Conscious Life Magazine Free Online October 2018 Issue 50

Conscious Life Magazine

CONTENTS 10

LEARNING TO LET GO, SURRENDER & PRACTICE GRATITUDE

12

LETTING YOUR INNER CHILD PLAY

[

SELF DEVELOPMENT & PERSONAL GROWTH

18

PRACTICES TO AWAKEN GRATITUDE

22

HOW TO START YOUR MORNING ROUTINE WITH LOVE

26

HOW TO FIND STRENGTH IN THE DARKEST MOMENTS

34

YOU DON’T NEED TO BE PERFECT FOR LOVE

R

NATURAL HEALTH & WELLNESS

40

10 WAYS CHRONIC STRESS IS KILLING YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE

47

8 SIMPLE WAYS TO RELIEVE STRESS

52

WHAT IS AFRICAN POTATO?

56

33 USES OF COCONUT OIL



CONSCIOUS HEALING

65

SELF WORTH & SELF RESPECT

69

11 TRAPS SABOTAGING YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

76

HOW TO ADD A “SPRING” IN YOUR STEP

80

OLD SOUL IN THE NEW ENERGY

R

HEALTHY INTAKE

85

SUFFERING FROM “LOST KEY” SYNDROME? WHAT IS GOTU KOLA & HOW CAN IT HELP?

88

CONSCIOUS EATING

91

RECIPE: VEGETABLE POTJIE

b CONSCIOUS BODY 94

SUP YOGA ON THE DAM

95

IS ONE-MINUTE OF EXERCISE ALL YOU NEED?

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CONTENTS

H

GREEN LIVING

100

HOW TO CREATE A DROUGHT-TOLERANT GARDEN

104

GROWING HEALTH IN YOUR GARDEN THIS SPRING

_ ANIMAL WORLD 110 THE HEALTHIEST CAT FOOD SO YOU DON’T END UP WITH A FAT CAT

P WORKSHOPS, COURSES & RETREATS 116

OUTDOOR SURVIVAL COURSE

117

FIRST AID TRAINING

118

RETREATS AT DHARMAGIRI SACRED MOUNTAIN RETREAT

120

SET YOUR SOUL COMPASS FOR 2019

121 HEALING YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH MONEY 122

REIKI AND PSYCHIC MEDIUM TRAINING

P

GETAWAYS, SHOWS & EVENTS

127 SHOWS, GETAWAYS; AND MORE

_ REACH OUT 138 REACH OUT & HELP: DESERVING CHARITIES AND CAUSES

34

18

110 85 47

14

95

Contributing Team & Experts

ABOUT US www.childoftheuniverse.co.za PUBLISHER 2Luni Media EDITOR/OWNER Candida “Cj“ Matticks 087 802 6102 candida@childoftheuniverse.co.za

LISA RALEIGH

Articles from the late

Fitness & Nutritional Expert

Author/Inspirational Speaker

LOUISE L. HAY

Copy Editor Linda Navon BrainGym

DR CHRISTIANE NORTHRUP

Articles written by the late

BRENT LINDEQUE

DR. WAYNE DYER

The Good Things Guy

HANNA KOK

SALES & MARKETING Sales & Marketing Manager Cj Matticks Sales Linda Navon CREATIVE TEAM Designer & Creative Director Cj Matticks

Author & Motivator

Content & Layout Assistant Linda Navon Digital Manager & Social Media Cj Matticks DISTRIBUTION & ACCOUNTS

Lee Coulter lee@childoftheuniverse.co.za

Articles written by the late

TORSTEN A. LANGE

HEATHER PICTON Founder ADHASA

Author, founder & director Reiki Academy London

LINDA NAVON Deputy Editor

CJ MATTICKS Editor

CONTACT NUMBERS TEL: 087 802 6102 011 026 2643 011 046 8737

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Contributing Team & Experts

MARGI McALPINE

PENNI DU PLESSIS

Angel Connection School

Divine Space

MICHELLE LESKE

SAMANTHA LEWIS

Egypt Tour Goddess

Access Consciousness

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.

MEDIA & OTHER PARTNERS

WENDY YOUNG Life Coach and Spiritual Counsellor

DR JAMES MERCOLA

MICHAEL HOWARD Mindshare

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Hello beautiful souls!!

Over the past few months I have been learning how to really let go and surrender to a higher power than the “little me”. Call this higher power what you will… a higher version of myself or The Creator of All That Is… I have found that when I simply let go, hand up & trust, things flow and everything improves.

The trick, I am finding, is to remain present in this flow. At times I find myself slipping into worries about the future – which in this economic climate is not hard to do. When I allow this to happen, things stagnate and create more to worry about.

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Does my state allow me to better what is or worsen what is?

In my connection with that higher power, I am reminded that “It just is” and I can choose how I will be in response to what is. Does my state allow me to better what is or worsen what is?

I have learnt that worrying and stressing over what is and what may or may not be, is useless in helping me improve on what is, as it just leaves me feeling terrible, which is not at all conducive to creative, resourceful thinking. If that is not enough, these emotions and fears in fact make things worse by attracting that which I am worried about. In accordance with the law of attraction, like attracts like, we attract into our lives that which resonates with our dominant, habitual thoughts and beliefs – conscious and subconscious.

When I hand up and trust , my mind is freed up to be in the moment and be receptive to opportunities and ideas that allow me to create a better reality for myself.

Another aspect that I was just reminded of by Doc Marty, a friend and Chiropractor at Balance on Linksfield, and Wendy Young of Wise Living, is the power of gratitude. I realized that gratitude has been a part of this surrender. By seeing and accepting a tough situation for what is and then choosing to look for and focus on that which I am grateful for, perhaps not even in relation to the situation, is incredibly empowering. Shifting my thinking into a positive space like this allows me to more easily hand up, let go and move forward, where necessary towards a solution.

I have found the same to work when others around me act in a way that may otherwise impact me negatively. Now I just take a breath, remind myself that they too are souls on a journey. I look for the ways in which they may be mirroring me and I find gratitude in the learnings. I send love and walk away if needed.

(There is nothing wrong with walking away from a person or a situation that has become toxic for you.) As Doc Marty so eloquently put it, Rise Above, Send Love.

So, I invite you to start practicing gratitude today! Wendy’s article “Practices to Awaken Gratitude” will help you on this journey.

And if it tickles your fancy, get involved in Doc Marty’s initiative, #InternationalGratitudeDay on the 1st of November on Facebook and other social media. Let’s all get on board!

We have heaps of articles this month to help you on this journey: Guidance from the late Louise L. Hay on Starting Your Morning Routine with Love; Dr Axe’s 8 Simple Ways to Relieve Stress; Margi McAlpine talks about Self Worth and Self Respect; Penni Du Plessis teaches you How to Add a Spring In Your Step: and so much more.

So, what are you waiting for? Kick back and relax with your favourite feel good magazine.

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By Cj Matticks When last did you let your inner child play? When last did you have good, healthy, innocent fun, like that of a carefree child? So often we neglect our inner child and it is to our detriment! Much healing, joy, and release come from the freedom of expression of letting your inner child play and just be. Not to mention other benefits such as a boost in creativity and being able to think outside of the box.

My inner child had great fun recently…I had the immense privilege of being able to attend all 3 days of Africa’s 1st ever Comic Con, from the 14th to 16th of September.

A great big thank you to V/S Gaming, Reed Exhibitions and Reed POP. What is Comic Con Africa some of you may ask? It is a “3 day event showcasing comic books, science fiction/fantasy related film, series and similar popular arts. The exhibition also features a larger range of pop culture and entertainment elements across virtually all genres, including animation, toys, gadgets, clothing, collectible card games, table top games, anime, manga, video games, webcomics, and fantasy novels.”

Now if you are a Geek, you will understand my excitement at being fortunate to attend, especially as Comic Con Africa sold out! From the very first time that I heard about the American Comic Con, I have wanted to attend. I was fascinated by the whole event and especially the idea of Cosplaying, where participants called cosplayers wear self-made costumes to represent a specific character. As a little girl, I loved to play dress up and get into character. I was completely mesmerized by Halloween and made a point of trick or treating around the neighborhood long before it was in fashion. This passion has continued well into my adulthood.

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Cj and friend Wynand de Beer Photographer: Theo Muller

Cosplayers Kinpatsu on the right and Akasha Rojee on the left Photographer: Cj

As an avid fan of Marvel and DC Comics movies, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles….(You get it…. I am a Geek!)… Comic Con’s Cosplay was so alluring for me. Imagine getting to dress up as one of your favourite Comic Book/Sci-Fi/Fantasy characters for 3 days and be transported to a world of Superheroes & Supervillains, Stormtroopers and Jedi Knights; Demon Hunters, Orcs, Elves, Wizards and other fantastic creatures? Ah but to dream… and then it was a reality!

My inner child danced around in glee, my adult self did too! I decided to attempt my first proper cosplay, which provided me with a great channel for my often neglected creativity. A few weekends were spent cutting, gluing, painting and crafting the outfit which was to transform me. I was in my element.

Then the big event arrived and I must say that I was a tad nervous, arriving alone dressed as a katana wielding superhero…but I have learnt to push through my initial shyness and just get on with it. What’s more, everyone was so friendly and welcoming. I spent a great deal of time, over the three days, walking around soaking up the atmosphere. It was so awesome to be surrounded by people who are unafraid to allow their inner children the freedom to just play and have fun. It was inspiring to see.

Left to Right: Silvanas, Machiko and Katana

Groot Cosplayer receiving an award

Silvanas Skit

One of the highlights of the weekend for me, was the main Cosplay Championship Competition. There were so many creative individuals who spent months creating beautifully intricate costumes, to enable them to fully transform into their chosen character.

For many this has become much more than a pastime, it has become a fully immersive passion that much time, energy and resources are spent on, with a huge smile as they get to express themselves through this art.

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The competition even included “skits” acted out by some of the characters. Each of them transporting the audience for a brief moment into another universe. Silvanas From World Of Warcraft was amazing, she even had the audience shouting “For the Horde!” with her (a reference you won’t get it if you don’t play WOW/haven’t seen the movie). Another great act was that of Predator vs Machiko in a Mortal Kombat Styled Fight, which culminates rather dramatically… see the video clip below…

Another highlight for me, was attending the various celeb panel discussions. Kevin Sussman of The Big Bang Theory fame was hilarious and so down to earth. Ricky Whittle from The 100 and American Gods had the ladies enthralled. He was a real sport too, wearing something like 10 Comic Con t-shirts which he peeled off and threw into the excited crowd one at a time throughout the discussion. He even personally carried the mic to members of the audience for Q&A! All of the exhibitors were incredible too, so much effort and time was spent making each stand a magical place filled with awesome wares from comics to games, sci-fi and fantasy novels and movies, series and much more. The halls were packed with people eager to see what amazing treasures they had on display and for sale.

There were entire stands dedicated to gaming, where visitors could try their hand at the latest gaming consoles and virtual reality tech. I didn’t get a chance to try them out, but it looked like a great deal of fun!

All in all, a great weekend was had and I returned home on Sunday in great spirits with an extremely satisfied inner child. I encourage you to check out Comic Con Africa 2019 and just let your inner child play. Dress up, you will have a ball!! You don’t need to make your outfit, you can hire one.

On that note, Halloween is almost upon us, why not get into the spirit & have some fun in character. You don’t need to go as anything scary if that is not for you.

#LetYourInnerChildPlay Much Love, Cj

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By Wendy Young of Wise-Living At times we can feel overwhelmed by hurt, anger, fear, sadness, loss, anxiety. This closes our heart and leaves us feeling alone and separate. Now is a good time to write a gratitude list. It won’t solve the challenging life situation and it’s not about ignoring or suppressing the feelings. Practicing appreciation does help to reconnect us to our heart, giving us some space from the wounded emotions and the story that our mind is creating. From the space, we are more able to understand the bigger picture – the underlying motives, habits and patterns of our self as well as the other. This can facilitate transformation from the wounded mind states back to peace, love and joy.

Dedicate the month of November to the practice of Gratitude: each day add something new to your gratitude list, just one or two things that have touched you during the day. Notice what changes in your body, heart and mind as well as in your life…

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I also invite you to take a moment now to sit quietly, become aware of your breath and let your attention settle into your heart space. Then bring to mind something in your life that you are grateful for at this very moment, it could be that you can smell the summer flowers, feel the touch of wind on your skin, that you have food to eat, friends who care about you… life itself! Allow this image to settle into your heart and really develop a feeling of gratefulness for it. Watch and feel what changes in your body, heart and mind. Spend a few moments experiencing how practicing gratitude heals and opens your heart. Make this a daily practice for November as well.

