a photo of tree tops taken looking up to the sky. They're dusted with snow and in the middle of the photo it says 2022

I’m a bit behind the eight ball in getting my 2022 Intention Words out.  They were created on the New Moon of January 2nd and have been very much part of my presence and practice over the past couple of weeks but I was resistant to getting my butt in the chair to write about them here.  I guess Lee Harris’s January energy update is alive in me. He did share that this January; the prompting is to go inward instead of launching out of the gate.  We can wait until February this year for that energy to arrive.  Thanks, Lee for giving me permission to not get too critical with myself…lol.

For those of you who have followed me for a while, you will be well aware of my New Year’s practice of creating my intention words that guide the overall vision of my year.  Like many, I found that New Year’s resolutions did not have enough motivation past January to make any impact on the whole year.  My words on the other hand create a framework for what I have chosen to invite into my life during the coming year. Whether I look at them often or they slip into the background of my awareness, they always carry the strength to draw the people, experiences and ideas to enrich my year.

Preparation

Creating the right space is the most important ingredient to getting clear intention words.  I provide myself with a window of time that I can call my own and not be interrupted.  Then I get my tea, journal, oracle cards, essential oils in the diffuser and an oracle or tarot deck of my choice. With soft relaxing music, I settle into a mediation to ground in my body.  Now I am ready to journal about the year I have just come through.  The highlights, the challenges, the insights and whatever else flows from my pen.  Then I allow myself to invite the vision of what I want the new year to feel like. From this, words or phrases come to me.  It’s like writing a letter to Santa as a child.  We tend to ask for things that will make us feel a certain way. Each word has its own unique meaning.  Allow me to share my 2022 Intention Words with you now.

  1. Deep Connection

    As I am beginning this year still on my sabbatical, I am taking a couple of online classes and a spiritual program to support this deepening practice. It is a desire to know myself and my journey more intimately. I would like this deeper connection to flow into my work with my students and clients.
  2. Innovation

    As we seem to be at a worldwide crossroad of change, I have been witnessing the clarity for myself and others of what no longer works. Sometimes the trickier part of letting go is to know what to replace the old with. I welcome in the energy of innovation to my life. Welcoming out of the box thinking, synergy and alchemy.
  3. Exploration

    To support the innovation, I am welcoming in a focus for exploring new things. It could mean listening to new music, reading books I would not normally pick up, engaging in conversations with radical openness. Shake things up and allow new neural pathways to engage.
  4. Playfullness

    This past couple of years has been a marathon of growth and not all days were joyful. I can get very serious when I am trying to understand what’s going on and how to maneuver rough waters. I am craving more laughter and lightness. It’s time to welcome that youthful free spirit back into my everyday living. Maybe I’ll join a couple of Cathy Nesbitt online laughter yoga sessions to spark some happy hormones.

These are my words for the year.  They ignite a good feeling when I read them and anticipation of how they will manifest in the weeks and months to come.  To give them a bit more visual presence this year, I have done the following.  I did a full card spread with The Muse Tarot deck by Chris-Ann.  Then I embarked in creating a vision board with the focus of my words and the guidance offered by the cards.  My Vision board is not complete yet.  I am searching out more magazines to complete it.  Watch for a finished picture on my social media pages. This will hang in my office where I can allow it to inspire me throughout the year.

I have had clients write me to share their experiences with creating intention words.  Some have found a picture that reflects each word for them, framed them and placed them in a significant spot in their home.  Some create cue cards and use them for bookmarks or tape them to their mirrors.  Some have done separate journal entries for each word and expanded on how the word inspires them.  Let your imagination run free and see what you come up with.  I can see candles, essential oils blends, bath salts, bracelets, songs etc.  Have some fun.

I love to hear about the ideas that you come up with or questions you may have.  Please share your magic.  Happy 2022 intentions!

Till next time,

Woman on top of a mountain because she supported her vision

I know it’s been some time since my last post however the inspiration has returned.  I was introduced to a fascinating Doctor’s YouTube channel and the first podcast that I listened to was all about supporting our vision.  This was timely for me as my recent eye checkup revealed that my eye pressure went up significantly over the last year and I was sent for a specialist appointment.  That visit resulted in me having a laser procedure to hopefully provide relief for the pressure.  My follow-up appointment is not until July 19th when I learn if it worked.

Needless to say, I have become more curious about ways to support my eyes and vision.  A most important part of our life experience. My first response after the ophthalmologist visit was to journal what I was not wanting to see in my life.  With the massive changes going on in our world, it is not difficult to acknowledge some truth there however I dug deeper and peered into the personal well.  I did come up with a few nuggets that needed to be addressed.  Tough work and yet very empowering.  This is also where the work with a great coach supports us in our greatest life!  Shout out to @soulinspiredgurl.  The other beautiful synchronicity came through a good friend and colleague, Theresa who told me about a great doctor’s podcast series on YouTube.  Dr. Andrew Huberman is an American neuroscientist and professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine.  I will summarize some of the 90-minute sessions in this post and will provide a link to the full recording which I highly recommend.

Top Take Aways To Support Our Vision:

The only way that light information gets into our body is through the eyes. They are an extension of our brain. (neural retinas)  The fastest reflex we have is our ability to blink.

The ancient cells of the eyes are called retinal ganglion cells  – they send information to the brain and influence our mood, wakefulness, sleepiness, metabolism, blood sugar levels and pain threshold to name a few important things. 

To support the retinal ganglion cells, we need to spend 2-10 minutes outside in the morning when the sun is rising in the east and again in the evening when the sun is setting in the west. This anchors our body in time and sets our circadian clock.

To reduce the potential for myopia, it is advisable to spend at least 2 hours outside each day without sunglasses.

Exercises to offset the amount of time our eyes are focused up close on a devise or any other up close activity. 

Every 30 minutes of screen time, take a 2-5 minute break to look outside at a horizon or provide a panoramic view.  Ideally not through a window.

Every 90 minutes of screen time, go outside for 20 minutes to relax your eyes and again look at distant views.

Go for a walk or bike ride each day to provide the opportunity to optic flow. “Optic flow is the visual motion that results from an observer’s own movement through the environment. The distinguishing feature of optic flow is that it covers the entire visual field, whereas object motion covers only a part of the field.” This distresses our body.

Focus change: This is one of several eye accommodation exercises

  • Hold one finger a few inches away from one eye
  • Focus the gaze on the finger
  • Move the finger slowly way from the face
  • Focus on an object farther away, and then back on the finger.
  • Bring the finger back closer to the eye.
  • Focus on an object farther away.
  • Repeat three times.

Smooth Pursuit Exercises (also called tracking) will improve vision and keep muscles strong as the brain follows the movement of the eyes. Do for 5-10 minutes, 3 times per week.  Here is a quick YouTube link

Whole Foods:  dark leafy greens and carrots or high carotenoid vegetables.

Supplements – this area is under constant study however Dr.Huberman suggests there is evidence to support the use of Lutein especially when combined with Zeaxanthin and Astaxanthin.  He references a website called examine.com for reliable information.

After listening to this podcast twice, I realized that one area of great improvement over the last year for me, was my close-up vision.  My prescription went from 2.75 to 2.25 due to the number of hours I spent outside walking and in the garden last year.  I look forward to incorporating many more of these suggestions and supporting my visual health.  Here’s a link to the full podcast

What have you learned more about in this last year?  I am always curious and open to new insights.  Till next time, enjoy the summer and get out in the natural light.

intention words Karen Armstrong inside out aurora

Welcome to 2019. Those who have followed me for a while know that instead of determining New Year’s Resolutions, I like to create my Intention Words that guide me for the year ahead. These are words that will inspire my decisions, creativity and my beingness for the year ahead. They have always provided results in the most miraculous ways, and so the motivation for me to continue this practice is very high.

I usually take the few weeks leading up to the New Year to go through the process of choosing three intention words; this time was an exception though. My first two words came to me very quickly. And though I knew there was another word pending, it did not present itself. Not until my last reiki session. It took a deep inner process for my third intention word to surface. So here they are:

Pace

This beautiful word comes from the Brain Gym training I did back in the early 90’s. I know I’m not alone when I say, time feels as though

it’s speeding up. There is a direct correlation between what I expect to get done in a given amount of time, and the end result of those expectations as they combine with the realities of each day.

I truly love what I do, and I want to accomplish as much as possible. However, I am paying a price for the Pace I’ve been keeping. My whole being is communicating with me. Trying to get the message through to me that a gentler Pace would serve me much better than my current one. To assist me in setting a more conscious pace I began to incorporate the Five Minute Journal into my daily routine, and have already seen positive results from this simple step.

Nourish

This fits right in line with my body’s desire for a gentler PACE. I am craving a higher level nourishment for my mind, body and spirit. This has been a consistent journey over my awakening consciousness path. I have come a long way from only focusing my energy outward, towards serving others, and not on serving myself. I actually had no idea how to do that at first.

