Holistica 2020 Winter edition

WELLBEING . FOR EVERYONE .

2020

MAGICAL PLACES + practitioner guide

R80 (incl. VAT) R68 in other countries

HEALING | NUTRITION | EARTH LOVE | WANDERLUST RETREATS | MINDFULNESS | CONNECTION holistica.net

“I hope you will go out and let stories, that is life, happen to you, and that you will work with these stories... water them with your blood and tears and your laughter til they bloom, til you yourself burst into bloom.”

Clarissa Pinkola Estés

HOLISTICA.NET Wellbeing. For everyone.

EDITOR’S NOTE

Comfort in the chaos…

Wow, what a plot twister! In the blink of an eye, the entire world changed dramatically.

Who knows when this issue is actually going on shelf as, a few days before print, everything shut down. For me, something about saying the words, ‘It is what it is’, releases the valve on the struggle against whatever that ‘is’ might be. There are times when all there is, is to surrender to not being in control, and not knowing. During this time, it is a beautiful and sacred thing to find a well of trust and reassurance to draw from. Sometimes being in challenging situations is the only time we get to meet our inner resources and see how strong and magnificent they are.

I love what visionary Azrya Cohen Bequer says: “Times of crisis bring a tremendous opportunity because there is a ‘pattern interrupt’ to our collective, habitual ways of operating, most of which are heavily anchored in excessive consumerism, distraction and a relationship to productivity so unsustainable it has become violent, both to our own minds, bodies and spirits, as well as to the mind, body and spirit of our Earth; which is – surprise, surprise – a sentient being as well, and has its own consciousness.”

However painful and scary or perhaps even liberating, our situation calls for a deep examination and re-address. One thing we can do is turn to hear the heart songs of the earth, the heartbeat of great mother earth under our feet and in our veins and surrender our difficulties into the container of ‘what is’. Plant healing words in the wounds of those who are suffering. And remember, if the entire economy collapses, there is still the option of developing a new currency of connection and community.

Thank you to everyone who has made this issue possible and especially to our advertisers who are so supportive. We’ve met incredible people whilst getting this edition together.

Have hope.

Always leave people better than you found them.

Hug the hurt Kiss the broken Befriend the lost Love the lonely.

In strength and trust Robyn robyn@holistica.net www.holistica.net

C o ntents 24

HEALING

14 | Ancient Knowledge

By reconnecting with the traditions and wisdoms of our ancestors, we can reclaim true health, for body and soul.

24 | Healing our Stories

Your stories can be unwound by understanding what they are and correcting the therapy state used to shield and defend your wounding.

30 | The Kingdom of Remedies

We look at homeopathic remedy states through animal, mineral and plant kingdoms. Find clues to the kingdoms by looking at temperament, traits, and quirks.

36 | Radiant Body, Balanced Mind

Inflammation, with all its bad press, is a beautifully constructed response by the body. Learn how to recognise inflammation and initiate healing.

42 | Living Immunity

Strengthen your health with lifestyle practices that boost immunity and communicate with your body’s intelligence.

48 | Get the Balance Right

42

pH balance is a key health marker. Know what your acid/ alkaline balance looks like at any one time, and see how much better you feel when living in balance.

EARTH 50 | The Way of Water

Now, more than ever, it’s important to instil a reverence for the environment. We invite you to bow your head in devotion and express deep gratitude for the magic that is water.

58 | Root for the Earth

When it comes to supporting the planet, Spekboom is a saving grace. We highlight its carbon converting qualities and give you reasons to plant it.

62 | In your Element

We look at our relationship to the elemental forces of earth, water, f ire and air and notice the earth’s feedback; how it heals, guides, holds and supports us.

70

66

50

NUTRITION

NURTURE

66 | Celebrating Wholefoods

100 | Body Rituals

Meet Pritam and Har Bhajan Khalsa: longstanding advocates of healthy eating and pioneers of whole foods.

70 | Milk it

There are numerous vegan alternatives to animalderived milk, we look at options using nuts and grains and offer instructions on how to make them yourself.

CONSCIOUSNESS 74 | Next Level Consciousness

Enlist in a self-nurturing ritual. From abhyanga to oil swishing, face massage to candle meditation, yoni steaming herbs and more; try something new.

GUIDANCE 112 | In the Palm of your Hand

Our palms hold secrets, they whisper tales about our existence. We look at the art of palmistry and whether it’s true that lines are written into the human hand for a reason.

Inhabit higher states of consciousness by recognising and tapping into the pool of what already is.

78 | The Sound of Peace

Primordial Sound Meditation is a silent mantra practice using the primordial sound resounding in the universe at the time and location of our birth.

FAMILY 86 | Natural Birthing

Allowing your body to dictate the rhythms and flow of both labour and birth in a natural environment is a beautiful choice supported by doulas and midwives.

94 | Insightful Relationships

Solve life questions, answer the call of your innermost longing and you’ll be more equipped to have supportive, honouring and balanced intimacy.

MORE THINGS WE LOVE

Join us in supporting

healthy living choices at every opportunity.

MAKE YOUR OWN

Drink abundance water

made with crystals, mantras and intention.

SELF LOVE

Generate a deeper connection

with yourself using meditative awareness

BOOK REVIEWS

Get savvy with a booklist

of inspiring and informative options

DIRECTORY

Find practitioners, healers,

teachers, retreats and health products

OUR TEAM There is a cohesive and synchronous rhythm in our Holistica team which I feel so fortunate to have. Everyone pitches in, in the most generous way. I would like to give special credo to Inge, my designer who makes the process so flawless; whether moving a tiny dot an inch to the left or coming up with a colour scheme for a spread, she is incredibly patient and steadfast. After working together for over ten years, I have such respect and gratitude for her work ethic and how she shows up in such a formidable way. Our core team was tiny this time around and I’m so thankful for the tireless and dedicated effort everyone has demonstrated. Thank you to my amazing team. Here, we have introduced ourselves through our most favourite inspirational quote.

SUPPORT OFFICE CONTACT 072 328 7964 hello@holistica.net www.holistica.net

MARKETING, ADVERTISING & SALES 072 328 7964 sales@holistica.net

Robyn Wilkinson

EDITOR | robyn@holistica.net

Kirsten Alexander

DESIGN & LAYOUT

DEPUTY EDITOR | kirsten@holistica.net

I love Gabrielle Roth, her writing has always inspired me. Right now, this is one of my favourite quotes and addresses almost everything we cover in our Holistica content.

I think it’s so important to simply be who you are - forget about trying to fit in, to be something that doesn’t work for you. Be authentically yourself and allow others the same honour.

“Each of us has the power and responsibility to heal ourselves, to be our own medicine man or woman.

Awakening our innate powers of being, loving, knowing, seeing and healing involves ongoing work at all levels and in all dimensions of our self. Exploring the range of rhythms and emotions, achieving insights into our conditioning and ego, moving through the energy levels of spirit – these are all activities to be integrated into our daily lives.”

“Follow your inner moonlight; don’t hide the madness.”

ALLEN GINSBERG

INGE SMIT

inge@ivdesign.co.za

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Adam Suzman, Skye Forrester, Holly Beaton, Kerry-Ann Killen

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS: Spekboom photo - Angela Frey earthangelcommunications@gmail.com Palmistry illustration Olivia Bürki olivia.buerki@gmx.ch

GABRIELLE ROTH

Inge Smit DESIGNER | inge@ivdesign.co.za Here is my inspiration, it is from Tao Te Ching, written by Lao Tzu and encourages me to live simply and to remember that Life is the reason for living.

Fran Kruger OFFICE MANAGER | hello@holistica.net I love this one from Lewis Carroll as it reminds us to live in the present, to love and to live life to the full!

“In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take, the relationships we were afraid to have and the decisions we waited too long to make.”

6 | holistica.net

The highest good is like water.

Water gives life to the ten thousand things without seeking for itself.

It flows into low places men reject and so is like the Way Itself.

In dwelling, be close to the land.

In meditation, go deep in the heart.

In dealing with others, be gentle and kind.

In speech, be true.

In ruling, be just.

In daily life, be competent.

In action, be aware of the time and the season.

No strife: No blame.

Cover design: Inge Smit

Printed by CTP Cape Town

CTPprinters

Distributed by RNA

CAPE TOWN

DISCLAIMER: Kindly note all our advertising material is received in good faith and we have not researched any of the content or claims made by any of our advertisers. If you are unsure of the efficacy of any of the claims made, kindly consult a professional.

Holistica’s Vision To inspire wellbeing on every level; to initiate a conscious journey and to connect products, places and services with people in search of a life with more meaning. To encourage respect and reverence for the earth with beautifully designed and informative articles.

Our online platform and print magazines aim to contribute towards radically enhanced personal wellness and planetary ecology with natural, sustainable and conscious means.

What Holistica offers An online magazine platform www.holistica.net A searchable holistic practitioner, product and places directory A digital events newsletter sent to a growing database of 30 thousand subscribers A wealth of holistic events nationwide Two annual print magazines, which soon we intend to syndicate in various other countries.

A marketing powerhouse for wellness brands.

We offer social media, print ads, podcasts, campaigns, events and everything required to make your brand top of mind.

For marketing support and assistance, articles or campaigns contact us at hooray@holistica.net

holistica.net | 7

THINGS WE LOVE Forever on the lookout for fabulous places and products in tune with our wellbeing vibe; here’s the result of some of our sleuthing. Join us in supporting healthy living choices at every turn.

BREWED IMMUNITY

EAT YOURSELF YOUNGER What a treat to arrive at an eatery and know everything on the menu is focused on wellbeing. Clenergy; the world’s first antiaging eatery in Greenside, Jozi, will serve you up a delectable feast guaranteed free-from refined sugar and wheat; low in carbs and high in nutrition. Bring your vegan buddies and braai-hards alike; detox bowls and antiinflammatory salads share the table with protein-rich steaks and designer burgers.

Vegan chocolate cheesecake is deceptively healthy hiding its plant-based persona under a veil of guilt-free decadence. The Clenergy ethos is wholehearted: nourish the soul and the body - food is integral to wellbeing. Freshly divine, carefully crafted and beautifully presented offerings will lure you back again and again to eventually taste everything on the menu. We left with a satisfied belly, a pack of home-made granola and coconut loaf to go. www.clenergy.co.za | 010 443 3301 | bookings@clenergy.co.za | 51 Greenfield Road, Greenside, Randburg

8 | holistica.net

For me, it was absolute ‘love at first sip’ when I tasted the African Rose flavour made by Brew Kombucha. I’m a bit particular when it comes to ‘funny tastes’ and always thought Kombucha wouldn’t work for me, until I found the Brew brand. Kombucha is designed to strengthen your immune system by feeding your gut microbiomes – it’s a natural source of probiotics and we know that gut health has a distinct role in the body’s immune system response. Such a no-brainer to get gut health in a yummy brew form. Oh, they also have an Original Rooibos flavor and Buchu Babe to choose from. Brew Kombucha is locally made and certified organic, they’re completely focused on treading lightly on the earth. The brand is 99% plastic-free and was one of the three finalists for the 2019 World Beverage Innovation Awards for their sustainability and CSR initiative. Buy a case of 24 bottles online and get your gut health delivered straight to your door through www.brewkombucha. co.za. Or, contact them on 021 685 0846 | hello@brewkombucha.co.za | Studio 1, Montebello Design Centre, 31 Newlands Avenue, Cape Town.

MEET YOUR TRIBE AT myUTOPIA in Cape Town Slip on your stretchy gear and get ready for a class. myUTOPIA has a vibe that’ll keep you motivated for sure – and you’ll definitely meet your tribe there. It’s a space packed with warmth, love and a smorgasbord of movement options. Two stylish studios offer something for everyone, from Boxing, Dance, BalletRIP, Methodology X and HIIT to Suspended classes, Yoga and Pilates. We love the space and range of classes. It’s gentle and inclusive, so it doesn’t matter what your fitness level is, you’ll fit right in with a warm and encouraging welcome. All classes have their own unique energy and there’s ample fun to be had trying out the options. We dipped into a dance class that left us breathless and snuck into a Ballet RIP class simply to witness the physical strength and control. We also tried an aerial yoga class – it felt held and safe and ended with a heavenly floating shavasana. myUTOPIA is a favourite boutique studio for anyone seeking a variety of movement disciplines and exercise. 1st Floor, The Cruise Terminal, Dock Road, South Arm Side, V&A Waterfront | 021 202 2271 | wwww.myutopia.co.za

Set your allure free all natural perfume for the all-natural human HOLIair is sensually playful

with patchouli, rosewood, clary sage, frankinsence and rose damascus

HOLIearth is magically

seductive and mysterious with palo santo, myrrh, sandalwood and vanilla

Purchase @ R300 a 10ml bottle through www.maedit.co.za or contact hello@holistica.net

THINGS WE LOVE

THE DIRTY GOODBYE

HEMP YOUR HOME Hemp is one of nature’s true miracles – it’s ecofriendly and water wise, has an abundance of health-giving properties and uses and makes incredible fabric, from thick cotton to silk. When I discovered Hemporium’s amazing selection of textures and weaves I immediately wanted to totally re-do my whole house in hemp. It looks gorgeous, is easy on the environment, healthy and long-lasting. Hemp fibres are strong and sturdy, making it last around three times longer than cotton. It’s also deemed three times stronger than cotton and is super soft to touch.

If we had our way, we’d make everything from hemp – pajamas, bed sheets, couch cushions, curtains, the lot. We love the beautiful simplicity and eco-friendliness of hemp fabric – get inspired and get yours from Hemporium | 15 Bell Crescent, Westlake Business Park, Cape Town | 021 702 4988 | www.hemporium.com | rifqah@hemporium.com

Bacterrorist is an incredible ecofriendly multipurpose cleaner that deals a deathly blow to dirt yet is gentle on the planet, which is why we love it. We tried it for a week at home and in the office, and were grateful for the subtle fresh scent. Rather than harmful chemicals, this handy cleaner uses enzymes which are really efficient at breaking down dirt molecules – from fats and grease to starches. It’s also super on surfaces like stainless steel and is totally biodegradable. Made by Postwink, who specialise in all things recycling and reusable, you can get this ultra cleaner online at www. shopPostwink.co.za | info@postwink.co.za | 021 447 8783 – as a Holistica reader, you’ll get free shipping within South Africa if you type Holistica on check out through the online store (valid until 2021).

ALL THE WAY WITH OWAY I’m not sure you could ever find a more ethical, earth-loving and considerate hair and body care range if you tried. Nor one that feels so amazing and gets such incredible results. This nature certified brand is nurture incarnate; it is crafted with medicinal herbs grown biodynamically on the owner’s farm in Bologna, Italy. Raw ingredients are distilled zero-mile (on site) making everything organic and free from GM, chemicals and cruelty. As they say, Oway agricosmetics is the virtuous circle of choices and actions put in place to improve the well-being of the Earth and its inhabitants, at every stage of the product life cycle.

With such harmony in place it’s no wonder the result is high quality essential oils, extracts and hydrolates extremely rich in active ingredients and nutrients. These are blended with pure waxes, butters and emollient plant-derived agents to amazing effect. Amber glass protects the botanical extracts in the formulas and safeguards their integrity. Production acknowledges respect for lunar and cosmic cycles, uses renewable energy, electric cars, recycling of materials and no overpackaging, or secondary wrappings on the products. Oh, and besides, I have never met a hair care range that can wrangle untamed hair more efficiently and effectively.

Find Oway products at leading salons and outlets or directly from Oway South Africa | 064 540 6180

10 | h o l i s t i c a . n e t

BELLY LOVE WITH RED ESPRESSO With gut health high on the agenda, we discover a sneaky, delicious way to foster some real belly love. Polyphenol antioxidants are hero conspirators in the game of gut health, and Red Espresso just happens to have stacks. We’ve always known rooibos has unequivocal health-giving properties, amp that up with Red Espresso, and they’re off the charts. To quantify the antioxidants in food we use a value called ORAC. This measures the ability of a food to fight free radicals in the body. ORAC in Rooibos tea is 6, Green tea is 11 and Red Espresso® Rooibos is 59. To add to that, it’s caffeine-free and perfect for caffeine-sensitivity and pregnancy.

Red Espresso is real belly love. Get hold of their convenient Nespresso-ready pods, they’re available in an abundance of flavours. Such an easy café-style health boost. www.redespresso.com | 021 863 1060

T

he best products are simple, natural and include only essential beneficial ingredients.

We felt passionate about making cannabidiol accessible and creating unique CBD enriched skincare products in South Africa, by adding the purest CBD into Alchemy Elixzar skincare range.

With more than 14 years’ experience in the Medical and Skin care industry, we have created a range of products that are not only unisex but also aimed at all skin types.

Alchemy Elixzar products use CBD for its antiinflammatory properties. Our products are THC-free, so there are never any psychoactive effects. The range is perfectly safe, but due to the addition of essential oils should only be used from the age of six and with caution in pregnant and breastfeeding moms. Always first consult with your health care practitioner about the safety of any topical products.

Creating Alchemy Elixzar was a labour of love. Utilising the extraordinary benefits of CBD for the skin, we set out to create a skincare range with beauty and wellness ingredients that work in harmony to provide calm and radiance. Meticulous development led to a sevenproduct skincare range that truly encourages balance from the outside in. » » » »

Eco Cert Natural 100% of the total of the ingredients are from natural origin Sustainably sourced Alcohol free

» » » » »

Cruelty free Gluten free Soy free Sulfate free Paraben free

072 624 6288

www.alchemyelixzar.co.za

THINGS WE LOVE

GROW YOUR OWN Stark Ayres is a haven of plants, flowers, herbs and everything any green finger aspirant could wish for. We love the fact they’ve put together a perfect grow-kit to nurture a cannabis plant. While they aren’t selling cannabis seeds, their grow kit is the perfect kick-starter for anyone to grow their own.

Since legislation has de-criminalised the growing of cannabis for private use, everyone is showing up to make their own remedies from cannabis – for anything from pain relief to sleep aids. The grow kit is perfectly constructed with three customdesigned soils, each of which support the different stages of growing – germination, vegetative growth and flowering; it has pots for the different stages of planting, enOrmous Bud, which is the bio-active cell food that supports the microbial life of the plant and enhances its growth; spray bottle; and a ‘How To Grow your Bush Outdoor’ guide. www.starkeayresgc.co.za | info@starkeayres.co.za | 021 685 4120

VEGAN LEATHER BAGS We are greatly moved by the story of the Nick and Nichols vegan bag range – leaving their big city lives behind, they moved home to Mpumalanga and with sheer determination and help from friends, created a range of bags from recycled tyres. We admire their stylish and planet-friendly bags - their drive came from what they cherish most in life, raising their children and working toward a better and more sustainable future for them. Beautifully hand-crafted and designed, they’re without doubt the wellbeing conscious accessory to have.

Although difficult to choose, our favourite is the Nkanyeti Tote Bag; large enough to use as an overnight lugger or to carry your laptop to meetings and coffee shops. www.nickandnichols.co.za | 060 377 1265 | info@nickandnichols.co.za | Benroc, White River

JOJOBA JOY Jojoba is a highly versatile oil that’s perfect for skin care because its properties are very similar to human skin oil. It’s filled with nutrients like Vitamin E and B, as well as antioxidants and minerals like chromium, copper, and zinc. Jojoba is great for hair and nails, as an all-body moisturiser, make up remover, for acne, psoriasis, sunburn and even to encourage hair re-growth. We love Camphill’s Jojoba because it is perfectly organic and the beans are hand-picked by a team of dedicated earth lovers before being extracted into jojoba oil (technically it’s a liquid wax ester). Everyone in our team tried it out, using a few drops as a night time moisturiser and all of us loved the results – where traditionally we were meant to avoid oil on the face, the new intelligence is lauding how good oil is. And we agree. Softer skin for sure and clearer too.

Get yours at www.camphill.org.za or contact 021 571 8600.

Manufacturers can also buy in bulk.

12 | h o l i s t i c a . n e t

Tintswalo Atlantic is a 5 star, award-winning boutique lodge nestled at the base of the ocean facing Table Mountain National Park. Perfectly located on the water’s edge of the Atlantic Ocean, the boutique shoreline lodge enjoys the best of both ocean and mountainside views. Surrounded by nature, guests can indulge in the luxury and solitude of this magnificent seaside destination.

Hailed locally as the most dramatic and romantic destination in Southern Africa, Tintswalo Atlantic is the perfect venue option for weddings, honeymoons, romantic getaways and special occasions. With ten beautifully styled luxury suites and one magnificent 2-bedroom suite, taking inspiration from some of the most interesting islands from around the world.

Dining options for outside guests: Outside visitors may book at the restaurant during Winter 1 May to 31 Aug 2020.

A maximum of 10 guests per table, and advance bookings are essential.

• Breakfast is served for in-house guests only.

• Lunch (Tue & Wed from 12h00-16h00) - Dinner (Thur from 17h00 – 20h00) Contact reservations 021 773 0900 | reservations@tintswalo.com | www.tintswalo.com

Tel 021 773 0900 Chapman’s Peak Drive Cape Town

IM AG E: B R I T I S H L I BR ARY U N S PL AS H

A RESURGENCE OF ANCIENT HEALING PRACTICES

14 | h o l i s t i c a . n e t

A RESURGENCE OF ANCIENT HEALING PRACTICES

A resurgence of

ANCIENT HEALING PRACTICES Since time began, humans have demonstrated profound knowledge about how their bodies work and have used the earth’s plants and energies to heal. Ancient practises, methods and ceremonies are being explored by a new wave of citizen scientists and truth seekers, bringing this early wisdom back into conventional use.

“The natural forces within each of us is the greatest healer of disease” Hippocrates

BY K IRSTEN A LEXA NDER

h o l i s t i c a . n e t | 15

A RESURGENCE OF ANCIENT HEALING PRACTICES

More and more, people are looking to nature for healing.

By reconnecting with the traditions and wisdoms of our ancestors, we can reclaim true health, for body and soul.

Hippocrates believed the body and mind were in unity, meaning that one affected the other. Isolating the ‘one cause’ or looking only to symptoms defies that belief.

The ancient Greeks spoke to the gods to aid in healing, and remedies were given simply to assist the spoken prayers. It was believed that many remedies were given by the gods to patients in their dreams.

The Ebers Papyrus, an Egyptian papyrus of herbal knowledge dated around 1550BC, states: “this is a book for healing all disease.” It offers remedies for numerous maladies, along with incantations to be said while applying the remedy. An incantation used for cataracts is: ‘come ointment, come to the patient and take from him the water, the pus, the blood, the pain in the sys, the chemosis, the blindness, the flow of matter which are being worked there from the god of inflammations, of each kind of death, of each kind of pain.’