“When you realise that behind all the worry, complaint and disapproval that goes on in your mind, the sun is always coming up in the morning, moving across the sky, and going down in the evening. The birds are always out there collecting their food and making their nests and flying across the sky. The grass is always being blown by the wind or standing still. Food and flowers and trees are growing out of the earth. There’s enormous richness. You could develop your passion for life, your curiosity and your gratitude. You could connect with your joyfulness. You could start right now.”

Extract from the wisdom of no escape by Pema Chodron The heart’s innate state is one of openness. No matter what has happened in your life, you have an infinite capacity for love.

If you feel called to embark on inner process work with me, please email wendy@wiseliving.co.za for more information and to book a session. I work directly with your nervous system to unlock past memories and limiting self beliefs. This releases suppressed emotions from the body which facilitates deep healing, positive changes in behaviour and supports sustainable transformation. I offer transpersonal and somatic counselling, trauma work, energy healing as well as Spiritual mentorship and guidance. With gratitude Wendy Young www.wise-living.co.za Conscious Life Magazine

Today you discover that how you start your morning routine can change everything for the better.

Those of you who are familiar with mirror work might be familiar with how to use it to build self-esteem. But did you know that you can use your mirror work exercises to help heal specific areas of your life?

It’s true. Mirror work can transform how you experience any part of your day. To show you how you can apply mirror work in specific areas of your life, what better place to start than with your morning routine!

Starting Your Morning Routine With Love Did you know that the first hour of the morning is crucial? How you spend it will

determine your experience of the rest of your day.

How did you start your day today? When you woke up, what were the first words that came out of your mouth? Did you complain? Did you think about what wasn’t working in your life?

What do you say when you first look in the bathroom mirror? What do you say when you take a shower? What do you say when you get dressed?

How do you leave your house for work? Do you just run out the door, or do you say something nice first? Too many people start off their day with “Oh, shit! It’s another day and I’ve got to get up, damn it!” If you have a lousy way of starting your day, you’re not going to have a good day—ever. It’s not possible. If you do your best to have the morning be awful, your day will be awful.

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How I Set My Morning Routine I have a little routine I’ve done for years. The moment I wake up, I snuggle my body a little deeper into my bed and thank my bed for a really good night’s sleep. I do this for a few minutes as I start my day with positive thoughts.

I tell myself things like: This is a good day. This is going to be a really good day.

Then I get up, use the bathroom, and thank my body for working well.

I spend a little time stretching, too. I have an exercise bar in the doorway of the bathroom that I can use to stretch my entire body. I hold the bar, bring my knees up to my chest three times, and then hang by my arms.

I find that stretching my body in the morning is very good for maintaining flexibility and health.

After I do a few stretches, I make a cup of tea and take it back to bed. I love my bed. I had the headboard specially built at an angle so I can lean up against it when I read or write.

Stretching my body and mind is my morning ritual. Then I start to get up. I try to give myself two hours before I face the rest of the day. I like to be able to do things in a leisurely way. I’ve learned to take my time.

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If you are a busy mom or dad who needs to get the children ready for school, or if you have to get to work early, it’s important to give yourself some time to start your day off in the right way.

I would rather wake up earlier to have this extra time in the morning. Even if you give yourself only 10 or 15 minutes, this is absolutely essential. It’s your time for selfcare.

When you get up in the morning, it’s important to do a ritual that feels good to you and to say something to yourself that makes you feel good.

Set in motion the best day possible for yourself. You don’t have to make these changes in your life all at once.

2. Create an affirmation for each step in your morning routine.

Just pick one ritual for the morning and start there. Then once you have the ritual down, pick another one and keep practicing. Don’t overwhelm yourself. Remember: the idea is to feel good.

Write down two or three affirmations you can say for each of the steps in your morning ritual. Write affirmations for when you get dressed, when you make your breakfast, and when you get in your car and drive to work.

Let’s affirm: Today I create a wonderful new day and a wonderful new future.

Writing Prompts for Scheduling Your Morning Rituals Plan out how you will begin your day with positive thoughts and actions by following these writing prompts. Take out your journal and pen and spend some time describing how your best morning ritual would look. Be sure to thank your journal for helping you create your best day.

1. Create a morning ritual for yourself.

Write down all the steps you can take to start your morning routine in a positive, happy, and supportive way.

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Example Mirror Work Exercise For A Better Morning Routine 1.

When you first wake up in the morning and open your eyes, say these affirmations to yourself: Good morning, bed. Thank you for being so comfortable.

I love you.

2.

This is a blessed day. All is well. I have time for everything I need to do today.

3.

Now take a few more minutes to relax and let these affirmations flow through your mind, then feel them in your heart and throughout the rest of your body.

4.

When you’re ready to get up, go to your bathroom mirror. Look deeply into your eyes. Smile at that beautiful, happy, relaxed person looking back at you!

5.

As you’re looking in the mirror, say these affirmations: Good morning, [Name]. I love you. I really, really love you. There are great experiences coming our way today.

6.

And then say something nice to yourself like: Oh, you look wonderful today. You have the best smile. I wish you a terrific day today.

Positive Meditation For Your Morning Routine I Open New Doors to Life You are standing in the corridor of life, and behind you many doors have closed. The doors represent things you no longer do or say or think, experiences you no longer have.

Ahead of you is an unending corridor of doors, each one opening to a new experience.

As you move forward, see yourself opening doors on wonderful experiences you would like to have. See yourself opening doors to joy, peace, healing, prosperity, and love. Doors to understanding, compassion, and forgiveness.

Doors to freedom. Doors to self-worth and self-esteem. Doors to self-love. It is all here before you. Which door will you open first?

Trust that your inner guide is leading you in the ways that are best for you and that your spiritual growth is continuously expanding. No matter which door opens or which door closes, you are always safe.

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Ask about our courses for Teenagers

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*2018-2019 COMPASSIONATE NO ANIMAL-TESTING PRODUCT GUIDE*

2018-2019

COMPASSIONATE NO ANIMAL-TESTING

PRODUCT GUIDE South Africa

Intro edition

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ADVERTORIAL

Private Health Care for Emergency Treatment As South African’s, one of the biggest risks we face every day while commuting to and from work is vehicle accidents.

What many people don’t know is that in 2015, the Road Traffic Management Corporation reported 832 431 road traffic crashes. 6% of these incidents were considered to be major or fatal accidents.

This amounted to 278 620 people injured on our roads in that year. That’s almost 800 people per day!

According to report published by the Institute of Race Relations (IRR), out of South Africa’s population of over 54 million people, only 17.4% are covered by a South African medical scheme. This means that only 9.5 million South Africans have access to private medical care while more than 44 million don’t.

In the report, it was stated that “Private quality healthcare roughly refers to easy access to general practitioners (GPs), dentists and medication. Having access to adequate medical cover can drastically improve the quality of life and life expectancy of a person. The leading barrier to private healthcare in South Africa continues to be the price. The millions of South Africans living without medical cover put increasing pressure on the public health system.”

The same principle applies to injuries sustained from road accidents in S.A. While it’s generally not something that we like to dwell on, the truth of the matter is that being treated in a private hospital following a motor vehicle accident has significant benefits which could save your life. Patients admitted following a motor vehicle accident have little or no delay in being treated and benefit from personalised care and treatment. Better facilities also generally mean that the recovery time is quicker.

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AccidentANGELS™ was established in 2010, with the view of providing affordable access to private healthcare, following a motor vehicle accident. A main member pays just R149 per month and he or she receives guaranteed access to private medical care.

Included in this membership is the transport cost in an ER24 emergency ambulance to the nearest private hospital.

When our members join us they receive an accidentANGELS™ MasterCard® which is activated on notification of an incident.

Members are given access of up to R10 000 for out-patient care, which is treatment in the emergency room at the private hospital.

This benefit is immediate because our member simply swipes the MasterCard® at the hospital to pay for treatment.

If the car accident injuries are serious enough to require in-patient admittance into hospital, accidentANGELS™ provide up to R200 000 paid to the hospital for treatment. A R1 million benefit is also available at a main member fee of R259 per month.

Members are also protected if they are travelling in public transport or even while walking as pedestrians on our roads. This means that the accidentANGELS™ benefit is not limited to people that drive a car.

One of our members was involved in an early morning accident where a car drove into the side of her car. This is what she had to say: “It was just another weekday morning, when out of nowhere a car drove into mine.

Thanks to accidentANGELS™, I was able to go to a private hospital straight away.

It was 8am and I was driving to work on a road close to my home. Suddenly, another driver who had skipped a stop street crashed into the side of my car. I injured my right shoulder quite badly and I had a concussion, but I was still able to phone for an ambulance.

When I first bought my car, the accidentANGELS™ benefit was offered to me and I’m relieved that I decided to join. The accessibility and availability of their staff and services are great and they helped me tremendously.

I really got the sense that the accidentANGELS™ staff truly cared about my well-being. All their interactions with me had a personal touch and they treated me with genuine empathy, and this is one of the reasons why I would recommend this benefit to all my friends.”

If you’d like to know more about us and what we do, click here or visit our website. www.accidentangels.co.za

accidentANGELS™ also assist our members with the submission and management of any valid claims against the Road Accident Fund (RAF). Claims made against the RAF can take as long as 3 years to be resolved, so this service ensures that the claim receives the right focus and attention. Funds that are paid out are paid back to the member, less any medical expenses incurred as a result of the accident. There are no fees deducted from the proceeds before funds are paid to our member.

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You Don’t Need To Be Perfect For Love

By Simon Wing-Lun

You don't need to be in some perfect state of self-love to have a good relationship. You don't need to have healed all your past relationship wounds. You just need to love yourself enough to feel safe to let someone in, and be willing to grow and heal together.

I've often heard people say something like "When I love myself more, or when I love myself enough, then I'll be able to have a relationship.“ This may be the truth of things. But more often that not what's really going on is people are imagining relationships will be painful or difficult based on their past experiences, unless both people are in some space of total self-love first.

So people think: "When I love myself so much I don’t feel needy of others at all and I can't be hurt, then I'll be safe to have a relationship.“ You can have a safe relationship based on total self-love, freedom and independence. But at times this may be the slow way of going about things.

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Often the faster way to love, heal and grow is to let someone in while you still feel hurt. Let someone in while you still feel insecure or needy. Let someone in while you still feel afraid.

How do you do this?

By ensuring at the start of any relationship that your intention is to heal and grow together, and be supportive of each others own path of healing, self-love, and freedom.

Much of the past relationship pain people have experienced has come in situations where either one or both parties are holding onto patterns of co-dependence. Often either or both people resist growth, and wish to keep a needy or controlling dynamic in the relationship that supports their own insecurities. Maintaining a relationship becomes more important to people than staying true to themselves, and much pain and tension is often the result.

However the more you can be aware of this, and aware of how this dynamic has played out in your past, the easier it is to avoid and navigate in the future. With this awareness you can then communicate to a potential relationship partner something like: "I have these insecurities, pains and needs. I would like help and support in a relationship in these areas. I would like heal and grow and be free in these ways. Are we compatible in where we are and what we want?“ This is the communication Lora and I had at the start of our relationship. We'd both found a lot of self-love, and done a lot of healing, but we also both had a lot more still to do. We knew we had complementary needs we could support each other with, and also that we both wanted to grow into a place of feeling totally free and independent. Because we've both known this from the start of our relationship, wounds and fears we were both conscious and unconscious of have been much easier to navigate and transform than they would have otherwise been. The love we have is still the same, yet we've changed and grown so much in our time together that the dynamic between us has shifted immensely. We are much more free, each much more selfloving, stronger and independent than when we started the relationship, but we are still just as connected.

Yes self-love is important in relationship.

Yes unconditional love is beautiful, powerful and free place to have a relationship from.

Yet you may not always need that much more self-love than you have now to be in a state to welcome a relationship. The key is to get to the point where you feel safe enough to let someone in who feels good and in alignment for you, and clear enough to say no to someone who does not.

Sometimes this takes some deep self-love inner work to shift some old patterns of worthiness.

Sometimes it's just a simple shift of perspective in what a relationship can actually be.

A little about Simon Wing-Lun, Founder, Healer, Love Mentor at Unconditional Love Healing: I love using and teaching Unconditional Love Healing so much because I know how many people have a deep knowing that we have the power to heal anything, but haven't been able to fully access or use it. So many people have been practicing healing and spirituality for years but don't feel fully empowered to heal their deepest challenges or pain.

