Sunflower fund special edition 2016

www.childoftheuniverse.co.za

COVER MODELS: JOSH AND MEG PHOTOGRAPHER: SHARON McCOMB

ed’s letter Hello Precious People

ABOUT US www.childoftheuniverse.co.za PUBLISHER 2Luni Media EDITOR/OWNER/VISIONARY

Linda Navon 071 346 8138 linda@childoftheuniverse.co.za OUR “Little Boss”

Carmen Ché Jardim SUB–EDITOR/SALES & MARKETING

Cj Stott Matticks 082 900 1010 candida@childoftheuniverse.co.za NATIONAL SALES/FIRESTARTER

Clinton Stebbing 076 657 4139 clinton@childoftheuniverse.co.za PHOTOGRAPHER

Sharon McComb sharon@childoftheuniverse.co.za DISTRIBUTION & RESEARCH

Lee Coulter WRITER

Dani Jardim

dani@childoftheuniverse.co.za CONTACT NUMBERS TEL: (011) 462-2900 0110 262 643 0110 468 737

MEDIA PARTNERS

We are delighted to present this special Sunflower Fund edition to celebrate the new TOPES which replace the Bandanas. We have had loads of fun taking pictures of people wearing these ‘Tubes of Hope’ and encourage you to pop out to your local Pick ‘n Pay to brighten up your family and pets. We are very honoured to be working alongside The Sunflower Fund to help raise funds to make it easy for potential donors to be involved in saving the lives of people with leukaemia.

The magazines is sprinkled with the Sunflower logo, and we have some super-duper prizes for those of you who count how many sunflowers we have hidden in the magazine. Good luck and have fun finding them. In this edition we have combined content from all of our August magazines and we invite you to go to our website to sign up for your free monthly copies.

As a team we would like to give a round of applause to all our advertisers and editorial contributors who so willingly want to be part of this special edition to show their support for The Sunflower Fund, and to do their bit for people whose lives are depending on the generosity of donors and supporters of the Fund.

The Festive Season is just around the corner (yes… can you believe this year is almost over and that we have gone straight from Winter into Summer!). The Sunflower Annual Banquet still have a few tables up for grabs, treat your staff, your team or a bunch of your friends to a Bollywood style feast to delight all your senses. Details are a few pages on.

Between Big Concerts, The Barnyard Theatre and various trips and live shows, the rest of this year is filled with fun.

It has been delightful putting this edition together, once again I am happily sitting in bed, cats on my feet, and working along powered by the sound of HOT91.9fm, which has been my constant company for the past few weeks. I highly recommend you tune in and enjoy all our favourite well-known Dj’s and the mellow mixed shows. As they say…“there’s only one station that will give it to you…” – and if you are not in the Joburg area you can easily audio stream the station. Click the link I have put on their page.

From my heart I give a great SHOUT OUT to all at HOT91.9fm for getting in the mood when Cj and I rocked up at their studio yesterday morning and got them into Topes and took pics… such fun. My gosh, I do have a wonderful ‘job’.

With much Love

Linda

Click on the Covers of the July Mags to read them free online‌ For your free subscription mail: sunflower@childoftheuniverse.co.za

contributing team & experts

ALANA JAMES

LOUISE L. HAY

MARGI McALPINE

PENNI DU PLESSIS

CEO Sunflower Fund

Author/Inspirational Speaker

Angel Connection School

Divine Space

LAUREN CORLETT

LISA RALEIGH Fitness & Nutritional Expert

MICHELLE LESKE

PR Sunflower Fund

DAMIAN WOOD

Egypt Tour Goddess

Reiki & Psychic Medium

SHELBY ZIMMERMAN

MICHAEL DORER

ANTHONY WILLIAM

PAULA QUINSEE

Gauteng Manager

Montessorian/Author

Medical Medium

Ati2ud Life Coach

SERGIO SALOTTO

ROSIE MOTENE

Photographer

Crysalid Coach

African Goddess

Cj MATTICKS

CLINTON STEBBING

Sub-Editor/Marketing

National Sales/Fire starter

NICOLE MATTICKS

LINDA NAVON

SHARON McCOMB

Editor/Owner

DTP Intern

contents THE SUNFLOWER FUND

SUPER DUPER COMPEITION – COUNT THE SUNFLOWERS WHY I BECAME A DONAR SURVIVOR STORIES HOPE BEGINS WITH YOU HOT91.9 FM – DRESSING THE STUDIO IN TOPES

HAPPILY HEALTHY

CHOLESTROL – THE SILENT KILLER THE AIR YOU BREATHE – HOW PURE IS IT?

LIVING IN BALANCE

FEELINGS WHICH INDICATE YOU ARE EVOLVING WORDS OF WISDOM WITH ROSIE MOTENE THE REASON WE ALL FEEL SO STRESSED OUT

CONSCIOUS HEALING

NEWS FROM LOUISE HAY COLOURING YOUR LIFE YELLOW PROTECTION WITH ARCHANGEL MICHAEL BEING PSYCHIC

OUT & ABOUT

INVITATION TO THE SUNFLOWER ANNUAL BANQUET CELEBRATE LIFE WITH A WILD DOLPHIN EXPERIENCE EGYPT TOUR: RE-AWAKENING THE FEMININE GODDESS WITHIN YOU LIVE SHOWS AND CONCERTS

GREEN LIVING BABIES & BEYOND POSITIVE PARENTING

ARE WE DOING IT RIGHT? WHAT IS A SOUL CONTRACT? DID YOUR CHILD CHOOSE YOU? LESSONS LEARNED IN THE MIRROR

MONTESSORI METHOD

FANTASY PLAY THE MONTESSORI WAY CALM BODIES – CALM MINDS PLAYING IN NATURE

READING

NEW RELEASE – THE OTHER SIDE OF MY REFLECTION BY LILITH WHITE HAY HOUSE BOOK SELECTION

ANIMAL WORLD

HOW TO KNOW IF YOUR PET IS IN PAIN

COMPETITIONS & GIVEAWAYS

ESSENTIAL FIRST AID KIT FOR SCHOOLS AND HOMES

SUNFLOWER FUND PARTNERS

SUNFLOWER COMPETITION Count the number of Sunflowers you can find throughout the magazine and stand to win one of the following prizes:           

Hay House book hampers First Aid Kit from PrimeMed Health Spa get-away for 2 adults Tickets to a show at The Barnyard Theatre Essential Oil of Transformation from Divine Space Photo shoot with Sharon McComb Photography Signed copy of new release ‘The Other Side of my Reflection by Lilith White Theta healing session with Cj Matticks Nianell’s ‘Just Be’ CD Luxury hand and foot care products from LCN Trip for a child between the ages of 8 and 15 to Sugarbay

WHICH FLOWERS TO COUNT Only count the flowers like this one….

We have had loads of fun hiding them all over the show.

Don’t count the flowers on the Topes (Bandanas) Send your answer, email address , telephone number & area you live in to: sunflowercount@childoftheuniverse.co.za Closing date: 30 September 2016 (prizes may be dependent on area you live in)

Written by Brian Gray

My decision and motivation to become a stem cell donor has a very personal background.

My daughter Logan was diagnosed with leukaemia when she was only 3 years old. While it was a shock and is something that we will live with always, it opened mine and my family’s eyes to the realities of what others in a similar or much worse situation than ours are going through. A world that one may not ordinarily be aware of or that we choose to pretend does not exist.

We quickly learnt that there is a huge need for more stem cell donors here in South Africa and how badly the odds are stacked against someone waiting for a suitable donor, those being 1:100 000. We have had firsthand experience of patients that tragically have not beaten these odds.

We registered and joined the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR) through The Sunflower Fund through an organized a donor drive. This was an easy decision and commitment to make, especially due to the position we were in and in the hope that we would be a match for someone and in some way give back after the wonderful treatment, love and support that my daughter has and continues to receive.

I received the call from the South African Bone Marrow Registry soon afterwards to undergo further testing, but still knew that the odds were still short that I would be a match. After a couple of months, I again received a call to go for another round of tests and I realized that this could be a possibility. After an agonising wait of a further month, I was informed I was a match for someone.

It was really an unbelievable thing to hear and I just felt blessed to be in this position. I truly believe that for the people, who are on this registry, the commitment to become a donor has already been made and this is something that we hope will happen.

There were a number of medical checks and physicals to undertake before the big date and it was during this time that I started to realise the responsibility that someone in my position has. It was explained to me that the patient was starting their conditioning for their stem cell transplant, which involves killing off their healthy cells first, which obviously has huge risks and also means that there is no turning back for either party.

In the week leading up to the day, I had to have a series of growth factor hormone (G–CSF) injections at the hospital, which involved some travelling and early starts in the morning and after work, but this is really not a big deal when dealing with something so significant, and in a way, just seemed to make it more meaningful. These hormones increase the production of stem cells in the bone marrow. These excess stem cells move into the blood stream and from there are collected via a cell separator machine, much like donating platelets or a blood transfusion. There was no cost involved for me at all.

All this time, I was in constant contact with the SABMR who really guided me through every step of the way and were always available to answer any query that I had.

I was admitted to hospital the night before the procedure and the collection itself started early the next morning. There really was not much pain at all involved in the actual collection, just a line put into each arm. All in all the procedure took around seven hours, which actually went by very quickly and without any pain or stress – all I really had to do was lie there and watch the machine separate the stem cells from my blood, and fill a small bag. The bag of stem cells were then taken off to be tested to see if there are sufficient stem cells for the transplant and then taken off immediately to the patient for their stem cell transplant. (In my case they went straight onto a flight, but due to patient/donor confidentiality I was not told exactly where).

Afterwards, all one can do is hope that the recipient’s transplant went well and you have given someone a chance at life. I feel really grateful to have been able to do this and all I can say to anyone considering joining the registry is DO IT NOW – it is a commitment, but that commitment is what makes it all the more rewarding.

I would like to challenge anyone reading this who has supported The Sunflower Fund in any way or even those who haven’t, to take the extra step and get registered – you could be saving a life sooner than you think. Every person who joins is making the odds better for thousands of people throughout South Africa and the world.

To the staff at The Sunflower Fund and the SABMR – thanks for all the work you guys are doing; to The Sunflower Fund for raising the funds necessary to pay for the tissue typing costs, recruiting donors onto the registry and the SABMR for finding matches and facilitating these life-saving interventions.

In order for The Sunflower Fund to raise the funds to pay for the tissue typing costs of R2000 for each new donor that registers, they have organized fundraising events and campaigns throughout South Africa. One of these campaigns is coming up on the 16th September. It’s The Sunflower Fund new national campaign called Sunflower Day. Make sure you go down to your nearest Pick n Pay or Round Table between August and October to purchase your Tube of Hope or Tope for only R25 and wear it on the 16th September to show your solidarity towards the brave fight that these patients face daily.

There are obviously big challenges ahead as the South African Bone Marrow Registry with 72 000 donors is relatively small compared to the American Bone Marrow registry of 4 Million donors, but this undertaking is clearly in very capable hands.

To everyone who is waiting for a match – no-one can pretend to know how you are feeling, but stay strong and positive, perhaps the next person added to the registry is the match for you.

If you would like to find out more about becoming a stem cell donor call The Sunflower fund toll free number 0800 12 10 82 or visit www.sunflowerfund.org.za

All it takes to register as a stem cell donor is a call to that number and two test tubes of blood.

Remember: Hope begins with you!

Survivor Stories Rose-Leigh Usher

How quickly one’s life can be turned upside down In June 2012 after eight year old Rose-Leigh Usher had complained of severe abdominal cramps and her mom had also noticed red spots on her face and bruising she was diagnosed with Hepatosplenomegaly Lymphoma, a very rare form of cancer. Her mom, Rosemary, says the news came as such a shock especially when the doctors gave her daughter 6 months to live. Rose-Leigh had always been an active little girl who loved dancing, swimming, karate and playing with her friends and now she was even too ill to attend school.

Her best chance of survival was a bone marrow stem cell transplant. Her siblings were found not to be a match but with the help of the SABMR a suitable donor was found overseas.

Getting stem cells from an overseas donor comes at a huge expense and the family is extremely grateful to all the people who raised money towards the costs. Time was running out and with more money needed there was an appeal on eTV and SABC 1 & 2. Thankfully RoseLeigh and her mom were able to make the journey from Durban to Cape Town for this lifesaving procedure. It would be months before she and her mom would be able to return home, but Rosemary, feeling very alone and despondent so far from home will not forget the kindness of the couple who ran the CHOC House where she stayed. She also has only praise for all the medical teams both in Cape Town and Durban and is most grateful to God for Rose-Leigh’s miraculous recovery. “God is good” is what Rose-Leigh has to say as she fast approaches her teenage years.

ADVERSEMENT

WILLEM SMUTS HEALTH COACH & HOLISTIC THERAPIST

Mobile: 082 458 1031 www.willemsmuts.co.za

Willem is an Intuitive Healer using his sensitive connection to your Bodymind patterns to help you in your Life and your Health. He also helps you to resolve situations that are preventing you to be in Presence. The modalities that he uses, apart from Intuitive processes, to help you with balance in your life and health are the BICOM Biofeedback electromagnetic computer, the NES Health Scanner, the NAET Allergy System, Hypnosis and Acupressure.

Willem specialises in the desensitisation of Allergies & General Health. He also has a lot of experience in assisting with Chronic Fatigue, Yuppie Flu, Mononucleosis, CFS, Lymes Disease and Rickettsia.

Rebecca Stringer

The chances of finding a bone marrow stem cell donor match is 1:100 000 and the South African Bone Marrow Registry currently sits at over 63 000 donors. Her family readily took on the challenge of getting as many people as possible to register as potential bone marrow stem cell donors for Rebecca and other patients like her. They enlisted the help of the media and their local community in KZN. Within a few weeks Rebecca had found her potentially life saving bone marrow stem cell donor. Not only had Rebecca found a donor in such a short space of time but she had found a local donor on the South African Bone Marrow Registry.

Rebecca Stringer was two and a half when she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (12 October 2005).

