Clear Skin Gel is the perfect remedy.
Pimples Pimples and acne can be triggered by excessive sweating which is a breeding ground for bacteria. Combine that with outdoor activities where you are in contact with dirt and these conditions make it even more likely.
Prevent pimples by keeping the skin clean and avoiding excessive sweating where possible. Use a natural sunscreen that is free of nasty chemicals and does not clog pores. Treat pimples and acne with the Clear Skin Gel which stops acne-causing bacteria in its tracks through its antimicrobial Tea Tree oil content.
Sunburn Too much sun time can lead to swollen, red skin that burns and itches and finally peels off to leave you with sun damaged skin. Ongoing sunburn causes permanent dark marks and freckles. However, the most serious effect of sunburn is skin cancer, simply avoided by preventing the skin from suffering excessive sun damage. Wear a hat and protective clothing while in the sun – don’t forget that your scalp can get burnt too. Skin cancer is easier to treat when caught early, so get to know your skin and watch for changes. If you do get sun burnt, use the African Potato Cream to accelerate healing of the skin, reduce swelling and inflammation, and to nourish the skin through vitamin and mineral rich plant ingredients that replenishes dry and tired skin. Protect your skin by eating foods rich in antioxidants, vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids. Not only will it strengthen your skin to help fight against environmental factors, it will help heal the skin from sunburn and prevent ageing. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Quick tips for responsible sun safety • Limit your sun time between 10:00am and 4:00pm • Use a natural sunscreen without harmful or pore clogging ingredients • Apply sunscreen ahead of sun time and regularly during sun time, especially after swimming • Wear a hat and protective clothing as often as you can • Wear sunglasses to shield your eyes and sensitive skin around the eyes • Keep your skin clean, exfoliated and dry • Promote skin barrier strength through nutritious food and lots of water
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Article from Better Earth My wife and I were chatting recently about using more greywater in the garden and she told me about a conversation she overheard, where a woman was asking what ‘greywater’ actually was and it got me thinking. Firstly, how often does my wife eaves drop on other people’s conversations… and secondly; perhaps a vast majority of people are not only unaware of the benefits of using grey water but are actually not aware of what it is at all. Greywater, to put it simply, is the used water from sinks, showers, baths and washing machines that can be used to water gardens, trees, bushes and lawns, instead of using fresh water out of the tap. Greywater is not to be confused with Blackwater which contains faecal matter and is not to be used on lawns… just a heads up. Water shortages are a reality in South Africa and anything we can do to re-use water is something we can all benefit from and should strive towards. The concern and doubt about using greywater often stems from people being unsure or unaware of the chemicals in their household products and how they will affect the plants and grass in our gardens and are therefore reluctant to use it.
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Thankfully there are household cleaning products available that use all natural ingredients that are not harmful to plants, trees or grass and the greywater from these can be used freely to keep gardens looking well-watered and green and healthy over the dry months. A friend of mine who lives in Kommetjie made his own ‘greywater system’ whereby all of the used water from his washing machine flows into a set of pipes which are linked to his vegetable and herb gardens and the results of doing this have been incredible. He uses Better Earth Laundry Gel and is safe in the knowledge that it is perfectly safe to use on his prized vegetable and herb patch. I have tried some of his vegetables and they are delicious. Check out the video on how to make a simple system: https://youtu.be/s_nqHeL1BsU The process of setting up a greywater system is not as complicated as one would think either and there are many easy to follow examples online. More often than not all it takes is a two way valve that you can then switch between a pipe that goes to your garden and one that flows out into the usual drainage. I recently visited a plumbing store and asked about it and it is very affordable and relatively simple to install. One of the many benefits of using natural household products is the peace of mind that comes with knowing that what you are putting into the earth has no knock on effects to the broader environment and is readily biodegradable. There is so much to worry about in the world but this is thankfully no longer one of them. A good example is using grey water when camping. My family and I love camping and there is nothing like reconnecting with nature by sleeping out under the stars in a tent. Unless you forget to put in the guy ropes like I
did and the tent tries to blow away with your family inside! With us and most people, “leaving only footprints” is the order of the day when we are packing up after our stay and while it is easy to pack and up clean up, our worry used to be about the chemicals used to wash dishes and clothes which would often end up making its way into the surrounding environment. With all natural products, like the Better Earth Dishwashing Liquid we felt safe in the knowledge that we could wash our dishes and then simply empty the wash tub right out on the grass nearby where it would nourish the lawn. One of the things we enjoy about camping is the outdoor community and making new friends with fellow like-minded adventurers. So on a recent trip we were proud to be able to use our Better Earth Natural Dishwashing Liquid and then throw the used water in the nearby bushes. Some campers nearby were washing dishes and we got to talking and they were very interested in the dishwashing liquid we were using. Fantastically, once they learned what we were using, were very keen to try some and told us they would like to stop using the traditional dishwashing liquid they had brought with them. (In fact we gave so much away, we are going to bring extra next time we camp). We all need to do as much as we can to save water as it seems weather is becoming less and less predictable and we are seeing warmer and warmer temperatures. Watering the garden is simply no longer an option unless it is with greywater and all natural cleaning products make it possible to do and much safer for our plants and much better for the earth.