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Looking Good, Feeling Great! ’s Trusted Hemp Cosmetic Range Gets A Makeover.

Hemporium has been a leader in the hemp industry since 1996 when they first launched with the lofty goal of showcasing everything that the wonderful hemp plant can do.

One of the ways they did this is by developing a cosmetic/ body-care range called Hemporium Cosmetology, using hemp seed oil as a base. The range was developed in Cape Town and is locally produced.

These products have proven to be very popular for a number of reasons, which we I will get into shortly, but recently the range itself was given a cosmetic overhaul to bring its branding and labelling up to date and in line with current labelling regulations.

Inside the contents are still the same tried and tested products that Hemporium’s customers have known and loved for 15 years, while outside they have a new look to further compliment your bathroom’s appearance - as well as making awesome gifts for loved ones. They will also fit beautifully into any eco-aware hospitality establishments amenity range.

The Benefits of Hemp Seed Oil in Body-Care Products The essential fatty acids in hemp oil have been clinically proven to be of therapeutic value in a wide range of cosmetic products. The hemp seed is one of the few seeds in the world that contain Omega 3,6 and 9, with the ratio of 3:6 being perfect for the human body.

Hemp oil is also known to have an anti-inflammatory effect, so using it in creams and lotions have the added effect of some deeper healing that can happen for irritated and inflamed skin.

The gentle natural ingredients used in the range also make the products perfect for sensitive or problem skin.

Hemp oil makes an excellent emollient and gets absorbed deep into the derma where it mimics the effects of the skins natural oils. This makes it the perfect choice as a base product for creams and lotions, shampoo, conditioner and soaps.

What’s more, it’s good for your planet too as it can be grown organically with ease. Even when grown conventionally, hemp does not need the use of pesticides and herbicides so there are no residues of these chemicals in the oil. Most people are not aware of the amount of synthetic chemicals they are putting on their skin daily when they use regular body-care products. They

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may seem like small amounts, but over years these chemicals get absorbed by the skin and can cause major issues in our bodies. Using natural plant-oil based products help minimize this as our bodies know how to digest any unwanted byproducts and eliminate them.

Hemporium’s range is also free from preservatives, petro-chemicals, laurel sulphates and parabens making them almost good enough to eat, although I would not suggest this as your taste buds may not agree…

The range is also fully bio-degradable which makes it a perfect choice for camping, the outdoors and also as a product to use in our water-scarce country, especially as more people are now reusing their shower and bath water in the garden. We would not want to be putting unwanted chemicals onto our precious plants.

It has always been a good idea to use Hemporium’s products on your skin, but now with the new look, they have added another element to the Cosmetology range turning it into an even better idea. Plus, if you return the bottles for recycling they offer a discount on your next purchase!

Hemporium really have it all covered. You can find their products on www.hemporium.co.za or at their store in Westlake in Cape Town, and while you are shopping make sure to browse the rest of their awesome products all made from the fantastic hemp plant.

And remember when it comes to chemicals, if you wouldn’t put it on your skin on its own, don’t accept it in your cosmetics.

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Stress. It’s an awful word and a worse feeling, isn’t it? The thing is stress isn’t all bad. Without it, we wouldn’t be motivated to protect ourselves or perform. A certain level of stress helps us to adapt to our environment and pushes us to excel. The stress that is worrisome is chronic stress, and it can affect you negatively in multiple ways.

How can you determine if your stress is good or chronic? Let’s take a look, along with how chronic stress can kill your quality of life and why you want to incorporate natural stress relievers into your life.

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The Stress Response So what is “good stress”? While stress itself may not be a good thing, each of us is only here because of the stress response. Our ancestors reacted to a threat by fighting or fleeing, literally or figuratively, and so survived thanks to this fight or flight instinct.

Whether it was a food shortage or a physical threat, they went into what the prominent science center, the Franklin Institute, refers to as “metabolic overdrive.” (1) Adrenaline and cortisol flood the body. Blood pressure, breathing and heart rate increase.

Glucose is released into the bloodstream for ready energy. Digestion, growth, reproduction and immune system functions are suppressed or put on hold. Blood flow to the skin is decreased, and pain tolerance is increased.

“While stress itself may not be a good thing, each of us is only here because of the stress response.”

During a real crisis, your actions would end up reversing many of these processes. You would fight or flee and resolve the problem — then take comfort in contact with loved ones or satisfaction in your abilities. You might dispel adrenaline through pacing or some other soothing effort and restore your metabolic and hormonal balances.

Life today, however, doesn’t often offer us the opportunity to enact a full stress response and resolution. Instead, we operate as if we’re in a constant, low-grade state of emergency, with no real end in sight. Many of us don’t physically dispel stress hormones or take the time to resolve the real problems. We don’t soothe ourselves or take the time to question our priorities.

So what are some of the things chronic stress is doing to you?

Chronic Stress Is Killing Your Quality of Life 1. It’s Messing with Your Brain You may think that it’s necessary to work under the gun all of the time, but according to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), chronic stress affects your ability to concentrate, act efficiently and makes you more accident-prone.

Chronic stress has devastating effects on memory and learning. It actually kills brain cells. UMMC reports that people with posttraumatic stress disorder experience an 8 percent shrinkage of the hippocampus, the brain’s memory center, and stress affects, most decidedly, children’s ability to learn. (2)

The Franklin Institute explains that the stress hormone cortisol channels glucose to the muscles during the stress response and leaves less fuel for the brain. Cortisol also interrupts brain cell communication by compromising neurotransmitter function.

All learning depends on the use of memory.

Stress affects your ability to access memories and prevents you from creating new ones.

Worse yet, your hippocampus is involved in turning cortisol off. As it becomes damaged by chronic stress, it becomes less able to do so and becomes more damaged. This is what the Franklin Institute refers to as a “degenerative cascade.”

2. Stress Increases Risk of Heart Attack, Heart Disease and Stroke A direct link between chronic stress and increased risk for heart attack, heart disease and stroke has not yet been established by researchers. What chronic stress does do, reports UMMC, is worsen risk factors for

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these conditions.

Stress increases your heart rate and force, constricts your arteries, and affects heart rhythms. It thickens the blood, which may protect against blood loss in case of injury, according to UMMC. Stress increases blood pressure, and chronic stress damages blood vessel linings, especially because chronic stress contributes to inflammation.

Increased blood pressure is also a risk factor for stroke, and the Franklin Institute reports that stress levels can increase atherosclerosis, another risk factor for stroke.

3. Stress Dials Down Your Immune System Fighting off infection isn’t a primary concern if your body thinks it’s facing an immediate danger, but the problem is chronic stress definitely dampens your immune system, making fighting infection much more difficult.

People seem to be much more susceptible to infections and experience more severe symptoms when they come down with a cold or flu if they’re stressed, reports UMMC. Stress can also trigger a detrimental overdrive in your immune system. Stress contributes to inflammation in the body. Your immune system may react to other damage going on in your body due to stress and send out immune compounds known as cytokines that contribute to the inflammatory response.

“Stress increases your heart rate and force, constricts your arteries, and affects heart rhythms.”

These compounds can damage healthy cells in their effort to combat unhealthy factors occurring in your body.

Inflammation has been linked to a multitude of health conditions and diseases, from asthma and diabetes to cancer and heart disease.

The American Psychological Association (APA) reports that stress can negatively affect your ability to recover from a heart attack and that stress management training can help speed healing from a heart attack. (3) According to the Franklin Institute, stress affects the blood-brain barrier. This barrier protects many substances that enter your body from ever reaching and affecting your brain, things like drugs and toxins, viruses and poisons. Researchers found that stress increased the permeability of the blood-brain barrier in Gulf War soldiers. Drugs meant to protect their bodies from chemical attacks and that should have never affected the brain did.

4. Chronic Stress Contributes to Aging As I’ve explained, the stress response turns off many physiological processes that aren’t deemed urgent. Consider the lack of blood flow to the skin. That’s certainly going to affect how old you look. Worse, though, is how much chronic stress can affect the aging brain. We all lose brain cells as we age. Toxins, automatic routines, improper diet, lack of exercise and loss of social connections contribute to this. So, as stress allows more toxins to cross the blood-brain barrier and cortisol damages the hippocampus, brain function, new learning and memory are

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syndrome. Stress can worsen ulcers and inflammatory bowel disease as well.

Cortisol contributes to the accumulation of dangerous belly fat and worsens cravings for fat, salt and sugar. Eating unhealthy carbs can be soothing as this lessens the behavioral and hormonal imbalances associated with the stress response. Unfortunately, this behavior can become habitual and lead to health problems like diabetes and heart disease.

greatly affected.

The reduced effectiveness of the blood-brain barrier is a common finding in people with Alzheimer’s disease. The “degenerative cascade” is accelerated in the aging brain. A study of elderly people found that hippocampus size was reduced by 14 percent in those with high cortisol levels and that these participants showed much less ability to create new memories for new learning.

Another study found that hippocampus size was linked to the rate of progression in Alzheimer’s disease.

The APA reports on a study of chronological age versus physiological age related to stress.

Women that cared for disabled or sickly children over a matter of years were 10 years older physiologically. That’s because chronic stress affected their ability to regenerate blood cells. Chronic stress can also contribute to aging in terms of arthritis, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.

5. Stress Contributes to Weight Gain and Digestive Disorders Since digestion is also dialed down during the stress response, chronic stress can contribute to a variety of digestive disorders. Bloated stomach, cramping, constipation and diarrhea are common symptoms of chronic stress. So, too, is acid reflux and irritable bowel

6. Chronic Stress Affects Your Mood and Relationships Constant stress can affect your sleep patterns and make you irritable and fatigued, unable to concentrate and highly reactive. You may become unable to relax and operate in a state of anxiety. Depression is a common reaction to chronic stress. All of these things can downgrade your quality of life and affect your relationships with others.

Chronic stress is associated with feelings of helplessness and lack of control. Perfectionists are more likely to suffer from disrupted serotonin levels due to stress, the “feel-good” neurotransmitter in the brain, reports UMMC. 7. Stress Increases Pain

Links between pain severity and chronic stress have been established with headaches, joint pain and muscle pain. Stress seems to intensify arthritis pain and back pain. Work stress is associated with backaches, and stress increases the occurrence and severity of tension headaches.

8. Stress Affects Sexuality and Reproductive Functions

Chronic stress reduces sexual desire in women and can contribute to erectile dysfunction in men. Chronic stress is linked to premenstrual syndrome severity and can affect fertility in

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women. Stress during pregnancy is linked to higher rates of premature birth and miscarriage. Stress during pregnancy may also affect how infants themselves react to stress after birth, reports UMMC. Chronic stress can also worsen hormonally based mood changes that accompany menopause.

9. Chronic Stress Affects Your Skin, Hair and Teeth Hormonal imbalances due to stress and the fact that blood flow to the skin is reduced during the stress response can negatively affect your skin, hair and teeth. Eczema is a common reaction to stress. Acne, hives, psoriasis and rosacea have also been linked to stress. Hair loss and gum disease have also been linked to stress.

10. Stress Contributes to Addiction In an attempt to escape the negative feelings associated with chronic stress, many people turn to self-soothing behaviors or activities that temporarily raise their dopamine and serotonin levels. Alcohol, tobacco and substance abuse are common ways people attempt to treat stress. Food addictions, gambling, checking out with television and video games are also habits that may develop due to chronic stress. All of these behaviors end up worsening the problem in the long run and greatly affect both mental and physical health.

has to do with feeling out of control or helpless.

Stress has been linked to heart disease in men that don’t feel that they have control in their jobs. It also plays a role in acute coronary syndrome (ACS), symptoms that warn of a heart attack. UMMC reports that ACS occurs in men after work, after stressful incidents.

This means that thinking and emotions play a large part in ACS, and your thoughts and emotions are the very things that you can learn to control, no matter what happens in your environment.

Take a look at your life, and identify what’s causing you stress. Pay attention to your moods, and try to identify the thoughts and beliefs that may be contributing to them.

Make time to engage in pleasantly challenging activities, exercise and connect with others.

Prioritize and delegate. If you’re having trouble managing your weight because of chronic stress try ways to lower cortisol, like adaptogen herbs, and reduce cravings.

Don’t try to eliminate stress from your life altogether. First of all, that’s impossible as so much of life is unpredictable. Secondly, some kinds of stress are beneficial. A challenging memory task can boost your immune system while watching a violent video can weaken it, reports the Franklin Institute. Memory tasks can also contribute to brain cell growth. Learn to deal with stress effectively rather than avoid it altogether.