In the weeks that followed, Rebecca and her family prepared to move to Cape Town so that her treatment could be overseen at Groote Schuur hospital. Before she could undergo her transplant she had extensive Radiation treatment. On 10 October 2007 Rebecca received her bone marrow stem cell transplant and on Friday, 9 November she was discharged from hospital.

Her condition puzzled doctors and unfortunately she was diagnosed late. She was treated with high risk chemotherapy for six months and was in remission and well on the road to recovery.

Rebecca was given a clean bill of health and the family left for the UK on 28 May 2008 where Jurgen has started his new job.

On 3 July 2007 the doctor told Sarah and Jurgen Stringer that Rebecca had relapsed. The only way for her to be healed was to find a bone marrow stem cell donor and undergo a transplant, urgently.

Rebecca is a testimony to the work of The Sunflower Fund. The more donors who are recruited for the SABMR, the higher the chances are of finding matching donors for other patients like Rebecca.

You could have the ability to give another child like Rebecca a chance at a normal life. Become a bone marrow stem cell donor today.

HOPE BEGINS WITH YOU They’re here!

The TOPEs have arrived!

The Sunflower Fund have been keeping a HUGE secret – and now the secret’s out! You can help celebrate our new signature campaign, Sunflower Day, on 16 September by purchasing your Tube of Hope – TOPE - from Pick n Pay or one of the Fund’s retail partners.

But what is a Tope, I hear you ask? “Well,” says The Sunflower Fund’s CEO, Alana James, “It’s an affordable, multipurpose article of clothing that can be worn as a headband, mask, scarf, cap or arm-band.”

Being broadly versatile, it may be used in a wide variety of sports or outdoor activities and will be available in six eye-catching colours.

The Tope offers practical functionality for the entire family and gives wearers the opportunity to show their support for this important cause!

The Tope will be available in a small (R20.00 incl VAT) and a large (R25.00 incl VAT) and is on sale from August at Pick n Pay stores nationwide, Round Table, selected ICPA pharmacies and the online store, Zando.

Tina Botha, founder patron of the Fund said, “I am delighted to see that The Sunflower Fund continues its vital work. I am also excited at the prospect of a new signature campaign, in the form of Sunflower Day – we have remained true to our roots, but have also had the opportunity to move with the times by introducing the Tope – I hope that our loyal supporters are as enamored with the Tope as we are and encourage the public to buy them now!”

HOPE BEGINS WITH YOU Topes are also integral to The Sunflower Fund’s inaugural schools competition.

“For the first time ever, The Sunflower Fund is offering a first prize to the value of R20,000 to the school that shows the greatest Sunflower spirit on Sunflower Day – which takes place on Friday, 16 September 2016.

ENTER THE PHOTO COMPETITION – TAKE PHOTOS OF YOUR CLASS OR SCHOOL “Take photos of your class – or even your whole school – doing something creative with the Topes, upload them to The Sunflower Fund’s Facebook Page – Sunflower Day Schools Competition – Gallery, and get your family and friends ‘liking’ your entries,” said James.

She added that the winning school would receive a donation of goods of the school’s choice, to the value of R20,000. The second prize is goods to the value of R10,000 and a third prize to the value of R5,000.

These prizes have been sponsored by the SABC Foundation. in the form of Sunflower Day – we have remained true to our roots, but have also had the opportunity to move with the times by introducing the Tope – I hope that our loyal supporters are as enamored with the Tope as we are and encourage the public to buy them now!”

It has definitely been a case of ‘out with the old and in with the new’, with the Fund’s new signature campaign, Sunflower Day replacing Bandana Day that had previously taken place during October.

For more information or to register as a stem cell donor, please contact The Sunflower Fund on toll-free number: 0800 12 10 82 or to learn more about Sunflower Day, visit: www.sunflowerfund.org.za/sunflowerday-2016/

It will be available in a children’s size (R20.00 incl VAT) and an adults’ size (R25.00 incl VAT) and will go on sale at Pick n Pay stores nationwide, Round Table and several other retailers, including online store, Zando, in August 2016.

Please join in Sunflower Day.,

and

celebrate

Ways you can help is to support The Sunflower Day campaign and buy your Tope, become a donor, or visit: www.sunflowerfund.org.za and click on the DONATE button to make a quick and easy cash donation.

ALANA JAMES CEO: The Sunflower Fund

LLOYD MADURAI

Jo'burg’s Best Old skool and R&B community station on the dial with the biggest names in radio! AND they give their profits to charity!!

Hot 91.9FM "Playing Joburg's Best Old Skool and R&B' launched on the 17th of November 2014.

Hot91.9 broadcast to Sandton, Randburg, Fourways and surrounding areas and offer listeners personality driven radio with the best music around!

SASHA MARTINENGO & DISI FENSHAM

COMMUNIY CARE

Lloyd Madurai, founder and managing director says, “A bunch of us got together to create a station that brings the fun back to radio, and with passionate guys we have created a platform that will serve the needs of the community.”

Hot 91.9 FM is a non-profit radio station whose profits got to various charities and uplifting the community.

They work with the community, especially the NGOs and NPCs in any way they can. Their fund raising drives raise huge amounts of money for charities and communities in need.

ED’S NOTE Yesterday Cj and I grabbed a bunch of Topes and headed off to the HOT91.9fm radio station to take some pics of the staff showing their support for The Sunflower Fund. What a load of fun everyone was, the offices have a lovely vibe with loads of smiles all round.

Since the only radio station I listen to is HOT91.9fm, I have to say that this magazines was definitely ‘powered’ by the mellow sounds of their team keeping me company through the nights of working. Thank you guys… you certainly ROCKED my socks off!

Lots more news in upcoming editions of Conscious Life Magazine.

HOT91.9fm IS ABOUT TO LAUNCH THEIR FIRST COMPILATION CD SET

By Lisa Raleigh

Cholesterol…

Infamously labeled as a “silent killer”, High cholesterol causes no symptoms and could easily go undetected until serious damage occurs. As with most things that are out of sight and out of mind, many of us forego the self-discipline it requires to protect our hearts in favour of more immediate gratification. Understanding the risk factors involved in cholesterol and what we can change in our lifestyles to prevent it are the first steps towards overcoming it.

Some major contributing factors include: Cholesterol is an insoluble, white and waxy substance that is carried around the body through the blood by two transporting systems: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol This is referred to as ‘bad’ cholesterol, because it can clog up your arteries when there is too much of it in the bloodstream.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol This is referred to as ‘good’ cholesterol, as it helps remove excess cholesterol out of the cells, including cells in the arteries.

Cholesterol is almost directly relative to what you put into your body, it is a lifestyle disease – so take control of your life, starting today!

Conscious Life Magazine

• • • • • •

Being overweight or obese A general lack of exercise Unhealthy eating patterns Alcohol abuse Smoking, which destroys good HDL cholesterol Diseases like Diabetes, Hypothyroidism, Polycystic ovaries, and kidney disease • Certain medications, including birth control pills and some antidepressants

Our cholesterol has a very close relationship to the levels of fat we consume.

Dangerous Fats The fats we need to be avoiding in excess are saturated fat and trans fat. These fats raise your cholesterol and increase your chances of heart disease and type-2 diabetes.

Healthy Fats Don’t worry though; it’s not all bad news, since having small amounts of fat is a crucial element to a healthy diet. Not only will it improve your skin, nails and hair, it will especially benefit your heart. Never eliminate healthy fats from your diet, as you will be losing out on precious minerals and nutrients.

Foods to Avoid • Palm / palm kernel oil • Whole-milk dairy products • Processed meats and animal skin • Butter • Cream • Ice cream • Cheese – Gouda, cream cheese and cheddar • Fast Foods • Shellfish – shrimps, oysters, clams, and mussels • Refined foods – baked goods and sweets Foods to Include • Raw olive and flax seed oil • Oatmeal, oat bran and high-fibre foods • Fish and omega-3 fatty acids – mackerel, herrings, sardines, tuna, salmon • Walnuts, almonds and other nuts • Plant sterols or stenos – these are substances found in plants that help block the absorption of cholesterol, and certain foods are now available that have been fortified with these substances.

Foods under Debate The public often receives very mixed messages about foods that are both good for you, but can also raise cholesterol levels. Here, it helps to remember that balance is the most important element of any diet.

Fruit, for example, is a healthy sugar which would add vital nutrients to a balanced diet, but could compound excess sugar issues when added into a diet already high in sugar.

Nutrient-dense saturated fats or foods containing cholesterol are much the same. Coconut oil and egg yolks, for example, are both incredibly nutritious foods – egg yolks are packed with protein and an impressive supply of vitamins and minerals, and coconut oil holds its nutritional offerings of lauric acid (only found in breast milk) and other minerals once heated, unlike most cooking oils.

Daily Recommendations The key, then, is to keep daily recommendations in check. Nutritious foods containing cholesterol would be counter-productive when eaten in excess. The American Heart Association suggests a daily dietary cholesterol intake of 300mg a day if you are healthy, and 200mg a day if you are trying to lower your cholesterol. Transfats and saturated fats are where most cholesterol is typically found in foods, so monitoring your intake is vital. Transfats are considered non-nutritional, so avoid those at all costs.

According to the American Heart Association, saturated fat intake should take up no more than 5 to 6 percent of your total daily calories. For someone eating 2,000 calories a day that’s about 11 to 13 grams of saturated fat.

Making these important lifestyle changes may be all it takes to reduce and even reverse the effects of unhealthy cholesterol. Since the primary symptoms of cholesterol can be almost impossible to detect, it is important to have regular screenings and follow-up testing to keep up-to-date on your state of health and what you can do to improve it. Keep in mind that cholesterol and other readings often depend on certain variables – like time of day and what you’ve just eaten – so make sure you have a practitioner who is keeping this in mind.

“Quorn, the world’s leading brand of lean, sustainable and delicious soy-free, meat-free products, is now available in South Africa. With Quorn you can lead a healthy and balanced lifestyle by enjoying foods that Life are Magazine tasty, wholesome and completely meat-free.”

Conscious

THE AIR YOU BREATHE

Indoor Air Quality Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within a building and the structures. Ensure your IAQ is correct is extremely important as it affects the health and comfort of buildings occupants. Understanding and controlling pathogens and particulates inside a building will reduce the risk of Indoor health concerns like TB and other person to person infections.

Employees or students in buildings often experience symptoms that include headaches, nausea, dizziness, irritability, itchy eyes, respiratory issues and other problems. Often poor indoor air is to blame. Complaints are especially common in buildings where windows are sealed shut and the air is controlled by the HVAC systems. Employees or students can be exposed to carbon monoxide and other pollutants introduced into the building via the air intake vents. Pesticides, cleaning products, paint fumes, office equipment and even new carpets can adversely affect indoor air quality. It is therefore highly important to ensure that the aircons are cleaned regularly and windows are opened to allow air mixing to take place.

Over populated areas and poor ventilation When there is poor ventilation the risks are increased especially in overpopulated areas. If a person has TB he or she will infect up to 15 people a year on average. Just as we breathe air and exhale carbon monoxide a building needs to have fresh air from outside. Thermal comfort through closing windows and using aircons reduces the fresh air in the building. Ensuring high populated areas in the workplace has enough sanitized air changes can reduce person to person infection and improves wellness.

Absenteeism Employees are entitled to have sick leave that ensures that they do not have to work whilst sick risking their health and that of other employees or even that of students.

Absenteeism in South African companies is a growing concern due to the effect it has on productivity, staff morale and the company’s bottom line. Figures released by Statistics SA revealed that absenteeism is costing companies more than R12 Billion annually. By reducing the risk of person to person infection in the work place or schools overall productivity and wellness will be improved.

What is TB Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that most often affect the lungs. Tuberculosis is curable and preventable.

TB is spread from person to person through the air. When people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air. A person needs to inhale only a few of these germs to become infected.

About one-third of the world's population has latent TB, which means people have been infected by TB bacteria but are not (yet) ill with the disease and cannot transmit the disease.

People infected with TB bacteria have a 10% lifetime risk of falling ill with TB. However, persons with compromised immune systems, such as people living with HIV, malnutrition or diabetes, or people who use tobacco, have a much higher risk of falling ill.

When a person develops active TB disease, the symptoms (cough, fever, night sweats, weight loss etc.) may be mild for many months. This can lead to delays in seeking care, and results in transmission of the bacteria to others. People with active TB can infect 10-15 other people through close contact over the course of a year. Without proper treatment, 45% of HIVnegative people with TB on average and nearly all HIV-positive people with TB will die.

Using UV-C technology for sanitized air The application of UV for disinfection has been an accepted practice since the mid-20th century. UV-C emitted at 253,7 nm deactivates the DNA of any air born pathogen so it cannot reproduce. The use of UV-C in South Africa is growing as awareness on this technology adds as prevention especially with TB now being a pandemic. Sani is one of South Africa’s leading brands in UV-C technology where consultants ensure you have the adequate sanitized air changes for the specified volume of your class room or work environment.

Bradley McComb – Franchisee Rawson Property Mooikloof bradley.mccomb@rawson.co.za t. (012) 809-2029 f. (012) 809-2445 c. 084 240 6287

076 400 1388

ED’S NOTE: Watch this quick YouTube clip on indoor air quality – it’s something that most people don’t think about, and you will be surprised by what you and your children are subject to. Definite inspiration to implement air quality control.

Honey and Cinnamon How to Use This Powerful Combination to Treat Various Health Issues

Honey and cinnamon form a miracle combination that works wonders for your health if you know how to use!

Health experts worldwide are bewildered due to the unlimited health benefits this magical mix has on offer.

You can also be one amongst many who may have benefited or are being benefited due to the combination of cinnamon and honey if you know the right applications of this mix and the ways to use the same.

The ways to get the most of out of this miracle mix.

1. Cholesterol – This mix would bring down the bad cholesterol and boost up the good cholesterol levels. A study has revealed that having 1 to 6 grams of cinnamon daily have reduced the cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Both honey and cinnamon have cholesterol reducing properties, but the combination would almost double the benefits.