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What Your Dog's Drooling May Be Telling You
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by Dr. Karen Shaw Becker from www.healthypets.mercola.com For most dog owners, dog drool is an inevitable part of life. You'll likely find it covers your face or hands at some point during the day, after your dog gives you a lick hello or while you're feeding her a treat. For some breeds, especially large and giant breeds like Great Danes and Saint Bernards, dog drool may be so prolific that you'll find yourself wiping it off floors and walls. While dog drooling may seem excessive compared to humans' relatively tame saliva, it's a natural and normal part of being a dog. Drooling can be beneficial for your dog and may be linked to different emotions. That being said, it can also be a sign of illness, especially if it comes on suddenly or is excessive. Top Reasons Why Dogs Drool Dog slobber is saliva, the same type you have in your mouth. Like in humans, dog saliva serves a number of purposes, including helping to keep teeth clean and moisture in the mouth. Saliva is necessary for your dog to properly chew and swallow her food, and it contains enzymes that start the digestion process when your dog eats a meal. Drooling, which technically refers to the trickling of saliva from the mouth, can occur for many reasons, including the following. In medical terms, excessive drooling is known as hypersalivation or ptyalism. Conscious Life Magazine Conscious Life Magazine
Anticipation of Food — You've probably heard of Pavlov's dogs, the experiments in which dogs learned to associate the sound of a bell with being fed, and therefore began to drool in anticipation of the food they would receive. Drooling in response to food is a normal, reflexive behaviour for dogs. Your Dog's Too Hot — If your dog is too hot, she can only sweat through the pads of her paws. A more efficient method of cooling down is known as evaporative cooling, which occurs when your dog pants. Panting allows moisture on your dog's tongue to evaporate, helping to lower body temperature. When your dog is panting, it's difficult, if not impossible, to swallow saliva at the same time, so drooling may occur simultaneously. While this can be normal, if the drooling is excessive and the temperatures are hot, it could be a sign that your dog is having trouble cooling down or even suffering from heat exhaustion or heat stroke, as generating extra saliva helps to further dissipate heat. Something Tastes Bad — If your dog ingests a bitter or bad-tasting medication, such as the pain 1 medication Tramadol, she might drool excessively as a result. Eating something toxic, such as poisonous plants, mushrooms or toads, may also cause drooling. If you suspect your dog is drooling due to a toxic exposure, get your pet to an emergency veterinary clinic immediately. Stomach Trouble — An upset tummy, including feelings of nausea, may lead your dog to drool. This can be caused by something as innocuous as a car ride, leading to motion sickness, to stomach distress caused by your dog eating something he shouldn't have, like a sock or cleaning chemicals. Excitement — For some dogs, feelings of excitement act as a signal for the waterworks in their mouth to turn on. If you notice your dog gets particularly slobbery when you visit a new place, go for a walk or get a visit from a favourite friend, your dog is literally drooling with excitement. Your Dog's Mouth Is Hurting — Excessive drooling may also be the result of an injury to your dog's mouth, an infection or a problematic tooth, in addition to trauma such as chewing an electrical 2 cord or a stick stuck across the palate.
