Finding Our Space in Time

I’m watching ‘The Bridges of Madison County’ for the second or third time. The timelessness of the film brings thoughts of my mother and our life together.

As I watch the film, I’m hoping my mother and dad had laughter…strong and loud; just as Robert and Francisca did during the kitchen dinner scene, that first day. I hope they had the kind of passion Francisca and Robert experienced: The kind that takes your breath away!

Every Minute of Every Day

What is the Passion that takes my breath away? How will I meet and fulfill my passion? As my ‘day job’ comes to an end…Isn’t it amazing how we just skip over the words ‘day job’. Surely, you’ve thought about how much time your ‘day job’ takes away from fulfilling your dreams? Did you know there are eighty seven hundred and thirty (8,736) six hours in a year? I spend 2,580 waking hours a year going to and from and at my ‘day job’. I spend approximately 2,912 hours sleeping; which has left me with 3,874 waking hours to do with what I want. Precious hours to fulfill my dreams! How exciting to think soon I can do what I want with every minute of every day!

Defining Who We Are

How I spend every hour of each day defines who I am and is relevant. Do we ever disconnect from our dreams? No. If you think that you do; you are incorrect. Our dreams are as much apart of us as an arm or a leg. Disconnection is futile. It can not be done. Do you think trying to disconnect from your dreams has anything to do with disease and dying; for yourself or the planet? What do you think? Trying to disconnect from what we really want to do and be is like trying to swim up stream…you will wear yourself out; become weak and drown.

Living the Dream

My dream is that our development stops creeping in on wildlife. My dream is that we continually expand spaces that acknowledge our inter-connectedness with nature and wildlife. My dream is for spaces that celebrate this connectedness; exciting and joyful places; places were bird songs, babbling brooks and the winds through the trees supply much of the entertainment we crave.

My dream is that the Office of Economic Development and Public Finance offer environmental incentives that have an extremely high tax break for people and business that want to move here and NOT drain our resources; wildlife and natural habitats. Wildlife does not understand the ‘concrete jungle’ that keeps crumbling the land.

There is nothing that you can’t have, be or do.

How do you feel we you hear these words? Most people want to strangle the deliverer, shoot the messenger, because their very soul shouts out that it doesn’t like this message. It doesn’t like it, because it isn’t true.

It’s Just Not True

You know it isn’t true because when you were 4 years old, you really wanted a bicycle with stabilisers, and you didn’t get one. The pain of not getting that bicycle is with you today, that’s how much it hurts not to get the thing that you most want in life.

There were many bicycles when you were growing up, and so you decided not to want, it’s better that way. Then you don’t get disappointed.

Learning Not To Want

And that is how you’ve lived your life up until now. Never wanting and never being disappointed.

Holistic Living Is Cheap

When you saw that people were living their lives ‘holistically’, it seemed like a great idea. It was definitely a less expensive life-style. You could learn to heal yourself, make fresh nourishing food, make your own cosmetics and appreciate the countryside. You need never depend on others again.

You’re reading this post because it didn’t work.

Can’t Get Away From Advertising?

Try as we might, we would have to become desert hermits to get completely away from modern life. You still have children who go to school, and come home wanting the latest trainers, hairstyle, bicycles.

You are unable to get away from all advertising, even if you have disposed of your television. The billboards outside shopping malls, and the hoardings on the side of the road still attract your attention, letting you know what you are missing, and creating a longing deep inside your soul.

Pain Needs Healing

The pain of not getting that bicycle when you were 4 years old is still with you.

It is this pain that needs healing. It is this longing that needs attention. Only then will you be able to live on bean soup and eat vegetables that you have grown yourself and be content. You will know that you have a choice. That holistic living is your decision, not your necessity.

Lack Of Choice

You may choose to grow herbs and learn alternative healing methods, not because you can’t afford to pay doctor’s bills, but because you know that these healing ways are far better for you.

Choice is everything, and your choice involves wanting. You need to work out exactly what you want, by letting go of your childhood disappointment and risking wanting something different.

Stabilise Your Desires

The chances are that you have gone way beyond wanting a bicycle with stabilisers, but those stabilisers can now be attached to your desires. Thinking that material things will satisfy the soul is another mistake that many people make.This strategy doesn’t work because they have not consciously chosen what it is that they truly desire.

Free Teaching

There is a wealth of free teaching that you can access in your quest to consciously choose your preferred life-style, I’ll put the links at the bottom of this post.