Usage Tips – Take 3/4th teaspoon cinnamon powder with 1 tablespoon honey. Take it thrice a day for cholesterol reduction. Mixing honey and cinnamon with hot water or green tea would also accelerate the benefits.

2. Fights Common Cold – As the name suggests, a common cold is quite a common health condition experienced by people of all age groups. The anti-viral and antibacterial properties of honey and cinnamon would fight it effectively. You may start taking this mix as a preventive measure or when you first experience the symptoms to knock out cold and flu.

Usage Tips – Mix 1 teaspoon honey into lukewarm water. Add a pinch of cinnamon powder and your flu-fighting mix is ready. Sip this two to three times a day for faster results.

3. Heart Health – The regular consumption of honey and cinnamon would not only reduce the cholesterol levels but would also clear the clogged arteries. The open arteries would reduce the risk of heart attack due to even blood circulation.

Usage Tips – Apply the mix of honey and cinnamon on bread instead of using jam. Have this for breakfast and it will gradually help remove blockages from your blood vessels.

4. Regulates Blood Sugar Levels – Studies carried out on subjects suffering from Type 2 Diabetes have brought forward the benefits of cinnamon in regulating blood sugar levels. This spice has always shown promising results in Type 2 Diabetes, but now the health experts have also endorsed this combination for the same. Even the sweetness of honey was found to have positive results in fighting this disease.

Usage Tips – Add this sweet and spicy mix to your tea or bowl of cereal and start your day with the healthy mix.

5. Aids Digestion – Good digestion is the indication of good health. The regular consumption of this mix before meals would prevent conditions like acidity and gas. It aids faster digestion.

Usage Tips – Have honey and cinnamon paste daily before meals. You can also add lukewarm water. Take it on an empty stomach for best results.

6. Reduces Joint Pain and Arthritis – The main trouble of arthritis is chronic joint pain that just won’t go! The miracle mix has been found to relieve this condition too. It can control the symptoms of arthritis like inflammation of joints and stiffness efficiently.

Usage Tips – Take the mixture of 2 teaspoons honey and 1 teaspoon cinnamon mixed in 1 cup hot water twice daily, preferably in the morning and in the evening.

7. Weight Loss – Yes, believe it or not, but this wonder remedy would bring down the number on the weighing scale. Honey melts the stubborn fat deposited on various parts of your body. When combined with cinnamon, it will remove excess fat and also enhance the metabolism.

Usage Tips – Put 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a cup and pour boiling water over it. Let the mixture stand for about 15 minutes before adding 1 tablespoon honey. Opt for the organic honey to get the maximum benefits.

8. Clear Skin – Cinnamon and honey, both are anti-fungal and antibacterial. Getting the pimple-free skin is easy with this mix as it will prevent any sort of bacterial or fungal infection from developing further.

Usage Tips – This time, you don’t have to take this mix orally. You have to apply the paste made from cinnamon and honey on pimples or affected area. Apply it overnight and then wash it off in the morning to get the clear skin. You will need frequent applications for chronic infections.

9. Fights Bad Breath – No need to stay away from the crowd because of bad breath. Gargle with this mix before you head towards the social gathering, and it will help solve the problem of bad breath.

Usage Tips – Mix 1 teaspoon honey and 1 teaspoon cinnamon with lukewarm water.

Gargle twice with this mix to avoid an embarrassing situation.

10. Say No to Hair Loss – Once you start losing your hair, the condition is difficult to reverse.

The combination of cinnamon and honey will help you with that.

Usage Tips – Prepare the mixture of warm olive oil, 1 tablespoon honey, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Apply on the scalp and let is stay for 15 minutes before washing. Results will be commendable.

All our problems can be cured or prevented if we know the miracle solutions nature has to offer. Use the above-described remedies to get rid of most of the chronic health problems naturally and easily.

By Valerie S. Valerie is a multiinterested law student who is fond of reading and writing about numerous topics.

healing benefits of astragalus Astragalus is an essential herb for your immune system and is well known to help fight viral & bacteria infections, inflammation, and even cancer. It quickly and effectively strengthens the immune system and increases white blood count which makes it highly beneficial for warding off and reducing the effects of colds, flu, respiratory ailments, herpes, shingles, and immune system disorders.

Astragalus is also excellent at promoting circulation and helping to reduce chest pains, lower high blood pressure, and prevent cardiovascular problems such as arrhythmia and heart disease. Astragalus is great for managing diabetes and helping to lower blood sugar. It is highly beneficial for the liver and kidneys and has been shown to help those suffering from hepatitis, chronic nephritis, jaundice, and renal disease.

It can also help to lower stomach acidity which helps those suffering from ulcers and indigestion. It helps to prevent fats from being absorbed from the intestines which promotes healthy waste elimination. Astragalus has also been found to help boost metabolism and increase energy and endurance levels which ultimately can lead to substantial weight loss.

Astragalus works well with conventional treatments and has even shown to be an effective complement to those undergoing chemotherapy and HIV/AIDS treatments. It has long been used as an anti-aging and longevity tonic that enhances all the systems of the body and promotes overall health and balance. Astragalus is commonly found online or at your local health food store in tincture, extract, capsule, or tea form.

Learn more about which foods can heal and restore your body in my new book, click here http://bit.ly/MM-book www.medicalmedium.com

Conscious Life Magazine

15 Difficult Feelings that mean you’re Evolving

By Rick Riddle

Are life's challenges preparing you for a rebirth?

Changing and evolving are difficult things to do. In fact, they are so difficult that doing so or even planning to do so can drum up all types of feelings that aren’t very pleasant at all.

Unfortunately, many people interpret these uncomfortable feelings as signs that they shouldn’t proceed. So, they stop and so does the progress they were making.

If you are in the midst of making important changes in your life, here are 15 uncomfortable feelings that are actually telling you that you are on the right track.

1. Feeling Isolated from Others Undergoing change at a deep and personal level is a lonely task. It’s something you must go through on your own. As a result, it is normal to feel isolated from others, and as if they couldn’t possibly understand what you are going through.

2. Having Difficulty Focusing on Tasks Life change requires a lot of involvement and engagement on the part of your right brain. That doesn’t leave much energy left for your left brain. The left hemisphere is the side of your brain you use to perform practical tasks. The fact that you forget phone numbers and names, misplace things, or feel as if you must do everything twice to get it right is perfectly normal. It is a sign that the changes you are undergoing are deep and meaningful.

Life changes don’t leave much energy for the left side of the brain.

3. Feeling Restless and Anxious Whether you are making a job change, a spiritual change, a relationship change, or something else, your emotions are in a continually stimulated sense. In addition to this, there is a good chance that your brain, including your imagination, is constantly in high gear. This can result in stress, which can lead to feelings of restlessness and anxiety.

4. Irritability at Those You Are Close To If you are making or undergoing positive changes, why do you feel so irritated at the people you love? There’s a reason for these uncomfortable feelings. The people that you care about are often the reasons why you don’t change. They may unconsciously discourage you from changing out of fear of losing you, or they may simply follow the same behavior patterns that you are trying to break, e.g., financial irresponsibility. This can result in subtle resentments that can really come to the surface during this time.

It is normal to feel restless, anxious and irritable.

5. Feeling Gripping Fear at Times Change is frightening. Big change is terrifying. This is so true that you may find yourself in a near state of panic at times. This just means that the change you are undergoing is very real, very meaningful, and very permanent.

6. A New Tendency to Be Confrontational Chances are, if you are taking action to grow and change, you were really dissatisfied with many aspects of your life. Now, you have decided you deserve better, not just from yourself, but also from others. Because of this, you may find yourself ‘calling people out’ in situations where you would normally let things go.

You have decided you deserve better.

7. Becoming More Dissatisfied Just like you may find yourself becoming more confrontational with people, you may also experience and act on dissatisfaction in other ways. This too is a result of wanting better things for yourself and being more and more willing to demand them.

8. Feeling Lost If you feel lost in the midst of making a change or growing, it doesn’t mean that you are on the wrong path. What it means is that you are dealing with new experiences, new emotions, new expectations, and ultimately a new reality. That’s a lot to deal with. It should come as no surprise that you find yourself questioning whether or not you know what to do next or even know who you are anymore.

Feeling lost doesn’t mean that you are on the wrong path.

9. Feeling a Strong Desire to Be Alone More Often This one is especially true for introverts who are making life changes and taking action to grow. You are spending so much emotional energy on the changes you are making that human interaction can be a major drain. You may also have an increasing desire to spend more time in solitude meditating, writing in a journal, doing yoga, or engaging in other solitary activities to help yourself get entered.

10. Beginning to Question Your Friendships When you make changes, you are essentially questioning your life. This includes your relationships with your friends. You may find yourself questioning whether or not you are still compatible with your friends, and whether or not your relationships with your friends are healthy ones. It may be that your changed self just needs time to adjust before you can renew old friendships, or it could be that you will see that you have friendships that are no longer sustainable. The latter can be difficult to accept, but it is still a sign that you are on the right track.

You may also have an increasing desire to spend more time in solitude.

11. Feeling Intense Sadness No major change or growth happens without loss. Sometimes the loss is more tangible, such as the loss of a job or the ending of a relationship. Other times the loss is less tangible. For example, you may have decided to drop some negative habits and behaviors, and while you know making the change is for the best, you are still sad at the loss.

12. Dreading the Future It is completely normal to dread the future. After all, you have taken what was a known, good or bad, and turned it into an unknown. You have no idea where your new path will eventually lead. That can make the future feel like a scary place. If you feel dread, that is perfectly normal.

13. Desiring for Things to Be Like They Used to Be Familiarity is one of the safest feelings. Even negative familiarity can temporarily feel better than change. There will be points in your journey where all you want is for things to be the way they were. In addition to this, when life becomes complex and difficult, it is perfectly normal to regress a bit and seek past comforts, people, and simplicity.

14. Having Strange and Intense Dreams Strange and intense dreams, even negative ones, are the cumulative result of new experiences, new emotions, and internal and external conflicts. They are your subconscious mind’s way of working out a lot of heavy stuff while you sleep.

Strange dreams are your subconscious mind’s way of working out a lot of heavy stuff.

You have no idea where your new path will eventually lead.

15. Desiring to Cut off Romantic Relationships Emotionally, while you are making a change, you may begin to doubt your ability to give the time and emotional effort needed to keep romantic relationships going. You may feel as if your partner deserves more, or you may also feel as if it is you that deserves more. The important thing is to not make these kinds of decisions prematurely.

As you can see, some seemingly uncomfortable feelings can actually be a sign that you are on the right track towards your life purpose. Next time when you feel lost or sad or have a strong desire to be alone, maybe it’s time to listen to your inner self to better understand what you really want.

Article shared with gratitude to Rick Riddle Originally posted on Life Advancer

http://upliftconnect.com/15-difficult-feelings/

WORDS OF WISDOM & INSPIRATION Shared by Rosie Motene Work hard for what you want because it won't come to you without a fight. You have to be strong and courageous and know that you can do anything you put your mind to. If somebody puts you down or criticizes you, just keep on believing in yourself and turn it into something positive.

Leah LaBelle Carry a positive action we must develop here a positive vision.

Dalai Lama A strong, positive self-image is the best possible preparation for success. Joyce Brothers The best fighter is never angry.

Lao Tzu Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart. ...live in the question.

Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet Each one has to find his peace from within. And peace to be real must be unaffected by outside circumstances.

Mahatma Gandhi Successful people maintain a positive focus in life no matter what is going on around them. They stay focused on their past successes rather than their past failures, and on the next action steps they need to take to get them closer to the fulfillment of their goals rather than all the other distractions that life presents to them.

Jack Canfield Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.

Mother Teresa Shalom

Photo of Rosie taken 15 years ago

Life is filled with many stressors, whether they are money related, relationship related, spiritual or mental.

Many people have no tools to manage their stress which can result in their ability to function being impacted negatively.

By Paula Quinsee – Ati2ud With research showing that 75%-90% of doctor's visits are stress related and only 3% of people receiving stress counselling, one begins to wonder whether many organizations are under stress or is our nation under stress?

It is amazing how many people are already complaining that they are tired and need a holiday.

Tiredness leads to fatigue and fatigue leads to stress. We get stressed by the meaning we give to events, often they are unexpected, dramatic, isolating and one has no strategy and therefore turn to various coping mechanisms to get by.

The emotions triggered by this process from stress trigger to stress phase can be anything from fear, anxiety, shame, anger, rage, loss or surprise which when prolonged leads to excessive production of cortisol leading to acceleration of diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes or development of cancer.

We may have no control over events that happen but we do have control over the emotions that are triggered, what they are, and how long we allow them to stay in our bodies.

Did you know that the chemical reaction we experience in our brains on an emotional level only lasts 6 seconds...thereafter we are choosing to hang onto the experience and feeling? As they say, you are what you think.

Here are some tools you can consider to help you manage stress: • • • • •

talk about issues and find resolutions, don't let them fester do some form of activity like exercising, yoga, meditation, reading, listening to music focus on your breathing, take 3 deep breaths in and exhale slowly releasing any frustrations find someone to talk to that can give you an objective view and help you explore your options be aware of activities/behaviours you are doing to avoid dealing with any stress or conflict e.g. substance abuse

We spend a lot of time, money and energy into enhancing other areas of our lives such as the house we live in, the car we drive, our job/career etc. Yet we take very little time for ourselves and our relationships. If we don't look after ourselves, our health and our relationships ultimately suffer.

A new year is symbolized with setting goals and things we want to achieve. Our relationship(s) should not be any different. Download my FREE Relationship Evaluation Tool and identify any areas you can enhance to get your relationship to a much healthier and happier one.

PS. This tool can also be used to evaluate any kind of relationships not just romantic ones e.g. friendships (you know those ones that seem draining and tiresome), colleagues at work, a supplier or even your job! Get it here.

If you would like a quick call with me to discuss something that's concerning you about your relationship or a situation you are facing right now please don't hesitate to contact me .

I'll be happy to assist you with any questions you have.

Blessings Paula

Dear Readers

Children are our blessings from the Universe. These bright spirits have come to us to give us love and light. Children are old spiritual souls coming to have another human experience and have chosen you, their parents, for the lessons and challenges they’ll be given. Our children are here to teach us the meaning of things if you’re ready to learn from them.