Certain Medical Conditions — Rabies, distemper, tumors or warts in the mouth, seizures, and certain metabolic disorders are examples of medical conditions that may lead to excessive drooling. Problems involving the central nervous system or oral cavity, as well diseases that affect the pharynx, oesophagus and stomach can also be involved. Your Dog Is Large With Droopy Lips — Certain breeds have a facial structure that makes them notorious for drooling. Namely, large dogs with thick, droopy lips often have saliva that pools within the folds and drips like a faucet. This includes breeds such as Mastiffs, Saint Bernards, Bloodhounds, Basset Hounds, Great Danes and Newfoundlands.
Drooling: When to Worry, When to Mop Up Any new or increased drooling in your dog is cause for a visit to your veterinarian, who can make sure that there are no underlying medical conditions to blame. In many cases, however, drooling is completely normal for dogs. If you share your home with a particularly slobbery pooch, keep a rag handy to mop up her face regularly, including after she eats and drinks and when you get home from a walk. You can also try tying a handkerchief or bandana around your dog's neck to act as a bib for
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drool, and putting down a washable rug under her food and water bowls. While this will help to keep drool from coating your walls, clothing and floors, you shouldn't expect that the drooling will stop or decrease. Instead, embrace it — and learn to clean up drool messes quickly, as they tend to get crusty when they dry. If one of your New Year’s resolution for 2019 is to improve your pet’s health, then you’ve come to the right place. Dr. Karen Becker shares her insights on everything you need to know in order to help your pet to live a happier and healthier life! When you subscribe to the Mercola Healthy Pets newsletter, you’ll get access to this important information that will help you on your journey toward optimizing your pet’s well-being. In Dr. Becker’s top 15 pet care tips you will learn: • • • • •
Which diet is best for your pet How to recognize when your pet is happy or not feeling well The various uses of natural remedies How to keep your pet physically fit and mentally stimulated Training tips
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This will be a silent weekend meditation retreat focussing on the theme of our relationship with ourselves: what does â&#x20AC;&#x153;being our own best friendâ&#x20AC;? mean? Can we be at ease simply being who we are without needing to be particularly special, better or worse than anyone else? Can we similarly be at peace with others who are different to us without being critical and judgmental? We will explore these questions using insights from the Buddhaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s teachings on what keeps us trapped in cycles of negativity and how we can restore ourselves to a more natural state of ease and wellbeing. There will be periods of sitting and walking meditation, morning and evening talks, and opportunities for dialogue and discussion.
Chandasara spent her early adult life in political exile in Europe and America where she was recruited into Okhela, an Oliver Tambo initiative to facilitate and expand white involvement in the ANC. Following this, she worked as a political analyst with the Centre for Policy Studies in Johannesburg for 14 years. During this period she was also involved in an esoteric spiritual school. Wishing to deepen her meditation experience, she undertook a 6-week self-retreat guided by Kittisaro and Thanissara at the BRC in 1998. Having discovered the revelatory power of sustained and focused meditation, she decided to enter monastic life. She resided at Amaravati and Chithurst Buddhist monasteries from 2002 to 2010. She put down the robes in 2011. Since then she has resided at Emoyeni Retreat Centre in the Magaliesberg during which time she completed an Honours degree in Psychology. She moved to Dharmagiri in May 2015 where she offers supported self-retreats for individuals wishing to explore and engage more deeply with particular aspects of their life experience. Chandasara leads Underberg Meditation Group, and teaches mindfulness at Riverview Manor rehab centre and clinic.