It started with giving myself permission to book regular massage, osteopath and pedicure appointments. From there I began to scheduled days off to do what I wanted, like registering for courses that educate me to nourish myself better. This year, I’ve moving back to basics. I plan to nourish myself each day with my thoughts, by setting a realistic pace, spending time outdoors, gathering fresh flowers, drinking tea, taking walks with friends and reading good books. And I look forward to learning more nourishing tips along the way.

Fearless Love

This was the one that showed up last week. Last year held many shifts for my clients and within my family. I’ve always believed that love can conquer all, change all and shine through in the end. I have trusted in that. There is a visceral reaction within me when I say fearless love. As though I’m ready to put all my belief in this inner power to the test and see where it takes me. That’s it… I cannot even expand on it right now, other than to say I know it will lead me in a greater way.

Do you have any stories to share about your new year practices? I find hearing others ideas and stories very inspiring so please share them.

I wish many joy-filled moments for all of you this year, ones that create memories that you’ll feel good about when you look back on them.

You can connect with me by email or telephone, or click the contact tab at the bottom of the screen if you are reading this post on the website. Don’t forget to join in the conversation on Facebook too!

Until next time,

Karen

inside out healing karen armstrong change your focus york region

Happy fall! It is my favourite time of year. As I reflect on the activities of the past summer, I am reminded of one great morning at church where our minister decided to show a movie entitled, “Celebrate What is Right in the World” by Dewitt Jones. It was so rich in inspiration, both visually and literally, as Dewitt told stories from his life and work at the National Geographic Magazine.

I absolutely encourage you to watch the Tedx Talk at this link:

I would also love to share some of my take aways from this video.

I’m not sure how many of you are, like me, hesitant to take in too much mainstream media because it focuses so much on what is wrong in the world. I find that the news I need to hear comes into my awareness anyway. And I can always look into any headline that I may want to learn more about.

Dewitt’s message spoke to me because as an energy worker I know that, where thoughts go, energy follows. In his career life, he was a photographer for the National Geographic Magazine. One of his opening lines was, “Vision controls perception and perception becomes our reality”. He didn’t realize until well into his career how powerfully the focus of his work for the National Geographic helped to reframe his perception. He began to notice how the world of media operates, from a Fear – Scarcity – Competition focus, instead of a “What’s possible or what is here to celebrate,“ focus.

Focusing on the Negative

It’s so easy to fall into an unconscious pattern of sharing stories with friends and co-workers on what is troubling, because let’s face it – life can be really tough!!  We like to have company along for the struggles in our journey. By talking about our difficulties, we can always find an understanding ear, but this point of view can rob us of the joys in life.

Over time, we always get what we focus on. And I have noticed how many people are getting very tired of going down the path of negativity our society has developed. It feels heavy, like it’s dragging you down. That is true!

A New Perspective

If we instead find ways to appreciate special moments each day, we will begin to retrain the focus of our attention. The more we do this the more we will notice how many moments in our day we can actually enjoy and be inspired by.

Like Dewitt, I have been labelled as a Pollyanna in my life. Though I never did understand how that was a negative thing. Even with a naturally positive outlook, I can find myself spiraling down the negativity path occasionally. There are lots of reasons, but typically it is because I’m tired, and not looking after my own self-care needs. But, if I can take time to walk, meditate, journal or share with a wise friend, even when things are a bit rough, it is possible to shift my perspective and create new possibilities.

Dewitt’s message reminds us to connect to the energy of passion every day. To look for what is here in our world to celebrate… to fall in love with. And to remember that every day we get to choose which lens we will look at the world with.

Change your Lens – Change your Life!

At our recent Women’s Wellness Circle, we created Vision Boards.  They represent a focus of attention that we want to invite into our lives. The collage of words and images should be placed somewhere we will see them every day. This subconsciously programs our perception to watch for ways to bring these visions into reality. We begin to align our energetic vibration to become a match for what we want.

Fall Equinox can be a powerful time to refocus and inspire new intentions. What do you want to invite into your life at this time?  Brainstorm, clarify and begin the baby steps to celebrate your journey of life!

You can connect with me by email or telephone, or click the contact tab at the bottom of the screen if you are reading this post on the website. Don’t forget to join in the conversation on Facebook too!

Until next time, enjoy our beautiful fall,

Karen

 

 

It wasn’t until my first son was born that I began using tea for its medicinal properties. He had a sensitive tummy and our Yugoslavian caregiver recommended using chamomile tea to soothe the discomfort. He loved it and it worked wonders.

Herbal Teas and Tisanes

I was born into a family of mainly English origin and therefore exposed to tea from a young age. It was a staple in my daily diet like coffee is for many others. However we only consumed black tea with milk. Though it is still part of my diet, today my cupboard is filled with so many more wonderful medicinal teas or tisanes.  Also known as herbal teas, tisanes (pronounced ti-zahn) are not actually teas at all. Instead they are infusions made from leaves, bark, roots, berries, seeds, and spices. Common tisanes include mint, chamomile, tulsi, and rooibos. I regularly consume ginger/turmeric, nettle, dandelion, pau d”arco, holy basil and mint tisane’s today. They are soothing and I experience results for what each one provides for my body. Most are good hot or cold as well.

Over the years hosting Women’s Wellness Circles, I have had a couple of amazing presenters who really know about our local vegetation and how to use some of nature’s gifts to make healing tisanes. They are; Karen Stephenson of Edible Wild Food and Sarah Feiner who is currently studying Herbalism and deepening her knowledge of this fascinating field. Let me share with you some of my favourites and why I love them.

Ginger/Turmeric Blend

This is my all-time favourite especially through the winter months.

Ingredients:

  • Slice approx. 1 inch or 2.5cm of fresh ginger root
  • Slice approx. 3 medium size pieces of fresh turmeric root

Instructions:

  1. Put in a non-aluminum pot with 8 cups or 2 litres of fresh water.
  2. Bring to a boil and then turn down to simmer for 20 minutes. Feel free to add fresh squeezed lemon juice and/or honey to taste. Also adding ¼ tsp of black pepper will increase the absorption rate of turmeric.

Healing properties:

Anti-inflammatory, pain reduction, boosts brain power, helps digestion, improves blood circulation and stimulates your immune system to name a few.

Here are links to some excellent medicinal teas:

Whether you are looking for the medicinal properties of teas or just looking for a healthy alternative to black tea or plain water, exploring the world of herbals teas is lots of fun. Let me know what your favourites are. As we move into harvest time may we be thankful for the abundance that grows in our area.

You can connect with me by email or telephone, or click the contact tab at the bottom of the screen if you are reading this post on the website. Don’t forget to join in the conversation on Facebook too!

To our health & wellbeing,

Karen

reiki retreat karen armstrong find your tribe

reiki retreat karen armstrong find your tribe

I just completed a 3 day Reiki Retreat last week and by the end many of my students expressed feeling such comfort because they had “found their tribe”.  This expression describes the feeling of being in a group of like-minded people where it is safe to share our true selves.  We get to dream, explore our inner world, express our needs and feel supported instead of judged.

Sometimes Our Spiritual Path Can Feel Lonely

Sometimes when we are on a spiritual or holistic path, it can feel lonely holding down the fort in our circle of family and work connections.  Some of them may want to support us however they may have different beliefs and so we are careful of where and when we share our own thoughts and feelings.

It is both reassuring and inspiring to come together and deepen our own inner knowing.  We part ways knowing that we are not alone and this group that once was strangers have become our tribe. The culture that has emerged in our affluent society has created a reality that many families live in different cities. Getting together requires planning and time both of which are stretched to limits with full schedules.  Finding a common interest helps to bring people together filling a need for being in community.

The Importance of Community in My Life

I realize how important community is for me as I have created a few very important ones in my life. My love of music and singing has found home for the past 30 years with the North Metro chorus. My thirst for knowledge and sharing has led me to host a monthly Women’s Wellness Circle for over 10 years. We joined some of our church friends to create a couples activity group that has enjoyed countless hours of fun and exploring for the last 17 years.  Finally, my work and life with reiki has now expanded into a circle of students, friends and colleagues who come together regularly.

North Metro Choir Karen Armstrong - Inside Out

These groups fill my life with a richness that is not possible on a solo journey.  Sometimes I need to balance and pull back for a while but I could not even dream of my life without all that a like-minded community brings.

Don’t get me wrong – it takes intention and action to find your group, as Amanda Kohr shares so beautifully on wanderlust.com;

Whether it’s a family, community, or group of fellow practitioners, our tribe is important because it reflects our values while simultaneously satisfying our need for companionship.

That being said, finding a tribe is hard. That’s why there are so many movies where high school students end up eating lunch alone. And as we bloom into adulthood and lose the setting of forced social interaction, it can be even more difficult to find authentic connections.

Doing so requires effort, authenticity, and confidence.

True – and I am here to say that it is worth every minute of searching.  So I invite you to reflect on what you might be missing in your life and then set the intention to find it. Let’s make life count and have fun along the way with our Tribe!

reiki retreat inside out karen armstrong

Do you have a favourite group of peeps that you want to share? I welcome input here.

You can connect with me by email or telephone, or click the contact tab at the bottom of the screen if you are reading this post on the website. Don’t forget to join in the conversation on Facebook too!

Until next time, may you enjoy your summer.