Listen To Esther And Louise

Listen to Esther Hicks and Louise L. Hay, two great women who live the life that they have consciously chosen. They both have enough money to purchase anything that takes their attention, but they both choose to live a holistic life…joyously.

http://www.divinepurposeunleashed.com

http://www.healingsimplicity.com

http://www.hiddenknowledge.net

Click the Video link.

The Only Meaning

‘Aging’ has is what you give it.

The years you live are defined by the directions you choose and the trail you leave. Our mind is our communication line and defines our attitude about those directions and the trail we leave.

I’ve often wondered how my mind develops its thoughts’…where do they come from? This question has lead me to study the many ‘belief systems’ in the world.

I Am So Lucky

to have had the mother I had. She did not demand that I attend her church, or any church; nor did she attend her place of worship every week. However, when I was old enough, she took me to her church and said, “this is were I worship, there are many such places and you are free to chose where you want to go or not go”. Luckily my curiosity lead me to attend and investigate many religions.

Common Denominator

I’ve learned a little about the many belief systems of the world; Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, Buddhism,Christianity, Hinduism, Taoism. What they all seem to have in common is the belief in ‘kindness’. Accepting this common denominator makes it possible to identify and develop a positive attitude which is beneficial to all. You may ask, what does a kind attitude have to do with ‘aging’? I believe a kind attitude creates an inner joy and peace that is permeated through our physical action and defines the aging process.

Inner Peace and Joy

gives us the ability to live long and healthy lives; peace and joy make it possible to make positive choices which enhance not only our lives, but the life of the planet! Only when we make positive choices that are all inclusive do we truly experience the long and healthy lives we wish for.

The Majority of the Human Race

is like a three year old rushing into everything as fast as we can, grabbing everything in sight, putting everything into our mouths; getting sick and sometimes dying; more often than not, throwing up on everything!

Our insatiable appetite for more, more and more has created a strain on all earths inhabitants and our planet. We must REDUCE our appetite for more and more!

Humanities Biggest Weakness

is our inability to recognize, understand and accept the message; be kind to everything we live with! If we wish ‘aging’ to be graceful, we must resist the shallow ‘belief system that more is better’, created by those who wish to benefit from our folly!

Happy Gracefully Aging Trails!

It’s hard to eat foods that are “good for you” if they’re well…not good. Luckily for me, many of my favorite foods are also considered anti-ageing foods.

Avocado-yes, they’re high in fat, but it’s the good kind…healthy mono-unsaturated fat. They’re also high in skin-happy Vitamin E. Don’t just think guacamole, slice in salads, dice atop a soup, add to vegetarian sandwiches and eat a half as a snack.

Rick Bayless by Copco Silicone Avocado Scooper, Cilantro

Berries- Blue or black including grapes fight free radical damage to the body. Go berries! Add to cereal, oatmeal, muffins, smoothies, whole grain pancakes or just keep your fridge stocked when you’re looking for a healthy snack.

Alaska Wild Berry Guide and Cookbook

Broccoli and all of its cruciferous cousins…cauliflower, cabbage, Brussel sprouts, kale, radishes. Lightly cook them to retain the most nutritional value. My favorite broccoli recipe is simple– saute broccoli with olive oil, garlic and crushed red pepper and toss with whole wheat pasta.

Anti-Inflammatory Foods for Health: Hundreds of Ways to Incorporate Omega-3 Rich Foods into Your Diet to Fight Arthritis, Cancer, Heart Disease, and More (Healthy Living Cookbooks)

Which brings me to my favorite anti-ageing food GARLIC. A clove a day is recommended, no problem with that. I eat at least that everyday in hummus. Google garlic studies and ageing, and you will be find all the medical studies that prove that daily garlic consumption protects the body against heart disease and cancer. Viva the Mediterranean diet. Worried about the odor, try capsules or live with a garlic lover.

The Garlic Lovers’ Cookbook

Dark Chocolate what diet is complete without chocolate? but here’s where you need to be picky. Choose good chocolate high in cocoa percentage and low in sugar and don’t overdo it. A couple of squares a day will give you the heart healthy benefits without a lot of calories. My favorite brand.

Cinnamon add 1/2 tsp. of cinnamon to your daily diet and you may lower your LDL cholesterol. New studies on cinnamon suggest it may regulate your blood sugar, has anti-clotting properties, can help with arthritis pain, and smelling it may help with cognitive function and memory. I just like it on my oatmeal in the morning, all the rest are bonuses. Add it to your smoothies or mix it in with natural peanut butter and honey for a healthy apple dip.