I have had many children in my lifetimes and in this one I do not. I believe this human experience was meant for all of you to be my children as we work together to create loving and happy lives. The Universe has filled my life with rich experiences and made me the surrogate mother to millions of people. As I teach you to love yourselves, I want you to do the same for your children. As a parent you are their guide and we must remember that our children have a different way of looking at life.

If we want them to thrive, we mustn’t teach them old ideas. We can’t teach our children the outdated ideas our parents instilled in us. Children are intuitive and unique. Applaud their uniqueness. Celebrate everything they have to say. It’s our duty as parents to provide a safe, nurturing space for their soul to develop their personality to its full potential. When we encourage and empower our children to be who they are and love every part of themselves at a young age, they could do wondrous things for humanity.

I’m not saying we have to be perfect parents.

The best and most important thing you can do for a child is be loving to yourself and them. Love is the answer to help them grow up to be kind people.

As you practice your self-fulfillment, help your child with theirs. Work on loving yourselves together. When we model for our children self-love, our children will follow this example. They’ll have a better and successful life.

Here are affirmations both you and your children can practice together:  The child in me knows how to love and sing and dance and heal. I honor and cherish myself.  I see the best in everyone.  I allow myself to think big dreams.  I am a unique individual with my own path to follow.  I am brave.  I have trust in myself.  My intuition is a guide showing me the right direction.

Click on logo below to order your books

Hay House Radio Podcast A Mind Of Your Own – Dr. Christiane Northrup

Is it really true that we have “chemical imbalances” that affect us so badly that we need psychiatric medications to be happy? Why do so many women now take drugs like Prozac, and Paxil? In this episode of Flourish, Dr. Christiane Northrup talks with integrative psychiatrist Kelly Brogan, MD who shares how to get to the root causes of psychiatric conditions. And get off drugs!

To hear more from this host and any other Hay House Radio hosts, please visit www.hayhouseradio.com

with Penni du Plessis Divine Space

YELLOW

Yellow is a bright, creative colour that captures your attention. It is the happiest colour in the spectrum and the right shade of yellow will lift your spirits and self-esteem. It is a primary colour as well as being a ‘warm’ colour and it is known for its ability to promote clear thinking and assist with quick decision making. It is also the most highly visible of all colours which is why it is used for road markings.

Yellow shines with joy and enlightenment and it arouses cheerfulness. The benefits that the colour yellow can bring in are creating a strong sense of self and it can help you to set personal boundaries.

DECORATING WITH YELLOW: Yellow can lend a sense of happiness and cheerfulness to a room but you need to be aware that using too much yellow can sometimes introduce feelings of anxiety due being such a bright, fast-moving colour.

Instead, use yellow accents or a bowl of yellow flowers really does invite the joy into your space. If you love the colour yellow, and have lots of it in your home, introduce other colours alongside it to bring more balance into the area. It blends especially well with blue or lilac.

Yellow is an appropriate colour to use to in an office or study because it enhances the intellect and has a stimulating effect on the mind. Make sure to choose a soft buttery shade of yellow which is easier on the eye. The stronger acidic yellows can be too harsh in a space where you spend a lot of time.

Yellow stimulates the appetite so it’s not such a good idea to paint your kitchen yellow if you are on a diet or wanting to eat in a balanced and healthy way. You’ll just end up frustrating yourself after giving in to temptation.

WEARING YELLOW: Not many people are comfortable wearing yellow; but if you are, you will light up the room.

It instantly invites happiness and confidence. If it is a colour you avoid, try adding a yellow scarf or tie to your wardrobe, and see how it makes you feel. Notice too, the responses you get from others. Do they engage with you more? Are people friendlier towards you?  Wear yellow, for example, if you are wanting to create a new business concept and you are struggling with ideas to bring the business into reality. Yellow inspires original thought and inquisitiveness. It resonates with the logical side of your brain and will help to stimulate ideas and assist you with finding a new way of approaching things.  Yellow is the great communicator and it loves to talk so if you are a teacher and you are trying to engage with your students in order to get them to respond to you, it may be a good idea to wear the yellow scarf or blouse.  If you are going through a lot of change in your life you may find you can’t tolerate wearing the colour yellow very well. It just means that you are having trouble coping with all the changes, as it creates the feeling of being stressed.

From a spiritual perspective: Yellow relates to the SOLAR PLEXUS chakra situated below the ribs. This chakra relates to self-worth; how we feel about ourselves and how we feel others perceive us. This is the area of the personality, the ego, the intellect and of self-confidence.

Remember that every colour has both positive and negative attributes – so see which you resonate with more:

Positive aspects: Increases optimism and confidence, it encourages emotional strength, it promotes friendliness and creativity, it activates memory and assists with communication. It indicates a happy disposition and outgoing personality.

Negative aspects: It indicates someone who may be negative who has difficulty letting go of the past. They repeat their drama stories and this creates more of the same, which leads to fear and anxiety. Lack of confidence and personal power, self judgement and stress are all indications of a rejection of the yellow in your life. They may even suffer with depression, despair, fatigue, stress and are very sensitive to criticism. Because of their lack of confidence, they take on too much, to try and prove themselves, and then struggle with completing everything they have committed to.

To balance the negative aspects, it would be really helpful to use the yellow oil in your bath or as a body oil daily, to strengthen and support you.

HEALING WITH YELLOW Using the Yellow Oil of Transformation will help to ease nervous tension, confusion, stress and fear.

It can be very helpful with focus, studying and concentration as it stimulates the intellect and assists with clarity. Yellow organises the mind, and together with the beautiful smell, it positively enhances the memory, so use it while studying and again when writing exams. It is particularly useful to put on the skin under the nose while studying and both there as well as around the solar plexus before going into an exam to ease your stress levels.

The Angel of Enlightenment Spray – is wonderful when sprayed lightly over the face after cleansing and toning every day. It starts your day with a happy boost and your skin responds to it beautifully too.

See more on the colour YELLOW at www.divinespace.co.za

Linda Lee GRIEF AND TRAUMA COUNCELLING Balancing your Life Mobile:: 084 639 5568 Email: linda.lee7897@gmail.com

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

By Damian Wood It was a few years ago and I was sitting in the TV room at my mom and dad’s house. All of a sudden my son, who was two years old at that stage, stood up and walked to other side of the TV room and started staring at the ceiling, with a big smile on his face.

I asked him what he was smiling at, and all that he said was, “the man”.

About 3 months ago, I took my daughter, who is two years old, to her room to change her nappy. I placed her on top of the compactum. My daughter looked at the curtains and started to giggle. I asked her what she found so amusing.

She said: “The Angel”.

“Everything is energy and that’s all there is to it. Match the frequency of reality you want and you cannot help get that reality. It can be no other way. This is not philosophy. This is physics.”

Albert Einstein

I have been consulting as a Psychic Medium for over nine years. It all really started when I was working in a pharmacy and working as a nutrition consultant. I was giving people advice on nutrition programs for whatever problems they had, from arthritis to menopause. But as time went by, I started to feel and see that there were reasons why people were feeling the way they were. I also started to see relatives that were in the spirit world around these people.

I must admit, I thought there was a chance that I was losing my mind. I discussed this “problem” that I had with my Dad. My Dad then suggested that I learn Reiki, which is exactly what I did. I then started doing Reiki on my friends and family to get the experience I needed before I went out and did Reiki on the public. The images came through a lot clearer.

It was really awesome to combine Reiki with Mediumship. I felt so strongly about the fact that the two go hand in hand.

Messages from the spirit world can be so healing and helpful for so many different reasons. Messages about the past have helped people realise why they may have the issues that they are dealing with in the present.

Messages about the present may be able to help put into perspective why people are where they are. The beauty about Reiki, is that it is a tool to help the body restore balance and promote relaxation. The body needs to rest in order to heal.

I always start my readings with Reiki. People store their emotions and feelings in the body. Doing Reiki on my clients, enables me to pick up what emotions people are going through and what ailments they may be battling with. I also get information from their spirit guides as to why people are feeling the way they are. The spirit guides are also awesome in sharing general information about a client’s life.

Albert Einstein has become a fantastic motivator for me and what I do. I believe, because Albert Einstein says so, that energy cannot be created or destroyed. That everything that you see, smell, touch, taste, hear, is energy. Even your thoughts are energy. In other words, everything is vibrating at a specific frequency.

When the soul leaves the body, is it not then vibrating at a specific frequency? Why then, is it not possible to communicate with the spirit world? The soul is still there, it’s just vibrating at a different frequency.

Everyone has the ability to communicate with the spirit world, ask Albert Einstein and my kids.

ED’S NOTE: I am by nature a complete skeptic, I have to see or feel something to believe it, or buy into it. Being a Reiki practitioner myself, I believe in what I have experienced whilst working with ‘Spirit’.

Whilst doing my usual research I came across Damian and have had many chats with him and invited him to write for us. I want people to understand that having the ability to be in contact with ‘the other side’ (call it whatever makes you comfortable), is not in any way a ‘woo-woo’ practice. I have had various experiences with people who have passed on and completely believe in communicating on various frequencies.

My own grand daughter passed us messages from her Dada, my son, at the age of two. I can relate many experiences, and will do so in the next edition, with feedback after my appointment with Damian.

ARCHANGEL MICHAEL Archangel Michael is the head of the Angels and is often known as the "Warrior Angel“

By Margi McAlpine Archangel Michael is always depicted holding his flaming sword in his right hand. Call on him for protection for yourself, your family, pets, homes and vehicles. Just ask him to put his royal blue cloak of protection around everything to protect it. You are as protected as you believe you are, so have faith and trust in him. He also does cutting of negative ties.

Anything that is not done in unconditional love creates negative ties that hold us back.

Ask him to use his sword to cut through these ties so that you can now move forward without negative issues holding you back. He will also give you courage to make life choices that will move you onto your Ascension Path.

He is the Angel in charge of the throat chakra.

Ask him to help you release your throat chakra so that you are able to speak your truth being lovingly assertive and not aggressive. Bring Archangel Michael into your life to improve it and to give you confidence in yourself and your abilities in a safe and secure environment!

Angel light and blessings

Margi Angel Connection

Conscious Life Magazine

PROFILE

Margi McAlpine – Our Angel Woman Margi McAlpine is an experienced Spiritual Workshop Facilitator, Principal and Founder of The Angel Connection School of Africa, Master Teacher, Reiki Master, Spiritual Counselor, Angel Card Reader, Egyptian Healing Practitioner and Past Life Regression Practitioner. She has appeared on national television on Spirit Sundae, 3Talk, The Blue Couch and Free Spirit. She has also been interviewed on numerous radio shows and written articles for various magazines as well as being in demand as a public speaker. She facilitates Spiritual workshops throughout South

Why Angels?

People around the world are searching for something to fill the void in their empty lives. Grasping for material things, and the satisfaction that provides, is very short lived. Orthodox religions are not providing what they are searching for, and so they look to “alternative” teachings to fill the gap.

Angels help many of them to find their spiritual path. Angels are simple, well known and loved beings that everyone can understand and work with. No one feels threatened by Angels, and the fact that Angels appear in every known religion, from the Eastern philosophies to Christianity and Judaism, makes them easily acceptable.

Angels are the one thing we all have in common. READ MORE

Welcome Baby Daniel

CLICK HERE

Congrats to our Margi from Angel Connection on the birth of her grandson, Daniel Grant.

Love to the proud parents, Alexandra & Alistair .

The Sunflower Fund 2016 Annual Banquet The much anticipated Sunflower Fund Annual Banquet will take place on 12 November at the Hilton Sandton.

This year get ready to be whisked away on a stunning Bollywood inspired journey. You will be fully immersed in the culture from the designer cocktails upon arrival, through to a modern Bollywood 3 course meal and dancers that will take your breath away. Your evening will be a definite unforgettable experience.

To ensure that you do not miss out on this amazing charity event, Book Your Tickets Now! R1000per person or R10 000per table of 10, to book contact Takalani Ramaphosa on 011 781 4200 or takalani@sunflowerfund.org.za, all guests in attendance will receive a gift, kindly sponsored by Amrod.

The Sunflower Fund banquet is a great networking opportunity for you and your clients or execs, a chance to take a step back and enjoy an entertaining evening. This is also a platform to expose your brand to a number of corporates and influencers through sponsorship or donations. Should you wish to be a part of this event contact shelby@sunflowerfund.org.za Phone (011) 781 4200.

We look forward to spending this fabulous evening with you.

OUR OBJECTIVE Since its inception, The Sunflower Fund has been building the SABMR by educating and recruiting bone marrow stem cell donors so that patients diagnosed with leukaemia and other life-threatening blood disorders can find their life saving donor match, in order to undergo a bone marrow stem cell transplant. There were only 800 donors on the Registry in 1999. Currently, the Registry stands at just over 72 000.

The Sunflower Fund is the only organisation in South Africa and one of two in Africa that educates and recruits healthy, committed and caring bone marrow stem cell donors and pays for their tissue typing.

The probability of finding a match within your ethnic group are 1:100 000, which means in South Africa we need to recruit 100 000 of each of the four prominent ethnic groups – Black, Coloured, Indian and White- 400 000 in order to have a registry that is demographically representative of South Africa.

With stunning views of the Indian Ocean, surrounded by indigenous coastal vegetation, Pumula Beach Hotel makes an ideal venue for relaxing, stress free holidays, romantic retreats, family fun, weddings and conferences.

Telephone: 039 684 6717 E-Mail:

22 to 25 September 2016

Celebrate LIFE ..

A LUXURY WILD DOLPHIN retreat

With Nianell, Lara Light and Courtney Ward Join us to celebrate our wonderful NIANELL`S Birthday..

Let us celebrate LIFE in all its splendor – on this EXCLUSIVE healing SOUND &LIGHT Dolphin retreat.

Come dance in the kaleidoscope crystal projections of Light created Lara Light, Move into Balance, Meditation and beautiful SOUL Music inspired by Nianell.

Dive deeper with the Shamanic Sounds and close Dolphin encounters guided by Courtney.