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SPIRITUAL TEACHER TRAINING COURSE AND BURSARY SOUTH AFRICA 2019 Are you ready to change your life forever and in the process assist others by enlightening and empowering them? Do you feel that this is your Divine Life Path, helping to spread the light to others and accelerating your own personal growth? If this is the case then this life changing Teacher Training course is for you! This course is for those that are passionate, motivated and committed to working with the Angels and Ascension and wanting to pass their knowledge and passion onto others so that they too are empowered and enlightened. You do not have to be very experienced in your Spiritual abilities, but must be working from the heart with enthusiasm and integrity. Academic qualifications are not important. Your own personal self-development and the desire and passion to pass this onto others, is what counts. It also emphasises your own self-development which is so very important and I will share my extensive knowledge and experience with you enabling you to become the Amazing Being that you truly are! I am delighted to announce that the next Teacher Training course will be held from 5th to 12th March 2019 at The Angel Warehouse, Spirit of Amberfield, Rheenendal (near Knysna). I have changed things somewhat this year to make it easier and cheaper for participants to attend. The Initiation and Angel Connection Module will be held at the Angel Warehouse in Rheenendal Knysna. The Ascension Connection Module will be done via six two hour sessions online using Zoom. These will be held in March and April 2019. Participants will need to arrive on the afternoon of the 4th March. Dinner will be provided for that evening. The course will finish at 11am on the 12th March. I take pride in inviting you into our sacred and very special space where you will be nurtured and supported whilst you grow and learn. This beautiful country venue offers a special and safe place to focus your attention and listen to the longing of your own soul allowing you to grow and do your own self-development. This experience is unique and a special gift that you give yourself whilst you are preparing to go out and spread the light.
Participants will have to complete the Initiation Module and Angel Connection Module in order to do the Ascension Connection Module.
This course will: •
Allow you to go within for personal development and advancement on your spiritual journey in a safe environment with expert support and assistance.
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Give you the confidence, expertise and skills to organize and facilitate a group or workshop in a professional manner.
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Teach you to facilitate visualisations for groups and individuals as well as meditations and exercises to use in your workshops.
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Allow you to bring in the Angels and Ascended Masters to enhance your connection to the Spirit World and be able to teach others to do the same.
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Powerful energies such as the Mahatma Energy, The Antakarana, The Lightbody, The Monad plus many more will be taught to speed up the Ascension process of yourself and others.
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Provide you with powerful techniques to develop your channelling abilities transmute energies and enhance your healing abilities.
MARGI OF ANGEL CONNECTION will present the course under the auspices of THE ANGEL CONNECTION SCHOOL OF AFRICA. Course content will be strictly in accordance with that prescribed by the ACSOA. Places are limited.
DATE: 5th to 12th March 2019 and then 6 x 2 hour sessions via Zoom FACILITATOR: Margi McAlpine BOOKINGS AND INFORMATION: Margi on 082-563-7422 or margi@angelconnection.co.za Visit : www.angelconnection.co.za
The Angel Connection School of Africa is delighted to announce that there will be a bursary available for those who would like to do the course but are unable to afford it. Please contact Margi for more information and application forms. Terms and conditions apply.
Welcome To The Angel Connection School of Africa The Angel Connection School of Africa, established as a non-profit organisation, for the highest good of all, will incorporate all forms of Spirituality continuing with the basic teachings of Angels, Ascension, Atlantis etc. which we all know to be Universal. The teachings of various modalities will however, be enhanced by adding the specific requirements of our culture and ethnicity, whilst retaining flexibility.
The mission statement of the school is:“To Light up Africa so that Africa can Light up the World”
A Letter From The School Principal – Margi McAlpine
Angel Connection Day
Meditations
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The Buddhist Retreat Centre, where people of all religions, and none, come to experience peace and tranquility. How to Retreat The Buddhist Retreat Centre offers various types of retreats, ranging from those investigating Buddhist thought and philosophy, through to practice retreats where the emphasis is on meditation; as well as retreats featuring bird watching, cookery, drumming, pottery and photography. At first glance the latter might appear to be unrelated to Buddhism but even these retreats will contain some element of meditation, of mindful awareness, refracting the chosen subject matter through a Buddhist lens. People from all walks of life come to these retreats with a variety of motivations and expectations. Perhaps they want to deepen their meditation practice, to take some time out from a hectic working life; to reflect on a tense domestic situation; to consider the trajectory of their lives; to make a decision about a way forward. Maybe they just want to learn how to take a good photograph. Each person will have a different reason for going on a retreat. Different paths will have led them to this place. We all need to make an appointment with ourselves from time to time. To re-connect with who we are; to maintain balance; to recharge exhausted batteries. To make time to go on a retreat is a necessary and healthy step for anyone.