16 | h o l i s t i c a . n e t

In China, philosophers like Confucius believed that you are what you do. Your temperament doesn’t shape your behaviour as much as your behaviour shapes your temperament. In their book, The Path: What Chinese Philosophers Can Teach Us About the Good Life, Michael Puett and Christine Gross-Loh say that, ‘Every person has many different and often contradictory emotional dispositions, desires, and ways of responding to the world. Our emotional dispositions develop by looking outward, not inward. They are not cultivated when you retreat f rom the world to meditate or go on a vacation.

They are formed, in practice, through the things you do in your everyday life: the ways you interact with others and the activities you pursue. In other words, we aren’t just who we are: we can actively make ourselves into better people all the time.’

Day by day, what you choose, what you think

“

and what you do is who you become”~ Heraclitus

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), dating back more than 2,500 years, holds fast to this philosophy and is a wellness model as opposed to an illness model – treating the whole person and not just the presenting illness.

Zang Xiang refers to the external manifestation of the condition and status of our internal organs. Zang is the interior location and Xiang the external appearance or symptoms. Then there is the Ying Yang, which posits that everything in the universe exists as two opposing but interdependent forces. Yin is the shady or dormant aspect and Yang is the sunny or active aspect. If these are in balance, there is wellness. The Five Elements are key to TCM and consist of wood, fire, earth, metal and water, each representing different properties, functions or appearances under which all things in the universe can be classified. They interact with each other in two cycles, enhancing and destructive. Again, it’s all about balance.

A RESURGENCE OF ANCIENT HEALING PRACTICES

Ayurveda, more than 5,000 years old, is a simple and practical holistic healing modality. In essence, Ayurveda is about understanding an individual’s constitution (Prakruit) and its relationship to the natural laws to keep the body, mind and soul in harmonious balance. The Ayurvedic tradition of ‘dinacharya’ (following the rhythm of the day) encourages a routine that invites health, vitality and sense of clarity into your life.

Being highly individualistic, Ayurveda outlines the healing power of spices and herbs, as well as what to eat, when, and even how much to eat. As with TCM, it seeks out the root cause of illness rather than just treating the symptoms. Turmeric has come into the spotlight recently as the go-to ingredient for anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial medicines. This is something Ayurvedic medicine has known forever.

In Greek medicine, the word ‘diata’, f rom where diet is derived, means the way of life. In Ancient Greece, your diet was all about health and only one of the components was food. To achieve good health, you needed to nurture the body, mind and soul. The ancient Greeks also noted the correlation between the gut and emotional/brain health, something that is only now coming back into modern knowledge. Researchers are finding evidence that irritation in the gastrointestinal system may send signals to the central nervous system (CNS) that trigger mood changes. A major breakthrough in autism research has come about because of a greater understanding of the gut-brain connection. Researcher Dr Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown says, “Kids with autism lack important beneficial bacteria, and have fewer options in the bacterial menu of important functions that bacteria provide to the gut than typically developing kids.”

Ayurvedic medicine is ancient, its resurgence is necessary because we need the proper balance in our medical approach.” ~ Maya Tiwari

h o l i s t i c a . n e t | 17

A RESURGENCE OF ANCIENT HEALING PRACTICES

In his book, Ancient Wisdom for Modern Health, Mark Bunn outlines what he calls the seven wisdoms, summarising the principles of wellbeing f rom ancient healing practises.

THE 7 WISDOMS 1. Nourish the heart before nourishing the body –

love, social connections, self-love and helping others are all aspects of a healthy life and significant proponent towards a strong body.

2. Live in tune with nature’s daily cycles –

this is a guideline to how healthy people work, rest and play. The natural cycles are: 6h00 to 10h00 - awakening energy. Exercise is best early morning to kick start your body. Eat a light breakfast as when the sun is low and rising, our metabolism is slower. Squat to eliminate wastes as bowel movement clears blockages to allow a natural flow of energy.

10h00 to 14h00 – peak energy. Eat your main meal when the sun is high, your metabolism is high and your body is energised to easily digest food. The world’s healthiest people have structured their day to fuel their body in this time f rame – it prevents overeating at night. Support this with short bursts of sun on your skin for a Vitamin D power boost.

14h00 to 18h00 – creative energy. Your body is lighter as the sun starts to set. Your energy begins to wane and a short power nap after 15h00 in a sitting or semi reclined position (lying may make you sluggish), eating f ruit and drinking juice or sweet herbal teas around 4pm provides an energy boost.

For higher creativity include a walk or yoga.

18h00 to 22h00 – calming energy. Like the setting sun, begin to slow down. Talk, read, meditate and eat supper which is supped or sipped like soup. Healthy cultures do not carry excessive weight and their blood vessels contain very little plaque, the cause of heart attacks, stroke, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

These diseases are only found in cultures that ignore natural cycles and eat fatty, rich foods in the evening when our bodies have little energy to digest them.

22h00 to 2h00 – restorative energy. This is the most critical time for health and well-being. Being asleep before 10pm gives our body time to rest so our organs can digest impurities, fatigue, dissolve stress, detoxify and rejuvenate.

2h00 to 6h00 - brain functioning energy is the time of dreaming that rejuvenates our brain functioning.

Awake with the birds and feel energised.

3. Eat intelligent food - instead of categorising food into carbs, fats and protein, rather view it as an energy source to revitalise you. Choose natural, wholesome, organic food and look at the secret messages in food – for example, walnuts look like brains and are known to be good for mental function and memory.

4. Exercise in ways that unite the mind, body and spirit. Maharishi Ayurveda advocates daily yoga

practices where deep nasal breathing (rather than shallow mouth breathing), focuses our mind. Where attention goes energy flows. If we focus our attention on stretching muscles to release tension and stress, we relax and feel energised. If we focus our attention on enjoying our exercise, having fun and loving our work we do not have tension and stress, we feel energised. Life flows easily.

5. Connect daily with nature’s healing gifts, the elements of earth, water, air and fire. Common

to all healthy, long living populations has been a close affinity with the natural world. The sun brings life, energy, vitality, colour, warmth. Healthy sun exposure, for short periods at midday, when your shadow is shorter than you are, is one of the greatest allies to health and happiness. The earth grounds you – it offers stability, support and nourishment. Healthy cultures are regularly barefoot on grass, sand, soil, and walk in nature. Water purifies, cleanses, and revitalises. Over 70% of the body is water, the brain is 80% water and dehydration causes headaches, low energy levels, reduces blood flow, leads to constipation and reduces the ability of your cells to repair themselves. Water relaxes, cools and soothes you.

Air connects you – exercise expands air into our lungs and connects mind, body and soul. Fresh air is important - green plants in the house help oxygenate the air. In long living cultures, space clearing has been important for air and connection to flow. Reducing clutter is also a key aspect allowing yourself space to think and feel more clearly.

6. Enliven inner silence with prayer and meditation. Mark Bunn calls this transcendence – when you look past your busyness and thoughts to hear the space, the silence, the inner voice of what is important to you. Focus on bringing your subconscious to your conscious awareness.

7. Follow your inner wisdom. You know yourself better

than anyone. Listen to what your body and soul is telling you and follow those cues.

18 | h o l i s t i c a . n e t

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In his book The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time, neuroscientist Alex Korb says, ‘Everything is interconnected.

Gratitude improves sleep.

Sleep reduces pain.

Reduced pain improves your mood.

Improved mood reduces anxiety, which improves focus and planning.

Focus and planning help with decision making.

Decision making further reduces anxiety and improves enjoyment.

Enjoyment gives you more to be grateful for, which keeps that loop of the upward spiral going.

Enjoyment also makes it more likely you’ll exercise and be social, which, in turn, will make you happier.’

In ancient Greece, Asclepeions were healing temples dedicated to Asclepius, who was the first doctor demigod in Greek mythology. These healing temples held carefully controlled healing spaces, which centred around healthy lifestyles, with an emphasis on spiritual needs. One of the practises was incubatio, or temple sleep. Health seekers would go to sleep in the temple, expecting to be visited

by Asclepius or one of his children in their dreams, and subsequently be healed or told what to do to restore themselves back to wellness. The priests were master dream interpreters who would divine the treatment to be followed f rom the patient's description of the dream. Before being granted admission into the healing temple, patients usually needed to go through Katharsis, or purification, a process that consisted of a cleansing diet lasting several days, in conjunction with a series of cleansing baths.

Pythagoras, known best for his mathematical thought, was also a mystic and one of the first Western philosophers to believe in metempsychosis (the transmigration of the soul and its reincarnation after death). The therapeutic role of music was also important to the followers of the Orphic cult and the Pythagorean philosophers, sharing the belief that life is a punishment for previous sins. Music was a technique which, combined with an ascetic lifestyle, aided the therapeutic catharsis of the soul. They used two main types of purifying choral songs: paeans and epodes. The use of therapeutic paeans is outlined by Homer – in the first book of the Iliad, it was the day-long performance of hymns and paeans that saved the Greeks f rom the plague inflicted by the arrows of Apollo. In Sparta, it was the lyric poet Thatletas who rid the city of plague by singing paeans.

The Pythagoreans used music routinely as therapy.

They listened at night to calm them and ensure a good night’s sleep with pleasant dreams, and then again as they woke up to prepare them for the rhythms of the day. The Pythagoreans studied the relationship between musical rhythm and temperament, and applied musical ‘prescriptions’ according to circumstances.

SACRED NUMBERS

Followers of Pythagoras believed the numbers four and seven were particularly sacred. They noted that 7 x 4 is 28, the length of the lunar month and menstrual cycle; 7 x 40 is 280, the number of days of a full-term pregnancy. In fact, because 40 was seen as a sacred number, it’s still used today as the number of days to avoid disease contagion.

20 | h o l i s t i c a . n e t

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PSYCHOACTIVE There’s evidence that the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) has been used since the Bronze Age or earlier; it was used to induce somnolence in the incubation rituals practised in the temples of Asclepius. Nepenthe, described by Homer in the Odyssey, was probably an opium-based preparation; opium had been introduced to the Greeks through Egypt. An early Minoan shrine dedicated to the poppy goddess of fertility and health has been discovered on Crete. Numerous golden seals f rom Mycenae and Boeotia show images of states of ecstasy associated with poppy consumption. Ritual inhaling of cannabis smoke arose on the steppes of Asia. Herodotus described rituals of inhaling cannabis smoke among Scythians and Massageteans. Initiates in the Eleusinian Mysteries took kykeon, a psychoactive secret potion. It is thought that kykeon contained hallucinogenic substances that induced visions and the state of ecstasy associated with the Mysteries.

In the Bhagavad Gita, reference is made to a drink called soma, debates regarding what it was made of run high – some scholars think it most likely was a mixture of Poppy, Phaedra/Ephedra (plant) and Cannabis, while others believe it was magic mushrooms. Ayahuasca has been used for centuries in the Amazon and is becoming more popular worldwide with people seeking a way to open their minds and heal from past traumas. Scientific research indicates that Ayahuasca can protect brain cells and stimulate neural growth. It can also improve mindfulness, boost mood and treat depression and addiction.

NEANDERTHAL WISDOM

In 1960 the body of a Neanderthal man was discovered in north eastern Iraq. His body was surrounded by the pollen of numerous medicinal plants, still used by modern herbalists as antiinflammatories, astringents, diuretics and stimulants. It is surmised the man was a physician, and indicates knowledge of herbal medicine has been around in excess of 60,000 years.

In 1991, hikers found the mummified body of a man frozen in ice in the Otzal Alps, now dubbed the ‘ice man’. His body was covered in tattoos grouped in a series of lines and crosses, grouped in one, two, three, four and even seven parallel lines along the length of his body. Many of those lines are on traditional Chinese acupuncture points; tattoos on his left ankle and knee, as well as on his bladder meridian were believed to be for back pain relief and doctors who examined his body discovered he had suffered f rom severe knee, hip, ankle and back issues as well as abdominal disorders.

TIMELINES Practises we’re familiar with today date back thousands of years: Ayurveda | 5,000 years Tai Chi | 12th Century Reflexology | from Ancient Egypt, brought West in the early 1900’s Yoga | 2,500 years (possibly earlier) Acupuncture | 2,000 years

22 | h o l i s t i c a . n e t

A RESURGENCE OF ANCIENT HEALING PRACTICES

‘NEWLY DISCOVERED’ CANNABIS

Cannabis use dates back thousands of years, with the oldest Chinese pharmacopeia, dated 100AD, referencing the plant. Across the world, it was widely used as medicine and prior to 1937, cannabis was one of the active ingredients in at least 2,000 medicines. With over 5,000 years of history, the proven benefits of medical cannabis are overwhelming. But, many parts of the world now need to catch up and re-learn those benefits due to the plant being outlawed for so many years.

MÃORI HERBAL HEALING

Rongoā is traditional Māori medicine. It includes herbal medicine made f rom plants, physical techniques like massage, and spiritual healing. The goal of rongoā is to lift the life force within people so they can live full lives despite disease. Today, the therapeutic powers of Māori herbs are going mainstream – the kawakawa plant was used for soothing inflammation from cuts, burns, skin disorders and stomach pain and today it is used in moisturisers and eczema balms. The kumarahou shrub, which creates a natural lather when the leaves are rubbed was used as a dermal wash for skin conditions and taken internally for bronchial complaints and to improve liver function. Lately, it is being used in consumer skincare brands.

Patient: “I have an earache.”

Doctor: 2000 BC “Here, eat this root.”

1000 AD “That root is heathen, say this prayer.”

1850 AD “That prayer is superstitious, drink this potion.”

1940 AD “That potion is snake oil, swallow this pill.”

1985 AD “That pill is ineffective, take this antibiotic.”

2000 AD “That antibiotic is artificial. Here, eat this root.” ~ Author unknown

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HEALING OUR STORIES

“Until you are willing to learn the lessons, pay attention to details, and become patient with yourself, you will keep repeating the same patterns over and over again.” ― Kemi Sogunle

24 | h o l i s t i c a . n e t

HEALING OUR STORIES

Healing Our Stories Many of us find ourselves compulsively repeating patterns of behaviour in ways that can be frustrating or damaging – we discover how to recognise and move beyond behavioural pattering.

We spent time talking to Adam Suzman about demolishing the suffering of humans by unwinding the attachment we have to our disharmonious states. This attachment, as Adam explains, is the root cause of all suffering.

BY ROBYN WILK INS ON

h o l i s t i c a . n e t | 25

HEALING OUR STORIES

Traumatic patterning is a movement of form made of mind and emotion, stored in the tissues.

Underneath the remedy states of each person runs the family story through the generations, with the energetic scars of the parents being handed down like some cherished heirloom. Repeating patterns are so often evident in people’s lives – as they bounce from one unsuccessful job or relationship to another, or perpetually seek something that never entirely satisfies them. These are all remedy states that represent a deeper wounding, which is fundamentally trying to express itself.

If we received rose tinted glasses as a child and were instructed to wear them at all costs, the world would appear rose tinted and no matter what anyone else said we would adhere to this view as it is corroborated by our direct experience.

But once we refuse to accept our lot in life, especially the suffering aspect, we get a much better handle on repetitive cycles and what this means to us. It’s not necessary to be bound by family traits or curses, whether these are poverty or cancer. We can free ourselves from these patterns by using the correct remedy, which can undo the energetic postures adopted as a form of defence and protection.

When asked the questions, “How do we know what we don’t know?”, in relation to repeated patterns, Andrew Kenneth Fretwell, founder of Original Feeling Touch (OFT) said the first step is recognising a moment when you feel completely authentic and yourself – no posing, pretending or insecurities. He says if you hold onto this feeling and use it as a benchmark, the minute you don’t feel that way becomes a clue to a possible pattern. As soon as you are outside of authenticity, you need to ask yourself what you are feeling. See if you have been in that place before. It will invariably be something you have experienced before and is a sign you are witnessing a pattern.

26 | h o l i s t i c a . n e t

Patterns left unchecked become conditioned responses and lead us down the path of disease and suffering. Your stories can be unwound and deleted by understanding what they are and correcting the therapy state you use to shield your wounding - your defence mechanisms.

As Adam says, “you are born anew every moment, clinging to past patterning is attachment to an outmoded version of suffering passed down by society and parents. As you arrive naked to each moment, you have the ability to forge yourself anew with the past representing just a colourful painting of places you have passed through, and with the future as an endless field of pure potential.”

If nothing is carved in stone, then anything is possible. In Buddhism they talk about the wheel of the six realms. From the angers of hell remedies, the unsatisfied desires of earth remedies, the ignorance and violence of the animal realm remedies, the desire and aversion of the human realm remedies, the jealousy of the jealous gods remedies, and the pride of the god remedies. All are represented by a host of different remedy states and represent the way out of the states we have become stuck in.

Buddha is portrayed pointing away from the wheel of the six realms, representing the message to engage them all, but to not get stuck in any of them, lest you risk generating further karmas and be cast back onto the wheel of death and rebirth.

The disharmony caused by being attached to your story or your state is the root cause of all suffering.

Address this and permanently get rid of the cycle of suffering. Cut the root and the whole tree of misery dies. When simply pruning the branches, you will be pruning for eternity.

The body is essentially the storage area of our memory, each event and sequence of traumatic events in our lives has left some residue, some energetic friction in the record that we rerun when that traumatic experience is awoken.Remedies represent these stored residues and when we take the right remedy, it flushes a lot of these states from the body, loosening us from the holding pattern of habitual action.

Most importantly, though, it frees us to embrace the potential to enter into any state we want to, unencumbered by the often painful conditioned responses of the past.

Traditional homoeopathy works with this residual memory, one state at a time and this is how it has always been done. But if we are made up of more than one state, and we are, since we represent a continuum of locked experiences, there is no good reason we cannot free ourselves of many patterns at once.

An image is useful here: if we are to dismantle a house and do it one brick or strut at a time, it will take time. But, if we take out most of the core underpinnings at once, we can instantly deconstruct a lot more of the architecture. The more space we clear at one time, the harder it is for the dysfunctional ego to reform itself.

In addition, as we remove more of the debris, we create a lot more space in the whole structure.

This gives us a huge sense of relief and pure potential to recreate ourselves however we feel.

A computer analogy is also useful here. If you close a lot of the windows you have left open, often for years; internet tabs, graphics programmes, word processors, movies etc, you will suddenly have a much faster machine with more memory to play with. It also allows you to see clearly what is still running.

Defragmentation is automatic in the human if you allow it the space to def rag. You will reformat your new reality much faster and without hindrances when you close the 20odd programmes running at once. These programmes are knee jerk reactions f rom childhood, jealousies built on poor self-image, and so on.

the Trinity Remedy pack free yourself from past trauma, emotional pain and damaging behavioural patterns.

The Trinity Remedy Pack consists of three carefully alchemised remedies that effectively clear and heal emotional turmoil, trauma, patterns and pain, allowing you to move beyond your past and be free to be exactly who you were born to be: Liberation, Blue Lotus & Redemption For more information and to order, contact hello@holistica.net

HEALING OUR STORIES

We systematically sail back through all the ports we have visited and throw the skeletons we find there overboard while retaining the gems that were lying hidden beneath them.

28 | h o l i s t i c a . n e t

The Buddhists say the ego will kill you to prove it exists. This is why it is important to get the decayed and dysfunctional architecture out in one go before the ego reforms itself with some new story of why you should be suffering.

The layers of parenting, schooling and relationships, both romantic and platonic often instil a whole gamut of neurotic responses which you have to mask and live with if you cannot remove them.

Psychotherapy is a process that untangles this to an extent – but what if you could just go into the trauma and vaporise it?

It is possible to even target the age it occurred – from childhood and even pre-birth if necessary, with high potencies of remedies. These have the potential to reach back to memories in times where you often didn’t have words or the emotional maturity to process.

Situations which require a diversity of responses, which although perfect at the time, often necessitate manual removal later because you become attached to them and they form the exoskeleton of a suffering ego. Of course the memory doesn’t disappear, but the emotional charge associated with the memory, which essentially locks it into the body, can be uncoupled.

Then, in effect, the memory is just the picture of an event without charge, a snapshot in time without pain. It is precisely this pain that is anchoring it in your body with resultant drag on the whole system.

If you do not flush this emotional detritus, you will compensate for it, or adapt in some weird way just to get through the day.

Used in this way homoeopathy is a very real tool to realisation and enlightenment, leaving you present, aware and totally open.

THE KINGDOM OF REMEDIES

The Kingdom Of

IM AG E: PN G T R E E

Remedies

30 | h o l i s t i c a . n e t

THE KINGDOM OF REMEDIES

Homeopathy is a healing system filled with jewels of understanding about the human psyche that goes far beyond the physical. We explore the complex language of human defences and how self-observation can be richly rewarding through the lens of homeopathy.

H

omeopathic remedies can be made from just about any substance known to man, including plants, minerals, animal products, and energy fields. More than 5,000 substances have been prepared and ‘proven’.

With nature as the homeopathic Materia Medica there are as many remedies as there are expressions of nature. These can come from a rabid dog or a lotus flower, snake venom or a rainbow. They could even be from a shipwreck, the light of Venus, dinosaur bones or antimatter. That’s the beauty and mystery of homeopathy and how diverse and imaginative the remedy states can be.

Remedy states are more easily identified by noticing whether they come f rom the animal, mineral or plant kingdoms. We find countless clues in humans when we look deeply at temperament, traits, and quirks to reveal the remedies required.

Each of us have access to a deep and fascinating relationship with ourselves by observing what shows up in our environment, what we are relating to, and whether we are more oriented to the plant, mineral or animal kingdoms. Granted, all of us have aspects of all of them although usually we tend towards one or two of them as dominant. You may find you keep noticing owls or shattered glass or some kind of continued theme. Everything that shows up is useful to us if we know how to interpret it.

As an example, a tarantula spider remedy may be for a person who loves dancing to loud hard, rhythmic music and is attracted to bright colours. They might be drawn to trance parties where their nature can be indulged and satisfied. Whilst dancing, they are in an almost enlightened state as they are doing what they love but when the music stops, they could resort to drugs to pacify their overactive or ‘electric’ nervous system.

A homeopathic dose of tarantula can bring balance to this particular remedy state.

Renowned homeopath Adam Suzman explains the different kingdoms, characteristics and how cues from these states can be used to better understand and address health and wellbeing.

h o l i s t i c a . n e t | 31

THE KINGDOM OF REMEDIES

People who need remedies f rom animal sources will have different characteristics and types of symptoms f rom people who need remedies from mineral or plant sources.

It makes immediate intuitive sense that people needing plant remedies will be like plants in some way, and people needing animal remedies will be like animals.