Karen

biophoton light therapy

biophoton light therapyBiophotons are the smallest physical units of light which are stored in and used by all biological organisms – including your body. The purpose of these biophotons is much more important than many have realized. It turns out that they may very well be in control of virtually every biochemical reaction that occurs in your body — including supporting your body’s ability to heal.

Your Body is Glowing

Your body actually emits light on a daily basis, in concentrations that rise and fall with your body clock and the rhythmic fluctuations of your metabolism over the course of the day.

This light is 1,000 times less intense than levels that can be seen with the naked eye, which is why most people cannot detect it.  Some people, however, are able to see this emitted light or “aura,” and some can even distinguish colors.

Dr. Fritz-Albert Popp was the first to suggest that this light must come, at least in part, from the foods we eat. When we eat plant foods, the light waves, or photons, in the plants are taken in and stored by your body.

Light Controls Your Cell Functions

It is known in biology that every cell in your body has over 100,000 biochemical reactions per second, all of which must be carefully timed and sequenced with each other.

Where Does Your Body’s Light Come From?

Dr. Popp proved that light in your body is stored by, and emitted from, your DNA. The DNA inside each cell vibrates at a frequency of several billion hertz. The vibration is created through the coil-like contraction and extension of your DNA — which occurs several billion times per second — and every time it contracts, it squeezes out one single biophoton; a light particle. That photon contains all the information on everything going on in your DNA at that moment.

Illness Occurs When Biophoton Emissions Are Out of Sync

Research by Dr. Popp also showed that the light emissions of healthy people follow a set biological rhythm for day and night and also by week and month, as though they are connected to biorhythms of the earth, as well.

However, in his studies, the light emissions from cancer patients had no such rhythms and appeared scrambled, which suggests their cells were no longer communicating properly.

Because light is such an integral part of your body’s processes, biophoton therapies are at the forefront of medicine. For instance, therapies are emerging that involve stimulating the body with specific quantities of light to reduce pain and promote healing processes.

For the full article – please click here.

Biophoton Light Therapy

I loved reading this article on Dr. Mercola’s site because it sets the groundwork for understanding the work I do with my Chiren Instrument called Biophoton Light Therapy. I have worked with this therapy for 5 ½ years now and the incredible results have proven that non-invasive energy-based therapy is very effective to bring balance back to the body.  Symptoms show up if our body is out of balance.

In the past month I have supported clients with strep throat, vertigo, digestive issues, headaches, negative vaccine reactions, heavy metal toxicity and anxiety. I am always learning from my clients as no one is the same. It is therefore fascinating and fulfilling to learn of symptoms easing and disappearing. The biggest comment is – why don’t more people know about this!

If you have had positive experience from a therapy, please share it. That’s the way we can help each other and take some of the strain away from our overburdened health care system. It’s time for each of us to participate in our own health and not expect a professional to fix us.  Thanks to the millions of people who dedicate their lives to supporting our well-being and may we remember; we are our own healers… always have been and always will be.

You can connect with me by email or telephone, or click the contact tab at the bottom of the screen if you are reading this post on the website. Don’t forget to join in the conversation on Facebook too!

To our health & wellbeing,

Karen

I recently attended my Regional Sweet Adeline contest in Syracuse, New York where we honoured our director of 45 years.  The legacy she has left for not only her chorus, but the Region and the International organization is undeniable.

Singing has been a passion of mine since I was a young girl and though I sang in school choirs and dreamed of growing up to be in musicals…. I never would have guessed that my passion would find its home in a women’s four-part a cappella organization. I found it when I was 22 years old and was hooked from the first visit. I didn’t realize that a women’s organization like this existed – I thought it was only a men’s gig.  I had so much fun on Tuesday evening rehearsals; I made great friends, learned so many vocal skills and the bonus was the choreography which reminded me of the musicals I loved growing up.

North Metro Chorus

After 5 years with a local group, I made the decision to try out with the Toronto group who I had the chance to watch and be inspired by at our Regional contests. Their level of performance, choice of music and fantastic choreography had me spellbound every time I saw them. So, in May of 1987, I made the move to North Metro Chorus where I am to this day 30 years later.

Director June Dale Always Led Us to Victory

June Dale has directed this chorus from its beginning with only 17 members to a peak of 185 members. She has led us to win every Regional Contest I have ever been in with North Metro which qualifies us to compete at the International level.  These international contests have fulfilled another of my passions, travel; as they are held in various US cities including Waikiki, Hawaii. When we placed first in 1996, we were the first chorus outside the USA to bring the gold medal home.  We now have 4 International gold medals to go along with many other top 5 medal placings.

We have been Walt Disney Newsies, chimney sweeps from Mary Poppins, Oklahoma, Sailors, Miners, Martians and Toy Soldiers, just to name a few or our themed packages. June continued to expand her talents over the years and became a Master Director, a certified music arranger, coach, International faculty member and a true visionary. Together with her daughters – Erin who created all our award winning choreography and Lynn who created our incredible costumes – this team was a true winning combination.

Passing of the Torch to Erin Howden

This past Regional, we had the opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of our incredible leader as she has decided to step down from directing us in competition and pass the torch over to her daughter Erin Howden. It was a weekend of emotional celebrations. There was a strong outpouring of love and respect shared from everyone in attendance including our International Judges who were present. I got another chance to reflect on how much this hobby has added to my life over the years. It makes the weekly travel, hours of learning, the cost of our dues and travel a small price in exchange for the lifelong friendships, transferable skills, numerous life experiences and the rush of creating the most beautiful harmony that changes the lives of ourselves and audiences alike.

It is an organization that welcomes novice singers of all ages to come together and create a professional level performance. I am as excited about the journey today as I was 35 years ago.   I can’t imagine my life without it!  Here is a link for a YouTube clip of our last International performance.  We have a show planned for this September 16th to perform the package we will take to international Competition in Las Vegas in October.   If you are interested in learning more, check us out here.

I would love to hear about your hobbies and how they add richness to your life.

You can connect with me by email or telephone, or click the contact tab at the bottom of the screen if you are reading this post on the website. Don’t forget to join in the conversation on Facebook too!

In harmony,

Karen

Joy is daily visits from our wild turkey neighbours

Have you ever heard the expression that “Life is Just an Illusion?” Humans have always searched for meaning and longed for the truth on why we are here and where we actually came from and go to. I remember as a child having some disturbing dreams about this unknown territory, yet thankfully have come to accept that for me – I know for sure that I am here now! This life feels very real.

Life on Earth

I have been reading a book on my new Kobo entitled: “Life on Earth”, by Mike Dooley.  It is like reading a book that incorporates thoughts of many others I have read including The Law of Attraction, A Course in Miracles, Return to Love… you get the idea. I had to smile at a passage I read last night and wanted to share it with you.

Concerning the world or dimensions, “before” and “after” time and space? Let it go. That you are alive now is indisputable. The important question then, is really, “What are you going to do about it?” It’s like being a fish born in and living its life in a fabulous, million-gallon aquarium while wondering about life beyond. That beyond is truly “incomprehensible”, if you try to wrap your head around it, you will have little traction. You are here, period. Wake up, discover, celebrate, and rock on. So what if you now have little idea of how or why you got in your “tank” and no idea of what will come next? Through observation, you can see that you will nevertheless call this place home your entire life.

You can notice that you are phenomenally powerful, that what you resist persists, and that what you think about, you bring about. That the energy moving you is free, that love is everywhere, that those sharing your space are as awesome. Scared and hopeful as you, and that your “tank” is a blooming paradise of splendor, beauty, diversity, simplicity, complexity, and abundance – all quite indescribable. Your “tank” is actually more like a gigantic, whirling, living, loving sphere…called Earth that constantly provides for you. This is not an accident. It loves you. Be here now.

The author doesn’t say he has all the answers that occupy our questioning minds, he acknowledges that we all have them.  If searching for answers to where we came from and where we go after this life are comforting or exciting and bring you meaning… awesome! If they stress you, then maybe it would serve us better to accept that planet Earth is our home and to be fully present to all the opportunity here for us to discover.

Putting Our Energy into Being Present

I must say that my list of things I want to do in this lifetime are endless. We have so much to explore and learn here.  I believe if I put all my energy into being present to the magic of each day and not plan every moment, I would feel fulfilled. It’s a constant balancing act for me – how much to plan and how much to just let go and go with the flow.

I smile every time I read one of Mike’s daily e-mails as he closes with saying, “Thoughts become things…choose good ones”.  This message is so simple, yet as in all truths; challenging to follow all the time. However, I am ready and willing to keep at it.

I wish everyone reading this good thoughts and good experiences! I love to hear from you so I welcome your thoughts.

You can connect with me by email or telephone, or click the contact tab at the bottom of the screen if you are reading this post on the website. Don’t forget to join in the conversation on Facebook too!

Happy Spring!

Karen

stress and imbalance playing in the dirt

stress and imbalance playing in the dirt

Don’t Blame the Bugs is the title of an article in the winter edition of Pathways to Family Wellness Magazine that really spoke to me.  Because people come to me when they are dealing with some level of imbalance, I am constantly reminded how the majority of us view germs, bugs, viruses etc. The sense is that they are lurking around every corner waiting to get us and make us sick.