General Information The Centre has been established on an exquisite 125-hectare country estate near the village of Ixopo, KwaZuluNatal 90 kilometers south of Pietermaritzburg, one and a half hoursâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; drive from Durban. Set in hilly grasslands amongst dams, indigenous bush and forests, it overlooks one of the great valleys in the Umkomaas river system. CNN featured the BRC as one of the ten finest retreat centres in the world. It was awarded Natural Heritage status by President Nelson Mandela in recognition of its success in establishing indigenous vegetation on the property and providing habitats for wildlife to return, including the endangered Blue Swallow. It is a birderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s paradise with more 160 species recorded.
Walks lead to many interesting sites and viewpoints on the property, including evidence that Bushman lived there and Voortrekkers and Settlers passed through. In 2000, the BRC facilitated the founding of Woza Moya, the community-based NGO, located in Ufafa valley. It continues to support the organisation in a variety of ways.
MAR-APR 2017
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Accommodation Fifty retreatants can be accommodated in single and twin-bedded rooms, en-suite cottages and thatched chalets overlooking the secluded valleys on the property â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a short distance away from the dining room, office, library, studio and meditation hall. The Centre is justly famous for its fine lacto-ovo vegetarian cuisine which is featured in its own bestselling recipe books, Quiet Food, The Cake the Buddha Ate and Plentiful: The Big Book Of Buddha Food. The BRC menu includes organically grown vegetables and farm-baked bread.
Observances The Retreat Centre offers a tranquil environment for the study and practice of philosophy, psychology, meditation and the arts associated with Buddhist culture. The Centre therefore encourages adherence to traditional Buddhist moral principles during retreats, such as respect for all forms of life and abstinence from alcoholic drinks and hallucinogenic drugs. Noble Silence is maintained from the last meditation at night until the first session after breakfast in the morning. During some retreats, Noble Silence is maintained throughout. Pets are not allowed at the Centre. Only some retreats are suitable for children: please check with the Administrator.
Forthcoming Retreats: For full details of each retreat please go to the website page: http://www.brcixopo.co.za/retreats/detailed-list-ofretreats.html
Email: brcixopo@futurenet.co.za Tel: +27(0)39 834 1863 or 0878091687 Mobile: 082 579 3037 www.brcixopo.co.za
MAR-APR 2017
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Reconnect with Spirit
Rediscover your Life Force Restore Balance
PSYCHIC MEDIUM As a Psychic Medium, I am able to connect with spirit guides, where I receive messages about a clients past, present and future. These messages may be beneficial to help bring clarity
on their lives and where be leading. Many of the messages have received for my have been healing on levels.
it may that I clients many
REIKI A quantity that is almost impossible to define! Energy can never be created or destroyed, only converted from one form to another. Among the familiar forms are heat energy, energy of motion, electrical energy, and sound energy. Reiki is a form of energy healing. This form of healing helps to maintain balance within, mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Reiki is a form or spiritual or energy healing. It helps open up and remove blockages
within the system. Each system within our bodies is intimately connected to the seven major charkas. Reiki will help remove these blockages and restore balance.
Contact Damian Wood Email: damian@woodswellness.co.za Mobile: 082 863 8842 www.woodswellness.co.za Conscious Life Magazine
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FIND & BOOK ECO-FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATION IN SOUTH AFRICA lovetostay.co.za is your green heart guide to eco-friendly accommodation throughout beautiful South Africa. We partner with all kinds of accommodation establishments that operate in an eco-friendly, sustainable and responsible way. So whether you opt for a luxury boutique hotel or rustic tree house, you can feel good knowing your holiday supports a place that serves the environment and community in a positive way. To help you make these good choices, we are committed to growing a wonderful selection of urban and country, luxury and rustic green accommodation options where you will love to stay! Search for your next green getaway on www.lovetostay.co.za by location or type; the Check Availability & Book Online green button will enable you to check real-time availability, make a booking & secure online payment through the Nightsbridge booking system at no extra charge.