Don’t Take Stress for Granted Just because you aren’t able to spear your saber-toothed tiger doesn’t mean that you’re unable learn to deal with stress more effectively. And plenty of research has found that stress management and relaxation techniques can help you become more able to adapt to stressful events, more efficient in functioning during stress and better able to recover from stress. Much of chronic stress

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by Jillian Levy, CHHC

Stress: We all deal with it, yet we know how much better off we’d be — both physically and mentally — if we could only get it under control and find stress relievers that really work. While stress can be a positive, motivating factor at times (such as when you’re under pressure to perform well at work or to ace an important exam), more and more research shows that chronic stress impacts the body in ways similar to a poor diet, lack of sleep or sedentary lifestyle.

Would you believe that 75 percent to 90 percent of all doctors office visits are related to conditions caused by stress? (1) How exactly does stress negatively affect our health in so many ways? It mostly boils down to changes in our hormones, which then cascade to an increase in inflammation and various other problems.

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Uncontrolled stress experienced over a long period of time is considered “chronic,” dangerous and capable of increasing someone’s risk for heart disease, diabetes, weight gain or obesity, mental disorders, autoimmune diseases, digestive disorders, and even cancer.

Let’s face it, the stress we face today isn’t going anywhere, which is exactly why it’s more important than ever to find natural ways to bust stress that work well for us. If you’re up against large amounts of stress in your life (and who isn’t?), studies show you can greatly benefit from carving out more time in your busy schedule for things like regular exercise, meditation, spending time outdoors and keeping up with fun hobbies.

We can’t always control sources of stress in our lives, but we change how we react to them. The good news is this: The human body is actually designed to experience and handle stress, which is exactly why our bodies react to it so strongly. With some practice, we have the power to learn to use certain elements of stress to our advantage (for example, the fact that stress keeps us more alert and attentive), while better controlling other negative reactions (like digestion problems or giving in to cravings for unhealthy foods).

So, what are the best stress relievers available to us, and how can we ensure we don’t allow stress to control our lives? If you adhere to the following eight practices, you’re sure to feel less pressure and better manage your stress on a daily basis.

8 Natural Stress Relievers to Try Now 1. Exercise and Yoga One of the best stress relievers available to us is exercise, a natural remedy for anxiety because it releases powerful endorphin chemicals in the brain, which act like the body’s built-in painkillers and mood-lifters.

Research suggests the negative effects of stress on the body seem to be exaggerated in people who are inactive, a phenomenon called "stress-induced/exercise deficient” phenotype. Because we react to stress by experiencing changes in our neuro-endocrine systems, regular exercise is protective because it regulates various metabolic and psychological processes in the body, including reinforcing our natural circadian rhythms, sleep/wake cycles, moods and blood sugar levels.

Exercises improves insulin sensitivity, can help someone become more aware of their hunger levels, improves confidence/self-esteem, and leads to better mental processing and a lower risk for depression. (2) Can’t sleep? Well, exercise can help with that too, which is very important considering quality sleep is needed to regulate hormones and help the body recover.

Yoga has been shown to have similar benefits, reinforcing the “mind-body connection,” improving how people (especially women) feel about their bodies, helping with sleep and controlling anxiety. A review of over 35 clinical trials that tested the effects of regular yoga on stress levels and health found that, overall, yoga offers significant improvements in various physical and psychological health markers for the majority of people. (3) Looking for an even more impactful way to feel the benefits of exercise? Do so while

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listening to uplifting music. Research findings indicate that music listening positively impacts the psycho-biological stress system, helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system, improves recovery time, and has benefits for hormonal balance and brain functioning overall. (4) 2. Meditation/Devotional Prayer

Meditation and healing prayer are both proven stress relievers that help people deal with worry, anxiety and finding peace of mind.

Best of all, they can both be practiced conveniently anytime of day, in your own home and with no therapist, practitioner or program needed, making them a no-brainer.

Meditation and prayer have been used for literally thousands of years to improve wellbeing and connection to others, but today they’re actually backed up by science as well.

Natural stress relief meditation and mindfulness-based stress reduction are types of simple mental techniques that are practiced for as little as 10–15 minutes once or twice a day in order to bring about more “mindfulness” and reduce stress or anxiety.

(5, 6) Various other forms of meditation have been shown to lower physiological responses to stress, improve mental alertness, and help people overcome various emotional and physical problems, such as: anxiety, depression, poor mental health that affects quality of life, attention problems, substance use, eating habits, sleep, pain and weight gain. (7) 3. Acupuncture Acupuncture has increasingly been used to treat many stress-related conditions, including psychiatric disorders, autoimmune or immunological-related diseases, infertility, anxiety, and depression. Researchers have

found that acupuncture treatments result in changes in the cardiovascular and immune systems, increasing protective T-cell proliferation and helping with cellular immuno-responses. (8) Studies have shown that acupuncture is one of the best stress relievers for patients recovering from heart disease because it helps regulate the nervous system, therefore having positive effects on blood pressure levels, circulation, hormones and other factors. (9) 4. A Nutrient-Dense Diet A steady supply of nutrients like essential vitamins, trace minerals, healthy fats, electrolytes, amino acids and antioxidants all help your brain handle stress better, therefore benefiting your entire body.

Some of the best foods for natural stress relief include: •

•

•

•

Foods high in B vitamins (which the body uses to convert nutrients to energy) — raw or cultured dairy products, cage-free eggs, grass-fed beef, wild-caught fish, poultry, brewer’s yeast and green leafy vegetables.

Foods high in calcium and magnesium — as relaxing minerals and electrolytes, calcium and magnesium are important for relaxing muscles, relieving headaches and helping you sleep. Try unsweetened organic yogurt, wild-caught salmon, beans/legumes, leafy green veggies, cruciferous veggies like broccoli, avocados and nuts.

High protein foods — foods with protein provide amino acids that are needed for proper neurotransmitter functions.

Healthy fats and omega-3 fatty acids — cold-water, wild-caught fish like salmon or sardines can reduce inflammation and help stabilize moods, plus omega-3s are

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•

Igreat for the brain, development and heart health.

Other healthy fats that support brain health include nuts/seeds, avocado, olive oil and coconut oil.

On the other hand, foods to avoid in order to keep stress levels down include: •

•

•

Packaged or sugary foods — processed, refined foods or those with added sugar can give you blood sugar highs and lows throughout the day, increasing anxiety and causing cravings and fatigue.

Too much alcohol or caffeine — both alcohol and caffeine can cause or worsen anxiety, make you dehydrated, interfere with sleep leaving you tired, and make you unable to cope with stress well.

Refined vegetable oils — imbalances in polyunsaturated fatty acids, meaning getting much more omega-6s than omega-3s from your diet, are tied to metabolic damage, inflammation and even poor gut health, which can affect mental processes.

5. Challenging Your Thoughts with “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy” Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of therapeutic practice that has been proven to lower anxiety, stress and multiple disorders — including addiction, eating disorders, insomnia and depression. Knowing that at least 50 percent of the time

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experiencing a mental disorder is due mostly to chronic, untreated stress reactions, therapists use CBT to train all types of people to better react to situations that are stressful.

CBT focuses on challenging and changing your thoughts first and foremost, since the way you perceive an event (not the actual event itself) means everything in terms of how your body reacts. (10) Once you can identify the root thought pattern that is causing harmful behaviors, you can work on changing how you think about events and therefore react to them.

The idea behind CBT is this: If you can reframe the way you think about events in your life — for example, instead of panicking over a job change you choose to embrace it, prepare as best you can and seize the opportunity to start fresh — you can literally reduce the stress you wind up feeling from the event. CBT is useful for training us to avoid internal causes of stress, such as “all-or-nothing” thinking, jumping to conclusions, pessimism, having unrealistic expectations for ourselves, always expecting the worst-case scenario, and feeling guilt or shame over events that are out of our control. (11) 6. Spending More Time in Nature and Being Social Making time for connecting with the people around you, spending time outside and doing things you love with family, friends and your spouse are all stress relievers that are good for your health in many ways. Social connection is tied to longevity, since it helps people feel like they’re a part of something larger than themselves and helps give them perspective. Being outdoors has some similar effects, reminding people that they’re one piece of a much larger universe, lifting their moods and making it easier to get good sleep.

(12)

7. Keeping a Journal Keeping track of your emotions, both positive and negative, along with the events that can trigger them helps you identify what’s causing stress. A journal is an easy, effective way to monitor your state of mind throughout the day, focus on thoughts that cause you harm and figure out what’s really bothering you when you’re unsure.

A journal can also reduce stress by helping you to stay organized, such as listing out appointments, household responsibilities, job assignments or other tasks so you’re less frantic and likely to miss important deadlines.

8. Using Adaptogen Herbs and Essential Oils Several adaptogenic herbs and essential oils have been shown to improve anxiety symptoms by reducing the effects that stress and cortisol have on the body. Adaptogens (including ginseng, ashwagandga, maca, rhodiola, holy basil and cocoa) are a unique class of healing plants that balance, restore and protect the body and make it easier to handle stress by regulating hormones and physiological functions.

Essential oils such as lavender, myrrh, frankincense and bergamot are also capable of reducing inflammation, improving immunity, balancing hormones, and helping with sleep and digestion. (13) Bonus: Breathing Exercises Slow, deep breathing and specific breathing exercises helps the body override the sympathetic system, which controls our fightor-flight response, and lets the parasympathetic system — which controls our ability to relax — play a more dominant role.

(13b)

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By Down To Earth

Sparked by the name of one of our products, the African Potato Cream, we are asked by many; what is African Potato? Not everyone is aware of its history and uses. We give you some insight into why we use the plant extract in our products and why we believe it is a star ingredient.

The plant The African Potato, known as Hypoxis hemerocallidea or Hypoxis rooperi, is widespread in the summer rainfall regions of South Africa, especially in Kwazulu Natal. The indigenous plant is about 10 to 50cm tall, has bright yellow star shaped flowers and strap like leaves which are hairy all over. It is a geophytic herb and forms a compressed underground stem that looks like a potato, called a corm. The African Potato extract comes from the corm of the plant.

What it is made up of African Potato extract is rich in plant sterols, which are abundant in plants, but are highly concentrated in the African Potato. Researchers have found that plant sterols greatly enhance the functioning of T-cells, which control and regulate the immune system, and possess potent anti-inflammatory properties similar to cortisone, but without the side-effects.

Hypoxoside, an active compound found in the African Potato, when converted to Rooperol, has shown to be a potent antioxidant which scavenges free-radicals and has an anti-ageing effect.

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phase where our expert chemist calculates the best synergistic complex of herbal extracts for maximum effectiveness and safely preserves our products. To the production phase where advanced machinery and manufacturing processes are used to maintain ingredient purity.

Down to Earth really does take the “back to basics approach” in harnessing tried, trusted and safe plant extracts, but with the help of the latest knowledge in producing high-performing topical products.

How to I know which natural product is best?

The usage of the word “natural” is not regulated. Companies are able to use it when marketing their product, even if there is a miniscule quantity of natural ingredients present in the product.

This makes it difficult to navigate and select products available in the market today. We have chosen to be transparent and act with integrity in our declaration of ingredients. We will always tell you what percentage of natural ingredients is in each product. Just look underneath the ingredients list of the label. Other natural product companies with similar ethical values will do the same.

There are certifying bodies such as Ecocert-Cosmos and Natrue, which prescribe a minimum value of natural ingredient required in a product for it to be deemed “natural”. This value is set at around 95% of ingredients that should be natural or nature derived. We strictly adhere to these principles – in fact, our products are in excess of 99.5% natural.

This will help you steer clear of “green-washed” products. This where you are led to believe that the product is natural and that the company follows green practices, but in reality they do not.

It is a hard pill to swallow when you know you money has gone to a company that is not honest and probably does not care about you or the environment.

Are processed natural ingredients still natural?

It makes sense that pure ingredients harvested from nature can’t always be used in all products.

That is why the industry has laid down the following classifications of natural ingredients: • Natural ingredients; obtained only by physical processes like cold pressing.

• Derived natural ingredients; permitted chemical reaction processes on only natural ingredients to extract certain qualities of the ingredient.

• Nature-identical ingredients; they are reproduced synthetically in a lab, but exist in nature.

These ingredients are allowed when strictly necessary in order to ensure consumer safety (preservatives) or for purity (minerals/pigments) or for sustainability reasons.

Why should I use natural products?