We must be diligent about keeping everything sanitary, use hand sanitizer, wash with antibacterial hand soap, stay away from anyone with a sniffle. There is a lot of pressure and focus on us to keep the shield up and that in itself is part of the imbalance and cause of undo stress.

Building Healthy Immune Systems

It begins with our children and learning once again to assist their bodies in building healthy immune systems.  Dr. Maya Shetreat-Klein writes about this in detail in her book called “The Dirt Cure”. She believes that children’s bodies naturally have the capacity to be healthy and heal when they have the tools to do so.

In her book she details a plan that starts with the soil, using fresh foods and nature to heal children from the inside out and outside in. She reveals the profound connections between food, nature and children’s health and explains how food is constantly changing kid’s bodies, brains and even genes – for better or for worse.

Our Health is More Than Just the Absence of Disease

I believe we are really starting to hear more of and accept that our health is more than just the absence of disease. It is about living our life with joy, purpose and respect for how we treat our bodies. Instead we have been bombarded with messages that create fear and that will have a stronger negative effect our immune system than what germs we are exposed to.

This article ends with a wonderful summary that I will share with you here.  It is the premise that I believe in and bring to all of my clients because true health is a whole mind, body and emotional package.

A Better Outlook

The outlook is not as gloomy as it might appear. We don’t need to be afraid of illness and disease. We are not the inevitable victims of vicious external pathogens waiting to strike us down at every grubby corner we may frequent.

Our health is sustained by the dynamic interplay of our emotions (the way we think, act and feel); our structure (our posture and the physical condition in which we maintain our bodies); and our biochemistry (the way we use food and other nourishment to maintain our function). These are largely under our personal control.

If we become unwell it is usually the result of the breakdown of this balance, and the bacteria and viruses which proliferate are a secondary consequence of that breakdown. They may in fact, have a vital function to perform in bringing things back to normal.

So, the next time you feel ill, don’t blame the bugs! Try instead to see where things may have gone wrong with your internal balancing process. Find the real cause of the disorder and see if you can, in some way, start correcting it. Seek ways to strengthen and sustain your own resilience and immunity.

As you learn to do so, you will begin to respect and understand the wonderful self-regulatory powers of your own body and mind.  Above all you will gain confidence that can eradicate the leading cause of disease, which is the fear itself!  (R.Newman Turner, N.D., D.O., B. Ac.).

Let’s feed our minds with information like this that brings the power back to where it really exists – within us. After such a beautiful family weekend here that was filled with sunshine, it is hard to deny the impact sunshine has on our outlook and balance in life.

I was drawn to the work that I do to keep balance in my own life and be able to share that with others so we can enjoy life to the fullest. Please feel free to share your tips and experiences here for others to learn from.

You can connect with me by email or telephone, or click the contact tab at the bottom of the screen if you are reading this post on the website. Don’t forget to join in the conversation on Facebook too!

Till next time!

Karen

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For the past couple of years, I have been listening to my inner urge to find new space to do my healing work.  Where I have been is wonderful and has served me perfectly for the past 11 years and I was ready for more.  More space, more possibility, and a place to make my own tea!

I kept my ears and eyes open and looked at few different spots but nothing was resonating. I realized how much I liked my current location. So if I was to stay there, the only space that provided more room and the flexibility I was looking for was a suite downstairs and it was occupied.  I knew from conversations with the business in there, they were also looking for another location that was bigger still for their whole operations. Read more

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This week we had a community viewing of a documentary entitled “That Sugar” hosted by the Green Connections Network.  It was a brilliant coverage of what happened when a perfectly healthy Australian soon-to-be father decided to do an experiment.  He had been clean of sugar in his diet for 3 years prior to the 60 day experiment. Then he decided to reintroduce sugar to his diet and the results were astonishing.

What Happened After Adding Sugar to his Diet After 3 Years Without It? Read more

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A poem by Danna Faulds – Metamorphosis

“Called beyond the confines of this chrysalis by a force I cannot see or name, I am compelled by pain and something bigger than myself to leave the protection of all that I have known.

There is struggle, doubt, an awkward setting forth.  Finally I break free of the cocoon and find myself surrounded by air and light.

I dare to act, still not knowing what I am; instinct, or maybe faith bids me move forward, make the leap, explore this mystery of change and flight.

I find myself with wings that dwarf my former world. Unfurled, they dry quickly in the sun. I, who expected to spend my days crawling, now teach myself to soar.

Such a rush of wind and freedom – that first flight teaches me more that I had learned in a lifetime of crawling.”

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Continuing on my last post’s theme of hormone disruptors and building on the key health foundation of good sleep; I would like to share with you my journey to find a new mattress.

As we spend approximately 1/3 of our day resting and rejuvenating, it warrants spending some time researching what contributes to a good night’s sleep.  I have been experiencing an increased amount of arm numbness and neck tension upon awaking so it has got my attention big time. Starting the day feeling rested and ready to go is the only way in my opinion. Read more

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I have been unable to ignore a message coming to me lately to share on my blog.  Hormone disruptors are a key component affecting our core health and the ability to keep our body strong.  I respect the research and work of The Environmental Working Group and as I reviewed their site, I found this wonderful blog post that I would like to share in its complete form with you. Read more

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What an incredible summer we are experiencing!  Somehow as we arrive at September, our world still changes cycles.  We are in the rich harvest time of our area with Farmers Markets loaded with produce and for those ambitious few who capture summer in a jar; it is a busy time. I love seeing the beautiful colours of summer filling my jars ready to provide nourishment throughout the winter months.  On my to-do list are peaches, chili sauce, apple sauce and beets.  Yum! Read more

Last year was a turning point for me with regards to my oral health. I have had receding gums since my 20’s and my gum pockets have continued to deepen over the years.  I am so happy to share with you today how I decreased my tooth gum pockets in the last year. Read more

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Being out of balance is a result of not paying attention to our needs, physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually.  What is your wake-up call that brings you back to awareness?

Encouraging balance in life…

My tag line for Inside Out is “encouraging balance in life…” I chose this because it has been part of my journey and continues to require tuning in and presence.  I have identified some keys that bring me back to balance and the process just might work for you too. Read more

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I received a reflective writing from Caroline Myss in my inbox last week that struck a strong chord with me. The article was inspired by the Orlando massacre however she brought it to the level of the collective consciousness which we can also call the collective unconscious and that had me take a personal look.  If we are, at some level, one, then how am I being in my life?  Are there places in my life calling for more grace? Read more

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For those of you following my posts this year, you will have noticed a theme.  I embarked this year on expanding my awareness of healthy lifestyle choices that result in feeling more energized, happy and physically strong.  This inner pull was motivated by new hormonal shifts taking place in my body that created a feeling of not being in control. I felt exhausted, my digestion was sensitive, I got light heart palpitations at night and my natural exuberance for life was hard to connect to. This menopausal feeling mimicked my early months of pregnancy when I felt exhausted, nauseous and overly sensitive to food and smells. What I knew was – it wasn’t a happy place! Read more

Karen-&-Sadie

Our world was shaken up in a good way this past long weekend with the arrival of our new puppy Sadie. How one little bundle of love and joy requires an immediate shift in patterns is quite remarkable. We have had 3 dogs over our 30 year marriage though it’s been 1.5 years since we said good-bye to Tess, our lovely Bouvier.  I always missed having a four-legged companion but as the family is grown and we have busy lives, it just didn’t seem like the right time.  I would often find myself browsing websites of different non-shedding breeds like Bouviers, Portuguese Water dogs and Schnauzers to see what was available. And of course I would often dream about having one. Read more

Young happy woman enjoying fresh air in autumn, intentionally toned.

It’s something we take completely for granted – our breath; and yet it is one of the most powerful medicines we can utilize for so many benefits.  And, best of all, it’s FREE!  Being conscious of how we breathe can have many health benefits while, on the other hand, not being mindful of our breathing can affect us both physically and emotionally. Read more

motivational poster quote LIFE BEGINS AT THE END OF COMFORT ZONE

We have just gone through a deep freeze here in southern Ontario with a low Sunday of -26C.  What a time to step outside of my comfort zone and choose to incorporate cold showers into my morning routine!

It all started last March when I was reminded by a wise naturopathic doctor how healthy it is to finish a hot shower with a few minutes in a cold splash! Finishing a shower with a cold blast is also great for rinsing your hair after washing it. I began to do this regularly for quite some time and then somehow dropped the practice. Read more

Trending oral health practice of Oil Pulling or Swishing

I have been reading a lot about the Ayurveda practice of Oil Pulling.

“Enthusiasts of oil pulling, also called Kavala Graha or Gandusha, claim that toxins and bacteria in the body build up in the mouth and that swishing or holding oil in the mouth for a prolonged amount of time will draw out these impurities or wash them from the mouth. Once the swishing is complete, the oil is spit out into a sink or trash basket.”

via LiveScience.com 

As someone who has had sensitive teeth and gums for most of my adult life, I am always curious about exploring oral hygiene practices. The information online regarding oil pulling ranges from the gamut of being a complete hoax to claims of it healing intestinal diseases, heart and kidney disease and sleeplessness. I tend to look for the relatable and common sense benefits that some people share.  These include: whiter teeth, less bleeding gums, and a decrease of halitosis. Read more

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June 2012 Circle with Terri Segal, Elisha MacMillan and Shaw Percussion.