WHAT IS ECO-FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATION? Eco-friendly accommodation is defined as a lodging establishment with structural features that minimize the impact and footprint on the environment; as well as well as those that follow green living, sustainability and eco-friendly practices.
WHAT ARE GREEN HEARTS? Look out for the Green Hearts Seal of each establishment. We are proud to showcase all of our members and love to highlight their specific efforts to protect and conserve the environment. Seals display between 1-5 Green Hearts as awarded to them for their positive Green Acts. Here`s more info!
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The Beautiful Hopi Indian Labyrinth at Thirsty Falls Guest Farm
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The Antbear Drakensberg Lodge is a thatched, whitewashed lodge built high on a natural platform overlooking the Bushman's River and Giants Castle. Antbear Drakensberg Lodge offers various Drakensberg accommodation options in en suite double rooms, luxury suites, family units and also boasts a luxury cave too. Antbear Drakensberg Lodge is one of those smaller intimate kind places which has been lovingly put together. The natural setting of the accommodation is stunning and we have managed to encase all this beauty with an atmosphere of comfort and ease. The cottages are smartly appointed and individually designed and the fact that we are a small place makes for an intimate and personal accommodation experience. Each of the accommodation units are different and are decorated with uniquely eccentric and artistic wooden furniture. It is a bit off the beaten track and is more of an insider tip than just another bed and breakfast. We cater for small intimate groups and never have more than 45 guests at a time. It's a laid back, lovingly cared for kind of place where you feel a sense of happiness and peace. Honeymoon stays turn into anniversary commemorations just as guests become friends. Even foreign tourists return for a second and third taste.
Attractions Drakensburg Hiking Trails Bushman Rock Art Giantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Castle Kamberg Weenen Game Reserve Royal Natal National Park Drakensburg Boys Choir
Horse Trails Injasuti Nature Reserve Monks Cowl Natal Midlands Tugela Falls Sani Pass Fly Fishing
Retreats The Antbear Drakensberg Lodge is the ideal retreat venue where we can provide all the services and accommodation for your retreat. Situated 4 hours from Johannesburg and 2 hours from Durban with easy access from the N3 Antbear Lodge is easy to get to but has the feeling of being far from the madding crowd. This wonderful place for group retreats offers spectacular views, vast spaces, wild winds, rain, sunshine, clouds and rainbows and in all of this â&#x20AC;&#x201C; silence and peace. Retreat groups can book the whole lodge for their exclusive use. The Lodge can accommodate 44 persons in 15 separate accommodation units Antbear Drakensberg Lodge has a spacious dining room with a wood-burning fireplace, a comfortable lounge with a fireplace and spectacular views, a breakaway meeting room, a large veranda and a large meeting room for retreat, team building or training activities. We provide excellent meals and will fit our menu to your expectations.
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Because food is an important part of your stay Meals are part of the real surprises that the Antbear Lodge has to offer where home grown cooking is part of the deal. We like to use our own home grown organic vegetables and if we havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t got, then we lean heavily on those local providers with similar attitudes to our own. Conny and Andrew both like cooking and are up to changing just about anything to suit tastes or philosophies. Our cooking experience is in part a journal, a record of events and memories expressed in recipes. In the course of our travels we have filed away many recipes and with them images of people and places and their lives. How food tastes has much to do with the associations we make and if you would like to hear the tales of our meals we would love to tell them.
Sustainable & responsible tourism is our social responsibility and what we do to give something back to our community and environment We believe in sustainable tourism and social responsibility. We live is a spectacularly beautiful place called the Drakensberg and our standard of living here is exceptional. But around us lie contrasts of poverty and lack of development. If we are to keep our way of life then it surely follows that we must do everything in our power to contribute to the upliftment and prosperity of this rural area. We believe that the future of South Africa is linked to the prosperity of the people, and that upliftment is linked to education. And as such we have chosen to support our local primary school called Vulakani Primary School.