As Adam says, if he asks everyone to tell him what happened on their walk to the shop and back, he will get very different answers to the same journey. The minerals will focus on the time it took, the condition of the roads, how much was spent and on what. The animal remedies will focus on the people and attractions they engaged with, focusing on the human interaction more than the journey itself. The plant remedies might focus on the clouds in the sky or quality of the sunlight, the colours of the flowers or on a particularly bright dress they saw someone wearing. Even what they bought will be different, what they were going to do with it, and when.

The animals are most likely to have devoured the chocolate in the shop just after they bought it, the plants will have constructed an intricate recipe from the ingredients, while the minerals might comment on the good deal they got f rom buying a bulk item over a smaller similar object.

Even the way they walk will be different. The animals are all about the swagger, the twirl of the hair, the tilt of the sunglasses and the provocative or aggressive gaze.

The plants will tend to meander more, getting drawn off course by some quirk of architecture or interesting plant growth, while the minerals will proceed in an orderly fashion ensuring no energy is wasted in pursuit of the task.

32 | h o l i s t i c a . n e t

Everything is telling a story, including the story itself; the animals relishing in office intrigue and politics; the plants being more engaged in the beauty of creative pursuits; and the minerals more focused on the orderly and timely completion of the task.

All humans have aspects of all the kingdoms.

We might have mineral issues when it comes to work, and animal issues when it comes to relationships, but generally we have a favoured family or two we stay within.

Adam says if he sees a silica patient, he has a fair idea they will be a predictable, reliable, if slightly boring partner in relationships – this is because deviation f rom structure is not something they willingly engage in. They often seek out a similar silica partner so they can do silica things together, all set within a safe context so their collective fear of f ragility does not get triggered.

Animals tend to have tumultuous, passionate relationships with lots of drama as this is their nature. They also tend to be the least faithful of the remedies as a group as they are always eyeing out potential mates, as is the nature of the animal kingdom. Also, territorial aggressiveness is part of the animal profile, so getting into fights is pretty common.

What people do for fun is also a clue to which family they belong to. The animals like to party, the plant kingdom also like to dance but more the eclectic willowy type of dancing we might find at a yoga festival. They may be involved in a poetry or writing group. On the other hand, the minerals prefer a more structured environment like chess or mountain club with set and scripted activities.

WHAT KINGDOM RESONATES WITH YOU? Homeopathy is a highly sensitive tool that can be used to elicit deeper insight into the self, enabling you to delve into your intrinsic nature in a beautifully intuitive way that can bring about true f reedom. Rajan Sankaran developed the idea of classifying remedies into kingdoms in his book, The Substance of Homeopathy. Written in the early 1980’s, his contribution marked the beginning of the entire kingdom classification now accepted by many homoeopaths. Here is a description of the kingdoms.

PLANT Plants range in scope from vast trees to unicellular organisms. All of them photosynthesise and use sunlight, oxygen, nitrogen, water, soil and various nutrients as sources of energy and life.

They root, reproduce and are sensitive to environmental changes. Because they can’t move around, they adapt to the circumstances around them growing slowly towards the sun or light.

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Plant people are often soft and sensitive, adapting to circumstances, people and the surrounding environment. They are passive, emotional, easily hurt, changeable, and lack structure. As plants grow into nurturing spaces around them where there is support, so do the plant remedies. They’re often random in thought and speech, guided by emotions and reactive. They can be fragile. Usually, they are creative and artistic, wanting to be immersed in beautiful surroundings with music and art. Their hand writing can appear irregular, or disorganised, with rounded letters.

During a homeopathic interview, patients needing plant remedies wander from subject to subject, seemingly disorganised, incomplete, talking about themselves and others as well. Their dress is often flowery or connected with plants in some way. Patterns on the clothing are random, irregular, without geometry or structure. Clothing is aesthetic, colourful, soft and flowing, even for men.

The cause of their problems is often a shock or hurt, either physical or emotional. Plant people use expressions like, “That affects me.” “It hurts me.” “I am sensitive to …” “I can’t stand it.” “I am touched by….” They seem soft, emotional and easily hurt. Interactions may be difficult or too much for them, because of their sensitivity and need to adapt to those around them.

People may see them as over sensitive and moody, changing too abruptly, or whimsical.

They dream about plants or nature, music or art. Dreams can be vivid or beautiful, and have a lot of emotional content. Changes of the day and adaptations made, may feature in their dreams.

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THE KINGDOM OF REMEDIES

MINERAL Minerals, from salt to gold, are inanimate substances. They’re more structured than animals and plants. Chemistry is a more exact science with predictable, measurable results, as seen in the fixed and predictable relationships between elements in the periodic table.

Mineral issues are usually onedimensional, having to do with issues like structure, organisation, safety and security, specific relationships, finances, or performance. Minerals are slower than plants and animals, more measured and organised. Their clothing is plain without too much attention to colour and may be striped, checked or have symmetric or geometric designs. Dress is neat and functional rather than attractive.

Mineral people describe their complaints in an orderly way, with lists, facts and figures, percentages and in chronological order. They are likely to say, “My arthritis started in January 15th, 2020 with a pain in my left index finger.” They list their symptoms in order, making sure they haven’t missed anything. They say they are 35% better after taking the remedy for 10 days. “My blood glucose was 212, but is now 163.”

Minerals have careers like engineering, accounting, science, computers, mathematics, project management and ones that need an orderly and structured mind. They are responsible, reliable and conscientious with a feeling of duty. Although they value performance and achievement, they aren’t overly competitive.

Problems come for minerals when they fail to perform or something threatens their security. If they lose their homes, health, relationships, jobs or money. If they are unable to keep order and function in their lives, they may fall apart. Mineral people tend to be concerned with what they have and what they could lose, and their relationships with those around them.

Whenever structure breaks down they’re likely to suffer. Minerals have bodily issues that are structural, like arthritis, skin disease or dental decay, neurological problems or difficulties with organ functions like the liver or heart. Problems with the minerals in the body, like electrolyte balance, i.e. cramps or osteoporosis f rom calcium/magnesium balance or heart or kidney problems f rom sodium/potassium ratios can also occur.

Your body is the ground metaphor of your life, the expression of your existence. It is your bible, your encyclopaedia, your life story. ~ Gabrielle Roth

34 | h o l i s t i c a . n e t

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ANIMAL Animals are on the hunt for food, water, sex, safety, warmth, and protection from the elements. They are social and hierarchical, often with elaborate mating rituals. According to Sankaran, their main theme is competition; for food, mates, territory, or superiority. Survival of the fittest is acted out with tooth and claw, or in more subtle human terms perhaps using sarcasm.

Animals like attention. They want to be attractive, beautiful, sexy and better. Their discomforts are often around their beauty, the allure of their skin or hair, their sexual functioning, weight and attributes that give them competitive advantage. People who need animal remedies usually dress attractively, with distinctive colours, design and elaborate jewellery.

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The animal part may despise the human part seeing it as malicious, deceitful, aggressive, and jealous, and the animal part as nurturing, loving, warm, friendly and playful. This split can engender selfantagonism, duality and identity confusion. Animal remedies are complex and have multiple issues going on simultaneously. Cravings are often for meat, fish and milk. Remedies come f rom mammal’s milk, snake and spider venoms, insect venom and secretions or products of other animals.

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Animals have issues of domination and being dominated. An animal not top of his or her game feels inferior and worthless. Their fears are over loss of power, mates and territory, isolation, neglect and rejection.

Sankaran mentions the struggle between the higher human nature and the lower animal nature. with the animal remedy referring to other people as ‘humans’, as though they themselves aren’t. “I just don’t understand how humans think. Why are humans so inhumane?”

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Animal people are animated, expressive, lively, alert and reactive.

They connect easily with others. Their eyes are striking and attractive.

They are aggressive, pushy and may attack if provoked. Jealousy and envy are strong. They compete for social position and stop at nothing to be the best. The person may even move like an animal or make growling, hissing, or scratching motions. Animal-like career choices are often adventurous, competitive and designed to show off their best attributes, or ‘superior’ products or services. Their handwriting is striking, distinctive, sharp and aggressive.

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RADIANT BODY : BALANCED MIND

36 | h o l i s t i c a . n e t

RADIANT BODY : BALANCED MIND

Radiant Body : Balanced Mind Inflammation, with all its bad press, is actually a beautifully constructed response by the body. It’s simply the immune system pointing out where there is a problem and initiating a pathway towards healing. The challenge to overcome is when we keep ourselves in a state of disharmony, ignore what the body is saying and inflammation becomes chronic.

The need to create an intimate connection with our body is more important than ever. With scarily escalating numbers of inexplicable health conditions and exponential growth of cancer and diseases, many are looking for a new way to relate to their bodies to create higher health.

h o l i s t i c a . n e t | 37

RADIANT BODY : BALANCED MIND

H

ealth practitioners are taught to identify five classical signs of inflammation – heat, pain, redness, swelling and loss of function. All these are your body’s way of telling you to be careful and protect the area with inflammation. During this time, your body sends antibodies and increased blood flow to remedy the problem.

More and more evidence shows that inflammation effects your emotions, influencing memory, cognitive thinking, sleep, metabolism, impulse control and so much more. Studies also show that depression and bipolar disorder are linked to an immune system dysregulation and inflammation.

Inflammatory conditions later in life are linked to childhood exposure to trauma or adversity.

A recent study published in the Journal of Psychoneuroendocrinology showed that people with extreme grief f rom the loss of a spouse had high levels of inflammation.

There’s a difference of course, between acute inflammation, (when your body is reacting healthily to an issue), and chronic inflammation, when there’s an underlying issue that isn’t as clear-cut as a twisted ankle. When you twist your ankle, the area gets red and swollen, but the swelling goes down when healed. Chronic inflammation, however, doesn’t quite go away. Chronic inflammation can be triggered by a variety of factors, and is known to play a role in almost every major disease, f rom cancer and heart disease to diabetes, Alzheimer’s and depression.

Avoiding chronic inflammation is a lifestyle choice – things like avoiding negative stress, habitual smoking and excessive drinking. Dodging other triggers like pollution or chemicals may not be as easy as making good lifestyle choices, although everyone can strive towards a chemical-f ree home.

Even with discerning wellbeing decisions, stress is inevitable, so are the many pollutants that surround us. That’s why it is important to be mindful and proactive about upkeeping your health on every level.

38 | h o l i s t i c a . n e t

Herbs, good nutrition, yoga, meditation, breathing exercises, and supplements can support an inflammatory condition as can detoxification and intermittent fasting.

One of the star curative herbs is turmeric, with its active ingredient, curcumin, being highly effective in combatting inflammation. This Ayurvedic gem is proven to be a bioactive substance that fights inflammation at a molecular level, making it incredibly efficient. The key is to take it in a form the body can assimilate effectively. Other herbs proven useful include boswellia, ginger and ashwagandha.

During intermittent fasting your body initiates an important cellular repair process and changes hormone levels to make stored body fat more accessible. This encourages healthy weight levels, reduced insulin resistance and inflammation.

RADIANT BODY : BALANCED MIND

These are some of the signs of chronic inflammation: * * * *

Excessive fatigue

*

Swollen lymph glands (under your arms,

Body pain Skin rashes (like psoriasis) Poor digestion (bloating, stomach pain, constipation) near your groin and on your neck)

* * * *

Stuffy nose or excess mucous Foggy brain Consistent heartburn Regular headaches

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When living with an allergic reaction to the vibration of the planet, an exaggerated level of consciousness causes you to oscillate between spiritual highs and emotional lows. This can create much suffering until you cultivate love as a potent form of energy medicine to return your personality to its original form.

RADIANT BODY : BALANCED MIND

EMOTIONAL INFLAMMATION “Ego is what happens when the personality gets inflamed. That ego is much like an allergy toward the unconsciousness that each of us came here to resolve. When the ego is active, the innocence within you, or within anyone else, exists in an exaggerated manner.” ~ Matt Kahn Physical markers of inflammation are one thing and tell us what’s going on inside the body physically, yet interestingly, when a person is angry, they are known to be ‘inflamed’. When you see ego as the inflammation of the personality, you notice how often you can become ‘puffed up’. in his book, Whatever Arises, Love That: A Love Revolution That Begins with You, Matt Kahn, an American author, spiritual teacher, and empath, outlines four types of emotional inflammation: righteous, victimised, entitled and needy.

RIGHTEOUS: Matt describes righteous inflammation as characterised by an ego structure that needs to be right by making others wrong. Even in the presence of one saying something totally correct, the ego that is righteously inflamed will make another point in an attempt to be even more right than the other. This type of ego lives to have the upper hand and final word — even if both parties agree on the topic at hand. The theme of righteous inflammation is, “I’m always right.” Eric Berne, Canadianborn psychiatrist and creator of the theory of transactional analysis would likely use two of his seven identified ego states to describe this one: selfish and critical. In the selfish ego state, people are reckless and demanding, without thinking of the consequences. In the critical ego

40 | h o l i s t i c a . n e t

state, control is exercised through judgements and demands with the intention to dominate other people.

VICTIMISED: Victimised inflammation is when the ego believes it is always a victim of circumstances; something always happens to turn life upside down, even when things seem to be going well. According to Matt, a victimised ego holds very tightly to judgements, beliefs, and opinions as reasons their life is regularly in chaos.

“Whether a belief in light versus dark or pitting good against bad, a victimised ego typically acts as an instigator of turmoil guaranteed to be hurt or heartbroken by the way others respond. Even if others do not respond, a victimised ego uses this feedback to feel invisible or inferior to the world around it.”

ENTITLED: Entitled inflammation occurs when a person believes it is their right to have whatever they want, exactly when they want it, even at the expense of, or to the detriment of others. Here, the ego tends to believe everyone must fulfil their every whim and demand with little to no regard for the wellbeing of other people’s experiences. The theme for the entitled ego is ‘What about me?’

Even when served by others, there is never an end to the requests and demands of an ego that believes

it controls the characters in its life.

Eric Berne would likely label these people as Manipulators, with no regard for rules that get in the way of their own interests. They will exaggerate, distort the truth, or play psychological games with others.

Their intention is to serve themselves at the expense of others.

NEEDY: Needy inflammation relates to an ego that never feels properly filled up no matter how much attention it receives. Even when someone listens intently, there is always a feeling of being invisible, unrecognised, undervalued, or unheard. “In needy inflammation, it’s easy to feel misunderstood. No matter how much time, interest, and attention received from others, it only makes this type of ego hungry for more. Whether active in you or someone you know, needy inflammation can be draining for those held in the grip of it.”

Matt explains that while you may recognise yourself in the emotional inflammation types, it’s common to have a combination that can change according to where you are at present. “Whether puffed up in righteousness, defensive postures, or in response to the evidence of injustice, an inflamed personality creates an exaggerated perception of life.”

RADIANT BODY : BALANCED MIND

“Love heals.

Heals and liberates.

I use the word love, not meaning sentimentality, but a condition so strong that it may be that which holds the stars in their heavenly positions and that which causes the blood to flow orderly in our veins.�

Maya Angelou

h o l i s t i c a . n e t | 41

MORE THAN IMMUNITY

MORE THAN

IMMUNITY ALTHOUGH THIS IS AN ARTICLE ABOUT IMMUNITY AND STRENGTHENING YOUR BODY AND YOUR HEALTH, IT HAS A DEEPER MESSAGE OF LISTENING TO WHAT THE FLU, COLDS AND VIRAL INFECTIONS ARE COMMUNICATING.

42 | h o l i s t i c a . n e t

W

henever you delve into how the body works it becomes clear that its intricacies are wonderous.

The immune system is no exception; it’s a complex network of cells and proteins that defend the body against infection. Incredibly, it keeps a record of every microbe it has ever defeated so it can recognise it quickly and repeat the defeat. The complexity of it, and because it is not a single entity, means the immune system requires balance and harmony to function well.

Healthy living advice is there for a reason – an organic, nutritious diet; regular exercise; good sleep; a calm environment; banishing addictions – all these contribute towards keeping body and mind in balance, and immunity at peak. It’s easy enough to say eat garlic, but the body works in a holistic manner and looking at all aspects of functioning and attitude is a more helpful approach.

When we get sick, it is generally because we need to pay attention to how we are living and interacting with the world. It is usually a message for us to change something or to have more awareness in an area of life.

Take viruses for instance, we tend to regard them simply as pathogens and disregard their crucial importance in the evolution of life. Viruses are the probable precursors of the very first cells, and have helped shape and build the genomes of all species, including humans. Viruses come with something to say. Penelope Smith, leading species communicator says, “I learned from viruses that they are part of the Earth’s recycling crew and evolutionary movers and shakers. They showed me that Earth was originally programmed to constantly evolve into something more beautiful. Viruses help species develop into their next level of beauty, health, and wholeness. Viruses flourish when there is an imbalance because they are the restorers of the balance. They rebalance and further the evolution of species.”

Using this more holistic viewpoint towards viruses, rather than seeing them as enemies, as Penelope says, they're fulfilling their particular function with devotion.

The living cells and bodies that they contact are spurred to increase consciousness. In the cleaning up process, they can also heighten our spiritual presence and awareness, if we are open to this opportunity.”

And maybe through the widespread effect of viruses we will gain something about living in healthily respectful relationships with all beings. They certainly highlight the fact we should care more about our health.

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MORE THAN IMMUNITY

Often when we get the flu or a cold, we realise we have not been living with enough self-care or perhaps it is the only way our bodies can convince us to take time out. Metaphysically, colds have been translated as ‘too much going on, or the need to release emotions’. It is a time for each person to connect with their body and support it with more attention. On this note, here are some self-care practices to boost immunity.

10 practices to strengthen immune function MORNING BREW – Cultivate the habit of a daily healing drink. Warm water with f reshly squeezed lemon or 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar is cleansing and alkalinising.

Other alternatives are grated ginger root, lemon, garlic and honey. Turmeric is another stimulating, anti-oxidant, health promoting herb to add to a morning drink.

GOOD GUT – Probiotics are contained in live bacteria and yeasts and are highly beneficial for the digestive system. They form part of the bacteria that help keep the gut healthy.

Adding more probiotic-rich foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, tempeh, miso and kombucha will do the trick. Or take a good multi-strain supplement twice a day.

DEEP CALM – Inviting calm relaxation, reassurance, respite, deep peace and a joyful state of being in place of any fear, worry, doubt or panic is a huge health support. Practices like meditation, yoga and mantra chanting are highly regarded for their ability to calm the mind and body. Scientific research shows that mindful meditation positively influences brain and immune function. TIP: try a Yoga Nidra guided meditation, this will introduce a state of consciousness between waking and sleeping, and deeply calm the body on all levels.

LOVING EXPRESSION – Motivational author Louise Hay, linked maladies to emotions and cites love as a powerful immune booster.

Interestingly she describes the emotions relating to flu as a response to mass negativity and beliefs, fear, and a belief in statistics. And colds she describes as too much going on at once, mental confusion and disorder, small hurts. Take time out to attend to your needs, reach out to others and be more loving.

COLD EXPOSURE – Hail to the Swedes and their practice of jumping into ice holes during winter. And to Wim Hof too who has popularised the benefits of prolonged cold exposure. Done correctly, cold exposure starts a cascade of health benefits, including the build-up of brown adipose tissue and resultant fat loss, reduced inflammation which strengthens immunity, balanced hormone levels, improved sleep quality, and mood enhancing endorphins.

44 | h o l i s t i c a . n e t

LEVERAGING LAUGHTER – Laughter therapy is serious enough to have a formal science, yes, there is a ‘science of laughter’ called Gelotology. A research study shows that people who laughed out loud at least once during a funny video experienced a 50 to 100 percent increase in their baseline natural killer cell activity, the cells primed to kill viruses.

Get your funny bone primed with laughter yoga: clapping in rhythm to ‘ho-ho-ha-ha-ha’, breathing and stretching, child-like play, and laughter exercises. The premise is that laughter comes f rom the body not the mind.

SUPPLEMENTS & HERBS – Earth is filled with healing plants and herbs. These options have all or more antioxidants, anti inflammatories, anti-viral and anti-septic qualities: sutherlandia, shitake mushroom, echinacea, Af rican potato, olive leaf, licorice root, wild garlic, milk thistle, black cumin, elderberry, astragalus and there are so many more. Take them as teas, tinctures or supplements.

VITAMIN VITALITY – Vitamin C is said to increase white blood cell production, important when fighting infections. E is also key; make an E salad with avos, sunflower seeds, and greens. D you can get from sun rays.

MOVEMENT MAGIC – Get your heart rate high with dancing, running or skipping. Be flexible and stretchy with Pilates; mindful with yoga and tai chi. Whichever way you do it, hiking in the hills, sporting, gym, ballet make sure you move in some form every day.

INTERMITTENT FASTING – Repeated studies show that specified fasting has a beneficial effect on immunity. Fasting lowers white blood cell counts, and this triggers the immune system to start producing new white blood cells, a key component of the immune system.

Once the body starts receiving food again, stem cells kick into high gear.

What’s important is to engage in love and nurturing, giving your body the best opportunity to do what it was designed to do – be an intricate and perfectly tuned vessel for the expression of your soul.

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MORE THAN IMMUNITY

Keeping your health in check also requires a very simple action, something that has unaccountably only been linked to health definitively since 1846. Hand washing, however, has been part of religious ceremonies and rituals since the beginning of time. We just love this poem written

by Dori Midnight, called Wash Your Hands.