As a natural product producer we hope that our customers buy into our ethos as much as they do into our practical and effective products. Here is a summary of what our values entail: • We promote the use of natural ingredients and ingredients from organic farming.

• We maintain appropriate manufacturing processes to maintain ingredient purity.

• We avoid the use of GMO ingredients and potentially harmful synthetics such as parabens, petroleum compounds and synthetic fragrances.

• We use no animal testing in our product development and source ingredients that have not been tested on animals.

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The many uses The African Potato has been used widely for centuries as a traditional medicine, or “muthi,” in the southern regions of Africa. It is known in KwaZulu Natal as “inkonfe” in isiZulu and is used for cardiac diseases, intestinal parasites, cancer, to boost the immune system, diabetes, testicular tumors, prostate hypertrophy, burns, ulcers and more.

The findings of studies show that the African Potato possesses antinociceptive, antiinflammatory and antidiabetic properties and this supports the anecdotal, traditional uses in the management of painful inflammatory conditions, as well as in the control of type-2 diabetes. Furthermore, there is evidence of anti-bacterial and antifungal properties.

The Down to Earth African Potato Cream is a deep penetrating anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant-rich ointment that relieves: • muscle & joint pain • swelling & stiffness • sunburn & minor burns • eczema, acne, rashes & psoriasis The African Potato extract is also used in our Revive Moisturiser to help soothe and calm the skin, eliminating redness and puffiness caused by inflammation.

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By Margi McAlpine You are created in God’s image and therefore carry the God Spark within you making you absolutely special, perfect and unique.

Yet for many there is often a feeling that they are not respected and honoured as they should be by those that they come into contact with or live with.

There is a huge gap in their lives which is brought about by their lack of self-worth.

Do you measure or judge yourself by what other people may or may not think of you? Do you allow your sense of whom and what you are to be clouded by the views of others who most times would be working from ego or perhaps jealousy?

For many the aspect of not being worthy starts when they are very young. Perhaps they live in a home where they are always criticized and put down often by the very people who should be teaching them how special they truly are.

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You might have had parents who themselves had no worth and so they passed that onto their children and so the cycle continues until someone in the circle understands that they can break this negativity by knowing that this is not the way it should be.

Perhaps the lack of worth began when you started school and found yourself in a cruel and disparaging environment where instead of being taught self-esteem and life skills you might have been bullied by teachers and pupils alike.

All of these things would have contributed to your conditioning that you have now carried forward into your adult life.

You would have carried your bruised and battered inner child into adulthood and every time a situation arises where your worth is criticized or called into question you would have retreated behind this child and your reaction would be just the same as when you were a child but masked behind the face of adulthood.

Sometimes the lack of self-worth would have come in as an adult. You might have gone through a very difficult illness where you were unable to do much for yourself and so you start to feel that you are no longer of any use to anyone.

You could also have brought up a family and now they have all left home to go their own way and you begin to doubt who you are and where your self-worth lies as you feel that you are no longer of any use to anyone.

The saddest aspect of this is how much time and energy would have been wasted in your life; time that you can never regain.

The good thing of course is that you have it in your power to change things!

You have the ability to break the circle of negativity by standing in your power and acknowledging that you are a Divine and Amazing Being and therefore deserving and worthy of so much more than this.

You would need to heal your inner child so that he or she realizes that they are loved and wanted and respected as every living being should be!

A good way to start is with self-respect!

Self –respect is the forerunner to unconditional love of self which is the only way that you become whole and are able to be exactly what your Divine Soul was created to be.

You should love yourself unconditionally which is so important and with love of self goes respect of self.

If you are not able to respect yourself then how can you expect others to respect you?

Many create their lives as an illusion so that they feel more comfortable and can hide behind a mask that they hope no one can penetrate.

However what they can’t hide from themselves is how unhappy and unfulfilled the lack of

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respect and self-worth creates. So they will try their best to show the outside world that they are actually great when in actual fact they are slowly dying inside.

If this is how you are feeling then now is the time to make a change; a change to a space where you are no longer persecuted by what others think or say about you because you have an understanding of exactly who you are and what you are and that you are exactly in the perfect space that you should be in.

You should be able to look in the mirror and see exactly who is reflected back to you.

You should be able to look yourself in the eye and know that you are an Amazing Being, living in unconditional love, integrity and light.

Only then are you honouring and loving yourself!

And as you respect yourself so you will respect others because it will be the way you live your life.

You will lead by example and teach others by your actions and compassion.

If all on this planet could respect everything and everyone we would live in an ideal world filled with love and grace!

So let’s change the world by living in total respect leading to unconditional love of all!

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11 Traps Sabotaging Your Spiritual Growth

by Mateo Sol

Spiritual growth is an experience we all go through once we have experienced the spiritual awakening process. As we begin to awaken to the truth of who we are, we develop a connection to our authentic essence, higher nature or Soul.

As we progressively advance on our paths, our spiritual essence begins to blossom like a luminous flower deep in our heart. And the more we clear away the dead, gnarled and overgrown beliefs, perspectives, and emotional baggage within us, the more clearly we feel our divine essence. When we maintain our inner garden, we feel more and more love, wisdom, peace, and wholeness as our True Nature is revealed slowly to us.

Yet, like any garden, our metaphorical inner landscapes can be consumed by weeds, plagues, and forms of pollution that strangle anything beautiful we have been nurturing. Sometimes, we even sabotage the growth occurring within us ourselves, without knowing it.

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Spiritual growth is the process of awakening to your true nature, purpose, and potential. When you undergo spiritual growth you experience an expansion in awareness and insight, also known as higher consciousness. All spiritual growth has one objective: to help you embody your Soul, Higher Self or Atman. Once you are able to unite with your Soul, you will experience what is understood as enlightenment, “heaven,” Oneness or moksha.

The problem with the spiritual journey is that it is often laden with traps of many kinds. These traps are not physical, but they are instead mental and are often referred to as anti-awakening forces.

As we process life primarily through the mind, we also tend to approach spirituality with the mind. The issue with this is that spirituality cannot be contained by the limitations of thought.

Once spirituality is captured within a thought, it ceases to maintain its true essence and instead becomes a constricting belief or dogma. In other words, spirituality loses its alive, ever-flowing essence once it is compartmentalized within the mind.

Think about it this way: have you ever felt immense awe and wonder in the presence of something beautiful and enchanting like a sunrise? The moment you stop immersing yourself in the feeling of the sunrise, and start taking a photo of it or describing it in a text message, is the moment you are no longer truly present with the sunrise. Instead, you are filtering it through your thoughts or through a lens of some kind. The same can be said with spirituality.

The more we use the mind to approach our Soul, the further our Soul feels. But the moment we drop our thoughts and allow ourselves to purely feel our Soul, suddenly we feel at home once again. Think of it like this: when you chase the sun on the horizon thinking you will reach it, you never will, because it is an illusion. But when you stop and feel the sun’s presence shining on your skin already, you will no longer chase anything.

It is difficult for us, as mind-oriented beings, to become conscious of our thoughts, as we have been conditioned to identify with them since a young age. But once we can observe our thoughts and how they tend to sabotage our happiness, we will experience true spiritual growth.

Below I want to share with you eleven of the most common traps that we fall into on the spiritual path. I have personally experienced these pitfalls many times, and they have resulted in a lot of pain and struggle. See how many of these traps you can identify with:

1. The Trap Of Spiritual Bypassing Spiritual bypassing is the practice of using spirituality to avoid, suppress or escape from certain emotions or situations in life. Common types of spiritual bypassing include: • • • •

numbing one’s emotions through “spiritualized” repression and avoidance unhealthy obsession and attachment to the positive (e.g. positive thinking) and adopting a passive-aggressive “nice” mask debilitating judgment about one’s negativity or shadow self anger-phobia

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weak personal boundaries blind or excessively tolerant compassion (to the detriment of oneself and the other) forcefully trying to “kill” the ego and condemning it as “bad/evil” exaggerated detachment getting stuck in theoretical spirituality and dogmatic beliefs about “truth” denial of self-responsibility by placing it on another higher being (e.g. spirit guide, angel) delusions of having arrived at a higher level of being using spiritual practices to escape unpleasant emotions; for example, using meditation to dissociate from emotions, rather than transmute them

2. The trap of superiority This manifests as the tendency to “look down” upon others who are not as “consciously advanced” or “awakened.” The trap of superiority can be seen as a subtle feeling of “being better” than others who aren’t “spiritual.” In more extreme cases, this trap can appear as the tendency to lash out at people who are still “asleep,” “blind” or “sheep” of society. This kind of reactive behavior can often be seen in people who have just “woken up” to the state of the world, yet have undergone minimal spiritual growth. We need to remember that everyone is doing the best they can at their level of consciousness. When the time comes, they will awaken too.

3. The trap of forcefully trying to wake others up Once we have awoken out of the “matrix” it is common for us to desperately want our loved ones and fellow peers to awaken. We can see how much pain and delusion other people are in, and that riles up in us the intense desire to “show them the truth.” However, often our attempt to forcefully awaken people misfires quickly. Even though we have good intentions, our desire to “save” others causes them to backlash in ways that infuriate both them and us. The less responsive they are to our pushy attempts to “wake them up,” the more frustrated and alienated we become. Eventually, trying to force others to wake up ends up harming both ourselves and others. Not only that, but this trap generates a lot of anger and misunderstanding, which results in further ego ensnarement, sabotaging our spiritual growth.

Let people wake up when they are ready.

4. The trap of wanting to help others This trap is closely entwined with the previous trap except it is more geared towards giving others advice. There is nothing wrong with wanting to help others, as long as you respect their boundaries. But sometimes developing an expanded spiritual perspective gives the ego an opportunity to feel more “knowledgeable” than others still trapped in illusion. When unsolicited advice is given to others, the results can be disastrous (think anger, upset, offense etc.).

Wanting to help others can also be used as a way of escaping our need to help ourselves. Under the guise of being “spiritual” and compassionate, helping others can be just another form of spiritual bypassing.

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5. The trap of wanting to revolutionize the world Once we wake up to the lies and corruption present in our current societal structure, many of us want to desperately change society. We fall into the trap of thinking that freedom, honesty, and justice can be created by changing the external system. As a result, we buy into the “us versus them” and “divide and conquer” mentality that is a product of the ego’s tunnel vision. We don’t realize that we’re actually fuelling the corrupt system which depends on anger and chaos to thrive and survive. Instead of understanding that all true change comes from an internal revolution, we get caught up in the pursuit of external revolution which is fragile and transient.

6. The trap of meaninglessness Once we experience divine and transcendent states of being in which we become One with all, we can fall into the trap of spiritual nihilism after the experience passes. In other words, once we realize, from the perspective of the Universe, that nothing we do ultimately matters because all is passing, we can fall into a depressive mindset. Using truths such as “All is an illusion,” the person who falls for this trap tends to filter life through the mind. By mentally clinging to these truths, they become beliefs that the ego uses as an excuse to paradoxically feel separate from existence.

7. The trap of avoiding everyday responsibilities Some people get so infatuated with the spiritual path that they avoid dealing with ordinary, everyday affairs. This form of escapism can lead to leeching off others, not paying bills, evading taxes, obsessing with “living off the grid,” etc. When avoiding everyday responsibilities is worn as a badge of being consciously elevated or “more spiritual” this too is a form of egotism in disguise. Avoiding ordinary responsibilities which are not perceived as being “spiritual enough” can also be a form of distraction that the ego uses to limit spiritual growth. The more concerned and obsessed you are with living an outwardly “spiritual” looking life, the more distanced from your soulwork you become. Sometimes we need to feed the sharks to keep the calm and live balanced lives.

Remember the old Zen saying: “Before Enlightenment: chop wood, carry water; after Enlightenment: chop wood, carry water.” We need to be humble and recognize that ordinary daily life is the perfect place to spiritually grow and mature.

8. The trap of self-victimization Soon after we experience a spiritual awakening and wake up to the insanity of the world, it is common for us to get stuck in self-victimization. We may start to perceive the world as a “prison” and other people as the “captives” or even “capturers.” The shock of awakening may send us spiraling into anxiety and paranoia. Inevitably, we may start feeling like victims resulting in us blaming other people and the higher powers for how we feel. The spiritual trap of selfvictimization can be seen a lot on social media which often tends to become a pity party for spiritual fledglings. At the end of the day, we need to see that it is actually our thoughts that

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cause us to suffer, not other people or situations. Once we can take self-responsibility for our perspectives and beliefs, we can become empowered once again.