You are invited to join us for this UNIQUE – 3 night decadent SOUL adventure in Mozambique Ponta Malongane.

Be treated like the star you are in an exclusive private luxury tented camp nestled in the secret folds of a coastal forest.

In this Essensual experience we take ourselves to the water’s edge to explore and be immersed, our tangible senses open to reveal the delight and subtly of new and wonderful things.

The abundant bounty of the natural world around you, the profound interactions with the WILD dolphins and the combination of LIGHT and SOUND experiences sweep you into the FULL embrace, the freedom of your MAGNIFICENT spirit.

We will also be treated, in a PRIVATE SEA SIDE CONCERT, by the evocative voice of our birthday girl .. what CELEBRATION AWAITS !!

”In every colour there’s the light. In every stone sleeps a crystal.

Remember the Shaman, when he used to say: Man is the dream of the dolphin” — Enigma

Meet Your Facilitators :

NIANELL

NIANELL is a gifted singer with an impressive four octave vocal range, a talented musician and songwriter, and a stirring keynote speaker. Four of her albums have achieved platinum status, and she also achieved gold status with another four albums, establishing her as one of South Africa’s top-selling artists. Nianell’s music is a combination of folk, pop, country, and classical, ensuring that there is something for everybody in her diverse range of melodies — and she exudes the very love and inspiration she sings about. She is a winner of the 2012 South Africa’s Most Influential Women in Business and Government Award.

She is a Theta Healing Teacher & Practitioner in South Africa. Vocally she creates her own musical language, where words are sometimes unnecessary, allowing every soul to interpret the message for themselves.

Visit www.nianell.com

International Presenter and Quantum Energy Technician Founder and Facilitator of Kaleidoscopic Light Energy Quantum Energy Couch & Colour & Crystal Therapist

LARA LIGHT

COURTNEY WARD

Lara Light, qualified as an interior designer and decorator giving her a excellent background in what was later to become her passion… colour and light.

Lara’s projections during workshops, transformational festivals, music and corporate events are not only incredible to see but also add ambiance and something awesome to every affair.

Working with her own healing, her in-depth study of light and colour has resulted in a new form of therapy in 2002. Kaleidoscopic colour and crystal projections helps to alleviate symptoms of stress and diseases of body and mind. She is the founder of Colour Vision and The Star Gate Journeys, which use visual arts and vibrational medicine to aid and assist in shifting conscious awareness to a higher state of being. Lara has a passion for people and a deep desire to be of service. Her vision is to assist others in unblocking their hearts, strengthening their spirit, enabling them to live their lives fully and free from fear!

Website: www.laralight.com

‘Essentially a performer in the great arts of the divine’, Courtney is a talented artist, actor and musician. She is especially gifted in her spontaneous ability to apply her artistic gifts and musical talents to a group dynamic in aid of personal transformation and creativity.

Since 1999 Courtney has worked passionately and intensively with the resident pod of Inshore Bottle Nose dolphins of Southern Mozambique as Halo Gaia’s owner, Ponta Malongane`s Ocean Safari guide, leading Dolphin Swim Facilitator and data collector.

Conservation of our natural resources and the preservation of our ocean is at the core of Courtney`s long standing 16 year commitment to make a small yet significant difference on this planet. Through her intimate relations with the dolphins, her love of people and her love of the ocean, Courtney offers an extraordinary Ocean Awareness program.

Email: courtney@halogaia.com Mobile SA: 073 544 1485 Mobile Mozambique:: 00258 84 455 4319

Our Society has become so masculine. Mothers have become breadwinners, many women have become career orientated, striving to be successful in the business world, where masculine energy dominates. Women have lost their feminine roles, striving to survive in an ego based society. It’s time to take back our Goddess nature. It’s time to remember who we really are as women.

Nurturers, Goddesses, Feminine Beings.

If you would like to take the bold step in recalling the Goddess within, join me on this magnificent tour to Egypt.

We will call in the Goddesses for assistance. We will invite our Feminine Selves back and we will be transformed. Strong, beautiful women, deigned to lead our society back to a place of Love rather than Ego. This is our calling.

Join me if you dare to be the Goddess.

Contact: Michelle Leske Phone: +2782 378 5859 Email: leskemichelle47@gmail.com

Upcoming shows presented by

CLICK HERE TO BOOK

Get ready to party as Kidz Rock The Hits of 2015!

This youthful, energetic show pays tribute to the billboard number one hit songs of 2015 such as One Direction with Perfect and Drag Me Down, Justin Bieber with What Do You Mean? and Sorry, Selena Gomez with Same Old Love and Demi Lovato with Cool for the Summer.

We also pay tribute to new hit songs from icons such as Adele with Hello and Taylor Swift with a multitude of hits including Bad Blood, Blank Space and Shake It Off. Pop groups like Maroon 5 hit the number one spot with Sugar, whilst Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars released the best-selling song of 2015, Uptown Funk. Also on the playlist are songs by Meghan Trainor, Carly Rae Jepsen, Ed Sheeran and many more.

Experience the Kidz Rock band, singers and dancers in full flight as they rock the house with all the greatest number one hit songs of 2015!

Hey Kids, Lets Rock! So, grab your friends and book tickets for one big party!

Show Dates, Times, Venues & Ticket Prices: Cresta Barnyard: 8 October at 14:00 Price: R100

Emperors Palace Barnyard: 10 September, 1 October at 14:00 Price: R100

Pretoria Barnyard 17 September at 14:00 Price: R100

Rivonia Barnyard: 24 September at 14:00 Price: R100

Bookings: Contact your preferred Barnyard Theatre or book online at: https://www.barnyardtheatre.co.za/show.aspx?sid=731 Cresta: 011 478 5300 Emperors Palace: 011 928 1108 Pretoria: 012 368 1555 Rivonia: 087 236 3088 For cast interviews, high resolution photos & show reviews contact: Clare Allan – clare@barnyardtheatre.co.za / 087 236 3088 Disclaimer: The Barnyard Theatre reserves the right to change any shows, dates, prices, cast members & show content without notice.

24 June, 2016 to 18 July, 2016

Arno Carstens live Event Date: 10 October, 2015 Arno Carstens will be performing LIVE at the Sasfin Plett Wine and Bubbly Festival on Sat 10th October at Plett Central Beach.

Date: Sat 10th Oct 2015 Time: TBA Venue: Central Beach - Plett Cost: R200 includes entry to Wine Festival and more Friday and Saturday festival goers will also enjoy the cheerful music of “The Sounds of Joy”, Plett’s popular Tigger Reunert, legendary Wendy Oldfield and Stellenbosch muso, Gerald Clark.

Friday’s performance will also include SAMA award-nominated Josie Field. The musicians will be complemented by the sounds of the surf on Central Beach during the 2nd annual Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival on 9-10 October.

Click here to Book Tickets to Arno’s performance on the Saturday night

Rocking the Daisies Music and Lifestyle Festival is South Africa’s award-winning premier, eco friendly music festival. Marked on the South African calendar as the go-to weekend event to officially kick off the summer season, with a massive lineup that includes some of the best artists in South Africa and from around the world.

Incorporating comedy, art, film and a variety of multi-faceted and multi-sensory experiences, festival goers can expect an action-packed weekend of camping, good times, making incredible memories and jamming from dusk till dawn.

From 6-9 October at Cloof Wine Estate in Darling, make sure you join us for one of the biggest and best Daisies yet. With entertainment being our key focus this year, expect 4 action packed days and an adventure of a life time.

The Earth Expo brings you a realistic environment to journey through your day engaging with the products and services that will help you to #MakeBetterChoices and be a more conscious and responsible consumer. It’s not just up to the world leaders, corporations and governments to address climate change it is up to each and every one of us. From the most simple change of your cleaning products to going off the grid, building green and everything in between.

The show will host a number of workshops within our 5 main categories namely; Food, Beverage & Nutrition, Interior Design, Décor & Landscape, Fashion & Beauty, Technology and Building.

“The misunderstanding of sustainability meaning only organic or natural products, will be demystified…”

Our speakers will bring the education on sustainable living to life addressing multiple subjects in sustainable living and the lifecycles of the things we live with daily in any built environment in which we spend our time. The misunderstanding of sustainability meaning only organic or natural products, will be demystified to display the entrepreneurs, SME’s and organisations making a concerted effort in promoting economic growth, skills development, job creation and those addressing their core business principles, material selections and processes to become more environmentally friendly and sustainable in the long term. The process includes encouraging and guiding those businesses not yet the darkest shade of green to address these core elements and become industry leaders in sustainable innovation.

To add true integrity Earth Expo have partnered with Innogreen Build and their partners to build one of the show structures comprising only truly green building materials and elements.

These will all be donated to a worthy and need social responsibility project after the show.

As shows are generally wasteful, the Earth Expo team have made it a priority to reduce and off-set their carbon footprint by partnering with and introducing a number of initiatives such as; A paperless system for information sharing and interaction between our visitors and exhibitors which eliminates expensive and wasteful printing of marketing materials, Uber ride sharing for car-pooling to the show which will be reported on post-show, Off-grid energy to run the show and energy requirements and a percentage of all ticket sales will be given to GreenPop for their treevolution planting initiatives to offset what we are unable to avoid.

Our exhibitors are covering every element of living and showcasing an exciting and diverse variety of products within the rooms of the home which include; Garden, Patio, Kitchen, Dining Room, Lounge, Bedroom, Bathroom, Walk-in-Cupboard, Kids Room, Office, Health & Wellness in the home, and our Building & Technology to be hosted in our Innogreen Build structure.

Join us on our Journey for Change.

The Earth Expo takes place between 11 -14 august at Montecasino in Johannesburg.

For more info check out www.earthexpo.co.za or find us on Facebook

Conscious Life Magazine

The planet is in danger of being destroyed by our greatest threat, ourselves!!!! It’s up to all of us to ensure we do not destroy the environment in which we live and the future environment in which our children will live.

Recycling is as simple as separating home waste and educating our children to do the same.

If we all take this step, it will make a huge difference to our environment and ensure that the various recyclables are recycled and disposed of in the correct manner or sent to the correct facilities for re-use.

Recycling is a great way to save our natural resources and even generate energy.

At ECOmonkey they are taking the first important step to try and minimise harmful waste left in our environment, by working with communities to clean up our surroundings, namely local parks and streams to create a clean environment and further creating employment opportunities through this initiative.

Earth Probiotic help you to recycle your food waste into food for the soil with their Bokashi Recycling Kits.

Working together, these two companies do a great job in helping to ensure the health of the planet. Let them help you do the same…

We make a difference…

Do you???

Let's take the 1st step in creating a cleaner environment & ensuring our children have a brighter, cleaner future...

We collect your recycling & create employment: We collect & deliver the materials to various, community recycling projects we support, the materials are sorted & the income goes directly to the community members involved.

Who do we service?

Households, flats, townhouse complexes, estates, office complexes, industrial companies & shopping centres.

Ensuring recyclables are processed correctly & don’t end up on unsightly, dirty & negatively impacting land fill sites.

www.ecomonkey.co.za

THE WATERLESS URINAL TAKES OFF IN SA

www.liquidgold.co.za

100% water less | save water | reduce odours | improve hygiene

Not only does the Waterless Urinal Waste System help conserve huge amounts of precious water, it also saves money, reduces maintenance time and cost, provides better hygiene and is far less odorous than conventional urinals.

What LiquidGold has managed to achieve with the Waterless Urinal Waste System is not only a giant leap forward from conventional flushing urinals, it is arguably the most refined product of its kind on the market today.

By Lisa Raleigh – Fitness Expert – and New Mommy

When it comes to exercising through pregnancy, it’s not a case of one size fits all. Exercise opportunities depend largely on what your fitness levels are, which trimester you’re in and how you’re feelings. One thing that is unanimous, though, exercise is important. It can help minimize aches and pains, improve your sleep and even lower your risk of gestational diabetes and depression.

Your labour and birth process could even improve!

And getting back in shape afterwards won’t be as challenging. If you’re pregnant and discovering that your moods and energy levels aren’t as predictable as always, here are a few options that might make exercising easier for you.

Some General Exercise Rules: • Always consult your Ob-Gyn before new exercise habits. While it’s usually best to stick with what you were doing pre-pregnancy, there is no reason why new forms of fitness can’t be beneficial and safe. Whatever you choose, get the go ahead from the doc beforehand.

• Improve your suncare habits, Pregnancy hormones can leave your skin more sensitive to sun damage.

Always factor in an SPF when you’re exercising outdoors.

“Always consult your OB-Gyn…” • Plot your potty breaks. Bladder control is of prime concern as you move up in your trimesters.

Whatever the exercise discipline, have an idea of how quickly you can get to a toilet while you’re there.

• Avoid dehydration at all costs. Sufficient water is even more important during pregnancy, as low water levels could initiate early labour.

• Listen to your body. It won’t be capable of what it was before pregnancy, and there will be days when a light walk is a better idea than an hour of hard exercise. Go with your gut feeling.

Conscious Life Magazine

If You’re Feeling TIRED Walking Why: Whether it’s first trimester nausea or final trimester baby weight that’s left you feeling exhausted, walking is the easiest exercise to undertake. It doesn’t take much mental commitment to head out for a walk, and you can add a little intensity with a few speedier intervals or gentle inclines if you feel like it. You can even up the ante with toning shoes for a slightly more intense walk and an increased number of calories burned. Add even more incentive by taking your route past kid-friendly parks. You’ll be too distracted by your research to notice you’re exercising.

“labour & birth process could improve” Precautions: Your feet are likely to swell during your pregnancy, especially during your final trimester. Tootight shoes can leave you susceptible to foot injuries and imbalance, so it’s better to take a size up. Also stick to familiar routes and avoid uneven terrain.

Swimming Why: You aren’t as susceptible to falling or injury, you won’t overheat and your joints will be spared 50% of the impact. Swimming is an ideal, low-impact exercise for women in the later stages of their term and feel a lot less strenuous than a session on the treadmill.

Precautions: Pregnant women don’t only run a risk from high temperatures. They need to avoid chillier ones as well, so steer clear of freezing water. If you think you’re prone to slipping, wear aqua shoes in the shallower areas.