We are

humans relearning to wash our hands Washing our hands is an act of love Washing our hands is an act of care Washing our hands is an act that puts the hypervigilant body at ease Washing our hands helps us return to ourselves by washing away what does not serve Wash your hands like you are washing the only teacup left that your great grandmother carried across the ocean, like you are washing the hair of a beloved who is dying, like you are washing the feet of Grace Lee Boggs, Beyonce, Jesus, your auntie, Audre Lorde, Mary Oliver- you get the picture Like this water is poured from a jug your best friend just carried for three miles from the spring they had to climb a mountain to reach Like water is a precious resource made from time and miracle Wash your hands and cough into your elbow, they say Rest more, stay home, drink water, have some soup, they say To which I would add: burn some plants your ancestors burned when there was fear in the air, boil some aromatic leaves in a pot on your stove until your windows steam up Open your windows Eat a piece of garlic every day Tie a clove around your neck Breathe My friends, it is always true, these things It has already been time It is always true we should move with care and intention, asking Do you want to bump elbows instead? With everyone we meet It is always true that people are living with one lung, with immune systems that don’t work so well, or perhaps work too hard, fighting against themselves It is already true that people are hoarding the things the most vulnerable need It is already time that we might want to fly on airplanes less and not go to work when we are sick It is already time that we might want to know who in our neighbourhood has cancer, who has a new baby, who is old, with children in another state, who has extra water, who has a root cellar, who is a nurse, who has a garden full of elecampane and nettles It is already time that temporarily non-disabled people think about people living with chronic illness and disabled folks, that young people think about old people It is already time to stop using synthetic fragrances to not smell like bodies, to pretend like we’re all not dying. It is already time to remember that those scents make so many of us sick It is already time to not take it personally when someone doesn’t want to hug you It is already time to slow down and feel how scared we are We are already afraid, we are already living in the time of fires When fear arises, and it will, let it wash over your whole body instead of staying curled up tight in your shoulders If your heart tightens, contract and expand Science says: compassion strengthens the immune system We already know that, but capitalism gives us amnesia and tricks us into thinking it’s the thing that protects us but it’s the way we hold the thing The way we do the thing Those of us who have forgotten amuletic traditions, we turn to hoarding hand sanitizer and masks. In the middle of the night, when you wake up with terror in your belly, it is time to think about stardust and geological time, redwoods and dance parties and mushrooms remediating toxic soil It is time to care for one another, to pray over water, to wash away fear, every time we wash our hands

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The Benefits of COD LIVER OIL We can all relate and remember back to a time as a child when our mothers and grandmothers held a spoonful of cod liver oil above our heads; whether it be a fond memory or not. Although to many it may have been deemed a form of torture, there is good reason every household matriarch swore by it, and that it has stood the test of time.

C

od liver oil has been consumed as a staple from the time of the Vikings, known for their strength and cunning in battle. It’s been a part of our history to this day for one good reason… because it works! Cod Liver Oil is the superfood supplement we all need, and one that’s good for all stages of life; from in utero to the elderly. In its natural form cod liver oil contains the complete range of raw omega fats, including Omega 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 and 11. It is particularly rich in DHA and EPA, essential fats for the body, and is a naturally occurring source of Vitamin A and D. With the rise of industrialisation and demand, cod liver oil became processed and mass produced.

Nowadays, cod liver oil goes through processes such as molecular distillation, degumming, bleaching, winterisation, and deodorisation.

During these treatments it loses all its natural and perfectlybalanced nutrients, and therefore manufacturers synthetically add Vitamin A and D (and sometimes flavouring) back in. This defeats the purpose.

Enter Rosita. This is the only cod liver oil in the world that is Fresh, Wild and Raw. Rosita is run by a family from a small village in

Norway, from a long line of Nordic fisherman dating back to the Vikings. Their ethos is simple; to supply the highest quality healthgiving oils nature has to offer. Fish are caught with lines not nets and they do not over fish. Each liver is hand inspected and they use an ancient method of oil extraction using nature to separate oil from liver.

Rosita cod liver oil is free from synthetics and nature determines the nutrient levels in the oil. The oils are thoroughly tested and completely unprocessed, with no chemicals or heating. This means an oil as nature intended. Cod liver oil in this pure form delivers fantastic health benefits for the human body.

* * * * * * * * * *

Enhanced immunity Maintaining bone health Modifying gene expression Improved sleep quality Hormone regulation Relief from rheumatism and aching muscles and joints Improved brain and nervous system function Regulation of inflammation, blood pressure, and blood clotting Reduction in high cholesterol Improvement in mental health and mental performance

“Small consistent changes to encourage a sustainable lifestyle”

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Leading contemporary medical professionals endorse Rosita because of the amazing results they’ve experienced; f rom Terry Wahls to Chris Kresser to Steven Lin. The benefits of cod liver oil are well documented in medical journals from the 1700s, and in a time where the world has become toxic in so many forms, humanity needs to return to proven methods. www.rositarealfoods.co.za

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Contact for private consultation +27 (0) 82 826 2473 carmen@rawlove.co.za www.rawlove.co.za

GET THE BALANCE RIGHT

GET THE BALANCE RIGHT KNOW YOUR pH pH stands for the Power of Hydrogen.

It’s the negative log of hydrogen ion concentration in a water-based solution.

Naturally, our bodies are mildly acidic, and the ideal pH is between 6.0 and 6.8; keeping yours in check is important to your wellbeing The pH scale measures acidity and alkalinity. Water, when it has a pH of 7.0 is considered neutral, neither acid nor alkaline. Any substance with a pH below 7.0 is acidic, while anything with a pH above 7.0 is alkaline.

Acidic conditions of the body happen when body chemistry becomes imbalanced and overly acidic. Symptoms associated with acidic conditions of the body include f requent sighing, insomnia, water retention, sinus infections, constant mucous production, recessed eyes, arthritis and joint pain, migraine headaches, low blood pressure, strong perspiration, digestive problems like constipation and or diarrhoea, difficulty swallowing, halitosis, a burning sensation in the mouth or on the tongue.

The term ‘pH’ was coined by Danish biochemist Søren Peter Lauritz Sørensen in 1909.

TIP

if you simply can’t go without your morning coffee but want to reduce its acidic effect, simply use an old Ayurvedic trick of adding cardamom powder to the grounds before brewing. Two practices outlined in our Body Ritual section in this issue of Holistica will also help reduce acidity – oil pulling and Abhyanga.

There are two classifications of body acidic condition, respiratory and metabolic. Respiratory is when the lungs are unable to remove carbon dioxide, which can be a result of asthma, bronchitis or an obstruction of the airway which can be mild or severe.

Metabolic Acidic conditions are when chemical changes in the body disturb the body’s acid-base balance, creating an excessive amount of acid in the body. Diabetes mellitus, kidney failure, the use of unusually large amounts of aspirin and metabolic diseases are some of the conditions that can change the acid balance by depleting the alkaline base.

Other conditions like liver and adrenal disorders, stomach ulcers, improper diet, malnutrition, obesity, ketosis, anger, stress, fear, anorexia, toxaemia, fever and the consumption of excessive amounts of niacin and Vitamin C. and often a constant presence of mucous flow in the respiratory system, can be a sign of high acidity.

Nutrients are very important in balancing acidic conditions, and there are many herbs that have a balancing effect in some way, either by neutralising uric crystal in the joints, having an antiinflammatory effect, or having a high mineral and vitamin content which helps to neutralise acid.

DID YOU KNOW? Stress and negative emotions have the ability to physically manifest in the body as acidity, according to the wisdom of Ayurveda.

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IM AG E: PN G T R E E

THE WAY OF WATER

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THE WAY OF WATER

water THE WAY OF

NOW, MORE THAN EVER, IT’S IMPORTANT TO INSTIL APPRECIATION FOR THE

ENVIRONMENT. WE INVITE YOU TO

BOW YOUR HEAD IN REVERENCE AND EXPRESS DEEP GRATITUDE FOR THE MAGIC AND MYSTERY THAT IS WATER.

BY A DA M S UZMA N

THE WAY OF WATER

atholic priest and ecologist Thomas Berry, CP, PhD, in his classic book, The Dream of the Earth, points out that three rivers of knowledge and wisdom are contributing to this deepening of consciousness about the planet earth: First, an awareness reinforced by science about the interconnectedness of everything; second, a deeper recognition of the fragile relationship of human health with natural environments; and third, a renewed appreciation and recovery for indigenous teachings about spiritual life. Berry suggested that before political solutions can be appropriated to address urgent problems of a global water crisis, we need to embrace humility about the essential mystery of the natural world, particularly water.

Water literally regulates the earth's temperature. It also regulates the temperature of the human body, carries nutrients and oxygen to cells, cushions joints, protects organs and tissues, removes waste.

From photosynthesis to eating an orange, or boiling rice, or being born‌. all are intimately touched by water.

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Water, while it appears to pour f reely from the heavens, seems to flow endlessly in rivers, is a finite resource. We only have what we have. It’s a precious resource more valuable than gold or silver. Water is constantly being recycled. It falls, condenses, evaporates and reappears, over and over again. Water droplets are continually transforming themselves. In a 100-year period, a water molecule spends 98 percent of its existence in the ocean, 20 months as ice, about two weeks in lakes and rivers and less than a week in the atmosphere. None of this water is new; it is just recycled, over, over and over again.

Michigan writer Heidi Stevenson poetically reflects on this remarkable phenomenon: "Swimming in Lake Superior, I imagine all of the seagulls, sturgeon, people, and plovers also touching the water. I remember reading long ago that all of Earth's water is continuously recycled. I imagine swimming in water that was once dinosaur urine. Genghis Khan's sneeze. Marilyn Monroe's soup. Water, in both metaphor and substance, is the real Internet."

Between the twin forces of ice and fire is the tale of water. It is the tale of all life on this planet since the beginning. Without it no living being would ever have existed. That’s how important it is. But its deeper secrets unveil an even more extraordinary story of communication between every cell, in every living being, and the cells of every other being it interacts with.

IM AG E: PN G T R E E

C

Every major cultural and religious tradition has a deep reverence that references water.

And it is all really telling the same story, the story that water carries memory and we can absorb or ingest this memory and make it our own, a part of our body. Let’s look more deeply into this. Firstly, in Chinese medicine, possibly the oldest medical system in the world, they say that blood carries mind.

Given that blood is mostly water, this means the water in blood has the capacity to imprint and hold our thoughts as we think them.

To back this up, we look at the Islamic and Jewish belief systems that hold that the mind of the animal should not be eaten as the mind is carried in the blood of the animal. In both the Halaal and the Kosher systems the blood is drained from the animal before eating, as it is considered that in consuming the mind of the animal, we will become more bestial in nature.

Then from a different perspective entirely, we have the river Ganges in India believed to be sacred by a billion Hindus. Interestingly Ganges water does not go off, even after years of being stored in plastic bottles. This is water taken from a river heavily polluted by both humans and industry and runs through some of the most polluted places on the planet.

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Somehow the combined belief of these billion people is able to infuse water with the ability not only to withstand decay, even after years in plastic bottles, but in addition purifies it to the point where it does not carry disease.

Water is fine enough as a medium to allow it to be imprinted with word and thought. This concept is borne out by Dr Emotos work on programming water with concepts like love or hate. This is really just the tip of the iceberg. It is also what homoeopathy is based upon - the ability of water to hold onto memory in states of massive dilution.

Christianity has holy water, water that has been prayed over to animate it with a certain holiness. Baptism and purification by water in all the major religions is not only considered normal, but in some cases, essential as a means to bring purity to the new born and to rinse away any stains the child might have come to this life with.

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THE WAY OF WATER

We see the exact form of what water shows us when we examine crystals of f rozen water forming into particular shapes. This allows us to see, by means of a f rozen picture, the pictorial message the droplet is carrying. So, if water can carry memory and we can see this in particular geometric forms we can ingest as fruit, vegetables or from the blood in meat, we can see how water is a medium upon which all life is built.

In the body there is a continuous flow of information between the cells. This information is carried by intracellular transport mediums. They’re essentially piggybacking minerals and hormones on the back of water to allow us to get out of bed in the morning.

When water interfaces with other elements we can see the different forms it takes. When we watch the clouds moving across the sky, or the bubbles of a stream, or the steam off a hot spring, we are watching the movie of water as it moves in another element. When it snows, we see the individual snowflakes telling the unique tale of exactly what imprint occurred to that droplet of water. Of course, we don’t really know what we are looking at but the fact they are all different shows that water is a living thing capable of memory which may be captured as it enters a different medium or changes form due to temperature. Even watching the foam on the waves is telling us a story. It is not necessary to decode this, but more importantly to watch the dance of it all and realise we are watching a tale we can barely understand but the tale is eternal and perpetually changing which gives us a glimpse of our own ancient story.

The bubbles in the water f rom the stream do not cease, and they do not repeat. They are an endless play of form upon the water, they’re no less than the thoughts of the river which allows us to see what we are capable of. When water touches a seed, it calls its latent genetics into life and begins to grow and form into a plant. When we pause for a moment to ponder the wonders that water brings to us at every moment of every day, to despoil it in any way becomes not only inconceivable but insane as it is quite literally keeping us alive and allowing every interaction with every other living being we have.

Truly, if water can be imprinted upon, to fail to use this to create the most fantastic forms capable of instructing our molecules in life-preserving and radically creative ways seems like a massive waste of resources.

54 | h o l i s t i c a . n e t

When we take the time to immerse ourselves in water, or consume it with rapt attention, our entire relationship with life shifts as we are changing the way we relate with, not only ourselves but every other single drop of water in existence from the sea to the ants even the concrete, and everything in between.

And we ask, why does water not just collect memory endlessly and end up as a vast storehouse of information? Well, when we expose it to direct sunlight or freeze it, it essentially erases its memory and has the ability to imprint something new.

When we look at distilled water which is basically water stripped of its mineral content, it becomes hungry for information and minerals. This is why it is the perfect matrix to imprint upon – much like a blank canvas hungry for paint.

When water becomes polluted with either human or chemical impurities it eventually becomes tainted too. This is the story of waterborne diseases like cholera and dysentery, diseases which act as a warning to those foolish enough to pollute their own drinking water. Water does not judge, it is just the reflection of what we put into it. Like any good mirror it will reflect the beauty or the taint relentlessly

WE LOVE SPIRITGIRL

to either encourage us in a particular direction or discourage us from a course of action.

Since water allows life to exist and growth to happen, to assume that water is not alive in some sense is not really that useful. If water allows the stuff of thought and emotion to be imprinted upon it (as in Dr Emoto’s work and with the Ganges), then in a sense, it has life or more accurately it is life itself. Just as our bodies could not exist without carbon the same goes triply for water.

If we see how much water there is in everything, f rom trees to grass to sea to lakes to coffee to shower time, to everything we put into our body, we see how truly dependent we are on this living matrix that allows life to exist and transact with itself.

Then there is the process of rain and watering of crops, the filling of lakes, the formation of clouds and the flooding of lands where what once was earth is no more.

Everyone can shift the way they view water.

Committing to respect all life forms that share the water and depend upon it for survival will go a long way to restoring and preserving our waterways.

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DIY

SIP ABUNDANCE

WATER

Water has memory and intelligence, it is the genesis of all life. Make your own abundance water, then sip on your home made elixir daily and see what happens.

Water speaks to water, which is why creating your own well of abundance makes sense – allow the water you drink to speak to the water within you, and connect to the water contained in all the universe.

YOU NEED: * A glass or copper vessel * Pure water (mountain water, rain or

spring is best) * Crystals – use rose quartz for heart opening, pyrite for financial gain, citrine for personal abundance and clear quartz to amplify * A quiet place * An abundance mantra – find one online or create your own

How to create your abundance elixir 1.

Put the crystals inside your water-filled vessel in a quiet space.

2. Play your abundance mantra to the water – put it on repeat if you like, but once is enough for the water to hear and remember.

3. Use an ancient mantra or make up your own, here’s an example: I am. I am whole, strong, powerful, harmonious.

I am. I am filled with wisdom and light I am. I am joyful, filled with love and abundance.

4. Decorate your vessel with f resh flowers.

How to use your elixir

“A drop of water, if it could write out its own history, would explain the universe to us.” – Lucy Larcom

56 | h o l i s t i c a . n e t

*

*

Be mindful as you hold your water; take a deep breath before taking your first sip and as you drink, appreciate the silkiness of the water, feel the infused words entering every cell in your body. Breathe deeply and be in the moment.

Use two hands to hold the glass and sip with gratitude for your wholly abundant state of being.

Health Revolution The world’s smallest element is making huge waves in health. Hydrogen gas (H2) is the oldest, smallest and most abundant element in the universe.

molecular hydrogen (science based)

H2 has gained significant attention from academic researchers, medical doctors, and physicians around the world for its recently reported therapeutic efficacy demonstrated in over 1000 preclinical and clinical studies.

“It is very rare that we find a 100% natural, non-toxic, 100% safe, side-effect free element that provides anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-diabetic, anti-allergy, anti-aging and anti-obesity effects as demonstrated by H2” Classified as colorless, odorless, tasteless “medical” gas, and approved by the FDA as SAFE, Researchers continue to demonstrate the therapeutic potential and efficacy of H2 for a wide variety of diseases due to being a novel, very powerful but most importantly, a SELECTIVE antioxidant.

The ability to administer H2 therapies in the comfort of your own home through inhalation therapy, taking a relaxing transdermal hydrogen bath, or simply infuse H2 into your drinking water to enjoy wherever you go makes H2 therapy the most relaxing, enjoyable and also affordable therapy for over 170 diseases including heart disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, alzheimer's, parkinson's, cancer and more.

As a hydroxyl radical and peroxynitrite scavenger, H2 has demonstrated to prevent/relieve the adverse effects caused by chemotherapy and radiotherapy without compromising their anti-cancer potential. H2 therapy has also shown to suppress tumor growth via inducing apoptosis, inhibiting CSCs-related and cell cycle-related factors, etc. This certainly comes as much needed good news for every cancer patient.

The studies have also concluded that H2 provides significant benefits for athletes by decreasing blood lactate levels which reduces muscle fatigue and soreness and thereby increasing peak power output. Drinking H2 rich water is the key to sports performance, post workout recovery and healing.

Zenii Hydrogen Solutions offers a wide variety of technologically advanced H2 therapy devices, designed to deliver high concentration of therapeutic H2 for use at clinics, hospitals or private individuals to prevent or recover from disease, achieve optimal health, improve and maximize performance and enhance quality of life. Zenii invites healthcare practitioners and private individuals to join this science based health revolution.

To view the latest research as well as zenii’s range of H2 therapy systems, go to the zenii website or contact zenii directly.

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ROOT FOR THE EARTH

58 | h o l i s t i c a . n e t

ROOT FOR THE EARTH

SPEKBOOM

Root For The Earth When it comes to being proactive about the planet, every small step makes a difference.

Everyone can contribute towards honouring the earth.

G

lobal warming has seen a lot of press in recent years, not just f rom Greta Thunberg, but also f rom stark evidence of changing weather patterns. Global warming hasn’t just impacted the weather, however. Climate Refugees are defined as people forcibly displaced f rom environmental factors caused by climate change and natural disasters. Every year since 2008, 26.4 million people have been forced to leave their homes f rom severe weather events like flooding, earthquakes, hurricanes and droughts. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that, as a result of extreme environment changes, there could be as many as 200 million climate refugees by 2050.

But what exactly is global warming? The earth is life-sustaining due to the gasses in the atmosphere that hold heat – they’re called greenhouse gasses because they hold heat much like in a greenhouse – and maintain an average temperature on earth of 15 degrees Celsius. Human activity has increased the amount of these gasses by around 35%, upping the average temperature. This, alongside melting ice caps, processes inside the earth, sunlight variations and many different vectors results in extreme weather conditions.

Droughts, floods, earthquakes, volcanoes, we’re experiencing all of it.

Spekboom is hailed as a planetary saving grace.

That’s because it is one of the best carbon sequestrators in the world. Just one hectare of Spekboom can convert between four and 10 tons of carbon each year, being 10 times more effective than the Amazon rainforest in this role.

Angela Frey / Angel Free - Artist for SEEMATREEDESIGNS© (Enlightened photography and design) IG @seematreedesigns & @earthangelcommunications Email: earthangelcommunications@gmail.com h o l i s t i c a . n e t | 59

ROOT FOR THE EARTH

Even after all this time, the sun never says to the earth, “you owe me”. Look what happens with a love like that, it lights the whole sky. ~ RUMI Spekboom is incredibly low-maintenance and can survive on as little as 250-350mm of water per year. It’s also highly adaptable to climate change; usually it opens up its stomata during the day like most plants, yet in drier times is able to adapt by opening its stomata at night to prevent water loss. It can thrive in any conditions, from f rost to drought and it binds soil so well that it is excellent for preventing soil erosion. Research by Anthony Mills, a soil scientist at Stellenbosch University, has estimated that one hectare of restored Spekboom results in 255,000 litres of retained water.

Anyone can root for the environment by planting and propagating this miracle indigenous plant. It’s incredibly easy to grow, like many of SA’s indigenous succulents, you simply break off a piece and plant it. Use it as a hedge, inside in a pot-plant to clean your air and as a quick go-to for soups, salads and home-grown medicine chest.

TIP:

Be a climate change warrior. Keep a few cuttings of spekboom on you. As you go about your day, plant them wherever you see soil.

GOOD FOR YOU TOO

Spekboom is high in nutritional value, with a subtle lemony taste and a notable Vitamin C content. The leaves have long been used for medicine: Suck a leaf to treat exhaustion, dehydration and heatstroke.

Use crushed leaves externally to relieve blisters.

Chew leaves to treat mouth infections and sore throats.

Crush or juice the leaves as a natural antiseptic for rashes, insect bites and sunburn.

Mothers can eat the leaves to increase breast milk supply.

High blood sugar levels are balanced by chewing the leaves several times a day.

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ROOT FOR THE EARTH

SPEKBOOM & SWEET POTATO SOUP (serves 2) INGREDIENTS * 2 large sweet potatoes, diced * 1 cup Spekboom leaves (pick them late in the day or evening when the flavour is least acidic, otherwise they are too sour) * 1 cup brown lentils * 1 clove garlic, crushed * 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast flakes * 1 tsp tumeric * 1 Tbsp olive oil * 4 cups water * Salt to taste INSTRUCTIONS 1. Fry the garlic in a tablespoon of olive oil before adding the diced sweet potatoes and turmeric. Toss to cover the potatoes.

2. Add 4 cups of water, the lentils, Spekboom, yeast flakes and salt to taste – bring to the boil.

3. Allow to simmer on low heat for 1 hour.

4. Either use a potato masher to create a thick and chunky soup, or use a blender to puree.

5. Serve with a sprinkling of micro greens on top.

an Africa’s biggest veg w! & plant-based sho

PACHAMAMA & THE ELEMENTS

But the earth is simple element if you plant one hundreds in

not just a – it is life-giving; bean, you are given return.

PACHAMAMA & THE ELEMENTS Pachamama (mother earth) lends us our body for a lifetime; she also supplies everything we could possibly need to live and develop in body, soul and spirit.

An ancient belief in Pachamama stems from the Andeans in Peru where there is a deeply beautiful respect and reverence for the earth. They believe the earth is our teacher, mother, protector, life-giver and we can work with the four elements to live a balanced and peaceful life.

As with the earth, humans are also formed of the four elements: fire, water, earth and air. We are inseparable, so when elements in nature are contaminated, it corresponds with the plight of humans. The exploitation of minerals of Pachamama causes a weakening of the human body. The quality of the waters represents our soul, or our emotional state; the quality of the air represents the quality of our thoughts. All our thoughts and feelings affect Pachamama – she is our mother and feels through us.

The Sacred Andean Tradition works primarily through harnessing the powerful energy from mother earth and the mountain spirits. By tuning into Pachamama’s energy, Andean practitioners can heal and transform people and situations. We look at the four elements and some of the wisdom and interactions available to us.