9. The trap of the Savior Complex This trap is related to the previously mentioned trap of wanting to help others. The Savior Complex is adopted by people who feel a sense of superiority to the rest of humanity. Their sense of being “different” and more “spiritually elevated” can make them feel as though they are destined to fix the world. The Savior Complex can most often be seen within the “lightworker/Starseed/healer” circles who tend to put themselves up on pedestals, believing it is their cosmic duty to “save the planet.” This perception aligns with the belief that there is something “wrong” with reality and that other people are “broken” and need to be fixed (which is an ego perspective). This perception also reinforces the ego’s sense of “specialness” and selfimportance.

The Savior Complex can go one step further and evolve into a Martyr Complex. Martyrs believe they must “bear the burdens” of others. Obviously, this is an extremely unhealthy way of living which is based on Christian conditioning (think of the story of Jesus). By “carrying” other people’s pain, Martyrs bypass taking responsibility for their own happiness and enable other people’s immature behavior. Read more about the Martyr Complex.

10. The trap of attachment After experiencing profound and expansive mystical experiences which often come after significant spiritual growth, it is common for us to attach to the experience. It can be painful to come down from these experiences and return back to usual, unenlightened reality. We can also attach to our “stories” and beliefs about spirituality. Because the mind tries to make sense of this transcendent experience, it will often latch onto various ideas as a form of control. But the more we attach to our beliefs, stories, desires, and mental interpretations, the more we suffer. We forget that everything passes, even transcendent experiences. Enlightenment isn’t a destination, it is a complete surrender; a fundamental shift in the way we approach life.

Attachment is perhaps the most common trap that sabotages our spiritual growth. On one hand, attachment to ideas helps us to grow, but ultimately, those ideas that we are unwilling to let go of end up stagnating our growth. When ideas become protection blankets rather than catalysts for our growth, there is a big problem. We need to realize that freedom cannot be experienced through the mind. Freedom is felt when we can be liberated from attachment to our thoughts.

11. The trap of relying on external answers As we progress through our spiritual paths it is normal, and beneficial, for us to seek out external support. Reading books, attending workshops and seminars, going to retreats, practicing holistic techniques, and getting a personal guru all help us experience spiritual growth. However, after a while, it is common for us to become too dependent on external answers for our freedom and happiness. This pitfall can be seen in many spiritual seeker’s

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obsession and glorification of their gurus (in other words, projecting and disowning their divinity onto another).

Eventually, as we become accustomed to constantly searching outside of ourselves for answers, we forget the presence of our own Souls. We forget that our ultimate source of guidance and wisdom comes from within us, and instead, we keep chasing things outside of ourselves that we believe will “enlighten” us.

We need to stop, pause, and reflect on our spiritual journeys. Are we seeking out first-hand experience or second-hand experience given to us by others? Don’t forget to look within for your answers as well because it is by connecting with your Soul that you will ultimately experience freedom.

In order to see through and extricate ourselves from these traps, we need to be radically honest with ourselves. We need to be willing to see that we have indeed gone astray and have fed into the ego. We will also immensely benefit from exploring our Shadow Selves and exploring our mistaken beliefs.

Don’t worry if you have fallen into any of these traps. We all become ensnared by the ego. It can be particularly difficult for us to see clearly when the ego “spiritualizes” certain beliefs and ideas. The more open, humble, and honest you are, the more you will be able to see through these tricks and liberate yourself.

Finally, don’t be afraid of the dark. Don’t be afraid of being wrong. Everything, no matter how painful, is a learning opportunity. At the end of the day, your Soul is everything you have been searching for.

If you have any extra thoughts or insights about traps that sabotage spiritual growth, please share below. I would also love to hear your own journey.

Mateo Sol is a prominent psychospiritual teacher whose work has influenced the lives of thousands of people worldwide. Born into a family with a history of drug addiction, schizophrenia, and mental illness, Mateo Sol was taught about the plight of the human condition from a young age. As a shaman and spiritual guide, Sol’s mission is to help others experience freedom, wholeness, and peace in any stage of life.

About Lonerwolf

Our names are Aletheia Luna and Mateo Sol and we currently live in Perth, Western Australia.

Our mission is to help others embrace the path of the lone wolf and listen to the soul’s calling. Our goal is to provide a grounded and balanced perspective of spirituality that doesn’t bypass the raw, real, and messy aspects of spiritual growth or psychological development.

We are deeply drawn to exploring and exposing both the light and shadow side of human nature and spirituality. We strive towards integration, balance, wholeness, and embracing both the sacred and wild aspects of being human. Read more.

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By Penni Du Plessis from Divine Space

With all the intensity we have gone through in the past few months I would love to share a few tips you can follow to keep aligned with the new emerging energy in the 5th dimension.

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Firstly, let your mind run wild and dare to dream. Write down all the new ideas you will intuit, even if you don’t follow through with them immediately – know that the more you anchor them, the more they will expand and grow… and these are messages from your higher self – so please don’t ignore them. As you align with them it opens up to wonderful new potential for you and your future. However please know that once they are in the morphogenic field – if you don’t use it – others will pick up on the energy and run with the ideas. No more procrastination because if you snooze you will lose the opportunity to create something unique and awesome.

You may also be aware of your physical body changing – and part of this change is that eventually the 2 halves of our brain will become one. Dreaming and putting those dreams in action will speed this up. The left and right sides of the brain have up until now; been very different, but what if an integration of both is the new way forward.

Where we have the ability to be creatively inspired and at the same time have the skills to put that creativity into action in a whole new way. This is where we are literally integrating our vision of our spiritual ‘home’ and instead of yearning to return to it – we can begin to manifest this vision here and now on earth, using our innate sense of knowing. When enough people have adjusted to this deep core physiological change it will affect every creation in life and it will be seen in the future as an evolutionary jump…. how awesome is that and what if we can create this in our lifetimes?

One thing that is deeply true for me is that true power comes from being totally in harmony – with yourself, with others, and with our environment. This precludes all competition, as competition is the ego’s way of holding onto things in case you don’t have enough – and hey….if you think that way – then you will create that lack in your life anyway. Be happy for what others are creating, be inspired by what you see and ask them for help if they have skills or a vision that you lack.

The more we can make space for people to harmonize with us, the more magic we can create together. I love seeing and helping people grow. If truly feeds my soul to know that they have taken my teachings and can outshine me with the tools. As long as the work is being represented and can change people’s lives – it does not matter how they heard about it.

Honour each other and together we can amplify our creations to make a lasting difference on the planet.

And of course, stop trying to fit in and following the crowd. We have been taught not to rock the boat, but what if that rocking is what would change the course we have plotted and planned for our lives. When we walk with the crowd, we get lost in it and our light dissipates and now is the time to stand out, be seen and to shine brightly. Let your curiosity guide you and be open to looking for alternatives.

I have been chatting to people recently who have been asking me how they can find the light that I often speak about. Always remember that you carry the light you have been searching for, within you – so stop trying to find it from the outside. It is in the core of you and has been building over lifetimes and within the different dimensional aspects of ourselves too.

I believe that we have 11 different dimensional aspects of ourselves – each one fulfilling a

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different aspect of life. So one of us will be single, another happily married with children, another may be a traveler, or a nun or a doctor… etc… Each one looks similar (how many times have you been told that you have a twin?) We all have the same goals in life, the same sense of humour and outlook, but each one is looking at life from a different perspective and even a different part of the world. How cool is that?

The 12th dimensional aspect of ourselves is the higher self which over-lights us all – almost like the pole in the maypole, with each of the 11 ribbons being a different colour – which connects to a different path or existence. We will explore more of this in future newsletters, as I am busy developing and playing with ways that we can tap into these different aspects to guide us in mastering our lives.

Until then – stop following the rules that no longer serve you.. Restrictive beliefs hold you back and challenge you in the 5th dimension, go find your passion and move in that direction. Notice what makes you light up and brings a smile to your heart. It may not make you money yet – but the enjoyment you imbue will open doors for you beyond your imagining.

Have fun in every moment and play well together. www.divinespace.co.za

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Gotu kola, the ‘herb of long life’, is a staple in traditional Eastern medicine since medicine began. In the West, we use it to support peripheral blood flow, helping to warm icy fingers and toes and improve varicose veins. In current news, gotu kola is making a major comeback as studies confirm its benefits for memory and brainpower. Could this herald the end of the ‘lost-keys’ syndrome?

What is Gotu kola?

Let’s address the details first. Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) is a member of the parsley family that’s indigenous to Asia, South Africa and countries in the South Pacific. Over the centuries, the herb has been prescribed to treat a startling range of ailments, from syphilis, hepatitis and stomach ulcers to mental fatigue, epilepsy, diarrhoea, skin conditions such as psoriasis, and asthma.

Modern research reveals that gotu kola contains compounds called triterpenoids, which are mainly responsible for wound-healing and vascular effects. Amino acids, beta carotene and fatty acids have also been identified. It’s an adaptogenic herb – a safe, non-toxic solution to help your body adapt to stress of all forms. Adaptogenic herbs improve your body’s strength, energy, stamina and endurance, and bolster mental clarity.

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Health benefits of Gotu kola In the modern world, gotu kola is prescribed to treat: Blood circulation and varicose veins.

Many people suffer with chronic venous insufficiency (that’s when the valves in the leg veins don’t work properly, blocking the flow of blood and causing it to pool in the veins. You’ll have seen that condition in people with varicose veins). In eight studies, some 500 people with this condition were treated with gotu kola. The results were astonishing. Their symptoms – poor circulation, swollen and aching leg veins – were significantly reduced. (That’s good news for frequent fliers too – take gotu kola for two days before flying, during the flight, and on the day you land. You’ll experience less fluid retention and ankle swelling.)

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Gotu kola can help improve brain function and memory after a stroke.

Older people who take gotu kola certainly report that it helps their memory. (Found the keys!) The herb’s effect on circulation may be partly responsible – triterpene compounds in gotu kola help improve the health of blood vessels and connective tissue, and enhance the chemical messengers (the neurotransmitters) in the brain. Alzheimer's disease Lab and animal studies show that gotu kola helps protect brain cells from toxicity – and the plaque that’s associated with Alzheimer’s.

Anxiety and stress Gotu kola may help ease anxiety and stress, especially in people with anxiety disorder.

That’s good for memory too, as anxiety can affect short-term memory.

Depression and Insomnia People taking gotu kola for their anxiety disorder reported that it also helped with depression and insomnia.

Joint pain.

The herb has anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce inflammation in the joints.

Triterpenoid compounds in the herb appear to stimulate collagen production in bones, cartilage and connective tissue. That’s good news for arthritis sufferers.

Wound healing Increased collagen production may also support wound healing and reduce scarring. Further tests are needed though.

Other benefits Gotu kola is also said to support the immune system; support detoxing processes in the liver and kidneys; and to help prevent convulsions, making it potentially useful to treat epilepsy.

Conclusion So, gotu kola supports your brain, memory, your mood, your circulation and your joints.

Remember where your keys are now?

Always consult your healthcare practitioner before taking herbal remedies.

Written by Judy Beyer for Flora Force Health Products

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By Wendy Young of Wise-Living

Conscious eating is becoming aware of how the food you eat affects your body, emotions and mind. Learning what foods, and how you eat them, affect both your body and mind can therefore support health and prevent disease.

Nutrition is the essence of effective self-care.

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Right diet is the main factor in the treatment of the physical body which is built up by food.

Without changing your diet you cannot expect the body, which is its by product, to fundamentally change, whatever else you may attempt. By correcting your diet, you eliminate the fundamental causes of disease.

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In its constitutional approach, Ayurveda emphasizes the correct diet for the individual as the basis for health. When you attend to digestion, you attend to your health.

Remember: physical disease occurs as a result of poor digestion and assimilation in the body.

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Guidelines for Healthy Eating • • • • • •

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Eat only when hungry and drink when thirsty.

Follow the body and not the mind – listen to your body and what it needs.

Treat your digestion like a fire – stoke it with easy to assimilate light meals.

The main meal is best eaten at lunchtime when the digestive fire is at its strongest.

Eating in between meals slows down digestion and must be avoided in intestinal imbalance.

Eat the last meal of the day early in the evening. Late eating can cause constipation, indigestion and the accumulation of toxins.

Eat to less than full capacity. It is recommended to eat until the stomach is 1/2 full with food, 1/4 full with liquid and to leave 1/4 empty for the digestive process to have some space.

Eat simple meals which are less taxing to the digestive system – simplicity in a meal, variety in the week!