Pet friendly accommodation Drakensberg One of the few pet-friendly places in the Drakensberg. Beautiful, vast views of the Drakensberg with plenty of ground for my dogs to roam. Walk for hours. Your dogs will be happy with lots of dams to swim in and horses to discover. One of the accommodation units at Antbear Lodge is fenced in so its really easy to leave your dog behind if you would like to explore some of the sights where pets are not that welcome. If country life is for you and you would love to take your pet with you then Antbear Lodge is a great accommodation choice. Your hosts will advise you on all the activities available. Antbear Lodge prides itself on being both family-friendly and petfriendly.
CONTACT Mobile 076 441 2362 Email: reservations@antbear.co.za Web: www.antbear.co.za
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EVERY HOME NEEDS A LOVING PET! THERE ARE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS WAITING TO BE ADOPTED â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PLEASE REACH OUT! WE ALSO ENCOCURAGE YOU TO REACH INTO YOUR HEARTS FOR THOSE WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE AND REALLY NEED OUR HELP.
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At Operation Smile we believe every child suffering from cleft lip or cleft palate deserves exceptional surgical care. For too many families around the world, safe surgery is not an option. At Operation Smile we believe every child deserves exceptional surgical care. We believe all children deserve to be treated as if they were our own.
EVERY 3 MINUTES, a child is born with a cleft lip or cleft palate and may suffer from torments, malnourishment and difficulty with speech. We dream of a world where no child suffers from lack of access to safe surgery. Learn why we do what we do in the video below.
That’s what drives each and every one of us: our global network of medical professionals, who donate hundreds of thousands of hours toward the care of children around the world each year, and our supporters who are moved every day to make a difference in the lives of children they’ve never met.
How you can help Operation Smile South Africa Building 17, 103/104, Waverley Office Park 5 Wyecroft Rd, Observatory 7925 (+27) 021 447 3608 infosa@operationsmile.org NPO number 083-117 NPO
A child’s cleft lip or cleft palate can be repaired for as little as R5500 and in as few as 45 minutes, but your gift is more than a surgery. All of our supporters give renewed hope to children and families around the world.
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Help us bring hope to girls without and choices to those with none. Founded in 2000 by Khanyisile Motsa, and run under her diligent care ever, Home of Hope for Girls is an autonomous, self-started initiative to provide real care for exploited, trafficked and abused children in the city of Johannesburg. It is more than just a residential shelter; it is a loving home where dignity is restored, the past is healed and the girls are given the tools to take control of their futures. Home of Hope also reaches out to the community offering the most vulnerable members support, practical help and a lifeline.
The Background to Home of Hope An estimated 10,000 children are prostitutes in Johannesburg and this figure is increasing. When Khanyisile Motsa relocated to Hillbrow she was shocked to observe girls as young as nine working as prostitutes and selling drugs on the streets at night. The truth about these forgotten children is: • • • •
• •
Child Prostitute. Photo by Tseliso Monaheng
Criminals pay agents to recruit children They usually target often orphans or/and those from very disadvantaged rural communities Victims are trafficked or seduced to leave with lies about a life in the city Their IDs are frequently taken from them to make escape and identification difficult Their IDs are often sold on the black market ‘Owned’ by their exploiters they are prostituted, abused, made to sell drugs
Email: info@hopehome.org.za Mam Khanyi: 073 250 2086 Telephone: 011 614 0861 Conscious Life Magazine
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Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In South Africa and around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique needs are met and their voices are heard. We deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach. We do whatever it takes for children â&#x20AC;&#x201C; every day and in times of crisis â&#x20AC;&#x201C; transforming their lives and the future we share.
We need your help to ensure that no child is left behind. In a tough funding environment, we have ensured we have multiple avenues of funding and are proud to have 11,000 generous individual donors contributing monthly. We will continue to be innovative in securing funding to enable us to reach more children and will work on increasing unrestricted and consistent funding streams. You can help us make a difference. Even just by becoming aware of our work by reading our annual report. To download and read the full annual report, click here.
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