62 | h o l i s t i c a . n e t

EARTH

The natural human path is within the heart and the earth element is about unconditional love. The densest of all the elements, earth is also the most accepting and forgiving. You can literally give your illnesses, your troubles to the earth and she will take them. Just sitting or lying down on the ground is enough for Mother Nature to receive your pain. One of the laws of nature is that everything has a purpose and there is a mutual exchange – for example, we breathe in the oxygen provided by trees and they in turn breathe in the carbon dioxide we exhale. This element transforms and cleanses.

To engage with the earth, lie on the ground on your stomach, allow yourself to melt into the earth. Feel your weight being pulled to the earth’s centre. Feel the connection, and the beauty of being bonded to this all-loving earth mother. She will listen to anything you wish to tell her. Allow everything you are feeling and thinking to flow into the earth. Do this until you come to a place of rest and being. Feel your heart being soothed and your being supported by the earth herself.

The earth provides a physical environment where we play out our roles.

Without Pachamama, we would have no vehicle for our growth. The earth element is incredibly healing and when you learn to consciously work with it, you cleanse your heaviness. Nature knows how to hold and kiss us and love us if we can be open to this.

WATER

Water is not a commodity, it is also a being. It dances with us and it ensures that in time, all things will be cleaned away.

This element is balancing and cleansing, it is also the ruler of our emotions. Humans and the earth are made up of mostly water. The flow of water teaches us adaptability because it adapts to whatever container or obstacle it is in or encounters. Water restores balance and equilibrium and washes away heavy emotions.

Connect with water by placing your feet in a running stream or the ocean and listen to the sound. Allow your emotions to be released into the water and watch them float away. If you aren’t near a body of water, open a tap and place your hands under the running water – breathe and allow the water to wash away your anger, guilt, pain, f rustration, grief.

You will discover that it soothes, relaxes and restores you.

The energy you put into water is what you can get back from it – it is intelligent. If you’ve had a bad day at work, your body can feel it. Spending time with water, singing to it, putting a f requency of love into it and then ingesting that love can pull the negative into balance. In this way, you can find peace.

FIRE

This element sanctifies, alchemises and is the most powerful of all the elements. It is connected to love, passion and compassion. Through fire, you can learn to shift anger into peace and rage into compassion.

Fire gives us the daring to move beyond, to expand our consciousness and awareness. It burns away negative emotion.

You can also connect with fire through the sun. We forget that the sun is a ball of fire. Without the sun, there would be no life. Consciously connecting with and greeting the sun, welcoming its fire into our lives, helps us integrate the fire within.

Another practice is to make a fire and sit gazing into the flames. Listen to the sound of the fire, allow the flames to speak into your heart. Write down what you want to manifest in your life, place it in the fire and allow it to transmute and alchemise what you want to manifest.

AIR

This element is purifying and enlightening; it represents communication, connection and knowledge. Our first and last moments on this planet are connected to our first and last breaths.

Deep breathing, allowing your lungs to fully inflate and deflate brings incredible healing and relaxation, taking away negative and heavy emotions.

When you speak, air carries your communication. Air’s energy moves freely through space and time. Practise deep breathing, preferably outside where you can feel a breeze on your face and skin. Mindfully engage with the air – through your breath, your senses – realise that you and the air are part of a greater cosmic space and seek assistance in communicating through it.

To learn more about this truly beautiful practise and how to honour the healing power of Pachamama within you, join Karen Weinman on a course that will definitively change your life.

ABOUT KAREN

Preceding Karen’s 27 years as a soul healer and transformation workshop facilitator, Karen Weinman was struck by lightning. This was the catalyst for her childhood calling to Peru and the Andean Earth-based traditions.

After much purification and learning, she initiated under Ausengate, the great Teacher Mountain of the Sacred Valley of Peru. She is now a Pampamesayoq, (healer/priest/Earth guardian) and a Chakaruna (a bridge person bringing Andean medicine to the West). Like her wise old Q’ero teachers, her focus is on preserving this ancient Inka tradition and staying aligned to its true essence, to bring its feminine power and healing gracefully to the west, for our inner transformation ...as well as the Earth’s. www.miskayani.com | info@miskayani.com 64 | h o l i s t i c a . n e t

PACHAMAMA ONLINE WORKSHOP With sacred earth activist Karen Weinman Hundreds of years ago, the Q’eros of the Andes Mountains foresaw a time of great change on our planet. When the Spanish invaded, they retreated high into the mountains to protect their ancient Inkan ways. They knew one day far in the future, we in the West would need to remember these ways to bring harmony, balance, union and love back to life.

Planetary destruction brings an opportunity for awakening, not just in our economies and dysfunctional structures of civilisation, but also to our healing and relationship with Pachamama, (the Earth) and the realm of nature.

Where we may feel overwhelmed by fear, disease and uncertainty; practices that support grounding; release of Hucha (heavy energy of any kind); revitalising our physical bodies, and life force are welcomed… returning us to a more feminine, heart centered way of life.

Through her Andean Mountain teachers, Karen, an initiated Pampamesayoq brings you an online selfdevelopment training offering insight - beyond your imagination - into a world of living energy and nature beings, whose wish is to support us, changing our ways from destruction, to consciously feeding and nurturing Planet earth.

Mastering this Living Energy is life changing. You will learn practical tools and techniques; build relationship with the Earth; embody Ayni (giving and receiving) by communicating with living energy, and in turn becoming one with nature.

As you interact with nature, it will clear away hucha (heavy energy) raising your vibration and life force. This wise living energy will grow you where is best for you, in the order best for you.

Learn this exquisite way of being, a ‘system’ and energy language you’ve probably never heard of it’s so ancient. All that’s required is new senses, humility, deep listening, time, patience.... and love.

We as westerners, have forgotten our true

connection within nature. For hundreds of years our ancestors have ignored and slowly

lost this knowledge.

It’s time to remember.

We will meet online, for 7 weeks, allowing time inbetween to practice, build and explore.

You will learn: • About living energy, the different types, how to move it; and being immersed in sacred space the Inkan way • Building relationship with the earth, how to nurture her, bringing healing, connection and deep guidance • Why the Q’eros WANT us Westerners to learn these feminine practices, their history and rich cosmovision • 7 Levels of Consciousness and a ceremony of living prayers • Meditations and practices for: healing on any level of our being; grounding; rejuvenating our life force; aligning ourselves with the forces of nature and spirit • Building creative energy to manifest from – a system that brings grace to manifesting dreams in cooperation with Pachamama • Energy anatomy and personal power structures unknown to us in the Western world

* * * * * * *

The Andes Mountain Lineages offer a sacred, invisible art that is heart-centered, interconnected and incorporating.

Let your heart call you to this teaching where you will recognise it on a deep level.

JOIN KAREN FOR THIS ONLINE COURSE HELD ONE EVENING A WEEK 6PM to 9PM (every week) for 7 weeks.

R4 500. For course dates email hooray@holistica.net | www.miskayani.com h o l i s t i c a . n e t | 65

CELEBRATING WHOLEFOODS WITH PRITAM

CELEBRATING WHOLEFOODS With Pritam

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CELEBRATING WHOLEFOODS WITH PRITAM

We celebrate Pritam and Har Bhajan Khalsa as longstanding advocates of healthy eating, reverence for the earth and pioneers of whole foods.

We also get guidance from Pritam in wholefood eating; someone who recommends having absolute respect for everything you ingest. arly beginnings in the Eighties - Pritam and Har Bhajan had a well-loved health shop in Rocky Street, Johannesburg called Fruits & Roots offering honest organic food. They later moved to the Northern suburbs where they ran an award winning vegetarian restaurant. In 2010 they moved onto an eco-farm trust in Robertson where they grow their own food, and act as curators of a 93 hectare property healing the land, running permaculture courses and Kundalini Yoga retreats. The farm and its trustees aim at self-sustainability, sharing with the community, creating food forests and preserving the clean river.

E

"We revel in the precious healing energy of the land", says Pritam who has opportunities for like-minded people to get involved through their many programmes and courses.

“We were the first in South Africa to make and offer probiotic yoghurt, tempeh, tofu, nonirradiated spices and many other health foods now commercially available”, says Pritam who has never lost her passion for encouraging people to eat more mindfully. To date they still have a tofu manufacturing outlet in Robertson. So much is their commitment to clean pure food that when they couldn’t get non-GM beans, they literally stopped production for 18 months.

Their son Hari Bhajan who is also involved in the family business explains, “We have shifted our relevance over the years: from retail - which involves a lot of consumer goods - to wholesale and manufacturing and now to actually growing. In this way the relationship with the earth feels more sincere and honest.”

Pritam lives with the principle that you honour each and every thing you put in your mouth. Food is such an important aspect of vibrant health.

Immense healing can come from growing your own food. “Plants don’t need a lot of work to grow beautifully. What we have noticed is that more than anything, they want to be witnessed and cared for. It’s amazing how much more they grow when you interact with them”, explains Pritam. Besides, getting your hands in the soil can contribute to increased immunity by being exposed to beneficial soil bacteria and a relationship with the plant world.

In short, infusing your existence with the deep sacred forces of life.

Pritam also practices EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), she does Vedic numerology readings, is a yoga teacher trainer and has authored the Kundalini Yoga Fan, a beautifully illustrated guide to Kundalini Yoga. Her and her family produce a range of foods under the Earth Products label f rom nut butters to soy beans, wakame, almonds, miso, tofu, grains, seeds, rice and so much more – essentially the most natural foods they can get. www.earthproducts.co.za.

Their eco farm hosts retreats and workshops and has accommodation options for guests wanting time-out or eco experiences. www.longvalleyfarm.org

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CELEBRATING WHOLEFOODS WITH PRITAM

ENCOURAGE NOURISHING CHOICES When eating in tune with your body, you will naturally be your optimum weight. This will make you feel mobile, youthful, flexible and full of vitality. Very often we are in a cycle of addiction with food, using stimulating substances that set up a pattern of craving and inclination towards the wrong choices. Eating clean, healthy wholefoods has many more benefits allowing sensitivity and radiance.

*

Eat with self-love in mind. Be aware of nourishing your body, rather than feeding any emptiness that may come f rom your emotions.

*

Acknowledge where your food has come f rom and give thanks or say a prayer before eating.

Be calm, notice your body, breathe evenly and in this way prepare your body for the food that is coming. This way your body will digest more easily.

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*

Avoid eating sugar, processed carbs and bad fats. These turn to fat in the body and around the organs obstructing life force and vitality.

Rather eat organic wholefoods with ample f ruit, vegetables, green salads and probiotics.

*

Drink water with lemon to help with alkalinity.

When alkaline, your sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system relax and heal. You feel love and peace. This supports self-growth both physically and experientially.

*

Be in a beneficial relationship with food.

Fasting for a period helps get perspective.

You may be very surprised how light and clear you feel when not having to digest. It’s also an illuminating experience overcoming the feeling of hunger allowing your body time to naturally detox.

Engage in a sensory experience with food and explore what food is doing for you. When you love the food you eat, it loves you back. In this way you build health and vitality and invite beauty into your body.

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MILKING IT

Milking it If you’ve opted for a vegan lifestyle, there may be one or two things you miss, like milk. Here are some delicious and healthy options to make at home:

TIP: Most home-made vegan milk can be stored in the fridge for 4-5 days and can be used as a substitute for animal milk or as a delicious drink on its own, either with or without added sweetness.

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HEMP SEED

CASHEW

This is a very quick, nutritious and creamy option you can use in anything, including cooking. Simply blend a handful of hemp seeds at a fast speed with half a cup of high quality water; no need to strain. Hemp milk needs to be kept in the fridge.

Soak a cup of raw cashews overnight in warm water. Drain and rinse. Blend with 3-4 cups of new water. Strain and use either hot or cold. Cashew milk is irresistibly delicious, so you’ll probably want to drink it on its own rather than adding it to drinks.

ALMOND

QUINOA

You can buy almond milk at most stores, although most of them have very little almond content. Making your own is cost effective, with the benefit of being able to use the leftover pulp for cereal, cookies or smoothies. Higher in calcium than cow’s milk, this option is also lower in cholesterol and beautifully creamy.

Soak almonds overnight to activate the enzymes, then blend at fast speed and use a muslin cloth to strain.

Cook 1 cup of quinoa, then drain and add 3 cups of new water to blend. Strain and use. Add dates and cinnamon for a delicious quick go-to drink. Full of healthy proteins, this is a fabulous milk for vegans.

RICE Use organic brown rice; simply cook the rice (half a cup of rice to two cups of water), blend and strain. Add dates for a yummy, creamy drink.

OAT Add 1 cup of rolled oats to 3-4 cups of water. Soak for a minimum of 30 minutes and drain the water away.

Add the soaked oats to 3-4 cups of new water and blend until smooth.

Strain and use.

Hint: Add some vanilla for extra flavour.

COCONUT Although coconut milk is widely available - making it yourself means you get the thickness you want, and it’s definitely better fresh. Blend 1 cup of chopped f resh coconut with 4 cups of water and then strain. Use the leftover pulp to add to a breakfast smoothie.

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT This is a great recipe for kids – soak 1 cup of raw hazelnuts in 2 cups of water. Drain and rinse the hazelnuts.

Blend with 3 cups of new water until smooth. Strain using muslin cloth and then place the milk back in the blender with 2 teaspoons of carob or cacao powder and 4 dates. Blend well and serve.

Do you know how good your body is designed to feel?

I

am a microbiologist who has turned my passion for wellness into a profitable reality. My wellness journey started in the late 1990’s, when poor gut health negatively affected my mood, energy and general wellbeing. I became tired of always feeling tired and bloated (from gut inflammation). Equipped with my ‘forever a researcher’ mind, I found a path that supported my healing process and allowed me financial freedom.

With my regained ‘energizer bunny go-gogo’, I spend my days as a ‘healthy habits’ expert sharing my botanical discoveries and knowledge with anyone who wants similar results. You can also improve your gut health and build immunity against modern day environmental challenges.

Cultivate a healthy gut 3 top tips to support your microbiota • choose organic whole foods with high levels of soluble and insoluble fibre like green leafy vegetables (the soluble fibre feeds your gut microbes, the insoluble fibre retains water and improves moveability) • support your microbiota and mood (gut-brain axis) with soothing botanic ingredients and essential oils • switch to natural personal care products and home cleaners with fewer damaging toxic chemicals to save your body systems, microbes, and the planet “I help women and men gain healthy habits through supporting their gut health, and turn a passion for wellness into a profitable reality.

Let us find your unique recipe of soothing botanic ingredients together!”

Tania Jooste | botanichemy@gmail.com www.botanichemy.com | botanichemy

Botánichemy alchemy of soothing botanic ingredients

MOON MILK

MO N MILK FROTHY, CREAMY and sleep inducing. Add rose petals or lavender garnish and moon milk is dreamy, both in taste, presentation and application. That’s right, the ingredients help you sleep.

There are many variations on this night time Ayurvedic tradition, this one is vegan and resplendent with antiinflammatory and calming effects destined to help you sink into a sleepy space, to ground you and balance your hormones. We’ve highlighted the ingredients and added a recipe.

MOON MILK sleep ritual: simple, wholesome and mindful

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INGREDIENTS 1/2 cup plant-based milk 2 cups boiling water 3 grams ashwagandha 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon grated ginger 1/2 teaspoon turmeric 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground Sweetener of choice: honey, coconut blossom sugar, jaggery, maple syrup INSTRUCTIONS 1. Boil two cups of water in a pot on the stovetop.

2. Add all the spices and boil until the water reduces to half.

3. Lower the temperature and gently add the plant milk.

4. Strain out the ginger, add the sweetener and sip before bed.

Ashwagandha - Popularly used for stress and anti-

anxiety, this ayurvedic super herb is an adaptogenic and has countless other attributes like libido enhancing, strengthening adrenals and reducing cortisol. It’s highly effective, and not to be taken in large doses or irresponsibly.

You enjoy it in the café.

Now make it at home.

Turmeric - Curcumin in turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory and strong antioxidant. It’s also known to have mood elevating qualities. Black pepper enhances its absorption.

Superfood Lattes

Cinnamon -

Cinnamon has super amounts of antioxidants and micronutrients which protect the body f rom f ree radicals. It also helps balance sugar levels. Find high quality Ceylon cinnamon.

Ginger - Ginger is anti-inflammatory and an

antioxidant helping digestion and boosting immunity. Although the ground and dried version is easy, rather use f resh ginger, peeled and grated.

Nutmeg - Nutmeg has high health benefits

including the ability to relieve pain, soothe indigestion, reduce insomnia and improve blood circulation.

100% pure plant-based goodness.

Vegan friendly.

Plant-based milk - Although cow’s milk has the

amino acid tryptophan, a precursor to the sleepinducing compounds serotonin; almonds, cashews, sunflower seeds and oats also do and can be just as effective.

Made with authentic Indian spices and black tea.

ADD SOME MORE -

Other ingredients you can use in this night time toddy are immune supporting Reishi mushroom and hormone-balancing Shatavari.

ABOUT THAT INSOMNIA We may be hardwired to sleep in two time periods. If we were able to live in less constricted time slots and we could tune into our own body rhythms, we may find that sleeping through a whole night just doesn’t suit our particular natural order. And rather, sleeping in two segments during the day, comes more naturally. Personally I have always felt impatient having to sleep for a full 7 or 8 hour stretch. I would wake up at 2am and be so disappointed that it isn’t time to get up. I would think I had insomnia when actually, whether my personality or genetic disposition, a rhythm of sleeping twice during the day works so much better for me. According to Roger Ekirch, author of At Day's Close: Night in Times Past, in pre-industrial times, it was normal to wake up for a few hours during the night. People used this creative time for reading, praying, meditating, having sex, or visiting neighbours. That's closer to how animals sleep, too. So, rather than thinking you are afflicted by insomnia, get up and do things, enjoy your night time waking hours and simply nap in the afternoon. "There are people for whom that seems to be a productive way to live and suits them just fine," says Mary Carskadon, PhD, a sleep researcher at Brown University. Understandably it's hard to do if you have a 9 to 5 schedule.

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IM AG E: PN G T R E E

NEXT-LEVEL CONSCIOUSNESS

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NEXT-LEVEL CONSCIOUSNESS

NEXT-LEVEL

CONSCIOUSNESS: TAP IN

“Life will give you whatever experience is the most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How do you know this is the experience that you need? Because this is the experience you are having in the moment.” ~ Eckhart Tolle.

In the words of the teacher Sadhguru: “Consciousness is a highly abused word, used in many different ways.” Most people have a set of intuitions about consciousness; but the bottom line is, you are alive—that means you are conscious. All of us are conscious to some extent. The real question is to what degree you are conscious.

Consciousness speaks to awareness; meaning consciousness is not something you achieve so much as something you become aware of. So, when speaking of ‘raising consciousness’, it is not a string of activities you progress through or metaphorical steps you climb to reach enlightenment; it is about tapping into an existing state of being, accessing something that is already in your realm.

BY S KYE FORRESTER

h o l i s t i c a . n e t | 75

NEXT-LEVEL CONSCIOUSNESS

STAGES OF CONSCIOUSNESS Of the differing opinions, there is a common understanding of stages of consciousness. At each stage our capacity to hold empathy, love, understanding, gratitude for all life grows or shrinks depending on our level of awareness. These stages flow f rom an individual level of survival to a deep, unwavering connection to all sentient life. It is important to hold in our minds that no matter who we are, we all hold an immense capacity for a deep connection to all life.

Stage one is around being ‘egocentric’, meaning you are only focused on your own needs and you do not, or cannot care about other people. When we are born, we are dependent on other human beings for survival; though as we get older and find our independent selves, we can lose sight of contributions others have made; and in this way lose sight of the impact our individual selves can have on others.

Often, people don’t evolve to the next level; from the deep pain of individualisation and learned mistrust of others.

Stage two is around being ‘ethnocentric’, this means extending your capacity to care and include your family, community, f riends and country into your base-level consciousness. You realise if you want to evolve, you have to give; that growing your community is growing yourself, and without them, you could not be. You spend your energy on giving to your community, being present with your family and truly loving your f riends.

Anything outside of that, you don’t care much about.

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Stage three concerns being ‘world-centric’. This is an even wider circle where you care deeply about people on a global level. At this stage a primary concern is your fellow man and you spend your energy on standing for the rights of those who cannot and contributing to the greater good of everyone in the world. This is a higher level of consciousness where caring grows and expands.

Stage four involves being ‘spirit-centric’, and describes a capacity to care beyond just human beings. It encompasses all life, plants, animals and nature. You feel interconnected with all living things to the extent that self is no longer a concept. You are all living things and all living things are you. You no longer spend your energy but rather engage in an exchange of energy as life flows through all that is living and through you.

Your level of consciousness for humanity and the planet has evolved and there is no separation between the individual and consciousness.

TAPPING INTO YOUR STAGE Most people are stuck at the egocentric and ethnocentric level and it is easy to remain there.

Everything from advertisements to media entertainment communicates at an egocentric level. Staying tapped into that space though, means massively limiting your happiness and success in life. Raising your awareness of consciousness gives you greater wisdom and more power to manifest the life you choose.

The way to begin awakening your consciousness is simply with intention. Intention unlocks imagination and the power to manifest. If you intend to become aware of something, you have already crossed the threshold and begun the journey of living it.

Think of these not as levels of consciousness but as stages of consciousness. None of which are permanent states. It is possible to move f rom a world-centric stage into an egocentric stage if we drop our awareness. Being aware, present and holding your intention is vital for remaining in the conscious space you choose to be in.

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THE SOUND OF PEACE

And how beautiful to know that within us all is our own unique song; as though existence itself truly sang us each into being.

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THE SOUND OF

peace Imagine having your very own personal mantra or sound, a sound that emanated from the earth at the time of your birth, a sound completely individual to only you. What’s more, imagine that silently sounding this mantra offers a soothing balm that vibrates deeply into your bones.

According to Chopra certified instructor Dr Livasha Mudaly, that’s what the Vedic practice of primordial sound meditation is about. The universe creates a cycle of sounds; 108 recorded vibrations that change every 4 to 6 hours and make up the journey of ‘all that is’. Natural sounds include those like the wind in the trees, rain hitting the ground, the sound of a heartbeat, of lightening, a gurgling stream, the flapping of bird wings.

A mantra is a Sanskrit term meaning ‘vehicle of the mind’ and used in chanting to quieten the mind. Vedic mathematical formulas originating 5000 years ago are used to work out the sound vibration present at any one time.

Using the moon as a bookmark, the sounds are represented by mantras and calculated according to which one was prevalent at the time of an individual’s birth.