Happy 2016! Though every moment is a new beginning, there is heightened awareness of this as we enter a New Year. A fresh opportunity to welcome new adventures, new acquaintances, new thoughts and magical moments!  I am reminded by this quote that balance is also important and that we will also be letting go of what no longer serves us. Read more

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A couple of years ago I shared my own New Year’s tradition with you and it has been a popular topic so I am ready to update it for 2016. You see instead of making resolutions or goals, I take some time to tune into what I am feeling the energy of the New Year is bringing forth in me. I then pick 3 or 4 words that capture the essence of that energy to be my Intention Words for the coming year. Read more

biophoton therapist Newmarket

This Friday, The Green Connections Network will be hosting the documentary film entitled “Tapped ” at a local venue which reviews the bottled water industry. See here for details: We know that healthy water is linked to healthy bodies and yet the ability to sort through the studies and claims of current water products and technologies is daunting. Opportunities to come together to discuss can help answer some questions.

“Water plays many important roles within the body. Water is the major part of most of the body’s cells (except for fat cells) and it also cushions and lubricates the brain and the joints. It transports nutrients and carries waste away from the body cells. It also helps regulate body temperature by redistributing heat from active tissues to the skin and cooling the body through perspiration. Read more

health effects of nail polish

I receive numerous health newsletters, scientific findings and special interest updates on a regular basis. Sometimes one just hits a “pause” button in me and has me question a habit I have incorporated in my life. This time was around the hidden health costs of having beautiful nails. The headline was “Nail polish users exposed to chemical linked to paralysis and reproductive disorders”. I have used natural organic body and oral products and make up for years however throughout the summer months, I still add beautiful colour to my toe nails and often use clear polish on my finger nails. Oh dear, now that I am in that shifting menopausal time of life, I seem to be extra sensitive to chemicals which means I have new choices to make. Read more

East Gwillimbury Community

I am very passionate about the power of community so I hope to keep this post brief! I just attended our monthly East Gwillimbury Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting this week and the sponsor presenter was Neighborhood Network. I was not aware of this excellent local volunteer based organization and it had me reflect once again on the how much good is added to people’s lives when caring souls reach out! Read more

Munro Armstrong

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Here we are at the gates of September when life kicks back into high gear. Have you noticed the change in expectations on our time which plays havoc with life balance?

Whether you have children in school or not, life seems to jump into warp speed once September arrives at our door. I say ‘it seems to’ because we all know that time is a constant however depending on what we are doing, our experience of time can change drastically. If we are under a tight deadline to complete something, time seems to fly yet if we are sick in bed for a day unable to sleep due to discomfort then a day could drag on forever! There is a middle ground too. It happens when we are doing something we love and we’ll say we have no sense of what time it is and we don’t care.

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Electromagnetic fields (EMF) and radio frequencies (RF) are everywhere in our modern technological society and the impact of these on our health is in constant speculation. For those of you who have read my previous blog on this topic, you will recall that my husband has an acute sensitivity to these EMF frequencies. Because of that, I am always on the lookout for practical solutions to minimize the impact of these frequencies within our home and on our person. I have some new updates to share with you. Read more

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Last fall I decided it was time to take action on one of my dream projects…my Fairy Garden. I know – you are thinking, what constitutes a Fairy Garden? I have 3 sons so I have had that question arise a time or two. My vision was to have a garden located outside my home office window that I could gaze out to when I was home working on the computer. It would be a place that invited nature to interact and I could watch and enjoy the happy scenery. It all started when I bought a wonderful bird house from our church talent auction that was made by one of our elders. I asked my husband to put it up outside my office window where I could watch the birds come and go. Read more

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In keeping with my last blog, I will continue on the path of our bodies from a different angle. How our lifestyle choices directly affect our body. This is something I experience in my practice all the time so I got very excited when I read Lissa Rankine’s book, “Mind over Medicine “, as she brings scientific proof to this very concept. Here is an excerpt from her book: Read more

reiki master NewmarketAs I mused about what to share this week, a client came and told me about an article she has just read in a local publication. It was a letter written by a woman to her body and my client said I am going to put this letter where I can read it every day and remember how special my body is! She believed that it was likely many of us could relate to the essence of the message. I agree…it is a common theme. Here is the letter:

Dear Body, Read more

reiki master NewmarketIn my reiki classes and practice days I always have a beautiful beeswax pillar candle set in the middle of a table alter surrounded by crystals. We light it at the opening of our time together and extinguish it after our final prayer circle. I always felt that it provided more than a beautiful centerpiece and after listening to a networking colleague share his wisdom on the health benefits of pure beeswax, I understood why.  And since it is earth month, I thought I would share what I have learned. Read more

Green Connections network

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For those of you who follow my blog, you know that I value the ability we have to continually educate ourselves. It provides a better platform to make wise choices in our lives so that we create the outcomes we want. On that note, I would like to highlight the community film nights hosted by The Green Connections Network. Moving into our third season, these documentary style films have been a highlight of the community building activities of this great green group! Read more

Relationship Expert York RegionAll around the world, International Women’s Day represents an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women while calling for greater equality. Make It Happen is the 2015 theme for our internationalwomensday.com global hub, encouraging effective action for advancing and recognizing women.

Each year International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8. The first International Women’s Day was held in 1911. Thousands of events occur to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women. Organizations, governments, charities, educational institutions, women’s groups, corporations and the media celebrate the day. Read more

biophoton light therapist york regionEvery year I purchase science and discovery type magazines for my family to read over the Christmas holidays and this year was no exception. An article entitled “Could this Apple Poison Me?” in the Ideas & Discoveries magazine really caught all of our attention.  Education allows us to make informed choices and so I would like to share some of the highlights of this article about imported poisons in our food and the hidden health hazards, with you.

We import over 4 billion pounds of food from China every year at unbeatable prices however we are paying a hidden price in our health. No other country exports food that contains so many toxic substances as China does including lead, aluminum, hepatitis A virus, DDT, glyphosate and formaldehyde just to name a few. Read more

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The last week of November, our presenter for the York Region Women’s Circle was Donna Smith-Montcreiffe who shared first hand with us the research she has just completed for her upcoming book to be released in March 2015 on Energy or Alternative Healing. We had an incredible evening that stretched our thinking of healing and of the whole human experience. Donna focused on 3 main areas for the evening which included past-life regression, alternative healing and out of body experiences. She read a case study for each of these areas after talking about some of her travels to meet healers and the corresponding healing sessions she had the opportunity to observe. Read more

supporting the immune systemI participated on a panel of experts at the recent Annual Richmond Hill Library Health Fair with 7 other incredible practitioners. We were given the opportunity to introduce our specific health modalities and then the moderator guided us through a few questions pertinent to the season. It was a wonderful experience to realize how unified we were on our overall principals AND the different perspectives we brought to the table that served the whole spectrum of well-being. A super important focus for this time of year was being asked to give our 1 unique tip for supporting a healthy immune system. Here are 8 ways from the list of experts. (I hope I remember them correctly!)

Angela Dacey:  Bring the colour RED into your life. Red is for physical and sexual energy and passion. It is stimulating and energizing, therefore it is helpful for tiredness and lethargy, to stimulate low blood pressure, to boost sluggish circulation. Red helps build up our confidence so we can be more comfortable with our body. Read more

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It has been a rather interesting weather pattern here this year and October arrived with one of the best weeks we have had in the past couple of months! Warm, sunny and colourful! I love taking advantage of the fall season – the time of year when the magic of Mother Nature explodes in full colour teasing us with a taste of the cool weather that is coming over night but warming up through the day. It’s a time of dressing in layers and being prepared for the shifts of temperature that happen throughout the day. Read more

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I just spent the most amazing weekend in the woods out in the Hockley Valley; an event hosted by Visions in the Woods proprietor Deborah Kolody and a team of incredible leaders.

It was an outdoor event literally in the beautiful woods of Hockley with many vendors sharing their gifts and services with each other and the participants. The theme was experiencing the elements of water, fire, wind, earth and storm and I must say they were present at every level. Read more

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Ho’oponopono is a Hawaiian healing tradition that “undoes” the threads that cause disharmony in our lives. It involves using statements with a lot of historical power on their own, but, when your conscious intention is behind it, without guilt or shame or fear, it is an extremely powerful tool of change!

This past weekend a friend and I co-hosted a wonderful workshop to learn the art of Ho’oponopono with Krow Fischer from Here on Earth. Over the past year, I have been really looking at and releasing some old patterns that were no longer serving me in my life as many of my friends and clients alike have been doing. We all learn in different ways and though I read many books and listen to many CD’s etc., my best way to integrate learnings are through experiential work. I had read a book this spring on Ho’oponopono, the Hawaiian art of love and forgiveness which was very intriguing. To my delight, I found out that Krow Fischer was leading workshops for this after studying with Harry & Sila Jim, Traditional Hawaiian Kahuna’s. The art of attraction in action!