“In the second half of your pregnancy, avoid exaggerated twists and…”

If You’re Feeling STRESSED! Yoga Why: The prospect of a new baby accompanied by changing hormones can leave you a little on the edgy side. Yoga not only strengthens your core and improves flexibility, with its emphasis on breathing and meditation fosters a sense of calm. New studies have even shown women’s depressive symptoms to decrease steadily during consistent yoga training, while mindfulness increased.

Precautions: In the second half of your pregnancy, avoid exaggerated twists and movements that tug on your belly, as well as those that require you to lie on your back or belly for longer than a few seconds.

Inversions like headstands and shoulder stands are a no-no.

Hiking Why: Hiking is a wonderful way to get outdoors and enjoy your environment while also improving your cardio and strength fitness. The fresh air and connection to nature will also work wonders on your mood, while a scenic path acts as a natural destressor.

Precautions: Opt for a steady terrain – save the bundu-bashing or explorative routes for postpregnancy. Check that your current hiking shoes are still meeting your needs and consider taking hiking poles along for added stability. Always take a buddy along for your hikes too.

“…you’ll feel sexier with all the hip shaking…”

If You’re Feeling ENERGENTIC! Zumba Why: Some of the lucky few pregnant women sail through their terms with little aggravation. If you’ve been blessed this way, you can have a blast with a Zumba session. The hip rolling and core conditioning in this standing ab workout works your pushing muscles, while the choreographed moves improve your ever-changing sense of coordination and balance. A lot of women lose confidence during their pregnancy, so you’ll feel sexier with all the hip shaking as an added bonus. You’ll also burn a ton of calories in the process.

Precautions: Stick to the indoor/studio classes versus natural environments with potentially uneven grounds. Your teacher should be trained in prenatal exercise, so make sure she shows you modifications to the usual moves, particular those with a lot of bending and twisting. These classes can also up your intensity without you realizing it, so make sure you can sing along to the music at all times. If you’re lucky, there may even be an aqua-Zumba in your area, which minimizes impact to nearly zero.

“Cycling can ease back pain, boost your mood and improve sleep” Spinning Why: Cycling can ease back pain, boost your mood and improve sleep, which means spinning does just the same. Spin classes are often a go-to exercise for those who love the ‘runner’s high’ and have plenty of energy to expend. Opting for a stationary bike versus cycling outdoors is also a necessary precaution during pregnancy.

Precautions: Spinning classes can be intense – if you’re panting or gasping for breath you need to take it down a notch. Pregnancy is also not the time to join the keen-beans who stand during their spinning session, as it adds intensity and can stress extraflexible joints. If you’re finding your lower back is suffering, relieve the tension by sitting back more – you’ll need to adjust the handlebars and bring them in a little closer to you.

If You’re Feeling STRONG Your normal strength routine Why: If you were training hard before your pregnancy, there is no reason not to stay in the gym. Strength training is one of the best ways to minimize aches and pains, and weight machines are great as they control your range of motion, which is important as your joints increase in flexibility. Building upper body strength also helps with the biomechanics of motherhood – think lifting, bending and holding. A few modifications are all you need for a safe session, as well as aiming to maintain rather than build muscle.

Precautions: Steer clear of machines with pads that press on your belly, and give any exercises with overhead lifts a skip – these can increase the curve in your lower spine during pregnancy. Make sure that any advice you seek on modifying your workouts comes from a credible professional.

Conscious Life Magazine

Pilates Why: Pilates helps maintain a powerful core, which will support your growing belly, minimize back pain and give you strength during delivery. It is also an excellent non-impact form of strength training that boosts your mood and energy.

Precautions: There is a lot of mat work in Pilates, which will mean modifications as you progress through your pregnancy. Make sure your Pilates instructor is killed in prenatal trainer, or seek out a pregnancy-focused class. An angled foam spine support (found in most Pilates studios) will help keep your head higher than your belly during flat back exercises.

If You’re Feeling NERVOUS Prenatal fitness classes Why: Pregnancy is not a smooth trip for many, and many moms are often nervous – especially if it’s their first time. If you have access to prenatal exercise classes, sign up! Not only are the workouts modified for your pregnancy for a guaranteed safe experience, you’ll have the support of other moms-to-be in the class who are also going through what you’re going through.

Precautions: Almost none! If you’ve checked out the credibility of the instructor, you should be in very safe hands. Prenatal instructors will also be more sensitive to your needs and moods than the average instructor.

Personal training Why: If you’re determined to keep fit, sessions with a personal trainer are one of the safest ways to do it.

You enjoy the company of an expert when it comes to modifying traditional exercises, and you’ll have the security of someone double checking your safety the whole way through your session.

Precautions: Credentials are a big one – make sure your trainer comes highly recommended by other moms-to-be.

This article is brought to you by Lisa Raleigh and her new online platform, Mumentoes. For more pregnancy and family content, visit: mumentoes.wordpress.com facebook.com/mumentoes Lisa Raleigh Fitness Trend Influencer, Wellness Activist, TV Personality, Author, Lifestyle and Wellness Expert www.lisaraleigh.co.za email: lisa@lisaraleigh.co.za www.facebook.com/LisaRaleighSA - Facebook @LisaRaleighSA – Twitter LisaRaleighTV – Youtube

“…make sure your trainer comes highly recommended by other moms-to-be.”

TV Personality, Author, Lifestyle & Wellness Expert www.lisaraleigh.co.za lisa@lisaraleigh.co.za www.facebook.com/LisaRaleighSAFacebook LisaRaleighSA – Twitter LisaRaleighTV – YouTube

Conscious Life Magazine

Being on full-time toddler patrol can make exercise seem impossible. The good news is that if you’re looking after your little one and in need of a workout, the two can go hand-in-hand. Pop your youngster in the stroller and head outdoors for this functional and effective stroller workout. Inclines and declines are an important feature, so head out to a hilly spot.

Safety first: make sure the brakes on your stroller are strong and reliable before you get started.

Find an incline and face your stroller towards you, locking the brakes as you position yourself. Line the ground with a towel and lie on your back, propping yourself up on your elbows if you prefer. Start with your knees bent and feet propped up on the stroller at your baby’s feet. Unlock the brakes and perform a leg press, pushing your feet forward until almost straight. Pause for a moment then return to your starting position. Aim for 3 sets of 10-15 reps.

Start with both hands resting on the stroller bar in front of you. Slowly raise your left leg up and back, leaning your torso forward and pushing the stroller forward as you do. Once you’ve formed a straight line with your left leg and body, rise up onto the toes of your right foot. Hold for a moment then lower back down and return to your starting position. Aim for 3 sets of 10-15 reps with each leg.

Stand with the stroller on your right side and feet hip-width apart. Use your right hand to push the stroller away from you, whilst reaching overhead in the same direction with your left arm. Pause when your right arm is full extended, then pull the stroller back in to your starting position. Aim for 3 sets of 10-15 reps with each side.

Conscious Life Magazine

Stand on a gentle decline, with your arms on the stroller bar in front of you, shoulder-width apart.

Starting with arms fully extended, slowly pull the stroller to you, pinching your shoulder blades together as you do. Pause for a moment then return to your starting position. Aim for 3 sets of 10-15 reps.

Now stand on a gentle incline, with your arms on the stroller bar in front of you. Starting with your arms partially bent, push the stroller ahead of you until your arms are straight. Pause for a moment then draw the stroller back in towards you. Keep your arms closer together to work your arms, and further apart to work your chest.

With the brakes of your stroller locked, get into plank position in front of your baby. Keeping your core muscles and torso tight, lift up on arm at a time for a minimum of 5-10 seconds. You can tickle baby’s toes or play peek-a-boo whilst you do this. Swap arms and repeat. Aim for 3 sets with each arm.

*Make it harder: Lift one leg up at a time and hold for a more challenging move.

Conscious Life Magazine

MODELS: BRADLEY & CHANE

By Sergio Salotto

Raising a child is possibly one of the most beautiful, exciting, interesting, but challenging, difficult and responsible tasks in life for a parent.

For some parents, the task looms so large and scary, that it drives them to rather give the child up for adoption. Having a child – especially the first – can and often does unexpectedly turn the parent’s lives and routines totally upside down. It takes away the freedom and independence they enjoyed; the child becomes the centre of their world; it is demanding and needy; there may be little to no time for themselves; and so on.

What begins as a wonderful and exciting journey, for many, this may change and become a state of frustration, anxiety, stress, anger, or depression, which start surfacing and begin to strain the bonds of the relationship.

If things were fine before baby came along, the child is likely be held responsible for the issues the arise between the parents. In many cases, the child becomes the object upon which the parents vent their dissatisfaction – with some cases even resulting in horrific abuse and death of the child.

But there is another level of “abuse” we practice that we do not recognise as such because it does not fall in the categories of being physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. Instead, it is considered and accepted to be good, responsible parenting – as I elaborate below.

But is that what unconditional acceptance and love of self is really all about?

The part of conceiving a child is generally one of joy and fun. When it is confirmed that mom is pregnant, there is even greater joy. But at the same time, the realisation begins to set in of the responsibilities that are about to be taken on – creating the ideal home environment, afford it the best education, provide an upbringing the child can one day be proud of, and of course someone the parents will be proud of.

It is generally believed that new-born children are born with a blank mind, that they know nothing about life; that as parents we “own” it and so are entitled to decide what is right for the child. Parents thus take on the role and responsibility of ensuring the child is taught, equipped and educated about all its needs to be successful and socially acceptable. These teachings will take the form of schooling, religious instruction, guidance for conforming to social norms and values, acceptable behaviour and all the many other things we need in life.

As a child, of course, we have no idea of our parents’ ideals or the plans they have for us. We just do things in the only way we know. Such as:  Crying when we are hungry, have a full nappy, want attention – don’t like to be left alone.  Eating our food with our hands; pounding our hand into the plate of food and make it splatters all over (great fun).  Not welcoming mummy, daddy, granny, grandpa with a hug and kiss – we might more readily hug and kiss the dog ... no disrespect intended; we just found the dog to be more important in that moment (isn’t that what free choice is about?).  Knocking things off the coffee table out of curiosity to see what happens.  Throwing a tantrum in the middle of the supermarket – do we really care or worry about what other people think? Hell no, we just want what we want.

To our parents, this is misbehaving, naughtiness, disrespect. Something they feel must be corrected, taught manners, obedience and discipline.

How do they achieve this? By reprimand and punishment – physical, emotional, screaming and shouting, threatening and all the many things most of us will likely have experienced in our childhood.

As we grow and learn to talk, we note that what we say is considered pretty insignificant; we are not given the space to express what we feel or want – even if we are, no one really listens. And our parents keep reminding us that they know what is best for us. As a child, how can we argue or question that?

Through these experiences we begin to wonder, question and eventually conclude that maybe the way we are is simply not enough; and we internalise the belief that we are "not good enough."

This leads to us deciding that unless we change, we will not be accepted and loved - our greatest fundamental fear and need. In order to make it with our parents (be accepted and loved), we decided that perhaps we need to change our behaviour and attitudes to conform and meet their expectations of how we ought to be (our first compromise on who we truly are).

Then one day we are sent off to school – a daunting and terrifying step for some children, an exciting “adventure” for others. In this new environment we encounter other children, teachers, rules and regulations, disciplines, etc.

For example: Learning to read and write.  Learning the multiplication tables et al through repetition.  Having to pass tests and exams to prove our level of competence, intellect and acceptability  Behave in class in a manner that is acceptable to the teacher, conform to the school’s rules and regulations else we are punished – from both the school and (likely) our parents (we are so terrible).  If our standard of work is not to the level of others, we get classified as "abnormal", in need of specialized education or psychological assessment – measured against what society has determined to be the accepted norm.  No one is really interested in our unique individuality and talents. We are required to meet and conform to the expectations of our teachers, peers and school environment.

From the above we realise that to be accepted, we need to behave and do things in the required manner if we are to avoid rejection and punishment. We also learn that in these social environments, if we do not do things as expected and required, we again will not be recognised and accepted. And so we experience how also in this environment we are not allowed to be ourselves – who we are. All of which reinforces our feelings and belief that perhaps we are truly just, "not good enough" – a belief that is becoming more and more our reality.

We also come to experience and realise that this cycle of needing to conform does not end at the school going years. Even as adults we experience and face the same situation in our world of business, politics, religion, and ... practically every other social environment.

The requirement to compromise ourselves for the sake of being accepted eventually becomes second nature. And this ultimately results in us living and experiencing our life as victims of our circumstances; unable to exercise freedom of choice to be who we really are. The same way it has been for our parents; and their parents; and their parent’s parents.

To address these “challenges” in a constructive and meaningful manner, we need to reassess the parenting processes we are practicing - as handed down from generation to generation.

And unless we stop, reconsider and have the willingness to change, we shall continue to exacerbate the problem and also shall pass on the same teachings and practices to our children for their children.

Our role and responsibility towards our children is far greater than what we are doing. The way we are doing things is, in my view, comparatively easy to do because all it requires is for us to exercise control.

What we need to recognise is that our children do not belong to us, we do not “own” them.

Whether we believe that children are sent to us

by God, or that they chose us as their parents, or whatever other belief one may identify with, what all of us ought to be doing is to feel honoured and respectful of having been granted the privilege to conceive and give birth to such a wondrous creation and Being of “God”. Our responsibility therefore should be one of guiding and helping our children to be who they really are by creating an environment that is supportive and allows them to manifest, or “showcase” who and what each child brings to this life. We should not be in fear of letting go of the beliefs we are holding on to; want to hold on to our senses of rightness at all costs; we need to have the willingness to be wrong and create a truly win-win environment where everyone can be who they really are – unconditionally.

In the words of Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet which possibly sum all this up best:

“Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.

They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts, For they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.

For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.” ― Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

What is a Soul Contract?

Simply put, it’s an agreement your soul made before you were born.

by Lindsay Curtis

This ‘agreement’ includes all of the lessons you have chosen to experience in this lifetime as well as the encounters and relationships you agreed to have with other souls. A soul contract includes physical and spiritual experiences that involve karma, your talents, goals and life purpose. It also outlines your struggles, challenges and strengths.