Primordial Sound Meditation is a silent practice where we use our personal ‘bija’ (seed sound), the primordial sound resounding in the universe at the time and location of our birth, as a meditative mantra.

BY HOLLY B EATON

h o l i s t i c a . n e t | 79

THE SOUND OF PEACE

Think of it as a welcoming signature from the Cosmos; imprinted on our spirit and embedded within our bones.

Each of us were once gently cocooned in the womb of our mother; embraced by her love as she seeded the growth of our cells. On a macrocosmic scale; the Great Mother is said to have nurtured us too – in a cosmic womb, forging our souls in the deepest stillness – and the first sense to ignite our universal journey through creation is that of sound.

When we incarnate onto this plane and our souls merge with our physical vessels; we hear a unique synthesis of universal sound. Returning to this sound is a practice developed by Vedic practitioners, a practice that is healing, nourishing and can bond us to the primordial place we may not always remember, but certainly many of us long for.

Birth is a traumatic experience; this is evident by the pain of the mother and the cries of the child – and experiencing suffering seems to be an intrinsic part of the human condition; yet across many religions and spiritual paths, silent observation is a potent remedy for easing this existential malaise.

Dedication to spiritual development is perhaps the unifying goal of all these traditions; and there is no more cleansing act than that of prayer and meditation.

In a revival of Primordial Sound Meditation, the Chopra Centre teaches advocates to harness their personal mantra and apply it in a meditative practice. This unique meditation tradition is applied simplistically; as the sound the universe was making at the time and place of your birth, so a unique mantra is imprinted within us; recording the sensory expression of our highest form.

Silence is said to be the

birthplace of happiness, creativity, and infinite

possibilities.

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Meditation mantras generally begin with ‘Om’, considered the root sound vibration of the entire universe, and also known as the sound of God; and end with ‘Namaha’, I bow down to, I honour.

By inwardly repeating the mantra while meditating, one can integrate the multi-dimensionality of the soul, mind and body experience; bringing us closer to our original state as pure awareness and bliss. And how beautiful to know that within us all is our own unique song; as though existence itself truly sang us each into being.

According to the Chopra Centre, practicing Primordial Sound Meditation on a daily basis can help reduce anxiety, manage stress, improve relationships, create inner peace, awaken intuition, lower blood pressure and enhance sleeping patterns. All highly beneficial attributes for creating intention and self-compassion and essential for easing the load of the human experience, and bringing us closer to union with the natural order.

Seeking a guide or mentor is recommended on this journey of primordial sound. As limited sensory beings, in our current incarnations, accessing the deep stillness of creation can be overwhelming; and to be anchored by a teacher or within a group allows a safe experience. Weaving the stillness within us in this f ramework can facilitate shifts of compassion and fulfilment; leading us toward embodying our purest essence while in our earthly forms.

VEDIC ASTROLOGY

Vedic Astrology is referred to as ‘Jyotisha’ in Sanskrit, and is a Hindu system of planetary and celestial activity; it is highly complex and comprehensive, and centred around a moveable zodiac system – as opposed to the Western system of astrology, which positions the earth as the central celestial body through which all the constellations coalesce. Each of us were born to an intricate set of planetary activity. Embarking on an astrological natal chart reading can be a powerful way to interpret our life purpose; f rom habits, challenges, to core beliefs – as well as our gifts and blessings.

THE MAGIC OF

108

In numerous spiritual traditions, the number 108 is considered to be sacred, and symbolizes the wholeness of existence. In Sanskrit, it is a Harshad ( joy-giving) number, which refers to numbers divisible by the sum of its digits. Ancient practices and beliefs are peppered with 108 and it’s so revered in India that 1-0-8 is the national emergency phone number.

Below are just some of the ways 108’s magic is used.

There are 108 energy lines (nadis) that converge to form the heart chakra, and 108 pressure points (marmas) of the human body.

The diameter of the sun is 108 times that of the earth and the distance between the two is approximately 108 times the diameter of the sun.

Multiplying the diameter of the moon by 108 gives you the distance between earth and the moon.

Looking to Hinduism and Buddhism, the number 1 represents the divine, 0 is the emptiness or completedness at the start of a spiritual journey and 8 represents eternity and infinity.

In yoga, 1 represents the focus on one thing and the verticality of breath as it flows through the body, 0 is for having zero senses and preconceptions when stepping on your mat, and 8 stands for uniting with the flow of infinity.

Pranayama (breathwork) is traditionally taught and practiced in at least 108 repetitions to unfold its full effects.

There are 108 known Upanishads (the Upanishads are ancient Sanskrit spiritual texts).

There are also 108 forms of Indian dance, 108 types of meditation, 108 sacred sites throughout India, 108 steps that lead to most temples, and Hindu deities have 108 names. Prayer beads have 108 beads.

It’s also said the soul needs to pass through 108 stages before enlightenment can be reached.

In Japan, a bell is chimed 108 times in Buddhist temples to finish the old year and welcome the new one. Each ring represents one of 108 earthly temptations a person must overcome to achieve nirvana.

During solstices and equinoxes, yogis traditionally do 108 sun salutations to express gratitude and devotion to the practice. Some schools of meditation teach practitioners to perform 100 cycles of mantra for themselves and an additional eight for those who can’t meditate. Legend has it that some sadhus (religious ascetics) can enter such deep states of meditation that they only need to take 108 breaths a day.

A five-pointed star has exactly 108 degrees between any two adjacent points, and the pentagon it forms in its centre also has interior angles of 108.

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world peace & wellbeing S

ri Sri Ravi Shankar is a humanitarian, spiritual leader and ambassador of peace and human values. Through his life and work, Sri Sri has inspired millions around the world with a vision of a stress-free, violence-free world. He has designed programmes with techniques and tools to live a deeper, more joyous life and established non-profit organisations that recognise the human identity beyond boundaries of gender, race, nationality, and religion.

His Art of Living Foundation, is represented in 156 countries globally. Over 45 million people including 800 thousand prisoners have attended programmes run by the Foundation. In total the Foundation’s social development projects have impacted the lives of more than 450 million people.

Husband and wife team Mukesh and Gerlinde Vassen, trained Art of Living teachers in Cape Town, explained how the breathing and meditation practice has brought an immense amount of joy and happiness to them. They have been teaching Happiness programmes since 2006.

Participants in the Sudarshan Kriya (Sanskrit for proper vision by purifying action) have reported a deep sense of tranquility and peace, better immunity, increased stamina and sustained high-energy levels not to mention better coping skills and simply, more happiness. Programmes offered by the Art of Living include various tools for living, meditation, breathwork and yoga. Teachings are passed on orally from teacher to student and absolutely anyone is welcome to participate.

The Art of Living Foundation offers numerous life-changing courses and workshops – find one in your area: Johannesburg | 011 781 7687 | nationaloffice@artofliving.org.za Durban | 072 431 0585 | durbanoffice@artofliving.org.za Cape Town | 083 301 3976 | gerlinde@artofliving.org.za Port Elizabeth | 082 601 3559 | susan.botha@gmail.com www.artofliving.org | www.iahv.org

just breathe

Easing emotional distress can be just a few breaths away with the practice of Sudarshan Kriya (Sanskrit for proper vision by purifying action).

Prana, or vital life-force energy is the basis of wellbeing for body and mind – and breath is the main source of this life force. When your prana is high, you feel alert, healthy and energetic. Sudarshan Kriya is a practice that harmonises the rhythms of your body, mind and emotions and facilitates social, mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. When you pay attention to your breath, you immediately see a strong correlation between breath and emotion. Just like when angry, your breath is short and fast, and when sad, it is deep and slow.

By being aware of this correlation, you can engineer how you respond, as opposed to merely reacting.

As you breathe and focus, you find that emotions emerge, emotions that may have been stuck or supressed. When these emotions rise, they are brought into cellular memory, DNA is re-set and they can be let go. Doing this is a large part of the process of re-setting patterns.

breathe Be transported to a higher realm while

walking the labyrinth, recharging in the

chakra gardens, swimming in the natural pool, healing under the crystal bed or simply reading under a tree.

The garden at Amani House is a symphony of bees, butterflies and birds and exquisite display of indigenous plants. This thoughtfully designed garden has a special medicinal spiral, permaculture food and fruit garden, and chakra walkway.

W

hen Ans Dokter walked onto the property in Hout Bay, Cape Town she knew this was where she wanted her retreat centre. Everyone thought she was mad to settle on the first place she looked at. Her conviction however, led to a totally ‘off the grid’ peace haven resplendent with a quartz crystal labyrinth, earth temple, ecopool, Jasper meditation space, Chakra garden, medicine wheel, therapy dome and many other healing delights. Amani means peace in Swahili and peace is definitely the prevailing spirit. “If everyone had peace in their minds, the world would be a different place,” says Ans.

Amani house is saturated with nature, bird sounds and a distinct lack of white noise and interference. “We speak about living a natural life, although when I grew up in the Netherlands, there never was that distinction as everything was just natural.

We ate what was in season, it was all organic, and we spent our time in the nearby forest.�

Ans worked closely with a sustainability architect and is absolute proof that eco-friendly is highly achievable. That is one of the key things she wants to show through Amani; that anyone can build sustainably. Take the earth temple as an example.

It uses old tyres as the main building material, it has air vents facing the cool wind flow for summer temperature regulation and glass flanked by paw paw trees facing the sunlight to warm it in winter.

As much as possible, the building materials are upcycled. Teak windows come from a demolition salvage and the furniture is repurposed, albeit beautifully.

From ceremony and ritual to qigong, yoga, mindful movement, workshops, sound journeys to simple relaxation, detox and even marriage ceremonies, Amani house is a restful and mindful peace haven. It has four accommodation domes, and extra space in the cottages accommodating up to 14 people at a time.

www.amanihouse.com | ans@amanihouse.com | 071 406 0260 14 Martingale Avenue, Houtbay, Cape Town

NATURAL BIRTHING

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Women’s bodies are perfectly created to give birth, and many women are discovering that doing it at home ensures a more peaceful and beautiful experience for both mom and baby.

"The major role that the body's natural oxytocin plays in birth encourages the idea that birth is an experience of love.

Birth is a spiritual experience simply because it is largely an act of love on the part of the body physiology and the indwelling spirit." ~ Cathy Daub

NATURAL BIRTHING

S

ince time began, women have been managing the birth process naturally; allowing their bodies to dictate the rhythms and flow of both labour and birth.

As the process of birth has become mostly medicalised, today a natural birth refers to one that’s completed without medical intervention or medication. Another term becoming more common is an ‘active birth’, where the labouring woman is f ree to move around as her body needs, and to give birth in any position that feels best for her. While both can be achieved in a hospital setting, more and more urban women are discovering the joy of giving birth in their own homes. Countries like the UK, are encouraging healthy women to do just that.

Having a child in hospital tends to make the experience feel like an emergency or an illness. Which it isn’t. To fully experience the true miracle and joy of birth, being in an environment you are completely in control of is key.

NATURALLY MIRACULOUS Several studies on the safety of home birthing have found there are fewer interventions and fewer complications during home births. Evidence shows that most of the problems that can arise outside a hospital can be corrected with position changes or providing the mother with food or better hydration; interestingly, these natural interventions are often not considered in hospitals.

Moms also aren’t ever separated from their baby, which helps boost the new-born’s immune system, and allows mom quicker and easier breastfeeding success.

Breastfeeding as early as possible helps the mother stop bleeding, clears mucus f rom the baby’s nose and mouth, and transfers disease-fighting antibodies in the milk from mother to baby. It also helps the uterus contract and helps post baby weight loss.

YOUR SPACE Typically, birthing was a woman only affair and the mother-in-progress assisted by a midwife (translated as ‘with woman’) and female relatives or friends. Today, home births are attended by a midwife as well as a doula, a word that comes from Ancient Greek and means, ‘a woman who serves’. A doula is an emotional and physical support, helping in whatever way necessary and ensuring the mom’s birth plan is actioned. A study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology found that women who use doulas are significantly less likely to have an epidural, and much more inclined to rate their birth experience as good.

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There are copious other advantages to a home birth that should be considered: * * * *

Familiar surroundings you can make as comfortable as you need with as many or as few people with you during the process The f reedom to walk around, eat what you like, have a bath, put on some music, etc Be cared for by your midwife and doula, who have most likely been caring for you throughout your pregnancy and will know and understand your fears and needs A labour uninterrupted by leaving for the hospital and a calming atmosphere that actually reduces pain, giving you a much more enjoyable birth experience

A midwife is a qualified professional who works with women to give them support during pregnancy, during the birth process and postpartum. Over and above all aspects of labour and birth and attending to the newborn; the midwife is attentive to any complications in both mom and child, accessing medical care and other assistance where needed, and carrying out emergency measures.

With both doula and midwife, or just a midwife (backed by a hospital nearby should you need one), you will have absolute assurance. Currently in South Africa, there is a dearth of hospital-backed midwives, so it isn’t as easy an option as it should be – although it is still eminently possible. Another alternative is to attend a birthing clinic, and have your doula, midwife and partner with you, but be close to any emergency care should it be required.

Such an emergency could be a foetal heart abnormality during labour, bleeding after birth or a baby battling to breathe. Midwives are able to monitor these common issues, and recommend a hospital transfer or manage the problem themselves. Around 10% of all new-borns need some assistance to breathe at birth, and midwives are trained in neonatal resuscitation.

"We feel strongly that birth is a holy sacrament, that it belongs to the family, and that the family's rights should not be usurped in this part of our lives." ~ Ina May Gaskin DO IT YOUR WAY Squatting and allowing gravity to assist the path of the baby is the most natural thing in the world. It’s something women have done for millennia – the ancient Egyptians used birthing stones to squat on during labour. Often these stones would be intricately carved with magical scenes to incur blessings f rom the gods. Underneath the stones would be a bowl of hot water infused with herbs; the steam assisting in relieving pain and easing delivery.

• Back Pain • Breach Baby • Recuperation

• Milk Production • Mastitis • Morning Sickness • Stretch Marks • Postnatal Depression

It is up to the individual as to what position works best; some women are more comfortable on hands and knees, while others prefer squatting or lying on their side.

The all fours position is dubbed The Gaskin Manoeuvre after Ina May Gaskin pointed it out as a potentially life-saving technique when a baby’s shoulder is caught above the mother’s pubic bone after the head has been delivered. The all fours position changes the shape of the pelvis, and allows the trapped shoulder to be f reed.

Then there is the option of a water birth, which can also be done at home. Water birth also isn’t a new phenomenon – rock carvings in Egypt depict water births of pharaohs over 8,000 years ago, and f rom 2,700 BC, Minoan temples for women to labour and birth were built in Crete. Also, the Chumash Indians f rom California indicate that women gave birth in shallow inlets with dolphins swimming nearby, and in Hawaii, thousands of generations have been birthed in water. It was only in the 1960’s that modern water births resurged after numerous studies on safety and effectiveness, and with the inviting feature of reduced pain.

DID YOU KNOW: South African home births have a 5 – 20% caesarean rate, depending on the midwife. Private hospitals in South Africa have a caesarean rate of 60 – 100%. On average, government hospitals in South Africa seem to have around 30% caesarean rate. The World Health Organisation recommends that a national caesarean rate should be between 10-15%.

V.M.T. 30c (Vertigo, Morning & Travel Sickness) - A homeopathic remedy aiding in nausea, vomiting & vertigo, encountered generally, during early stage pregnancy.

The Pregnancy Remedy 200c - Taken in the last 2 weeks of pregnancy & during labour. Useful in emotional issues causing dystocia or dis-coordinated contractions.

The Postnatal Remedy 6c - Ideal post-birth; aids mentally and physically (Bruising, bleeding, swelling and inflammation). Ideal postcaesarian section, when a nerve rich area has been cut.

Episiotomy, peri-urethral tears, lingering pain from epidermal placement and or urinary catheter.

Haemantonic 30c - ‘Blood tonic’ acts upon a number of organs, nervous system and general metabolism, lifts a low vital force. Aids assimilation of elemental iron into the system.

Excellent in recuperative situations.

Lactation 6c - Homeopathic remedy aiding in milk production & quality of milk for the lactating mothers.

Mastitis 30c - Homeopathic complex to aid in associated symptoms of breast engorgement, pain & inflammation, including nipple discomfort.

The Renewal Oil - A tissue oil (incorporating Arnica, Calendula, Lavender & Rosemary) for topical application to the perinium, The Postnal Blues Remedy pre- and post-birth. Prevents 200c - Incorporated, in scarring post surgery and in alternation with the Birthing stretch marks by promoting Remedy, during an ‘emotional’ skin elasticity. labour. Excellent post-birth, where depression and symptoms of post-natal stress disorders, including disassociation occurs.

NATURAL BIRTHING

WRITE YOUR OWN BIRTH STORY Many of the birth stories we hear are filled with drama – that’s probably because easy births don’t make for great storytelling. Grantly Dick-Read, author of Childbirth Without Fear suggests that fear of childbirth can actually add to the pain of labour. The pain, he says, may be intensified according to our cultural messages and life experiences. The truth is, it’s your choice and you need to do whatever works for you to create a birth story that’s extraordinarily beautiful. We speak to Johannesburg mamma Tambu Ndlovu about her birthing experience and garner some advice.

"The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new." ~ Rajneesh

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Here are some birthing tips to consider: Find your tribe and your team – connect with other mothers, find mentors, family members and friends to help ease you into the motherhood journey and process. Tambu Ndlovu birthed all three of her children naturally. The first was Mayah, who is now six. Tambu says, “My husband Michael and I knew intuitively that homebirth was the route we wanted after experiencing a brutal miscarriage.

I had a very dehumanising experience with a team of gynaecologists in a private hospital. We sought out a midwife at a home birthing gathering in Cape Town and walked closely with her before we conceived again.

Her wisdom and recommendations regarding avoiding a further miscarriage were invaluable. Through several talks with our midwife – Sister Marianne Littlejohn, and attending a homebirth preparation class at Mama Bamba, we felt safe to pursue a water birth. The experience was very empowering.”

Womb love – even before your baby is born, establish a loving and nurturing relationship by talking, singing, reading to and massaging your belly. Breathe deeply into your belly and let your love infuse your womb, allowing your baby to feel the joy and welcoming energy.

Understand your tiny human’s needs – baby’s don’t always go with your plan; sometimes they need to be born the way that’s most comfortable for them.

Be aware and open to the fact that your baby is an active participant in their own birth. “Our second born, Micah was birthed in a challenging season in our marriage and I call him my fire baby.

Just towards the end of the birthing process it became evident that baby’s shoulders got stuck - shoulder dystocia - so I was told to stand up while the midwife performed a skilful and swift Reuben’s manoeuvre that released him.

I then sat back in the water…completely oblivious that he was ever stuck! My second baby was born by the fire in wintry June and weighed a whopping

5kgs. He was birthed naturally without any tears,” says Tambu.

Find peace – during birth, women are powerfully receptive and traumas that haven’t been addressed can surface and interfere with the birth process. For you and your child’s sake, take the time to love, nurture and heal past hurts and traumas.

Prepare your body – birth takes its toll, it is physically demanding so you need to be prepared. Ensure that you look after your body and mind throughout pregnancy so that you are fit and ready for the wonderful challenge that is birthing and motherhood.

Get a feel of your body – explore different birthing positions while being mindful of how your pelvis and perineum feel so that you are familiar with the most comfortable positions when the time comes. “I didn’t initially realise how empowering the experience would be and how hands off the midwives would be. Initially I thought I was doing everything wrong but was assured by my midwife that I was birthing perfectly. Having a sense of when the baby is coming can help you conserve your energy and pace yourself.

During my second and third births I was acutely aware of the crowning process and approximately how long I would take to birth,” says Tambu.

Tambu says, “With all my experience giving birth I am most thankful for the dedicated support and knowledge I received f rom my bevy of midwives.

Finding a good connection with a midwife is key - because while the experience is highly empowering, it also naturally leaves you feeling vulnerable.

Midwives are like second mothers and to this day I have never received such care and love from the medical community as I have f rom the doulas and midwives. I am humbled. I am also thankful for how empowering natural birthing is. You really are in charge of this hugely important event.”

DID YOU KNOW? It’s best to make low sounds when labouring, rather than high sounds; according to midwives, low sounds help open up the pelvic muscles, while high sounds actually tighten them.

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Baobab Oil is the go-to multi-tasking mama of all botanical oils, helping to nourish dry, flaky skin, soothe sunburn and calm skin irritations.

This rich golden-amber oil absorbs quickly, hydrates and softens your skin all over. Safe for the whole family, during pregnancy and for babies, Baobab oil does it all and always makes it better.

Our BaoCare Promise means there are no artificial ingredients, additives, colourants or fragrances in any of our products.

Healing Skin Naturally Baobab Oil is part of the BaoCare Healing Skin Care range.

Available online at www.baocare.co.za and in all good health and wellness stores country wide.

NATURAL BIRTHING

PAIN MANAGEMENT There are many ways to manage pain naturally, as well as to assist in labour. * Raspberry leaf (tea or tincture) prepares uterine muscles for efficient labour. Its astringent action helps slow bleeding and helps expel the placenta. Have the tea on hand or make raspberry tea ice cubes to suck on during labour. It can be taken in pregnancy to prepare uterine muscles. * Crampbark tincture is used for uterine cramping during labour, and after birth to eliminate after birth cramping pains. * Skullcap and catnip relieve pain, as well as calm and relax the body. * Chamomile helps control pain during labour by relieving tension. * Rescue Remedy, a Bach flower remedy, is excellent for bringing quick focus when under stress or shock during difficult labour. It can also be put on the baby’s forehead or wrist after a stressful birth. * Vervain has excellent properties to help new mothers. It encourages the secretion and flow of milk and helps establish breast feeding. For after labour fatigue, it is restorative, mood enhancing and mood boosting.

“When it comes to pain, I really believe that pain is in all of life, and ironically my name means pain and trouble – it is part of being human. The ability to writhe and swim in water while also practicing breathing and counting is a great and sure way of managing pain in my view. It’s about finding consistent distractions”, Tambu says about her birthing experiences.

"There is power that comes to women when they give birth. They don’t ask for it, it simply invades them. Accumulates like clouds on the horizon and passes through, carrying the child with it."”~ Sheryl Feldman

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ESKIMO LOVE

Polar Eskimo men create a shallow hole covered in animal skin and when labour pain begins, the woman rests in the bed and her husband leans behind her, pressing down on her abdomen to encourage delivery. After birth, he would cut the umbilical cord and she would tie the knot. The placenta is wrapped in animal skin and left outside for animals to feed on. The baby would carry three names to protect it f rom evil spirits in the wind.