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kiboMany of my clients ask me what I use for skin care and make-up as we begin to realize how many chemicals are in the favourite products that we use every day from deodorant to shampoo and this time of year; sunscreen! It’s a fabulous question and one that I continue to learn more about every day. Being fair skinned, I have used face make-up since I was a young teenager and I realize that my body was exposed to harsh chemicals for years. I trust that my body is always ready to spring back and respond to healthy changes and so today I have a completely different approach with that of organic skin care.

I have a number of local favourites that I use which I am happy to share here along with a couple of great websites for further information. It started with the EWG who provide a wealth of research on product contents and my new find, The Health & Beauty World.

Here is a list of ingredients to avoid in your skin care from the Health & Beauty World website: Read more

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It is such a gift to be part of local networking groups which expose me to incredible people. Yesterday’s BWNA joint meeting held at Pathways to Perennials in King Township was no exception. We were fortunate to have a dynamic and passionate speaker, Donna Tranquada representing Food & Water First to share with us her personal journey over the past 3 years about saving our agricultural lands.

Donna lives and works in downtown Toronto however she and her husband own a farm property in Melancthon Township just west of Mulmur Township in Dufferin County. For those of you familiar with the area, you will know a great grass roots movement took place to stop the development of a mega quarry in this prime agricultural and precious water landmass. Thousands of citizens came together to uncover the truth of what was planned for the area and organized their efforts to educate Ontarians including the politicians on what repercussions would result for the invaluable water and food supply of the area. The process was a success and the mega quarry has been halted for now.

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Enneagram Type 6I was working with a young client recently who shared with me her challenges around anxiety and the thought patterns reminded me of how some of my Enneagram Type 6 friends have shared what they experience. I reached out to ask them what they have found beneficial to quiet the anxious thoughts which lead to the anxious feelings in the body. I was very touched by the thoughtfulness that was put into the responses and I am sure that the suggestions will be valuable to all of us regardless of our Enneagram type. (for a refresher overview of Enneagram Type 6, follow this link.

These responses represent both genders from a more experienced stage of life. They all acknowledged that managing anxiety has been a pattern of struggle in their lives and so they have been very motivated to look for strategies to ease this. There were definitely common strategies and then there were specific ones that provide support for specific personal challenges. I will begin with the most popular response and work to the individual.

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Staying positiveI was asked by a colleague yesterday “How do we stay positive when the negativity creeps in?” Here in southern Ontario as with many other regions in Canada and the northeastern states, we are still in winter weather conditions. Last night we experienced -15 and though it has warmed up a bit today, the snow flurries have arrived. Even the winter enthusiasts are waning and looking forward to warmer spring conditions. The top world news stories do not paint a beautiful picture of peace and the astrological shifts are definitely stirring up the status quo. So, the question is a really great one and I thought I would share some of my thoughts on it here. Of course I am hoping that it will encourage others to share their strategies and tips as well. Below are 6 tips to staying positive.

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At our February Women’s Wellness Circle, Charles Brand of Appealing Environments, entitled his presentation to us as “Crystal Enlightenment”.  He reminded us that as we are moving into the Age of Aquarius that we are actually raising the vibration of our bodies and shared with us a way to support this process with crystals.  So how can we raise our vibration and how does it have anything to do with crystals like quartz and amethyst?  Well, Charles talked about how our bodies are a carbon base and carbon is close on the periodic table to silicon or Sand. We had the opportunity to look at “Sand” in a whole new way and explore our own “Self” in the process.

Quartz Crystals, Amethyst and Citrine are made up of Silicon dioxide (SiO2). Silicon Dioxide is the most abundant compound in the earth’s crust.  It exists as quartz crystal, amethyst, agate, flint, jasper, opal and commonly known SAND. As we are moving into the Age of Aquarius – I reference the writing of another researcher who speaks of this topic in his work.

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It is Valentine’s week so it feels very timely to be answering a question that was sent in from a Type 5 reader asking, “How do I stay connected with my emotions and not detach when it is important to do so?  Please review my overview blog on Type 5 for background.  I decided to reach out to my panel of experts…the Type 5s in my life for their input to this question.  Needless to say, it was not an easy response for the majority of them, which is why this question is so powerful.

Type 5s are in the Thinking Triad and identify powerfully with; “A sense of being a detached, outside observer of the world – not part of it. They resist recognizing physical presence and state, feelings and needs, from the book “The Wisdom of the Enneagram”. Read more

Living healthyI had the opportunity to appear on Rogers Daytime TV this morning as part of the Green Connections Networking group I belong to. I wanted to link being healthy with being green and sustainable.  I have been part of this great green group for over a year now and am so impressed with the personal conviction that each of us shares towards living in a more sustainable way, no matter what our business segment is. I have noticed that people who take care of themselves also have a higher propensity to make greener choices overall in life. I prepared a multiple choice fact sheet to work with for the interview segment that I believe might be of interest to you as readers.  I have highlighted the correct answer.

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Women's CircleHappy 2014! It is vividly cold for us here in Southern Ontario yet the sun is shining and that combination makes me feel very alive!  I am reminded that I always find myself feeling this alive and connected at the close of each month’s Women’s Circle. The Power of the Circle never ceases to amaze me – there is a foundational peace that resides when a group of like-minded people gather together in circle.

Founded 10 years ago by Jill Hewlett, the York Region Women’s Circle has been meeting monthly at various locations, bringing a diverse yet connected group of women together to share, learn, experience and laugh. I began hosting the summer outdoor circles at our beautiful acreage in Holland Landing many years ago and soon joined to co-host throughout the year. We now offer two locations every month with Jill hosting a Toronto location and I carrying forward the York Region group.

Every month we feature a different presenter to share their journey and talents.  It is experiential, nurturing and oh so much fun! Every month has first time attendees and those who rarely miss.  New friendships are made and new ideas germinated that bring women to something they never thought of before. There is an uplifting that is so valuable in our busy lives. When we participate in the circle, we find our power increase exponentially like a drop of water rippling on the surface of a pond.  There is power in numbers and when the commitment is made by many to come together in a circle to focus attention and joy, the circle emanates ripples of energy that can change the world.

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2013 - Hawaii 2 139aThis is a follow up to my last post where I shared that I had just returned from a beautiful trip to Hawaii and now I would like to expand upon “The Spirit of Aloha”.  As we move into the holiday time of year, we are inundated with the marketing of the season luring us to buy a multitude of material things yet the deeper meaning includes gratitude, reflection, giving and acknowledgement of our blessings. I found this passage describing the deeper meaning of Aloha and it once again struck me how we are all unified at the core of our roots.

THE DEEPER MEANING OF ALOHA
by Curby Rule

For those who follow the path of Huna, or are fortunate enough to live in Hawai’i, it is common for us to use the word Aloha. We use it in greetings and farewells and in expressing love. But the word means even more; it is a way of life.

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Hawaii

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My husband and I just returned from a beautiful holiday in Hawaii where we toured around Oahu for a couple of days and then flew to Maui to live in a beach house shared with 2 other couples for 10 days.  It could not have been a more perfect holiday; with ideal weather, vistas to fill every sense, excursions to expand our knowledge and our athletic skills and good friends to laugh and share it all with. We certainly made some plans for the top activities we wanted to experience and the rest of the time we allowed the day to unfold by tuning into what felt good. I chose to be completely “off” of work mode and completely “on” enjoying the time with my husband and friends.  I arrived back on Friday and still had no idea what I wanted to share next in my blog.  As I was catching up on the inbox…I came across this wonderful article in a Hay House e-mail about 10 ways to live happy and was reminded how much I enjoyed Lissa’s book.  Enough so, that I have given it to clients and friends this year. It is a perfect segway for keeping a little Island feel inside as I live each day!

10 Ways to Live Happy for 100 Years

man_1125In her public television special Heal Yourself: Mind Over Medicine, Dr. Lissa Rankin shares a story of Stamatis Moraitis. (The New York Times featured him in a recent article called “The Island Where People Forget to Die.”)

Stamatis Moraitis was a WWII veteran from Greece who came to the U.S. to get treatment for his arm that was mangled in combat. He wound up settling in Boynton Beach, Florida where he married a Greek-American woman, had three children, had a good job in manual labor, bought a three-bedroom house and a 1951 Chevrolet.

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Karen Armstrong - Reiki Master Newmarket

Last weekend I taught a Reiki Level 2 certification class. It was a joyful experience in so many ways.  As we sat down to lunch, one of my students commented that he didn’t know what he looked forward to more, the teachings or the yummy home-made lunch!  He even suggested that I start a new blog entitled “Reiki in the Kitchen!”  Well, I chose to start out with a single blog on this topic because it really did speak to me on the capacity of bringing the healing power of reiki to whatever we do.