Soul contracts intricately weave our experiences together to create the teaching tools in our lifetimes.

We agree who our parents will be. Now, I know some of you are thinking, “Ummm…I did not choose those parents. No way, no how.” I’m pretty sure ya did. Erin Pavlina writes on that topic here: Picking our Parents and Our Life Circumstances.

In addition, we agree on who our friends will be, whom we’ll marry, who our children will be, what kind of jobs we’ll have. We agree on what types of experiences we’ll go through and the adversity we’ll endure. You get the idea. All of these contracts are put in place in order for us to have the opportunity to learn and grow on a soul level.

Knowing you have a soul contract helps you understand that what you have experienced so far has been chosen by you on a soul level.

Being aware of your soul contract opens your eyes to your strengths and helps you fulfill your life purpose. It can also identify any limitations, fears and negative aspects of your life so that you can release them, heal them and live a more fulfilling life.

But how do you know what your soul contract is?

A soul contract reading can help. It’s a way to channel powerful, accurate and in-depth information. Every chart and reading is unique to each individual – no two are the same.

You may want a soul contract reading if:  You feel stuck and want clarity about your life situation  You want to seek confirmation that you’re on the right track  You find yourself at a crossroads in life  You have choices to make and could use some guidance  You want to understand your life more deeply

What are the Benefits of having a Soul Contract Reading?

It can help to: ◾Provide a sense of direction in your life ◾Shed some light on your life purpose & goals ◾Highlight your talents and strengths and show you how to maximize them ◾Help you make informed choices ◾Provide insights as to why you are the way you are ◾Give you a deep understanding of your life ◾Understand your relationships ◾Empower you

My name's Lindsay.

I'm a spiritual intuitive, empath and Reiki practitioner. Armed with intuition and a desire to help others grow, I write the articles on The Daily Awe to do just that.

Lessons learned in the Mirror Dahlia Elizabeth admiring her reflection

by Lindsay Curtis

Ever notice how babies (and toddlers…and some adults) just love looking at their reflection in the mirror? Aside from it being super cute to watch as babies coo at themselves, looking into the mirror helps with their development and eventually they discover that the reflection they’ve been looking at & kissing all of this time is themselves.

In adulthood, relationships act as the mirror as we learn about ourselves. It’s pretty well accepted that our most important lessons come through our relationships with others. In the article Relationships as Spiritual Mirrors, I wrote: every person you meet, every situation you encounter – offers you a mirror to see your own reflection on a soul level. This particularly applies to romantic and familial relationships, but coworkers, clients and friends mirror us and teach us lessons as well.

Sometimes when we’re in the thick of the pain or having a rough time in a relationship, it’s hard to remember that we have something important to learn in the experience. It’s only later, upon reflecting on the situation, that we realize it was something we needed to learn. Bonus points if we have learned our lesson and don’t have to repeat it.

We may be either on the giving or receiving end of these experiences, and there will be a lesson offered both ways. We haven’t fully learned our lesson until we can see how we helped to arrange matters. In other words, what did we do to set it up?

This isn’t a matter of blame. Really, it’s not!

But think about it next time: what part of your soul is being reflected back to you in this scenario?

I’ve come to realize that in relationships, we are so accustomed to a sort of cause and effect conditioning, like “You yelled at me first!”, that the concept of us giving the other person involved the proverbial bat and pointing to our own head is a difficult pill to swallow.

But, when you know that most everything that happens to you is drawn through the power of your own thought (whether it’s conscious or subconscious), then there’s no turning back, and there’s no more playing the role of the “poor me” victim. Well, you certainly can continue that, but it’ll feel less authentic.

We don’t have to hold onto the pain we’ve lived through to prove that it existed. We don’t need to keep coming up with evidence of the “wrongness” of the other person involved. We can – and should – take responsibility for our part of the lesson and move on. This is part of what makes us human.

If you go through some relationship bumps in the road, think of it as an opportunity to learn some karmic relationship lessons and to help you grow on a soul level. It won’t take away the pain, but it can help shed some light into the why.

Do you believe people are a reflection of who we are? Do you think we manifest the relationships and situations that come into our lives?

My name's Lindsay.

I'm a spiritual intuitive, empath and Reiki practitioner. Armed with intuition and a desire to help others grow, I write the articles on The Daily Awe to do just that.

If you’re over a certain age, you’ll remember when the only thing cell phones could do was make and receive phone calls – it almost sounds prehistoric, doesn’t it! Today, we use them for just about everything. From browsing the Internet, staying connected with the world via social media, taking photos, listening to music and playing games.

By Indwe Risk Services Along with all of the amazing things we can do with our phones, we can still use them to make calls! Here are the top five most important numbers you should make sure you have in your contact list – tap them into your phone now and always be prepared, should something happen.

ICE (In Case of Emergency) - add ICE before the name of the person (or people) you’d want notified if something happens to you, for example: your parents, husband or wife, close friend or whoever you choose. Most hospital personnel and emergency response teams know to search your contacts for ICE numbers.

Home – If you have a home phone number, add it to your contacts list. Should you lose your phone, the person who finds it will be able to get in touch and arrange to return it to you. Emergency personnel also look for HOME numbers if there’s no response from your ICE contacts.

Police – It’s a good idea to have your local police number stored in your phone. When faced with an emergency that requires police assistance, the last thing you want to do is forget, or have to try and remember, which number to call.

Insurance company − If you’re involved in an incident on the road, you will want to get in touch with your insurance company right away to let them know, and request roadside assistance or towing help, if you need it.

Indwe Risk Services contact centre number for claims and emergency assistance is: 0860 13 13 14 (put it into your phone now!).

Medical aid – Keeping your medical aid membership and account numbers stored in your phone, makes it quick and easy to request assistance. And in the event of an emergency, get a rapid response team dispatched to you - very important when early medical treatment can often make all the difference.

Always remember….

Whilst our phones are packed with technology, and most GPS enabled phones younger than eight years old are able to reveal your location, the quickest way for someone to find you is for you to tell them where you are. So when you make an emergency call, always give your location, the phone number you’re calling from, and a clear description of what’s happened.

Montessori and Fantasy-play Misconception: Montessori schools do not allow for fantasy and inhibit children from using their imagination We especially need imagination in science. It is not all mathematics, nor all logic, but it is somewhat beauty and poetry. Dr. Maria Montessori The concepts of creativity, fantasy and imagination are some of the most hotly debated topics in Montessori education. One needs to keep in mind though that they were not Dr. Montessori’s actually words. She used early Italian words which were then translated into these words for the English speaking public in the early 1900’s. Since that time, their meanings have changed.

Today the meaning of creativity, fantasy and imagination almost synonymous, but in Dr. Montessori’s time they had different meanings.

fantasy - the departure of truth from reality. Another more up to date term that I have heard from my Italian speaking family members is “day dreaming”. imagination- the use of ones intellect and ability to design something new and different. creativity- the act of Imagination When Dr. Montessori opened her first school for 3-6-year-olds she filled it with dolls and other traditional make-believe toys, but she soon found that when children were given the opportunity to do real work such as cooking, cleaning, caring for themselves, each other, and the environment, they completely lost interest in make-believe and preferred real work.

As time continued Dr. Montessori also noticed that young children had a hard time distinguishing between real and imaginary. They were constantly asking. “Is this real?” This observation still rings true today, as Barbara Curtis author of the Montessori BLOG Mommy Life says, “How is a three or four year old American child reading picture books to understand that though he's never seen one, a camel is real while a fairy is not? Or that places like the Grand Canyon or the Sahara Desert or Niagara Falls or the Great Wall of China are real while Disneyland is not”

Additionally, part of Friedrich Froebel's kindergarten curriculum was teacher guided imaginary play. Although Montessori agreed with Froebel an many aspects of education, here was one place their beliefs diverged. Montessori felt that instead of pretending to be a farmer, children understand farming better by actually tending a garden, instead of pretending to be cooking dinner, children learn more by actually cooking. So at times some of Dr. Montessori's comments on fantasy were actually a direct commentary on Froebel's guided imaginary play.

It was through these observations that Dr. Montessori spoke out against fantasy- the adult lead departure of truth from reality and why she felt that “real activities� as opposed to make believe ones were more important to the young child trying to make sense of the world around them. It was her belief that the world is such an amazing and wonder-filled place, that we should focus on giving as much of it as we can to the young child to help them discover everything possible about our natural world.

In addition, she believed that dance, art and music activities, usually considered "creative activities" were integral parts of the Montessori classroom.

"Human consciousness comes into the world as a flaming ball of imagination. Everything invented by human beings, physical or mental, is the fruit of someone's imagination. In the study of history and geography we are helpless without imagination, and when we propose to introduce the universe to the child, what but the imagination can be of use to us? I consider it a crime to present such subjects as may be noble and creative aids to the imaginative faculty in such a manner as to deny its use, and on the other hand to require children to memorize that which they have not been able to visualize..... The secret of good teaching is to regard the children's intelligence as a fertile field in which seeds may be sown, to grow under the heat of flaming imagination. Our aim therefore is not merely to make the children understand, and still less to force them to memorize, but so to touch their imagination as to enthuse them to their inmost core. We do not want complacent pupils but eager ones; we seek to sow life in children rather than theories, to help them in their growth, mental and emotional as well as physical."

Dr. Maria Montessori Source: http://www.montessorianswers.com/myth-fantasy.html

“Relax.”

“Calm down.”

“Just sit still.”

We live in a busy, fast-paced world where we constantly move from one thing to another. Most children don’t know what it feels like to truly calm down, relax, and just sit still, yet these are requests they hear so often. I believe taking time to explicitly teach breathing and mindfulness techniques to our youth and incorporating these practices into their daily life sets a foundation for their future, and the future of our society.

Yoga pairs mindful breathing with physical postures. Simply put, yoga teaches us to slow down, notice what is happening in our bodies, and become present. Yoga does not need to be practiced in a hot room while you’re standing on your hands. It is for people of all ages and skill levels. That’s why I decided to bring yoga into my special education classroom. I can personally attest to the fact that big changes can happen in just 5-10 minutes with every child, every age group, every body type, and every personality, even while they’re sitting at a classroom table.

The six students in my classroom are ‘exceptional,’ they have varying special needs and some fall under the autism spectrum disorder umbrella. My students, just like all of us from time to time, struggle to regulate their emotions, handle frustration, and calm down. Transitions tend to be more difficult. Schedule changes often lead to meltdowns. I wanted to help them find some sort of coping mechanism.

Teaching children to breathe deep, inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth, helps them to quiet their mind, calm their nervous system, and reduce stress or anxiety.

Yoga poses have fun names that children connect with and remember. Many of the children love to explore their own creativity and make up names for postures. The poses offer children an opportunity to physically move, follow directions, and improve their balance and flexibility. It offers children an opportunity to play and learn simultaneously in an environment that embraces their uniqueness and supports their strengths.

Since we began practicing yoga daily, I have seen great progress in my students’ ability to calm down, quiet their minds, tolerate change, and handle stress. One day in particular sticks out in my mind. My students were returning from Art class, a class they attend with their same-aged peers. They had a blast learning in a different setting, with a different teacher, and it is a nice break from the strict structure and routines in our classroom.

Naturally, the students are louder and more excitable upon arriving to their usual setting, demonstrating behaviors that are less than ideal only to begin writing activities that are more difficult for my students. On this particular day, instead of jumping right into our usual groups, I decided to practice my own flexibility and take a few moments for deep breaths, and to calm down with my students. I decided we would practice yoga together. At their table, each student was instructed to put their hand on their belly, close their eyes, and we took three deep breaths together. They put their heads on their desk for “desk rest� and I played our quiet song.

This is something they are able to do because we practice daily. It immediately got so quiet in my classroom that I could have heard a pin drop! When the song ended, the students were significantly calmer, less anxious, and ready to move on with the day.

Imagine a classroom, and world, full of calmer, confident, more mindful children. I know I am a calmer, more patient teacher when my students are calm and happy. It is worth taking 5 minutes out of instructional time to create a healthy environment for our students. http://montessorirocks.org/calm-bodies-calm-minds/

The Importance of Playing in Nature for Children The ‘X-Box Generation’, ‘Stranger Danger’, protective parenting and a shortage of safe, clean playing spaces are just some of the reasons children are not outside playing in nature as much as they should be.

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Healthy Habits – Children who experience growing their own food outside are more likely to eat fruit and vegetables. Playing outside encourages them to engage in energetic physical activities, which helps keep them fit and at a healthy weight.

Absorbing vitamin D from the sun will help strengthen their growing bones.

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As carers of children, we may prefer to keep them safe within the views of our watchful eyes but are this sedentary generation of children suffering as a result of the way society is going?​ Obesity, Attention Deficit Disorder, misbehaviors, weaker physical skills and co-ordination, inhibited creativity and a lack of social skills are some of the worrying trends arising amongst children today. Are our children innocent victims, made to suffer the consequences of a “progressive society” led primarily by us adults? Are we taking them further and further away from where our species has been growing and adapting throughout evolution? It appears so!​ On the positive side, we are now aware of this and so have the power to do something about it. Let’s first remind ourselves of some of the amazingly powerful benefits of spending time in nature: •

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Immunity Booster - Studies have shown that regular time spent in the great outdoors reduces stress levels, perhaps by reminding us there is a bigger picture to consider and enjoy. There also seems to be a co-relation between engaging in regular outdoor activities and an increased number of white blood cells in our bodies, helping to protect us from diseases.

Improved Concentration – Attention Deficit problems and fatigue seem to be relieved from time spent outdoors. Children especially, need time and freedom to engage in exploration and large-motor activities. Their bodies are going through rapid growth, strengthening and conditioning. Once they have satisfied this need they will be better able to concentrate on smaller tasks and mental activities.

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Creativity and Problem Solving – Children are blessed with a natural sense of awe and wonder about the world they live in. Granting them time outside and leaving them to their own devices, gives them the chance to explore, form ideas and hypothesis, become confident making discoveries and experience challenges which require them to use decision making skills. Qualities such as these will stand to them when they are older, in the ever progressive entrepreneurial work trend we are currently witnessing.