THE PLACENTA It’s become relatively popular to ingest the placenta, either raw in a smoothie or dehydrated and encapsulated. While there is little scientific study on its effects, mothers report feeling calm and stable, energised and easier milk production. Partners and husbands who have also experienced ingesting the placenta have reported feelings of calm and joy. Another common practise is to bury the placenta in the garden and plant a tree or bush on top, symbolising the new life and future growth of the baby.

Useful websites for natural birthing. www.homebirth.org.za www.spiritualbirth.net www.mamabamba.com www.wombs.org.za

INSIGHTFUL RELATIONSHPS

INSIGHTFUL RELATIONSHIPS

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INSIGHTFUL RELATIONSHPS

“The beginning of

love is the will

to let those we love be perfectly themselves, the resolution not to twist them to fit our own image.

If in loving them we do not love what they are, but only their potential likeness to ourselves, then we do not love them: we only love the reflection of ourselves we find in them” Thomas Merton, No Man Is an Island

We are relational beings, and there’s a deeper reason at play for romantic love than mere attraction.

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hen we first meet a person we find attractive, the first things we notice and hone in on are our similarities. In fact, we are hard-wired to look for those similarities. Chris Crandall, professor of psychology at Kansas University, who studied this says, “You try to create a social world where you’re comfortable, where you succeed, where you have people you can trust and with whom you can cooperate to meet your goals. To create this, similarity is very useful, and people are attracted to it most of the time.”

Having the same values, similar life experiences and life-goals is a good thing; it obviates the need for one person to compromise more than they feel is right or fair. But even with similarities in place, we come to relationships with a set of underlying beliefs about ourselves.

These may be completely at odds with what we think we believe. For example, a woman may be a huge and outspoken proponent of women’s rights. But, if she grew up in a home where women were seen as less than, there will be a disconnect between what her brain believes and how she behaves. It’s this disconnected behaviour we recognise in others and seek to work out through relationship.

INSIGHTFUL RELATIONSHPS

“Until you

make the unconscious conscious,

it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”

C.G. Jung

Psychology describes childhood experiences that lay the groundwork for ‘attachment styles’ – this speaks to how we bond with a person and how we cope when that person is separated from us. The four basic attachment styles are fluid and change according to your partner’s attachment style. In brief, these are the attachment styles: Secure | Usually people with secure attachment grew up in a supportive environment and their parents were consistently responsive to their needs. These people are open, able to ask for help and support others. They are generally positive, comfortable with closeness, with minimal fear of being overwhelmed or rejected.

Dismissive-avoidant | If parents or care-givers are unresponsive or ignore a child’s needs, they learn to pull back to avoid feeling rejected. They become uncomfortable with emotional openness and place a high value on autonomy and independence. They tend to keep secrets to maintain independence and tend not to say they love someone, even if they behave as if they do.

Fearful-avoidant | Children exposed to prolonged neglect or abuse, grow up to be adults who fear intimacy, but also fear not having close relationships.

They have a hard time trusting others.

Anxious-preoccupied | If parents have been inconsistent with their responses to children, they grow up to be adults who are at times caring and nurturing, but at other times cold and emotionally detached.

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vibrational skincare

R

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EAS PL

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FREE

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A BE

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“I have been and still am a seeker, but I have ceased to question stars and books; I have begun to listen to the teaching my blood whispers to me.” Hermann Hesse

start the MATCHING QUIZ

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It’s not easy to figure out. The first step is recognising there were issues in the first place. This is done by uncovering any negative beliefs. That little voice that says things like, “you’ll never amount to anything”; “Everybody leaves eventually”; “Nobody is really there for you, you have to do it yourself.”

Solve your life’s questions, answer the call of your innermost longing and you’ll be more equipped to have balanced and healthy intimacy that is supportive and honouring.

Mindful beauty that raises your energy

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But, as a child, you were likely unable to stand up to the narcissistic parent, nor set any real boundaries. Children are consummate survivors and instinctively do what’s required for continued caregiving playing into the dynamics of the parents even if dysfunctional. As an adult, identifying any issues is key before you can find your true self outside the construct of the parental relationship.

So, in this case, you will most likely be attracted to someone with underlying narcissistic traits you need to stand up to and solve. On the reverse side, your partner with narcissistic traits will be attracted to you because your unconscious behaviour feeds into theirs.

It’s definitely a two-way street.

The basis of most relationships, then, is a learning opportunity, allowing us to delve deeper into our own selves and discover the beautiful truths that can be crowded out by learned behavioural patterning. If you view relationships as such, then when they end, you can also learn to take stock and insight into the learning and how it served your deeper purpose. You can find gratitude for the entire relationship, even the hard times and the ending. So, rather than heartache and constriction, have heart opening and joy at finding another piece of valuable information about your true self. You become closer to getting in tune with your unique, valuable, precious core. You don’t need to wait for an ending though, to take stock and unravel behaviour patterns. If you don’t solve any underlying issues with a current relationship, you’re bound to repeat the pattern with the next. It may present in a different way than before, but it will surface.

state of mind skincare

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For example, if you grew up with a narcissistic parent, you likely have feelings of not being good enough.

You will tend to walk on eggshells and not trust your partner to be consistent with their emotions or in the way they treat you. This is especially true if the perfect storm existed in your parent’s relationship – if the non-narcissistic partner enabled the behaviour – you will have been taught how to love in a way that isn’t healthy. That’s not something you would want to repeat.

These are untrue messages built into our neural pathways through childhood conditioning. You don’t have to have been abused; your childhood may have appeared to be relatively idyllic. We all have voices inside that say something we intrinsically know is not true. Our authentic selves know this, which is why we find ways to break the patterning by entering into relationships that present us with the opportunity to change the narrative.

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Our experiences develop neural pathways that drive behavioural patterning. A parent’s attachment styles and personality greatly influence a child’s patterning. Humans are geared towards solving problems and unearthing truth, specifically about ourselves. This is one of the reasons we get into similar relationships time and again – repeating the same issues over, even when aware of them and don’t want to repeat them.

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hatting to Tess Godfrey, healer, naturopath, holistic wellness educator, mentor and CEO, it’s quite obvious she is the living embodiment of her mission: to love people back to life.

Growing up on a farm in The Eastern Cape, Tess always had an interest in botanicals and in natural health and healing. Feeding into that interest, she trained as a science teacher, but on her move to Australia, decided to dive into her real passion – naturopathy, plant medicine and nutrition. After becoming a naturopathic doctor and studying various other natural healing techniques and modalities, Tess opened a clinic where, as she says, she offers her clients a holistic way to freedom.

“Freedom is very high on people’s list of values they want to achieve. In healing, there is beautiful freedom in having a healthy mind, body and spirit,” says Tess.

To free people of their physical ailments, Tess works extensively with bioresonance. This is a non-invasive therapy using electrodes placed on the skin for diagnosis and treatment. It works on a vibrational level to detox the body, support cell and organ health and restore optimum balance to the body and harmony to the whole being.

Sometimes, Tess says, her clients need a gentler approach that is more emotional in its impact. This is where she taps into Aromatic Kinesiology™, an empowering system of energetic medicine. It uses muscle testing together with essential oils and process work to support people in digging deep to find out what the blocks are to moving forward. The process enables people to release beliefs and behaviours that don’t serve them anymore.

The use of essential oils helps to create an anchor from which people can move forward – the tiny chemical constituents in oil impact the brain and body, bringing change. Tess is a mentor in the Aromatic Kinesiology™ space and says it’s ‘gentle, beautiful work’.

The majority of Tess’ clients at her clinic are people who were extremely unwell, physically, emotionally and spiritually. They are usually people who have tried everything else – from blood tests to allopathic treatments and in fact, many of them are referred to her by their own

“My mission is to love people back to life”.

Tess Godfrey, CEO Healthy Wellthy doctors, who feel they simply don’t have the resources to help.

Just over five years ago, Tess encountered DōTERRA oils and soon after using them began to see phenomenal results, taking her ability as a healer to a new level.

DōTERRA oils are known all over the world for their excellence and stringent purity. Tess says they are the Highest Therapeutic Quality Oils because of the purity and integrity they offer.

Every single oil produced is 100% pure and goes through a series of tests to ensure the purity is consistent.

“Healing requires consistency – you need to know you will get the same result every time,.” says Tess.

Tess’ company, Healthy Wellthy has a global presence with her focus now set on growing the South African market. Her vision is for people to rise in wellness together as empowered participants on their way to freedom.

“The oils are incredible, quite often I would treat a client and would get a text that same night saying they were already feeling better. The oils work very specifically in the body, they are completely bioavailable to the body and they can move where they are needed – like they have an intelligence that matches our body’s needs.”

NATURAL IMMUNE SUPPORT

HOW TO USE DōTERRA OILS

1. Use as many routes of application as you can think of, says Tess.

2. The first way is to simply smell the oil. The molecules are so small, this is the quickest way to get the healing power of the oil into your nervous system.

3. You can also place one drop in your hand and then breathe into your cupped hands – that’s enough to deliver millions of molecules to your body.

4. When it comes to topical application, use a carrier oil, preferably fractionated coconut oil and leave on overnight. Inhale the oil as well to get even more benefit.

5. Because the oils are so powerful, it is wise to follow dosage instructions, which in general offer a window of application. Tess advocates the principle of ‘less is more’. Start with one or two drops, and dilute appropriately. Tess offers education and resources for appropriate dosing.

Partner with Tess and become a dōTERRA Wellness Advocate - all you need is a desire to heal and help people.

Go to the Healthy Wellthy website: www.healthywellthy.co.za to find out how, or to purchase these exquisite oils at wholesale prices.

BODY RITUALS

Body Rituals Love is nature's most effective beauty tool: send yourself a gesture of love by enlisting an honouring self-nurturing ritual.

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ABHYANGA Ayurveda offers some of the most practical and beautiful wellbeing rituals and this one is no exception. Abhyanga is a warm-oil massage and used to soothe vata (translated as ‘that which moves things’, often referred to as the wind in the body and is the primary motivating force of the doshas).

Abhyanga is traditionally done in the morning before bathing or showering. It’s used to direct toxins f rom the tissues to the organs of elimination. When done regularly, improves circulation and digestion, relaxes the nervous system, nourishes the skin, creates feelings of support and focus, and increases radiance.

The massage takes about 10 minutes, and the oil is left on the body for an additional 10 minutes before bathing or showering.

Use one to three cups of organic sesame oil that’s been heated gently on the stove (ensure it’s comfortable to touch). Massage your whole body with the oil, moving from the head to the feet, beginning with the outer folds of your ears. Use circular movements on your joints and a gentle, circular clockwise movement over your heart and abdomen. For your torso, massage inward, following your ribs and straight up and down on your arms, legs and feet. Relax for 10 minutes allowing the oil to penetrate your skin.

DID YOU KNOW: Doshas are the energy patterns that flow around our bodies, governing our thinking and behaviour. There are three primary doshas – vata, pitta and kapha, which we all have. The one that’s most dominant is a defining aspect of your temperament.

BODY RITUALS

TREASURE YOUR LOCKS Yogis believe that hair is an incredible gift from nature that can assist in raising Kundalini energy (creative life force), which increases vitality, intuition, and tranquillity. Yogi Bhajan talks about the spirituality of hair, saying, “When the hair on your head is allowed to attain its full, mature length, then phosphorous, calcium, and vitamin D are produced, and enter the lymphatic fluid, and eventually the spinal fluid through the two ducts on the top of the brain. This ionic change creates more efficient memory and leads to greater physical energy, improved stamina, and patience.”

Good hair days definitely have an effect on how you feel; give yourself an oil treatment most suited to your hair type. It’s best to put oil on dry hair and then pin it up or place a shower cap over your head before going into the shower or bath. Leave your oil treatment on for ten to 20 minutes before washing with mild shampoo and warm water.

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All hair types | Coconut oil is suited for any hair type – it’s full of vitamins and minerals to build stronger hair and is also good for protecting against heat. Coconut oil remains inside the hair instead of evaporating, so it really is a wonderfully effective treatment.

Dry or frizzy | Argan oil is rich in fatty acids and vitamin E and is used for softening f rizz and moisturising dry hair.

Extremely dry or f rizzy hair | Macadamia oil is beautifully rich and intense. Use as a weekly hair treatment.

Sensitive skin | If your scalp is particularly sensitive, use Kalahari melon seed oil; it’s high in omega-6, protein and vitamins C, B2 and G. Perfect for boosting shine, especially if you suffer f rom itchy scalp or psoriasis.

Dandruff | Almond oil contains antioxidants, vitamin E, fatty acids, protein and magnesium. Massage almond oil into your scalp every time you wash your hair to reduce inflammation, dandruff and redness.

Growth boost | To improve elasticity and boost growth, Baobab oil is packed with essential fatty acids and vitamins A, D, E and F, which combine to encourage cell regeneration. Castor oil is also great for encouraging hair growth, as well as preventing scalp infections because of its anti-fungal properties – use cold-pressed castor oil and mix with a carrier oil like coconut.

BODY RITUALS

FACE TIME Your face has hundreds of pressure points, all corresponding to different parts of your body, allowing the benefit of a full body health boost with just a facial massage. It also loosens tension around your jaw and increases circulation firming facial tissue.

By stimulating your facial muscles, you aid lymph flow and increase natural radiance.

Olive oil is a great all-round oil for any type of skin, alternatively you can use an oil-based serum specific to your skin type.

Warm your hands before you begin and set a healing intention if you have a specific skin issue to resolve. * Using all your fingers, place them above your brows and gently push up to the top of your forehead and into your scalp.

Repeat five times. * Using your thumb and index fingers, gently pinch your eyebrows starting at the inner edge and moving outwards.

Repeat five times. * Place your middle and index fingertips on your temples and gently massage in a circular movement and then smooth your fingers under your eyes, towards the bridge of your nose, up over your eyebrow and end back at your temple.

Do this five times. * Slide your fingertips f rom your temples down the sides of your face towards your neck. * To relax your jaw, place your fingertips just below your ears and use a circular motion along your jawline towards your chin. Repeat until you feel your jaw relax. * Using your middle and index fingertips, place one on top and one below the middle of your lips and gently run a line towards the tops of your ears. Repeat five times. * Continue with the treatment by massaging your scalp with your fingertips, then place your hands over your face and breathe deeply in and out five times.

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NOURISH OUTSIDE IN In Sanskrit, the word yoni represents the female genitalia, the womb and vagina, and is translated as ‘sacred place’, symbolizing our divine nature and the sacred portal to life.

Yoni steaming herbs are a softly intimate way to get in touch with yourself and allow nature to enter your body in the most feminine of ways. Used for nourishing your uterus, regulating irregular cycles, reducing menstrual pain or imbalances, supporting fertility and so much more.

It also supports spiritual and emotional healing. Gentle heat and moisture enables the herbal steam to penetrate the external vagina and carry the medicinal properties of the plants to the tissues increasing circulation and then absorption into the bloodstream.

Various different herb combinations can be used, and it’s important to explore which is best for you and what you’d like to achieve. A good and gentle start is combining lavender, rose, chamomile, motherwort and calendula.

To use your herbs: * Bring a pot of water to the boil and add the herbs, allowing them to simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally * Pour the herbal water into a bowl and place under a slatted stool, so you are able to comfortably squat over the steam * Wrap your body in a blanket to keep the steam in and relax for at least 20 minutes.

BODY RITUALS

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PULL OUT THAT SMILE

There is more to your smile than just pearly whites – your mouth is a highly important part of your whole health. In Ayurveda, the tongue is believed to be connected to various organs. The practise of oil pulling is said to help in the excretion of heavy metals through the saliva. Oil pulling involves using coconut or other oils, swished about in your mouth for twenty minutes, effectively pulling the oil through the teeth.

Oil pulling activates salivary enzymes which absorb toxins such as chemical toxins, bacterial toxins and environmental toxins f rom the blood. These are removed f rom the body through the tongue.

How to do it do this first thing in the morning on an empty * Preferably stomach * Use about a tablespoon of oil * Swish it around in your mouth for 20 minutes – do it gently, if your jaw begins to ache, slow down a bit * Spit the oil out (preferably not down the drain as it could clog your pipes over time) and rinse your mouth thoroughly * Brush your teeth afterwards, or use toothpowder and your finger for a gentler and more connected experience

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BODY RITUALS

Crystal Radiance Quartz crystal, used in beauty tools offer rituals that boost circulation, animate life force and allow a vibrant and awakened body expression. We look at the Gua sha practice, a rose quartz roller and crystal comb.

GUA SHA A Traditional Chinese Medicine practice, Gua sha which literally means to scrape away heat, shares principles with acupuncture and cupping. It increases blood flow, stimulates pain-relieving systems, and has an antiinflammatory and immune protecting effect. As the surface of the skin is ‘scraped’ it relaxes the nervous system, releases myofascial tension and tight muscles.

When treating back pain, it is applied firmly creating red marks known as ‘sha’ that last for a couple of days. As they say, where Qi goes, blood flows. So as the scraping invigorates Qi, it creates a rush of blood flow.

So what exactly is it? It’s a firm massaging action using a smooth, blunt tool made f rom metal, bone, horn or crystal. In early days they used ceramic soup spoons. It is done on well-oiled skin in a uni-directional, rhythmic, sweeping motion down the muscles and along the energy meridians.

As the Gua sha strokes are applied, blood is coerced out of the fine vessels in the sub-cutis, and re-absorbed into the body. According to East Asian medicine, raising ‘sha’ removes blood stagnation and stimulates Qi. Stuck toxins, energy and blood are cleared f rom the system for newer healthier cells. Draining upregulates of antiinflammatory and cell protecting enzymes.

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How to do a Gua sha facial:

Firstly, know which direction your lymph drainage flows and where it begins. You want to sweep the lymph from the centre of the face, out towards the hairline, into the dip above the middle of each collarbone. This is where the lymph goes back into the circulatory system.

TECHNIQUE Apply a generous layer of oil to a clean face and neck to create slip for the Gua sha tool.

Start on the right side of the face and work towards the left.

Repeat each area with 8-12 strokes using light pressure.

Keep the Gua sha tool at a 15-degree angle to the skin to enable a gentle pull.

* * * *

PROCEDURE Start with the neck, if the face is tight, it usually means tension is coming f rom the neck.

1. Down the neck: Start at the outer corner of the jaw, near the earlobe. Sweep down to the dip above the middle of the right collarbone.

2. Under the chin: Sweep f rom the middle of the soft under-chin out to the bottom of your earlobe. Then, f rom the middle of the chin, under the lower lip, sweep out to the earlobe.

3. Cheek: Sweep f rom the corner of the nose out to the middle ear.

4. Under-eye: Be especially light and slow here. Sweep over undereye area and out to the temple, all the way to the hairline.

5. Under eyebrow: Avoid any pressure on the eye or eyelid itself and stay on the brow bone. Sweep f rom inner corner out to temple again.

6. Third eye: Stroke f rom center of eyebrows up to hairline. This one is especially relaxing for the nervous system and to encourage sleep.

7. Lower forehead: Stroke f rom centre of forehead above the eyebrow out to the temple.

8. Big sweep: Start at the centre of the upper forehead, and trace down the hairline, over the temple, then curve behind the ear, and down the side of the neck.

9. Repeat on the left side.

TIP: To relieve eye strain, put your Gua sha in the fridge. When cooled apply on the face to clear inflammation and stagnation.

CRYSTAL AMPLIFICATION Clear quartz amplifies the energy of other crystals; it aids manifestation and clarity of thought and helps move energy blocks. Use a rose quartz energy comb to stimulate the scalp and enhance positivity. Rose quartz carries the energy of compassion and peace, tenderness and healing, nourishment and comfort. It speaks to the Heart Chakra, dissolving emotional wounds, fears and resentments, and circulates a loving energy. The crystal energy comb improves scalp health, assisting in healing dry scalp and dandruff; and improves blood circulation.

Another gentle tool is the rose quartz facial roller, which also supports lymphatic drainage, boosts collagen and improves skin elasticity.

It reduces puffiness, smooths wrinkles, and promotes better absorption of skincare products.

Get a beautifully presented 3-pack of crystal tools from www.ecologicskincare.co.za | info@ecologicskincare.co.za | 1 Somerset Close, Parklands, Cape Town

LIGHT YOUR WAY Open your eyes to the trataka way of meditation and find the light within Most meditation practices are done with eyes closed, this is to help you look inside and clear your mind. There is a method, called trataka sadhana where you concentrate on a small object in front of you, usually a flame. Candle gazing meditation helps bring energy to the third eye, increases concentration, and improves memory, as well as opens up your spirituality. Trataka in Sanskrit means ‘look’ or ‘gaze’ and is a yogic purification and a tantric method of meditation.

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There are so many ways to enhance your trataka as well, by using different types of candles – you can choose an aroma that has different effects or is specifically designed for each chakra, like the Af ricology range of Chakra Candles; or you can choose to use different colours, which will impact you in different ways. Here’s a list of colours and emotive responses: White Purity, clarity, innocence, simplicity, completion Gold Abundance, prosperity, wealth, spirituality

Violet Commitment, reverence, higher consciousness

Indigo Imagination, insight, wisdom, clarity of thought

Blue Creativity, self-expression, communication, relaxation, trust Turquoise Independence, protection, healing

Green Forgiveness, compassion, inspiration, hope, love, freedom, healing Yellow Ambition, inner power, self-esteem, self-respect, self-discipline, confidence, courage, generosity Orange Sensuality and sexual energy, friendship, optimism, happiness Red Courage, strength, vitality, survival, family bonding Pink Empathy, loyalty

YOUR SPACE * It’s best to practice trataka in a darkened space so your gaze is fully focused on the flame. If you’re doing it during the day, close the curtains for soft lighting. * Put your candle on a level, non-flammable surface at eye-level and about half a metre away. * Sit in a comfortable upright position to allow easy breathing. * Stare at the candle, keeping your eyes steady. If you do get distracted, allow your gaze to return to the flame. * With each inhalation, feel the light flowing into you, consider the light of your own wisdom as well as the wisdom of the world around you. * Have the sensation of it enveloping your entire being. you’re done meditating, close your eyes for at least two minutes * When to return to full awareness – as you do this, continue to breathe deeply and integrate your inner wisdom into your conscious thought.

We love the Africology range of Chakra Candles – especially in this time of self-isolation. This is a time on earth our spirit is called to awaken; to go deep within ourselves and tap into courage, calm and mostly stay centred in faith. When you are devoted to transforming yourself, you truly are helping the world to transform. All healing starts with the self. Your chakras may be seen as seven stages of development, from being stuck to be driven by divine guidance. The Africology Chakra candles were crafted with the intention for you to shine a light on the areas within you that need transformation.