I love to cook and prepare meals that nourish our soul and to sit at a table with others to share just adds more joy to the whole event!  When we spend time at the reiki training to open our heart and learn the sacred teachings of the Usui natural healing system, it only seems to fit that we also take time to nourish our bodies with healthful food to support the day.  I love to take time looking through my cook book collection to find just the right dishes to share for the time of year. I tend to focus around a soup dish and this past weekend was no exception.  I chose a recipe from Julie Daniluk’s book entitled “Meals that Heal Inflammation” called Ginger Butternut Soup. I will share the recipe below.  Served along with a salad of fresh baby greens, basmati rice and bread, it warmed our bellies and prepared us for the afternoon session.

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GoingWithTheFlowHave you been noticing the shifts lately?  You know the ones that are bringing up old stuff that are calling to be released!  Planetary influences are all about “releasing what no longer serves us” so I have been noticing with many clients and in my own life opportunities to release and to transform our thoughts and perceptions.  I took my reiki mastery training with Dean Noblett and Rebecca Couch of Heartlight in Schomberg.  Rebecca is an excellent writer and she posted this piece on Spirit Library that fits perfectly for the energies taking place right now. Here are some things to remember when the shift hits the fan!

Dean & RebeccaProcess Your Emotions Honestly Feeling makes you human. Allow your emotions to express themselves within you truthfully. Just be with them as they arise, because you have a right to feel however you do. Stay with them until you can name them – but don’t get stuck in them and don’t hurt yourself or anyone else with them! You are not your emotions; you are oh-so-much more.

Breathe and know that all is well.

Remain Calm and Carry On Just like any emergency situation, you can think and respond better when you are calm. Remember that there is great power and balance in neutrality. Don’t take anything personally. Be the neutral, objective watcher as much as possible. Have courage, and keep on keeping on…there are great insights ahead. Always put the oxygen mask on yourself first.

Breathe and know that all is well.

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Cultural CreativesCultural Creatives are a growing segment of the Western population transforming mainstream culture.  Driven by their holistic values, integrated worldview and ability to synthesize vast amounts of information with an inner vision (insight) of wholeness, Cultural Creatives are in the author’s words, an “emerging wisdom culture”.

This was the opening of an article I happened to find in the latest Pathways to Family Wellness magazine that I get at Foster Family Chiropractic. I was very taken by what author Paul H. Ray, a social scientist had to share from his years of research about this group of people.  I related it to my life and to the groups that I am part of and realized that this brought more insight into the reasons why I am drawn to being part of or coordinating these groups. As I was preparing for a talk at one of them, the Green Connections Networking Group, I found the synchronicity of this article beautiful. Let me share a few highlights of what the article covered. Read more

patterns“Old age merely reveals all the problems the person has failed to solve in his life.” Luis Martins Simoes

Have you watched the commercial on TV recently that plays out 2 scenarios of the how the last 10 years of life could look?  One shows a man aging with grace and vibrancy and the other shows him deteriorating slowly but surely until no light is left in his system.  This is very real!  Our body is sharing with us every day how it is doing and what is out of balance calling for attention.  I have spoken numerous times around this idea.  That is why this quote above so spoke to me and I carried on reading further the insights of Luis in his research.

He looks at the emotional connection to various ailments that we experience in life and I will share one with you as an example.  We often hear the saying that a symptom is age related and a very common “age related” issue is eye sight. Here is what Luis shares about aging eyes. Read more

Harbour Breezes Nova Scotia

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My husband and I recently returned from a wonderful trip to Nova Scotia where we visited with friends in Musquodoboit Harbour on the Eastern Shore about 45 minutes from Halifax. While there we toured an incredible garden property called Harbour Breezes where owners Allan and Shane have created a visionary wonderland. I wanted to share this story with you because I was so moved by what I experienced walking these gardens and listening to the story of its “becoming”.  It truly is a “Vision in Action”.

The property was purchased in 2004 and opened to the public in 2006. Its location is ideal being right on the well traveled Hwy. #7 along the Eastern Shore at Jeddore Harbour with a south facing view of the water. From the humble home at the road, the property goes straight uphill behind.  The land is rough, covered in large rocks, trees and native scrub brush. As the story unfolded, we learned that every year Allan gave his creative dreams permission to grow with lots of hard work and research and determination. The core lines of products are Day Lilies and they currently have over 750 varieties with new ones being added every year.

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L – Life

I – Onmipresent

V – Victoriously

E – Expressed

By “life omnipresent”, I mean that life is present in all things.  It is not only in human beings, but in animals, trees, rocks – in every living thing, every object. Even a table is composed of the same energy that we are. It is part of the interrelated whole. It has function and is going through it’s own transformational process.  The same is true of the 75 million cells that make up the human body, and of every particle in each of those cells.  Not a single one is exactly like another, and each has it’s own destiny.  If we can accept this truth, perhaps we can learn to stop judging other things and other beings by limited human or cultural standards.  That would be a great advance, for it is judging that holds us back from giving and receiving unconditional love.

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transitional shiftingThere is one constant in this universe and that is change!  We tend to create stress in our lives when we are constantly looking for stability, defined as “no changes”.  We can definitely create stability however it looks different.  It is an inner state rather than an outer state. And with so many of my clients feeling the effects of change and transition very intensely right now, my attention was peaked while reading the latest issue of PATHWAYS to family wellness magazine.  I would like to share a portion of one of the articles here with you entitled “Why and How we Shift”.

IONS (Institute for Noetic Sciences) did a 10 year project looking at consciousness transformation. And we looked at the catalysts that shift someone. It can be anything…people describe something as mundane as washing dishes, or as in the case of Edgar Mitchell, as profound as coming back from the moon, that would allow a moment of reflection to say, “Wow! I just feel there is something more here.” It could be the death of a loved one or the loss of a job, a divorce…all of these can be helpful to disrupt our current state.  It’s really beautiful when we can move our conversation about something that is traumatic into something that can help us grow and evolve, because that’s the worldview shift. It’s how we define the situation.  One person can see it one way and another person can see it another way.  It is how we can begin to own the power of the interpretation of the experience.

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bigstock-Raging-kids--children-shoutin-30047846This topic has come about so frequently with clients and in my own life over the past few weeks that it felt like a great topic to write about.  This subject of mirroring is not a simple process to understand however it can be very powerful.  In the big picture, I always say that “we do not see the world as it is, we see the world as we are!”  This means that we interpret our outer experiences from the perspective that we hold at any given time.  If we wake up one morning over-tired and not in a great mood, the experiences of our day seem to reflect that mood that we hold!  As Abraham would say:, “The worse it gets, the worse it gets!!”  Thankfully, the opposite is true too:, “The better it gets, the better it gets! Read more

LoveWhatYouDoI recently received a comment from a reader on my Enneagram Type Nine blog: that went like:

“Thanks for your really helpful comments, which I wish I could instantly digest and do something about! Would be interested in your thoughts on type 9s identifying their passion which I know is a problem for them.”

So I answered him back with my thoughts but also advised that I would check in with my expert panel themselves, the Type Nines, to see what insight could be gleaned.  Well – it was a beautiful experience and I believe great information for the Nine in all of us.  Here is a summary of the responses that I received.

You have to push yourself, take risks, get out of your comfort zone, try something new and give yourself permission to do something that may make you stand out and may not be what everyone expects of you.  If you haven’t found your passion in the world that you have created for yourself you have to venture out further to find it.  I think usually fear is what holds us back from reaching for the next level and challenging ourselves; fear of failing, fear of making a mistake, fear of being judged, fear of being noticed, fear of disappointing someone … and maybe even fear of success.  I have discovered that the only thing you should fear is standing still and not growing.”

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emotional intelligenceBack in 1995 a new best seller hit the bookstores called “Emotional Intelligence”, by Daniel Goleman and the impact it had on my business career was significant.  I recall reading this book and feeling such a resonance with the material like there was finally scientifical proof to so much of what I instinctually knew to be true.  I ended up becoming certified in giving the EI assessment and from there was introduced to an incredible tool for developing our emotional intelligence called the Enneagram!

To this day, I believe that how well we handle our daily interactions and life stresses are based more on how developed our emotional intelligence skills are than anything else. In fact when we are not processing our emotions effectively; it creates the opportunity for energy imbalances to manifest and these show up as dis-ease symptoms in the body. Yes – I believe that every physical symptom in the body first originated at the emotional level.

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2013 - Hawaii 2 307aTo continue along the same vein as my last post about taking personal responsibility, I found this passage in a wonderful book entitled, “It’s not what you eat, it’s what eats you.” by Jack Schwarz. And in this blog post, we’ll explore the barriers we have in life and how to overcome them by letting our own self-expression flow.

“Too often we set our potentials aside and put our desires on hold for someone else’s apparent sake. We create conflicts which don’t need to exist, either an inner conflict of, Should I or Shouldn’t I? or an attempt to justify our lack of expression because of what others expect of us.  Too often we create a time schedule by which self-expression, if it comes at all, can come only after we have fulfilled all social expectations, only to find that those never end.  We need to know what to do now, and then do it, in spite of everything else.  Spontaneity is not easy, especially for those of us who have family or obligations incurred by other structured situations.  Expectations repress natural spontaneity.