Avoid drinking water or other fluids with the meal. The liquid douses the digestive fire and makes the process sluggish.

Taking water or fluids directly after the meal has the same counterproductive effects and promotes lethargy and weight gain.

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Eat in a peaceful environment in the spirit of harmony and gratitude – not driving, hurrying or standing.

Chew the meal thoroughly and joyfully to aid proper assimilation of nutrients and digestion, so that the vital tissues are nourished, the body’s hunger is fed and emotional cravings are satisfied.

Eat fresh and seasonal food that is locally and organically grown (as much as possible!).

Eat fruit, including juice, away from other foods about one hour before or after a meal as fruit tends to ferment in the digestive tract.

Do not eat contra-indicated foods: Dairy and fruit, melon after other food, fruits with other food, fish and milk, eggs with milk, lemons with milk or yoghurt, yoghurt after dark, equal parts of ghee and honey (3:1 by weight), cooked honey.

Eat warm and cooked food as these are easier to digest. Cold food, raw food, ice and cold water can weaken the digestive process.

Avoid eating raw and cooked food together.

Minimise the use of leftovers, tinned, frozen or preserved foods.

Avoid excessive fasting or excessive eating.

If you would like to develop a practical and sustainable nutrition and lifestyle programme to suit your specific needs, book a Nutrition and Lifestyle consultation with Wendy Young from Wise Living. Email her on wendy@wiseliving.co.za and follow www.wise-living.co.za for detailed information of all her offerings.

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Vegetable Potjie

Recipe: Toni Brockhoven Ingredients – Serves 2

Method

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2x packets of Fry’s Spicy Curry pieces 2x tablespoons chops & steak seasoning ¼ cup corn flour 2x onions, cut in wedges 2x celery sticks, chopped (no leaves) 2x large carrots, peeled and cut in chunks 1x large sweet potato, peeled and cut in chunks 4 medium zucchinis, cut in chunks 3x cloves of garlic, crushed 1x tablespoon olive oil 1x tablespoon Ina Paarman stock powder 1x tablespoon Dulse flakes (or nori sheet flakes) 2x cinnamon sticks 2x fresh bay leaves 1x fresh sprig of rosemary ½x cup of gin ½x bottle of red wine 1x cup water (as needed)

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Thaw, rinse, and dry the Fry’s curry pieces.

Roll the pieces in a mixture of 2 tablespoons Chops & Steak seasoning and ¼ cup corn flour. Brown the pieces in a bit of oil until crispy. Set aside.

Add all the ingredients in a big potjie pot and mix well.

Put the lid on and place the pot on a gas stove over low heat, or over warm braai coals.

Let it simmer for 1 -2 hours until the carrots are tender.

Taste and adjust seasoning if need be (use pink salt and extra stock powder if required).

Use a potato masher and mash sweet potato and zucchinis to thicken the sauce, or use water for a thinner consistency.

Serve with cooked rice.

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Book Now SUP Yoga On The Dam

27 Oct, 09:30 – 11:00 Dabulamanzi Canoe Club, Louw Geldenhuys Dr, Emmarentia, Johannesburg Got balance and core? Try out a yoga session on a paddle board!

Our SUP boards are wide, long and stable and are excellently suited for a variety of yoga poses.

Practicing on the boards requires a higher than normal engagement of core strength and encourages a mindful and slower approach to your normal practice. The surrounding water, nature and gentle movements of the board all add to the experience.

Every session will start with a short instruction on how to stay stable on the boards. We then paddle across to the other side of the dam where the SUP boards are anchored and the group will move through a 60 minute yoga practice which will be suitable for all levels of practitioners (with a sense of adventure!). We will start with poses that involve sitting/kneeling/lying down on the boards, followed by a bit of core strengthening and some standing poses and variations (and for the brave some optional balancing poses!). Every session will end with a delicious relaxation, lying on your back floating on the board. After the yoga session everyone gets some free time, you can paddle around the dam (one lap is 1km) or you can experiment with some more yoga poses on the board.

All equipment is supplied by our partners at Canoe Concepts.

You need to be able to swim and be comfortable in the water for this activity.

Practical Details: - Cost: 250 ZAR/person per 90 min session - if you have your own board join us for R150.

- Venue: Dabulamanzi Canoe Club, Emmarentia Dam - Participants: maximum 12 per session - Bring: water, sunscreen, swimming gear (or normal yoga clothes that can get a bit wet), cap, if you have one a watertight container or bag Conscious Life Magazine

When something sounds too good to be true, it often is. That isn’t the case, though, when it comes to high-intensity interval training (HIIT), specifically “one-minute workouts.” I like to call this type of exercise burst training, since it’s comprised of short, high-intensity bursts of exercise, with slow recovery phases, repeated during one exercise session. Burst training is done at 85 to 100 percent of your maximum heart rate rather than 50 to 70 percent in moderate endurance activity.

One of the most comprehensive studies to date comparing the cardiovascular benefits of HIIT workouts to more traditional, longer, moderate-intensity cardio suggests you’ll be able to reap incredible health benefits even when you’re in a time crunch. Translation: No more excuses to skip a workout.

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Latest Research on One-Minute Workouts McMaster University researchers set out to see how HIIT, also known as sprint-interval training, compared to moderate-intensity continuous training recommended in public health guidelines.

The researchers were most concerned with the exercises’ impacts on cardiorespiratory fitness and insulin sensitivity. The small study placed sedentary men in a 12-week-long session of either three times a week intense exercise, three times a week moderate exercise, or a control group that didn’t perform any exercise.

The sprint-interval group’s total exercise session lasted just 10 minutes, featuring a two-minute warm-up, three-minute cool-down and three 20-second “all-out” cycle sprints. Each sprint featured two minutes of easy cycling for recovery. The moderate-intensity group involved five times as much exercise, featuring 45 minutes of continuous cycling each session.

When looking at cardiovascular fitness and blood-sugar control improvements, the highintensity group’s results were nearly identical to the moderate-exercise group that spent much more time exercises. Indeed, the high-intensity group’s 10-minute workout featured just one minute of high-intensity exercise. (1)

It is important to note, though, that other research suggests HIIT may not be as beneficial to brain health as moderate-intensity training. (2) More research is needed in that department.

3 Health Benefits of HIIT • • •

It’s anti-aging. HIIT reduces expression of certain genes linked to accelerated aging. (3) It keeps your hunger hormones in check. Researchers out of the University of Bath in the UK found better hormone balance in individuals who participated in HIIT, or burst training. (4) Burst training is a proven way to burn off excess fat fast. (5)

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Burst Training Workouts to Get Started Treadmill

Cycling This cycling interval workout is based on the “tabata” style of exercise, which usually consists of 20 seconds of hard work followed by 10 seconds of rest. This is not generally recommended for beginners. In order to do interval training, this same ratio can be used in any other form of exercise as well. There is also an increased risk for injury when performing exercises at a highintensity for time, so focus on proper form and correcting muscle imbalances.

1. Start by cycling at a restful pace for three minutes to warm up.

2. Move into your interval period for the next 10 minutes, where you will be cycling as hard as you possibly can for 20 seconds and then resting for 10 seconds. You can use a timer to keep track of the time or count in your head. Repeat this interval schedule 10–20 times depending on your abilities and current fitness level.

3. Cool down with a slow, restful three minutes of cycling.

Equipment-Free Home Workouts Other ideas for burst training at home include running in place, jumping jacks, jump rope and squat pulses. Pick a handful and burst for 10 to 20 minutes, 3 to 5 times a week.

Final Thoughts on One-Minute Workouts Not having enough time is the No. 1 reason most people skip workouts. This latest research suggests you can spend just 10 minutes a day (which includes just one minute of high-intensity exercise) to reap almost identical benefits of a 45-minute intensity workout like jogging or cycling. Beyond that, workouts for long amounts of time at moderate intensities has been linked to overtraining injuries and chronic high cortisol levels, increasing your risk of a number of diseases.

It is important to note, though, that you should concentrate on proper exercise form and improving any postural imbalances you may have to reduce your risk of injury from any type of exercise. High-intensity burst training offers many health benefits, but it’s still not clear whether more moderate exercise better benefits the brain. That’s a new area of research scientists are starting to investigate more.

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How to Create a DroughtTolerant Garden

By Rebekah White, Courtesy of From Greenpop

If you live in one of the drier areas of the country, you no doubt have found yourself at a crossroads when it comes to your landscaping. Is it better to neglect the lawn entirely, and allow it to wither under the hot summer sun? Or should you attempt to find a few drought- tolerant plants and see how they fare under the arid conditions?

Luckily, it’s not impossible to plant a luscious garden in the middle of a drought. Many species of plants are remarkably skilled at retaining and conserving water, and can hold their own against the driest conditions. Whether you live in the middle of the desert or, like many of us, are concerned about what increasingly hot and dry summers will do to your existing garden, consider implementing a few of the suggestions below and on the next page 1. Do your research Before you begin, be sure to heavily research your soil type and the growing conditions in your area. If you don’t know what kind of soil you have, bring a sample to a nursery or cooperative near you. If your soil type is undesirable, you can improve it by adding organic matter. This will help retain moisture and attract beneficial organisms that can improve fertility. If you’re still unsure of what to do, talk to a landscaper, who can help you choose the best plants for your lawn gradient or soil type.

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2. Plan accordingly As you walk around your yard, search for bare spots or areas that lack natural appeal. This will help you figure out where to begin planting and also which areas receive the most natural sunlight. Then, group plants according to their sunlight and watering needs. Grouping plants according to watering needs is especially helpful, as it will help you reduce the amount of water you need.

3. Take baby steps Planting a drought-tolerant garden is leaps and bounds different from planting an ordinary vegetable or flower garden. You’ll have fewer green spaces and more that need different types of accents. Use rocks or mulch to add texture to your garden, and add more plants as you go.

4. Be forward-thinking Don’t think about how the plants look before you’ve even transplanted them. In a year, or two years–in some cases, even in ten years–they will look completely different. Think about how your plants will develop and whether they will be in the way, or even interfere with underground utilities.

You should also think about how your plants will coincide with your existing or planned landscape features. For example, if you have a swimming pool or natural pond, you’ll need to work your landscaping around them. Don’t plant a succulent right in front of the entrance to your deck if you plan to install a pool next year.

5. Prep your lawn appropriately Even dry, drought-tolerant lawns end up with unwanted plants. Make sure you weed and carefully mow any undesired green sections. Add a mulch or weed cloth over areas you intend to plant. This will help protect against erosion and remove any undesirable species.

6. Incorporate texture Add some variety to your garden. Use rock, granite chips, or mulching to fill out bare spaces, and curve your garden so that it’s not a blocky, straight row. Curves add more natural appeal and help break up the pattern of your garden.

7. Choose the best possible plants Whatever you do, make sure you research the plants you intend to transplant or seed.

Know which plants are native and which are invasive, and ask your nursery for recommendations if needed.

Plants that are native to arid regions will have developed their own natural protections–such as water conservation–to allow them to thrive. Succulents or cacti such as Firecracker penstemon or Texas ranger are a great choice because they are native to desert climates and thus they survive in droughts. Sure, you can plant a non-native plant, but it is likely to die quickly, or become aggressive and outcompete your native plants.

And don’t forget wildlife! Have a good idea of which plants help pollinators, and which are attractive to pests.

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8. Think outside of the box- or inside of it?

If you’re having trouble with your soil–perhaps it’s too rocky, or there’s just not enough space to actually plant in the ground–consider the incorporation of a container garden. Planting in containers allows you to accurately control the water these plants receive, and also take up less space. They are easier to winterize and can be brought inside if the weather gets too hot.

9. Consider the water The easiest way to create a drought-tolerant garden is to pick drought-tolerant plant species. However, even these water-conserving miracles still need some water to survive.

Therefore, have a clear plan in mind when it comes to watering. Don’t overdo it.

Plant a garden that is appropriate in size, relevant to your household and the time you can commit to it. Try to water at night to reduce evaporation and wind interference. Avoid heavy pruning and over-fertilization. Be aware of critical periods in your plants’ development that the will require additional watering, such as during transplanting and flowering. Use mulch and compost whenever possible, and consider installing a water-efficient drip irrigation system.

Remember that a drought tolerant garden isn’t just about the plants that you include. A droughttolerant garden might also include rock formations, decks, and walkways–so be creative! In a dry landscape, it may seem more difficult to create a lush, verdant lawn. However, with a little bit of imagination and some insightful planning, you’ll be able to create a relaxing oasis—even in the driest of deserts.