Get yours from www.africologyspa.com

IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND

ARTIST OLIVIA BUERKI

Etsy-Shop: oliviabuerkidesign Instagram: oliviabuerkidesign www.oliviabuerki.com

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PALM OF YOUR HAND

In the Palm of your Hand

BY K E R RY-ANN KI LLEN

O

ur body holds keys and messages, answers to questions arising f rom our present state of being. It also indicates the direction we are heading. Some messages lie within the body, as subtle vibrations indicating our health, wellness and inner state of being. Others are etched into our skin, woven through us as messages that foretell the direction and experiences that overshadow our lives f rom the day we are born.

Our palms hold secrets, they whisper tales about what lies at the heart of our existence.

And secrets they will remain, but not for those with the ability to decipher the language.

my marriage lines and how many children were likely, all predicted by my hands. After sitting with Nyoman, it became evident. There is a magic and mystery to palm reading that allows insight into our lives and the paths that navigate us through this life. The secrets to existence lie in the palm of your hand, all you have to do is read it.

Many are familiar with the world-renowned medicine man, Ketuk Liyer, made famous by Elizabeth Gilbert in her book Eat, Pray, Love.

After venturing into the tale, I was compelled to understand what palm reading was about, how it works, and why its credibility was enhanced

by Julia Roberts when she sat with Ketut in the motion picture. Despite his recent passing, Ketut’s work lives on through his son, Nyoman Latra, who continues to give palm readings and guide people’s spiritual journeys at Liyer Spirit House in Bali. During my recent trip to Bali, I visited Ubud and was given a palm reading by Nyoman. He radiated a happy, peaceful energy – a feeling familiar with the Balinese community.

After handing over my palm, he shared stories my hands foretold, including information on my journey through life, my intelligence, and the ability of my heart to express itself. He explained

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IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND

Hands-on Purpose

Getting your hands on your purpose is easy when your purpose happens to be engrained in your palms. Palm reading is mostly done with the dominant hand, the hand you write with which represents the conscious mind.

The other hand reflects the subconscious and is said to convey information on family traits, past-lives and karmic conditions. What’s fascinating is that the lines on the palm and the shape of the hands can and do change.

This means free will is still a vital determining factor. A palm reading is never set in stone and falls into alignment with your purpose and decisions as a sovereign being.

The Origins of Palm Reading

Palm reading, which dates back more than 3000 years ago, is considered a fundamental technique in Chinese prophecy. It is also referred to as Palmistry or Chiromancy. It involves the act of reading and predicting past, present and future events in one’s life based on the shape and form of the hand. It also examines the fingers, lines and angles ingrained into the hand and its creases, as well as the characteristics of the arm. Just as fingerprints act as your unique identification blueprint, so the palm acts as your unique life path, mapping out your journey through this existence.

In his ‘De Historia Animalium’, Aristotle described the practice of palm reading and shared his beliefs that the lines of the palm relayed aspects of a person’s soul. He detailed observations on what each line meant, stating that “Lines are not written into the human hand without a reason”.

His explanations and writings were used by Alexander the Great in diplomatic and military fields. As his empire extended to Persia and India, so did the art of palm reading.

Modern palmists often combine interpretations with psychology and holistic healing, helping clients find truth and answers within themselves.

It is used for inner well-being and exploration, as well as personal understanding and development.

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Your Left and Right Hands

The left hand is dominated by the right brain and determines relationship insight and pattern recognition. The left hand is said to reflect the natural self, the inner person and creative thinking. It presents the feminine and receptive aspects of our being, the ‘yin’ qualities. It is considered part of personal development and spirit.

The right hand is dominated by the left brain and determines understanding into our outer person, education, objective self, experiences with the world at large, and how we are influenced by our social environment.

The right hand governs reason, logic and language. It presents the masculine, outgoing and rational aspects of our being, the ‘yang’ qualities.

Did you know? By the sixth month of pregnancy, a baby’s fingerprints and palm lines are already developed. Some say the soul plays an active role in forming the body it is to inhabit to fulfil its tasks and mission on earth.

A Basic Understanding

There are three main lines on the palm; the life, head and heart lines. The life line runs f rom between the thumb and forefinger starting on the palm and going to the thumb base or mid wrist. To trace the head line start above the life line, also between the thumb and forefinger and go across the palm towards the wrist. Just above the head line is the heart line starting near the middle or forefinger and running to just below the little finger. Other minor lines govern fate, marriage, sun, children, money and health.

Although a reading may predict a certain future, it doesn’t diminish the effect of f ree will and conscious decision making.

You have the ability and power to consciously create and manifest your life. The future exists as millions of pathways of potentiality, and palmistry can provide a map to the projection of your current alignment. If a marking foretells something undesirable, it’s never too late to change. Over time the lines on your hands shift and rearrange themselves to display your altered path and newly created future. It’s always advisable to keep sight of the inherent power of creation within you.

ABOUT KERRY Kerry is a full time writer, editor and marketing consultant for major wellness companies. She allows her pen to guide her across the world, wherever inspiration, expansion and growth calls. She is always looking for new ways to bring her writing and perspective of the world to life, sharing tales of the secrets and magic of human existence. kerrykillen@gmail.com

BOOK LOUNGE

BOOK LOUNGE Cuddle up with a mind, body and soul enhancing book

The Body A guide for occupants

Future-proof your child for the 2020’s and beyond

By Bill Bryson Bill Bryson may just be one of the most prolific writers today, and his explorations into everything are always hugely insightful and wildly interesting.

In his latest book, Bill Bryson sets off to explore the human body, how it functions and its remarkable ability to heal itself. Full of extraordinary facts and astonishing stories The Body: A Guide for Occupants is a brilliant, often very funny attempt to understand the miracle of our physical and neurological make up.

RRP: R377.00 - R289.00

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By Nikki Bush and Graeme Codrington

Outgrowing God A beginners guide

By Richard Dawkins Voted the world’s top thinker in Prospect Magazines poll of 10,000 readers from over 100 countries, Richard Dawkins once again presents a thoughtprovoking tome, postulating that the universe and every natural thing came into being without a designer.

RRP: R328.00

There’s a whole lot of change happening in today’s world; disruptive technology and ideas are changing the scripts for success and failure on a daily basis. The authors help parents explore this new world in a bid to create realistic and relevant parenting goals that will set their children up to thrive, no matter what waits them in the future. RRP: R246.00

uMama Recollections of South African mothers and grandmothers

By Marion Keim Compiled and edited by Associate professor at the University of the Western Cape, Chairperson of the Foundation for Sport, Development and Peace, and an advocate of the High Court, Marion Keim, this book is a celebration of mothers and grandmothers through the eyes of forty great South Africans. From Desmond Tutu to Pam Golding, uMama celebrates the deep wisdom of mothers and grandmothers in the perfectly unique context of our beautiful country.

RRP: R180.00

be.

Self-love is a wholly unselfish act; it enables you to live within a conscious state of love, providing you with an abundance to give

K

nowing yourself is a great gift and not something to be afraid of or shy away from.

There is intrinsic wisdom inside each person and that wisdom is wholly unique; perfectly aligned to your authentic self. We outline two beautiful practices to help you to get to know yourself and allow acceptance and love to infuse your soul: Step Inside » Find a quiet place to sit where you feel peaceful and won’t be disturbed. » Close your eyes and picture a staircase running from the top of your head to your toes. » Stand on the top of the stairs and take a deep breath as you take in the view from inside.

Look at your thoughts – are they attached to an emotion? Explore each one and check if the thought is true, if it is your own or put there by someone else. Check each emotion as it comes up and discover the origins of each. » Slowly begin to descend the staircase and look around in wonder at the incredible being that is you. Wriggle a finger and try to see what happens in your brain, muscles, sinews as you do that. » Keep exploring, look at aspects of your body, look at areas that might be sore or that you aren’t too happy with. Sit within those spaces and find out what’s bothering you. Smile and place love in there. » Spend time moving up and down inside.

Explore, love, learn. » Before you leave, gather up the things that are bothering you – grief, sadness, anger, pain.

Place them in your arms.

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Step Outside » Find a quiet space outside where you can see the expanse of the sky. It doesn’t matter if it’s day or night. » Take your burdens and open your arms wide and high, offering them to the universe. Let go. » Stand with your arms up and open, a smile on your face and your eyes closed. » Feel your burdens leaving your arms and a universe of love and acceptance entering your mind, body and soul.

“Find the love you seek, by first finding the love within yourself. Learn to rest in that place within you that is your true home.” Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

FORDOUN HOTEL & SPA Honouring the Body’s Flawless Intelligence Even though the word ‘detox’ sounds like something difficult or restrictive it’s actually such a celebration of the incredible intelligence we have housed within the body’s system. Taking time out to support this intelligence is informative and nurturing. Detoxing helps your body optimise its natural toxin-fighting processes by giving it a base to build a healthier trajectory geared towards your unique needs and lifestyle. It also allows you to spend time with your wonderful unique self and feel into what your body really needs and what works for you. We all experience and metabolise toxins uniquely. Fordoun’s detox programmes are designed to alter your perception of healthy living by uncovering the underlying flawlessness of your body. Their programmes help you make healthy lifestyle choices into the future, creating a consolidated respect and awareness of your relationship to your own body.

Fordoun runs two detox programmes: Let’s Get Started | 3 nights & 4 days R10 515 per person (single) | R 9 755 per person (sharing) Revivify Me | 6 nights & 7 days R17 945 per person (single) | R15 945 per person (sharing) Treat yourself and book into one of these dates: 24 - 30 May 2020 4-day retreat : 24 - 27 May 2020 7-day retreat : 24 - 30 May 2020 16 – 22 August 2020 4-day retreat : 16 - 19 August 2020 7-day retreat : 16 - 22 August 2020 13 - 19 September 2020 4-day retreat : 13 - 16 September 2020 7-day retreat : 13 - 19 September 2020 11 – 17 October 2020 4-day retreat : 11 - 14 October 2020 7-day retreat : 11 - 17 October 2020 29 November – 5 December 2020 4-day retreat : 29 November - 2 December 2020 7-day retreat : 29 November - 5 December 2020 10 – 17 January 2021 4-day retreat : 10 - 14 January 2021 7-day retreat : 10 - 17 January 2021

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PRACTITIONERS, SERVICES, RETREATS, GETAWAYS & PRODUCTS also listed digitally on holistica.net

EASTERN CAPE

Health Works Lymph Drainage Massage l Craniosacral Therapy l Emotional Freedom Technique Sybrand Park 084 512 9191 www.marionnixon.co.za

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Om Your Life Business Coaching Bedfordview 082 372 8756 www.omyourlife.net

Hotpod Yoga Hot Yoga | Vinyasa Yoga Linden www.hotpodyoga.com

Loraine van der Meer Reflexology l Reiki l Aromatherapy Massage Lonehill 082 782 8000 www.lorainevandermeer.com

Rose Marie Schmidtke – Bornhealer Alternative Therapy | Addiction Recovery | Therapy | Guidance Roodepoort 082 330 9712 www.bornhealer.co.za

Cisca van Heerden Therapeutic Reflexologist Reflexology l Nutrition l Holistic Healing Pretoria 072 266 7656

Jasmin Visser Therapeutic Massage Johannesburg 082 313 1905

Louise Pitot Women’s Health l Beauty Therapy l NLP Blairgowrie 082 789 5380 www.louisepitot.com

Sarah Braithwaite - MindSight Life & Integrative Health Coach Life Coaching l Health Coaching Bryanston 083 562 6193 www.mindsightsa.com

Dale Guthrie Occupational Therapy Blairgowrie www.holism.health

Karen Weinman - Andean Shamanism & Transformation Shamanism l Kinesiology l Facilitation Douglasdale 082 446 2797 www.karenweinman.com

Marilette Du Toit Biokinetics Menlopark 071 606 9702 www.menlowellness.co.za

Sole2Sole Yoga Yoga | Yoga Studio | Yoga Teacher Training Pretoria 071 473 0032 www.sole2soulyoga.co.za

Enrique Schoch da Silva The Human Coach Health Coach | Life Coach Bryanston 083 276 933 www.humancoachsa.com

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Kuzorora Day Spa Spa Pretoria 082 332 1199 www.kuzororaspa.co.za

Nepherite Jade Naidoo NLP Johannesburg 076 784 9400

Tsholofelo Monare (Gogo) Spiritual Counselling | Shamanism | Energy Healing West Rand 076 687 7044 www.awakening-spirit-com

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Lara Bonetto Life Coaching l NLP l Reiki Randburg www.crossroadslifecoaching.co.za 082 727 7617

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Yoga Experience Yoga Sandton 082 639 2330 www.bikramyoga.co.za

Shapes of Africa Rustic Eco Backpackers Lodge Retreats Mount Moreland 082 432 5513 www.shapesofafrica.co.za

GAUTENG Dr Brandsch Homeopathy l Iridology l Counselling Benoni 011 849 7902

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Yoga Warrior Yoga Rosebank 082 559 6713 www.yogawarrior.co.za

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Heart Tree Beauty Therapy | Healing Products | Holistic Healing Cape Town 072 904 3336 www.heartreenatural.com

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Breathing Room – Jutta Holzapfel Kinesiology | Family Constellation | Alternative Therapy Bergvliet 79 398 3251 www.breathingroom.co.za

Essence of Healing - Dr. Livasha Mudaly Meditation | Reiki | Crystals Cape Town 072 236 1156 www.essenceofhealing.com

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Brett Simpson Life Coaching l Life Skills Sea Point 082 772 9073 www.cancerjourneycoaching.co.za

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Hotpod Yoga Hot Yoga l Vinyasa Yoga Linden www.hotpodyoga.com

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Charmaine Haig Reiki l Workshop Facilitation l Meditation Sea Point 073 410 9897 www.myurbanretreat.co.za

Grainne Hartley – The Travelling Therapist Reflexology l Mobile Massage Cape Town 082 724 1071

House of Yoga Yoga Claremont 079 758 0649 www.houseofyoga.co.za

Marilette Du Toit Biokinetics Durban 012 348 6466

Dancing Dragon – Tantra & Shamanic Arts Tantra | Massage | Shamanism Cape Town 072 5010 756 www.holistica.net

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Hajira Khalfe Akashic Record Clearing l Life Alignment l The Emotion Code Rondebosch 084 800 0920

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Dominic Haarhoff Trauma Counselling George 079 548 8947 www.dominichaarhoff.com

Happy Culture Healing Products l Nutrition Cape Town 083 405 0384 www.happyculture.co.za

Into Nutrition (Fiona Thorton) Nutrition Parklands 074 580 6828 www.intonutrition.co.za

Angala Retreat Centre Franschhoek 021 874 1366 www.angala.co.za

Dr Leah Murray Women’s Health | Integrative Medicine | Functional Medicine Cape Town 061 501 3344 www.drleahmurray.co.za

Happy Earth People Healing Products l Nutrition l Ayurveda Cape Town 061 416 3723 www.happyearthpeople.com

Janet Homan Past Life Regression l Trauma Counselling l Energy Healing Constantia 082 871 1069 www.janetenergyhealing.com

Anice Lombard – Massage Mama Mobile Pregnancy Massage Cape Town 082 921 1223 www.massagemama.co.za

Dr Vaughn Leader Homeopath 021 671 5401 www.holistica.net

Healing Space Cape Town Holistic Healing l Yoga l Massage Sea Point 073 061 3890 www.healingspacect.co.za

Jason Organic Hair Therapist Health Spa | Beauty Therapy | Colour Therapy Sea Point 078 100 7641 www.holistica.net

KWAZULU-NATAL Bruce Robertson Deep Tissue Massage l Sports Massage l Vinyasa Yoga Morningside 082 215 5978

WESTERN CAPE Anne Scharlow – Healing & Bodywork for Horses Animal Healing | Energy Healing Cape Town 082 0605 209 www.equinehealing.co.za

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Leon Barnard-Young Massage l Personal Training l Reiki Durbanville 072 958 6057 www.healingtouch-therapies.co.za

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Shirene Botes – Embodied Intimacy Coach Tantra l Life Skills l Workshops Claremont 079 884 6277 www.sacredintuitive.com

Joanne Moss – Transformation Specialist Life Coach | Life Skills | Reflexology Cape Town 082 447 1740 www.joannemoss.com

Life Retreat Studio Yoga Somerset West 021 847 0089 www.liferetreat.co.za

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Soul Center Holistic Healing l Spiritual Centre l Workshops Woodstock 073 528 0394 www.soulcenter.co.za

Kim Tempest - BioSCAN Energy Healing l Numerology l Nutrition Newlands 082 642 9518 www.bioscan.co.za

LifeShine Wellness Centre (Pty) Ltd Holistic Healing Stellenbosch 021 100 4424 www.lifeshine.co.za

Michelle Levy – Sung Healing Dorn Method l Acupuncture l Tai Chi Blouberg 072 184 3038 www.sunghealing.co.za

Dr Stephen Farrugia Naturopathy l Functional Medicine l Nutrition Tableview 083 726 0975 www.zenstudio.co.za

Jessica Avidon – At Ease Massage l Fascia Release l Trauma Release Exercises (TRE) West Beach 071 678 4729 www.at-ease.co.za

Lyndsay Mana Muse Holistic Healing l Addiction Recovery l Intuitive Cape Town 079 174 4152 (message only) www.holistica.net

Moving into Connection Movement Medicine Cape Town 078 487 9107 www.movementmedicineassociation.org

Stillness in Motion Neuromuscular Massage l Tai Chi l Pregnancy Massage Constantia 072 400 4329

Kate Aitken Health Coaching Cape Town 083 955 8245 www.holistica.net

Magic Moments Getaways & Retreats Nia l Hatha Yoga l Retreats Big Bay 082 775 0198 www.jillianlambert.co.za

Nadia Rosenthal Hatha Yoga l Vinyasa Yoga Cape Town 083 446 0728 www.earthyoga.co.za

Tamar Bezuidenhout - Aura Essence Energy Healing l Holistic Healing l Prophetic Guidance Tokai 081 727 9939 www.auraessence.co.za

Kate Muller International Animal Communicator Animal Communication l Animal Healing Cape Town 082 462 8598 www.katemuller.co.za

Margarita Celeste Astrology & Tarot Astrology l Tarot Cape Town CBD 082 967 0039 www.margaritaceleste.com

Nicky van Eck Chi Nei Tsang Abdominal Massage Tamboerskloof 072 770 9188 www.holistica.net

Tania Bownes – Celebrating Freedom Trauma Release Exercises l Aromatherapy l Retreats Hout Bay 083 326 6352 www.celebratingfreedom.co.za

Kate Miller Nutrition | Health Coaching Cape Town 082 783 3563 www.kmholistichealth.co.za

T/Dr. Markus van der Westhuizen Kinesiology l Crystal Healing l Herbalism Woodstock 072 952 3630 www.healthychoice.co.za

Nutritionist & Tantrika Suskia Strafella Tantra | Breathwork | Nutrition Claremont 083 6446 929 www.iamwildwoman.co.za

Turiya Lynne Tantra l Massage l Life Coaching Newlands 083 732 9286

Kim Thacker Kahuna Massage l Dance l Kundalini Yoga Cape Town 072 567 2935

Mary J Fourie Financial Planner & Coach Financial Coaching l Workshop Facilitation l Personal Development Wynberg 082 455 5919 www.mjfwealth.co.za

Pearl Tantra Tantra l Massage l Yoga Cape Town 079 174 4125 www.holistica.net

Valentina Leo Tantra l Yoga Noordhoek 083 298 8113 www.thelaboratoryoflove.com

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Wendy Christien – Integrated Health Solution Iridology l Nutrition Bellville 082 490 8812 www.integratedhealthsolution.co.za

Yo Yoga Bikram | Vinyasa | Yoga Pinelands 021 671 0888 www.yoyoga.co.za

The Whole Truth Retreat Retreats Stanford 076 968 8608 www.thewholetruthretreat.com

Zooka Health Komubucha Nutrition | Wellness Products Cape Town www.zookahealth.com

Wild Thing Yoga & Body Conditioning Yoga l Mindfulness l Meditation Sea Point 071 104 8074 www.wildthingmoves.co.za

Zoey Lapinsky Craniosacral Therapy Cape Town www.resetmeforlife.co.za

Wild Love Hatha Yoga l Herbalism l Retreat Centre Tulbagh 082 255 0065

NATIONWIDE Bookamat Wellness Products | Studio software www.bookamat.co

Wisdom to Nourish Life Coaching l Counselling l Retreats Cape Town 082 624 6249 www.johnhomewood.net

HealthFood Warehouse Nutrition l Health Products 076 792 6402 www.healthfoodwarehouse.co.za

The Yoga Kitchen Yoga l Nutrition l Retreats Western Cape www.yogakitchen.co.za

Legendary Health Retreats Retreats | SPA | Heal Your Life 012 443 6700 www.legendhospitality.co.za

The Yoga Room Vinyasa Yoga l Forrest Yoga Vredehoek 072 559 4165 www.theyogaroomcpt.co.za

MetaVarsity School of Metaphysics 0861 116 126 www.metavarsity.com

Yolis Wellness on Wheels Spa Mobile Massage l Beauty Therapy Cape Town 084 586 4405 www.yoliswellness.co.za

Yoni Eggs Women’s Health Knysna 079 124 3626 www.yonieggs.co.za

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INTERNATIONAL Shrimath Excellence in Yoga Yoga Teacher Training & Retreats Bangalore +91 9739 020102 www.shrimathyoga.com

Let us know what you need - we’re here for you: knowledge@holistica.net

Escape to Noordhoek

one of Cape Town’s best kept secrets

Enjoy a delightful weekend at the Noordhoek Farm Village - stay over at De Noordhoek Hotel for a beautifully modernised old-world experience and visit the lively Cafe Roux for some invigorating local tunes, eat at one of the many excellent restaurants (Sushi lovers simply have to visit Village Sushi) and saunter down to the exquisite beach.

De Noordhoek Lifestyle Hotel Village Lane, Noordhoek Farm Village 021 789 2760 | res@denoordhoek.co.za

Sea Point, Cape Town @jasonorganichairstylist | jason@camissa.biz | +27 (0)78 100 7641

The Buddhist Retreat Centre

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2020/02/18 14:40

For almost 40 years, people of all religions have come here to experience peace and tranquility.

CNN featured the BRC as one of the ten finest meditation centres in the world.

Visit the Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo. Kwazulu-Natal, a sanctuary of stillness and beauty, for a new lease on life, and enjoy a wide range of workshops - structured and self-retreats - which include meditation, yoga and chi kung.

087 809 1687 | bookings@brcixopo.co.za | www.brcixopo.co.za 124 | h o l i s t i c a . n e t

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