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taking responsibilityIs what you are experiencing in your life what you want it to be?  We all want to put responsibility on outside influences for things that are causing us stress, challenge and discomfort, but that is so limiting.  The most powerful stance we can take is one of personal responsibility because then there is hope for change. This is definitely not implying blame and guilt, far from it.  We only know what we know and we are generally making choices in each moment based on that!  So – the opportunities are endless if we come from a position of personal responsibility.

“We don’t see the world as it is, we see the world as we are.”

We are incredible beings with such inner resources to interact with the world around us and our bodies do an amazing job of trying to keep up with what we put them through every day.  Sometimes though, it just feels like we don’t have enough to get through whatever is going on.  Many of us live in an exhausted state, with commitments pulling from every direction and a feeling that there is no time for ourselves.  This is not an empowering feeling and the body will find a way to let us know that we are not in balance!  Whether we experience headaches, tension aches, digestive issues, insomnia, high blood pressure, anxiety; the list is endless; it is the bodies messaging system at work.

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effects of EMFsHere is a personal account of how Electro Magnetic Frequencies (EMF) have affected our family.  I found myself sharing with a client yesterday, the journey our family went through to discover what the root cause of my husband’s discomfort was a few years back and decided it might be relevant to share it here with you.

What started out as a relatively annoying sporadic skin rash some 30 years ago started becoming a regular issue around 2005.  The normal protocol from the medical field was to treat the sporadic outbreak with cortisone cream, however the more I learned about the negative side effects of this cream, I encouraged my husband not to use it.  We would try other natural options, but one day the issue got so bad, he said that he needed to get to the bottom of it.  We sought the help of an Iridologist, Naturopath and finally got to a TCM Doctor who specialized in acupuncture.  That brought a complete detoxification of his system and gradually strengthened it do a better place than he had been for years however – symptoms would still appear every once in a while.

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I recently attended a phenomenal weekend workshop with Helen Palmer and Terry Seracino entitled “Observing the Hidden Barriers in Relationships”.  It focused on the Enneagram personality system and specifically the three subtypes that play out in our relationships. The weekend was rich in exercises, witnessing and experiencing how these inner habits of focus can play out within our interactions.  I thought some of you may be curious to learn a bit about these subtypes; so here we go.

“Our conditioned Enneagram type structure is defined by a pattern of thought supported by an emotional habit (historically called the passion of the heart) which plays out in three critical behaviours called Subtypes that affect our relationships as well as how we spend our time and energy.”

These three subtypes can also be referred to as instinctual energy and I will give a brief overview here taken from the notes of the weekend workshop.

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Chakra System

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Continuing from my previous posts Understanding Vibrational Medicine, and Understanding Vibrational Medicine – Acupuncture- Meridian System, in this final post of this series, I will focus on a basic outline of another of the body’s “Life Energy systems” which we refer to as the Chakra System.

We have discussed how a balanced flow of chi energy through the acupuncture-meridian system is crucial to achieving health; but the chi flow through the meridians is only one of the many human subtle-energy systems that must be in balance in order to maintain health.  Blockages in the flow of subtle energy through the chakra system can be an equally important contributor to dis-ease. In the yogic tradition, the chakras are said to function as emotional and spiritual energy transducers.  They take the prana, the subtle nutritive life energy component of sunlight.  Although chi and prana are life energies, prana is a distinctive and different form of life energy from chi.  The seven major chakras absorb and distribute prana to various organs and tissues of the body.  It seems anything that causes a blockage or disturbance in the flow of subtle energy through one or more chakras can also lead to the development of illness in the body. One of the most important causes of chakra blockage is chronic emotional stress and emotional energy imbalance.  Just as physical toxins can produce illness, emotional toxins can poison the spiritual as well as the physical bodies in various subtle ways. Chronic anger, hatred, bitterness, greed, hopelessness, loneliness and depression may lead to illness, because these negative emotions create chakra imbalances that shut down the flow of pranic life energy to our body’s vital organs.

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meridianflowchart

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Continuing from the last post, Understanding Vibrational Medicine, in this blog, I would like to cover the basic outline of one of the bodies “Life-energy systems” which we refer to as the Acupuncture-Meridian System.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the body has a distribution network that creates a highway for three essential substances to flow throughout the body. This distribution network called the Meridian System looks like a giant web, linking different areas of our body together. Its pathways make up a comprehensive yet complex body map that supplies vital energy to every part of the body. Philosophically, the Meridian System explains how we live, and why we become sick.

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EnergyHappy 2013 to all!!  As we move fully into this new year and new beginnings, what energy do you feel it holds for you?  I typically begin my new year not with resolutions but a few words or phrases that hold a feeling of what I want to invite into my year ahead.

Last year my words were; Clarity, Focus and Expansion and it definitely was the overall feel of my year.  I added the Biophoton Light Therapy to my practice with a certification course led by Paul McDonald of Meridian Energies in Clarksburg which was an expansion in many ways for me. I began the year with a 10 weeks Holistic Nutrition course with Shawn Nisbet and an 8 week early morning Yoga Challenge with Corrine Penstone at Yoga Source.  I also nurtured my spiritual journey with a program called Tending My Soul Garden with Andrea Mathieson of Raven Essences.  It was a focused and big learning year.

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new-beginningsWell – here we are 1 week before Christmas day and 2 weeks left in 2012!   I know you may be fully engulfed in preparing for the activities that are abundant right now so what am I doing talking about “preparing for new beginnings”?

This is a new beginning time for me every year because I happen to have my birthday in December.  I seem to be drawn to completing unfinished projects before my birthday and to begin thinking about my next year.  The other pattern for me in December is to give my home a thorough cleaning before I put up any Christmas decorations.  The thought of adding beauty to clutter just feels like adding clutter to clutter.

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As we enter into the final weeks towards our Christmas season, it is inevitable that we will be stretched dealing with a multitude of expectations and relationship challenges that often accompany this time of year. I found myself reflecting on this set of commandments written by Kent M. Keith in a book of the same title. “Do it Anyway; The handbook for finding happiness in a crazy world.”  Let me share it with you here.

Anyway: The Paradoxical Commandments.

1. People are illogical, unreasonable and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

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I am awesome! Yes – I just wrote that statement, a humble Canadian!  It has taken a lot of practice, let me tell you.  It appears that we Canadians have a reputation for not being able to acknowledge our greatness – we are just fantastic at acknowledging other peoples greatness!  You see, the real eye opener took place about 3 weeks ago when I was at chorus rehearsal.  It was the week before leaving for our International competition in Denver, Colorado and we were tweaking our performance package with the unbelievably amazing Erin Howden, our choreographer.  Half way through the night after almost standing on her head to get a point across about how much we needed to transcend the footlights with our expression and energy – she asked us to do a little exercise.

She asked each of us to turn to the chorus members standing around us and tell them how awesome they were.  Well – that was effortless, it came with complete sincerity and lots of energy.  Once we calmed down she said, ok, now turn to the chorus members around you and tell them how awesome you are!  Oh my goodness – that was a whole different ball game.  It did not flow effortlessly or with sincerity or lots of energy…in fact it was rather awkward!  I even witnessed a fellow chorus member stick her finger in her mouth and make a gagging motion after she said this to her riser buddy.  We obviously had some work to do.  Did it mean we didn’t think we were good enough to go after the Gold medal in Denver?  No it didn’t.  However it might have impacted how our attitude would come across on stage.  It was not a time and place to be “nice polite Canadians”!   So the next part of the exercise (because it was not over yet)….was to imagine we were one of our Sweet Adeline idles and once we took on the persona of how we believed they would handle this situation – we again approached the riser gals around us and shared the message with them that we in fact were Awesome!!  It worked!  And you can bet that that became an exercise we did every practice until we stood on International stage to perform our package.  And you know what?  It really did get easier and I would say that something shifted because along with all the other preparations we did, our time on stage for the semi-finals was incredible and we came off feeling like we executed our plan!

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I recently attended a family funeral service and once again was so touched by the stories that are shared during this poignant and reflective time.  I have often come away from a service thinking that there was so much about the person that I didn’t know.  We are all so rich with life experience, so unique in our way of being and we touch others in our life in many different ways. One of the powerful messages that always surfaces is a sense of gratitude for the interactions we have had with the person being honoured. It is a real gift when we have had the opportunity to share our heartfelt feelings with them before they pass as it allows for more peace.  It sometimes gets phrased that there is no business left undone.

I found myself reflecting once more on the power of gratitude in our lives and specifically of acknowledging the gifts we receive from others in our lives.  There are special holidays throughout the year that remind us to think about those that make a difference for us such as Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays, anniversaries and we just had a significant one with Thanksgiving!  Our family has often gathered for the Thanksgiving meal and shared around the table something that we are thankful for in our lives.  Some participants may roll their eyes and wish this part of the meal would just pass by however I am quite certain that once the circle of sharing is complete, there is a different vibration opened up around the table.  Our heart centre which I spoke of in 2 previous blogs; The Intelligence of the Heart, and The Intelligence of the Heart – Part 2, has been activated and the strength of that loving signal expands and brings more light and true happiness into the room.

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