Better Social Skills – Children are more likely to get creative and express their true natures when they are playing outside. Often they create games from nothing, learning lessons such as the need for rules and fair play. Some children may find themselves in the role of group leader, others, team-players, but each will discover what they can bring to ensure the success of the activities.

Playing outside helps children to develop the skills needed for successful communication such as making eye-contact and listening and responding, which they wouldn’t experience to the same extent, whilst distracted playing video games, watching TV. and the likes, indoors.

If you care to research this topic further you will undoubtedly discover more benefits associated with spending time in nature.

However, even if you are only reacting to this article I would urge you to think about and create more opportunities for the children in your care to experience outdoor play.

Ways to Achieve this:​ •

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• •

If safety is an issue, do your best to create an outdoor play space with a variety of learning opportunities. You could include sand and water play, muck and green areas with trees to climb and gardening opportunities, with tools at their disposal, playground swing and climbing sets, etc.

Bring your child to a variety of outdoor environments including the beach, park, playgrounds, go for forest and mountain walks etc.

Remember time outside is good for you too!

If you can, enroll your children in community groups and activities such as sports teams, scouts, camps etc. If this doesn’t work for you however, try to at least accumulate a supply of cheap sports equipment such as balls, hoola hoops and skipping ropes and arrange play dates with friends.

As you can see, where there is a will, there is a way! One last thing I will ask you to seriously consider however, is outdoor safety. As adults and protectors of children, it is our duty to educate children on the possible dangers associated with outdoor play, including ‘stranger-danger’, water-safety, road safety, proper use of play-equipment, safety in numbers etc. It is important that children experience freedom and independence but it is also important to regulate, monitor and grant them this at a rate suited to their stage of development and knowledge.

Now in case you’ve forgotten just how good it feels, why not treat yourself to some invigorating time in the great outdoors. After-all, there’s a kid in all of us just dying to get out!

Sinead Hamill is a full-time Montessori Teacher and After- School Practitioner. She trained in St Nicholas Montessori College Dun- Laoighre for four years, where she qualified with a BA Honours Degree.

She has also trained in vocal and performance coaching. Sinead has over ten years experience in the Montessori and Child Care Sector.

Through her experience, Sinead has noticed how receptive children are to movement and music.

With a diverse mix of children entering her class each year she has taught many foreign national children and children with additional educational needs such as Down Syndrome, Autism and Speech & Language difficulties. Over the years Sinead learned the best way to hold her pupils attention was through song and movement. This led her to create songs and rhymes, to accompany the lessons she was presenting. All of her pupils respond without exception very positively to this method of teaching which led Sinead to creating her own educational phonics and solar system CDs.

NEW RELEASE

By Lilith White THE TRUE STORY OF A WOMAN POSSESSED BY MORE THAN A DESIRE TO FIND HER SOUL MATE In this non-fiction memoir, Lilith White takes you on a journey of compelling self-disclosure as she navigates through relationships, searches for a higher purpose and delves into the less explored territories of what lies beyond our limited perceptions of this physical, three dimensional, world we live in…

When Lilith, a young mother of two, finds herself devastated and alone after the suicide of her husband, her natural assumption is that she will be free to love again, but destiny has other ideas…

As she begins to suspect that ‘things are not as they seem’, a visit to an African Shaman leads her into the realm of some very unexplained, mystical events... Encounters with the afterlife, reincarnation flash backs and out of body experiences, as she searches for a holistic partnership that seems impossible to find.

When she begins asking thought-provoking existential questions, her philosophy of ‘we create our own reality’ is challenged to the core. She is about to discover the depths of the human spirit and how far she will really have to go in the pursuit of happiness and spiritual freedom….

INTERVIEW WITH LILITH WHITE ABOUT THE WRITING OF THE OTHER SIDE OF MY REFLECTION

By Linda Navon – Editor of Conscious Life & Child of the Universe Magazines Lilith White was born and raised in South Africa. When she picked up a pen at age thirteen and wrote her first love poem, she knew she was destined to be a writer. From that moment onwards she spent all her time staring out of classroom windows, writing poetry. She started writing a ‘fantasy novel’ at age eighteen but like so many other books which she began with gusto, she never completed it. She says she still has it in a box somewhere and will one day finish it for her grand children.

A few years after the suicide of her husband, and father of her children, she felt compelled to tell her story. And so began a twelve year journey of writing her creative non-fiction memoir, The Other Side of my Reflection, originally entitled Break On Through to the Other Side.

“Writing is not a choice for me,” says Lilith, “It is a gift that flows naturally. This book had a momentum its own. I would sometimes write deep into the night, without noticing the time. I completely lost myself in it. Not completing it was never an option. Whenever I took a break from it, there was always something nudging me to go back and give it a new breath of life. It was unstoppable, like the ebb and flow of the ocean.”

“Finally putting my story ‘out there’, after all the long hours and years of dedication, is the most exciting, yet scary, adventure I have ever been on. I have shared so many universal questions. It is not only about my own life experiences.

Anybody who has ever felt struggle, grief or heart break, will relate to it.”

Lilith is working on her second creative non-fiction memoir ,but when I ask her if she finally found her soul mate companion, she just smiles and says, “Now that would be telling!” If it’s anything like The Other Side of my Reflection, which had me completely mesmerised, I can’t wait to read it!

I first read the rough manuscript of Lilith’s book, about 3 years ago, and couldn’t put it down. Since then she has edited the book, fine-tuned it to the minutest detail, and I was presented with the printed version of the book a short while ago. Last week I picked it up and re-read it, non-stop, it is seriously UN-PUT-DOWNABLE! Inspirational, blatantly honest, spiritually groundbreaking, heart-wrenching yet at times hilarious...a great read that will have you glued to its pages, from the opening chapter, to the very end.

Lilith has an amazing knack of bringing the reader into the picture as if you were inside her head. This book will make you laugh, cry, cringe and want to die for her pain. However there is much joy in it and will definitely challenge some of your beliefs about this life and the hereafter.

AVAILABLE ON KINDLE WORLDWIDE:: TYPE TITILE IN TO ORDER AND DOWNLOAD. TO ORDER HARD COPY CLICK ON AMAZON LOGO

ENTER TO WIN THIS FIRST AID KIT FOR YOUR SCHOOL

It is essential that every school has the necessary First Aid equipment available for emergencies, and peace of mind for teachers and parents.

To enter email your email contact and your phone number to flowercount@childoftheuniverse.co.za Subject: Subscribe Kit See next page for list of contents of the First Aid Kit……..

WIN THIS FIRST AID KIT AS PER OUR SUNFLOWER COUNT COMPETITION

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People have varying amounts of tolerance to pain and the same is true of their pets. Some dogs may yelp and cry at the least discomfort, whilst another my not limp on an injured leg until it’s extremely damaged. Cats are notorious for being stoic and not showing that they are in pain.

Knowing your pet and his habits and behaviour is often the trigger to realizing he is hurting. You need to know what is normal for your pet, to be able to tell what is abnormal for them.

The skill of observing with a critical eye can be learned by anyone, and it starts with a genuine love and interest in your pet, his behaviour, posture and habits.

Often the first sign of pain in a family pet is the feeling of the owner that “something isn’t right” There are symptoms to watch for but often the first sign of pain in a family pet is the feeling of the owner that “something isn’t right”. When that impression remains for several days, a trip to the vet for a checkup is a good idea.

Symptoms of Pain: Vocalizing Your dog may whine when he rises from a sitting position or yelp when he jumps down from a chair. He may whimper when you massage a shoulder or make moaning or groaning sounds when at rest.

Your cat’s purring may actually increase, or he may be meowing incessantly or differently. Panting is normal for dogs but constant panting in the absence of exercise or heat is unusual. Cats in pain may have a faster and more shallow breathing pattern than normal. They may also even pant.

Conscious Life Magazine

Posture Know your pet’s normal posture at rest, as well as his normal gait. Sometimes postural changes may be very obvious e.g. our dog may limp with one leg or may appear to walk in an awkward, hunched position holding his front end and back end at uneven heights, or your horse may stand with his head in a lowered position. (When he stands with his head lower than his knees, it should set-off major alarm bells). If you know your pet’s “body language” , it will be easier to see when there is a deviation from the normal pattern.

Level of Activity Owners accustomed to a pet who follows them from room to room may notice the animal staying in one place instead. The dog may lay down, get up, circle and lay down again repeatedly trying to find a comfortable position and may have difficulty getting up after laying down. Cats experiencing pain often move around less. But depending on what hurts, they may still move around the same amount, just differently. They may move with a limp, or go more slowly up or down the stairs. Horses may show a decrease in activity or be reluctant to move, or may lag behind the rest of the group.

“Cats in pain may have a faster and more shallow breathing pattern”

“Your pet may avoid social contact, or growl or snap..”

Heart and Pulse Change Animals in pain will often have an increased heart/pulse rate. The rate often noticeably speeds up when the painful area is touched or moved. You can enrol in a pet’s first aid course, or ask your veterinarian or veterinary nurse to show you how to check and measure your pet’s pulse rate.

Behavioural Changes Your pet may avoid social contact, or growl or snap when you touch part of his body or manipulate a joint. He may withdraw from petting and be reluctant to participate in play activity. Some dogs may become more needy than usual and seem to be asking for constant attention.

Incessant licking, scratching or chewing of one part of the body is a visible indication of itching or pain and an increase in drooling is another sign of a problem.

Be aware of changes in your horse’s behaviour in his turn-out group. Very often bad behaviour in horses have been attributed to them having a nasty character, but these unwanted behaviour patterns – swishing of the tail if you pass to close to their hind quarter, bucking, or dropping of the shoulder may be due to the fact that they are in pain.

Cats in pain are more likely to bite and scratch. This is true even with their owners and other familiar people. This is particularly true when a person touches or moves the painful area, or if the cat anticipates you touching or moving the painful area.

Cat’s may have a decrease in self-grooming when ill, or may groom excessively in an area with a wound. If your cat suddenly hides under beds or in cupboards it is s sure sign that he is in pain. Should your cat start to urinate or defecate outside his litter box it may be a sign of back/joint pain. They will struggle to get in and out of the litter box and also with the posture needed to defecate, and as a result may become constipated.

Feeding changes Animals may lose their appetite when they are in pain or appear unusually tired or lethargic. Be aware of their feeding habits and pay attention to their feeding routine and changes to these routines. When they do go and eat and experience some pain in their mouth or the cause of their pain is related to their teeth, then they may drop food/water out of their mouth whilst eating/drinking.

Appearance Animals display facial expressions that their human companion recognize as part of the personality of their pet. A change in expression or physical appearance may be an indicator of a pet who is in pain.

Ears laid back may be unusual for the animal and a vacant stare that replaces the attentive look, or eyes that seem constantly tired and sleepy may be subtle clues of a joint that is aching or an injury that needs treatment.

Strained, tense nostrils, mouth and prominent chewing muscles, flattening of the horse’s profile, as well as tension seen above the eye area is a sure sign that your horse needs the vet or blacksmith or some dentistry.

Treatment for Pain Relief: Seek advice from your vet as soon as you notice your pet is in pain to determine the cause of pain. Prompt treatment can halt the progression of serious illness and relieve discomfort quickly.

Finding the cause of the discomfort can often lead to treatments with pet medicines that will control or even eliminate pain for the animal. Please do not self-medicate your pet. Many fatalities have occurred with caring pet owners medicating their pets with human medicine. You can cause your pet severe distress and even death by giving your pet medicine meant for human beings.

Natural Medicines: Eco-Vet has a portfolio of registered natural medicine designed for treating various painful conditions. EcoHeal is a must in your fist aid kit for pain and sudden onset injuries, while Eco-Joint has been created for the treatment of animals with acute and chronic joint strains associated with mainly soft tissue injuries.

May be effectively used before hard exercise to protect from work induced injuries. Is an effective remedy for use immediately after hard exercise as an aid to recovery. Eco-Arth is a natural remedy for the treatment of animals with chronic joint problems associated with degenerative disease, and had seen many animals regaining their mobility.

We love animals, NATURALLY Erika Bornman CEO-Eco-Vet www.ecovet.co.za

Conscious Life Magazine

SABMR

South African Bone Marrow Registry The South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR) was established in 1991 by Professor Ernette du Toit and the late Professor Peter Jacobs.

The SABMR is responsible for maintaining a database of healthy potential South African donors. These donors are willing to donate haematopoietic (blood forming) stem cells for patients, who need a bone marrow transplant for a life-threatening haematological disorder but who do not have a suitable family donor.

SANBS

South African National Blood Service SANBS do all the analyzing and testing of blood from those registering as donors on the SABMR. SANBS clinics throughout KZN, Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West Province and Northern Cape.

In addition to routine blood donor clinics scheduled by The South African National Blood Service (SANBS), there are a number of special services of which you can participate in special bleeding programmes aimed at addressing specific needs.

These include: The Blood Service and Bone Marrow Donation: In some centres SANBS collects peripheral blood stem cells from donors identified through the SABMR, in addition to testing and registering potential bone marrow donors. A registration cost does apply.

WPBTS

Western Province Blood Transfusion We also work closely with WPBTS, accompanying them on specific blood drives to recruit bone marrow stem cell donors.

The Western Province Blood Transfusion Service is a non-profit, independent organisation operating throughout the Western Cape. We work without prejudice to supply safe blood and blood products to all communities in the region, from Cape Town all the way up to George. It’s our goal to be the benchmark transfusion service in South Africa – and we’re getting there, with the help of our dedicated donors.

NHLS

National Health Laboratory Service NHLS and SANBS do all the analyzing and testing of all our blood samples and we pay them for this service.

The SANBS also act as donor collection points for us throughout KZN, Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and North West Province.

Pathcare

The Sunflower Fund is a member of the Cancer Alliance: www.canceralliance.co.za

do all the analyzing and testing of blood samples in the Western Cape as well as blood samples drawn from their depots in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng and Namibia.