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Growing Health in Your Garden This Spring

From Talborne Organics

All magnificent gardens start in a well nurtured soil. A Healthy Soil = Healthy Plants = Healthy People, Pets and a Healthy Living Ecosystem, which all adds to a wonderful environment in your garden.

As we have been made aware, it is easier to maintain our health, rather than treat a sickly constitution, just so it is best to get the basics right to keep the garden in a healthy state than to be fighting disease constantly.

THE BASICS FOR GARDEN HEALTH: 1.

A HEALTHY SOIL: Needs lots of compost matter in the soil to feed the complex eco-system of beneficial soil life such as bacteria, fungi, which protect our plants roots and digest nutrients as the stomach of the plants which prepare the food for uptake by plants. Compost is a reservoir for water in the soil for plants roots to drink from, and builds a soft friable and oxygenated soil for roots to penetrate. Make your own compost, or earthworm bin from kitchen scraps but if space is restricted buy EARTHWORM CASTINGS or a good quality compost to turn into newly dug flower beds or before laying or seeding lawns. If already planted apply a thin layer of compost or earthworm castings to your plant beds or lawns every 3 to 5 months which will be taken up into soil.

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2.

NUTRITIOUS PLANT FOOD: Plants, like people, need a well-balanced diet for optimal health.

So with planting, to prime a healthy soil we add a fully formulated organic fertilizer which contains all the nutrients in correct proportions for plant uptake, use organic 2:3:2(16). For conditioning existing beds planted with flowers and shrubs, fertilize with organic 3:1:5(18) and lawns and leafy gardens apply organic 5:1:5(16) every 4 months. Water lightly after application and then continue your regular watering program.

3.

WATER STRATEGICALLY: Water is becoming a scarce and expensive resource, so optimise its use in the garden. Catch and store rainwater from the roof in tanks, re-use bath and shower water by using greywater after solids have settled and diluted with freshwater if available on the garden or pot plants. Well-conditioned and composted soils absorb and retain water and soil temperatures for plants to thrive in. Water retention additions such as vermiculite, perlite or rockwool should be added to containers with planting. Mulch to protect soils from water erosion and prevent evaporation by planting ground covers, or covering soil surface with chipped bark, gravel, wooden stepping stones, lawns or indigenous meadow mix or grass seeds on extensive areas.

4.

BANISH POISONS: For your family’s health and the full enjoyment of the natural garden environment there is no good reason to use nasty poisons. Toxic poisons are sort term solutions to pest and disease problems on plants, but leave a lasting legacy of imbalance and are a deathly blow to any gardens ecosystem. Bees, ladybirds, butterflies, birds and garden creatures like frogs, geckos and lizards which naturally control most pests in the garden are killed or their food source is destroyed, so there is no reason to make their homes in this hostile environment. Organic pest and disease solutions are available from garden centres to control most problems without using toxic poisons.

ELIMINATE OR REDUCE THE IMPACT OF TOXIC CHEMICALS ON THE FAMILY 1.

BE FUSSY – Check labels; be conscious of the origin and ingredients of which your food, toiletries, cosmetics and household chemicals are made.

2.

GROW YOUR OWN – Grow your own organic vegetables, herbs, fruits and berries using Talborne organic fertilizers, Fertilis Earthworm Castings and Biogrow pest and disease control products from your local Garden Centre. Many retail stores offer products marked with a Certified Organic logo with ranges from vegetables, fruit, coffee, dairy, chocolate and even wines. Buy local and support “green” farmers markets. The more often you buy organic, the more variety will eventually be available to choose from as demand will stimulate supply of good stuff!

3.

DON’T BE CHEAP – We know when we buy a cheap car we will not get performance and reliability, but our bodies are long term and irreplaceable so buy the nutritious and best food.

4.

KEEP LIFE NATURAL – Be a conscious consumer by considering the impact on the environment and reduction of pollution in your daily activities.

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While dogs are eager and always willing to please, cats are much more elusive to their overlords — err, owners. So much, in fact, that many owners turn to the most tried-and-true method of getting a cat (or a human!) to like them: They ply them with food. Yes, it turns out that the way to a cat’s heart is also through its stomach, but what’s the healthiest cat food for your feline friend?

Pet nutrition 101 says you want to feed your pet a healthy diet in the same vein you want to put the best ingredients into your own body. Yes, it’s important to feed your cat the healthiest cat food possible. Sadly, just as a large number of Americans leave a lot to be desired with the foods they eat, so too do pet owners often ignore Conscious Life Magazine

the best nutrition for their pets.

What Happens When Your Cat Is Too Fat Unfortunately, all those loving calories mean that cats are packing on some extra pounds.

And while a fat cat might be adorable for YouTube videos and Internet cat memes, being overweight can cause major health issues for our feline friends. In that regard, cats aren’t so different than humans.

Overweight cats, for instance, are two times more likely than cats at a healthy weight to get feline diabetes. In obese cats, that risk increases eightfold. (1) Overweight cats are also at a higher risk of developing hepatic lipidosis, more commonly known as fatty liver disease. (2) With this condition, excess fat accumulates in the liver, and the liver isn’t able to process it. Fatty liver can lead to various other health complications and death.

And if you think overweight cats aren’t so common, think again. Just as human obesity rates have been on the rise, so have feline rates. In fact, about 50 percent of cats who visit the vet are overweight, if not obese. (3) But for many feline owners, the thought of putting their cats on a diet is scary. It’ not because the cat might not be well-fed or the diet process will be difficult, but for another reason, one that’s easily understood for those who know cats’ temperamental behaviors.

They’re frightened their cats will no longer love them.

Owners who get cuddles and nuzzles from slipping their cats some extra treats fear their cats will become withdrawn, angry or anxietyridden. (4) It’s not an unfounded fear. After all, cats are being given antidepressants these days for things like anxiety or perpetual misbehaving.

Arthritis and a lack of energy are also linked back to being overweight. And, of course, there’s the quality of life issue. A cat who can’t move around freely leads a compromised life.

Why Cats Gain Too Much Weight So why do cats have a weight control problem? After all, don’t most animals know when to stop eating? The reasons that cats gain weight might surprise you — unless you’ve ever struggled with those pounds on the scale. That’s because, again, felines are so similar to their humans.

Cats are not good at self-regulating. Their wild ancestors, after all, weren’t given bowls of food to eat; they were out hunting for it. If their food is left out for cats to graze on, they will. Think about it: How good is your selfcontrol if a bag of chips is left out all day? Cats also eat out of boredom, just like us. If they’re not being stimulated or entertained enough, they will eat because there’s nothing better to do.

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Luckily, a new study has proved that putting your cat on a diet doesn’t mean putting an end to its affection. A study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior found that overweight cats who were put on an eightweek diet didn’t withhold their love. (5) In fact, they demonstrated more affection than when they were overweight.

Feed Your Cat Right So if your cat will actually love you more when it’s slimmer, what’s the best way to keep your feline companion healthy and happy and avoid the weight gain game in the first place?

I’m glad you asked!

First, a gentle reminder: Cats don’t feed themselves. Humans do. That means you are in control of what and how much your cat eats. And with great power comes great responsibility.

While the amount of calories cats need varies by breed and age, a general rule of thumb is that for each pound your cat weighs, you should feed it between 24 to 35 calories. If your cat is eating a lot more than that, it’s time to cut back. And don’t forget, “a few extra pounds” means something different for cats than for humans. Two extra pounds on a cat is similar to 28 extra pounds on a 140pound woman. (6) Cats are carnivores and do best on a highprotein, low-carb diet. The healthiest cat food and diet thrives on high-quality meats.

Because cats are carnivores and not omnivores like dogs, their digestive systems are not built to break down the cellulose in plants. (7) Because of that, wet food is usually best for cats. Dry cat food is filled with carbohydrate fillers, usually from plants, that isn’t easy for cats to break down, so it’s not the healthiest cat food.

Additionally, dry cat food contains a lot less water than wet food — 10 percent to 78

percent, while foods cats consume in the wild contain about 70 percent water. That means cats who are on a strictly dry food diet run the risk of becoming dehydrated. If you’re a fan of kibble, ensure your cat has a fresh source of water constantly, particularly during warm weather.

But if you’re thinking of tossing all the dry food and switching exclusively to wet food, be sure to read the ingredients list. Poor-quality wet food might not provide any more nutrients than dry food. Be sure that the first ingredient is protein. A good option for many people is to combine dry and wet food to keep costs manageable and ensure your cat is getting the nutrients it needs.

If you’re concerned about how much to feed your cat, it’s worth visiting your vet. That’s because, even if you’re serving your cat the manufacturer’s suggested serving, which is aimed at “average cats,” it might be too much for your cat.

So while a fat cat might be cute, feeding your cat the right way with the healthiest cat food will ensure it lives the long, healthy life it deserves.

Healthiest Cat Food Takeaways • Overweight cats, for instance, are two times more likely than cats at a healthy weight to get feline diabetes. In obese cats, that risk increases eightfold.

Overweight cats are also at a higher risk of developing hepatic lipidosis, more commonly known as fatty liver disease.

• Cats are not good at self-regulating, and they eat out of boredom just like humans.

• While the amount of calories cats need varies by breed and age, a general rule of thumb: for each pound your cat weighs, feed it between 24 to 35 calories.

• Cats are carnivores and do best on a highprotein, low-carb diet. Which is why wet food is typically better than dry food.

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The aim of Safe-Train Consulting (PTY) Ltd is to provide quality training and educational programmes to the individual as well as corporate institutions.

This training institution is committed and dedicated to render a comprehensive, effective and professional quality educational service with trained, competent staff and relevant equipment to facilitate learners to be part of health care and minimize loss of life as far as humanly possible. We offer both in class training as well as onsite training depending on the client’s specific requirements.

Safe-Train Consulting (PTY) ltd instructors are registered with the Resus Council of South-Africa to offer training and education which falls under the American Heart Association recognised by the Health Professions Counsel of South Africa.

COURSES OFFERED 1. First aid course for parents 2. First aid course for Au Pairs For more courses please see our website.

We also design first aid courses on request, if there is a group op people that want to learn something in a particular setting. We then offer attendance first aid courses (almost like a workshop).

Contact: :082 926 5585 safetrainconsulting@gmail.com www.safetrain.co.za Conscious Life Magazine

Date: Title: Teachers:

September 25 - October 2, 2018 Awakening the Heart of Compassion Sue Cooper

Held in a contained and nurturing atmosphere of contemplative silence, this 7 night silent retreat is offered to those who have previously attended one of my Open the Heart and Still the Mind retreats and can be attended separately or as a continuation of the 4 night retreat at the BRC from 20-24 September. Drawing on the inspiring wisdom teachings of the archetypal good-enough Mother Kuan Yin, Bodhisattva of Compassion who "Listens to the Cries of the World at Ease," we will explore what it means to embrace ourselves, and life, with a compassionate heart. As we learn to move beyond the curse of perfectionism, we can learn to trust our authenticity and courageously express who we really are, free from the constraints of our fear-based and shaming conditioning. We will discover that when we rest in the embrace of Kuan Yin, so powerfully felt on this exquisite sacred mountain, we can find joy in our human experience and solace in the strength of our vulnerability.

This retreat ends after breakfast on Tuesday 2nd October, after which there will be an optional hike into the Garden Castle Nature Reserve. Those flying home will need to book flights from Durban after midday on Wed 3rd October.

Date: Title: Teachers:

October 26 - 28, 2018 Doodling, Dreaming, Describing, and Discovering: A Meditative Approach to Drawing John Roome

During the retreat we will explore the meditative side of drawing. Drawing is not usually thought of as a form of meditation, yet drawing and meditation practice have a surprising number of commonalities. Drawing is often done in silence. The best results are achieved when there are no distractions, when one is able to focus intensely and be present in the moment. Drawing requires mindfulness. Drawing requires you to lose yourself, drop your ego, and immerse yourself in the subject of your drawing. A Zen master once said, "To draw bamboo you must become bamboo".

Dharmagiri is introducing Ashram style retreats for those who would like to spend some quiet time in a supportive & nurturing space

December 15th to Jan 20th Ashram Retreat with Chandasara and the Dharmagiri team Conscious Life Magazine

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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

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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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 Giant’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 – 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 haven’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 – 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

Call 012 430 7775 Lines open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday

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 children’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 – every day and in times of crisis – 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.

Help us do whatever it takes to save the children.

Thank You Gugulethu Ndebele CEO

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With much appreciation to our advertisers, contributors, endorsers and of course, our readers Namaste

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