Ginger boosts your digestive system and can help alleviate aches and pains. Try it in stir fries, breads, soups and don’t forget about how warming ginger tea is in the winter months.

Tazo Green Ginger Tea, 24 Tea Bags

Two more reasons to love the Mediterranean diet Red Wine and Tomatoes. For heart healthy flavonoids keep the red wine consumption to one 4 0z. glass a day for women. Two for men. Tomatoes are the lycopene champions, shown to help protect against certain type of cancer, but choose organic whenever possible, studies suggest that organic tomatoes are higher in lycopene. Also combining tomatoes with healthy fats such as olive oil, avocado and nuts makes for better absorption. So add tomato slices to your avocado sandwich. Top your quick tomato sauce with whole grain pasta and toasted nuts.

Nuts are another anti-ageing food that are easy to incorporate into a healthy diet. For heart healthy benefits the walnut is the clear winner. Followed by almonds, cashews, pecans, Brazil nuts and Macadamia nuts. But don’t overdo consumption, a handful of nuts is all you need daily for the health benefits. Buy bulk raw or dry-roasted nuts without additional fat or salt.

Ageing is staying on the vine until you are ripe.

I’m not ripe yet!

I’ll be 65 in March. I’ve got twins who turned 40 on December 7th. Two grand children. One living sister who is 80 and a bunch of nieces and nephews; a couple of them actually keep in touch.

I live with my golden Pieper and my cat, Aphrodite.

Facing Death

One of my favourite poems by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, was written for his father as his father faced death.

Gentle The Opposite Of Strong?

His father, once a strong man, had become gentle in his old years, and Dylan Thomas implored his father to find strength.

The Excuse Of Ageing

When we age it’s easy to give up the activities that we once loved and settle into a comfortable pattern. I look to Dylan Thomas’ poem as motivation to keep challenging yourself as you grow older. Don’t use ageing as an excuse not to live a whole life.

Embrace Your Age

I am lucky to have so many role models in my life who have embraced their age. These people seemed to lose years as they took on new challenges after 40.

It is easy to think that ageing has a hold of you, and I agree that some signs of ageing are beyond your control. But the good news is that a nutrient-rich healthy diet and a regular exercise program will add years to your life. It’s never too late to start!

How will you go into that good night?

You: Staying Young: The Owner’s Manual for Extending Your Warranty (You)

Younger Next Year: Live Strong, Fit, and Sexy—Until You’re 80 and Beyond

The New Yoga for People Over 50: A Comprehensive Guide for Midlife and Older Beginners

T’Ai Chi for Seniors: How to Gain Flexibility, Strength, and Inner Peace

Brain Fitness: Anti-Aging to Fight Alzheimer’s Disease, Supercharge Your Memory, Sharpen Your Intelligence, De-Stress Your Mind, Control Mood Swings, and Much More

To hear the full text of Dylan Thomas’ poem.

Click the link above to hear the poem being read by Dylan Himself.

Reaching Retirement

Seniors and people coming up to retirement age often see the loss of career and financial independence as a black cloud looming over their remaining years.

You Don’t Need Stereotypes

Society has been educated to expect older people to be a drain on resources. And there is no doubt that they do tend to live up to this stereotype.

Use Every Tool In Nature’s Armoury

If you want to live a long and healthy life, avoid visiting the doctor as much as possible, and use every tool in nature’s armoury to keep yourself healthy.

Open That Crown Chakra

Only you can know what is best for you. If you aren’t sure about being able to tap into the knowledge of the Universe, then you need to open up your crown chakra.

You can do this with:

The Green Selenite Crystal

Selenite has a very fine vibration which brings clarity of mind, one of those symptoms that is often associated with the more senior years.

Selenite is a variety of Gypsum, a common mineral found in sedimentary rock. It is formed through the evaporation of salt water from ancient seas and tinted with a gentle hint of copper.

Primeval Knowledge

Its essence as salt resonates with our own salt water bodies in the most primeval way, and by rubbing a piece of Selenite along the line of striation, can align you with the emotional balance, strength and energy.

Signs Of Ageing

One of the reasons that senior years cause loss of self-worth and self-confidence is the changes that take place within the body.

Skin loses its elasticity and the skeleton is prone to losing calcium - Green Selenite addresses these problems while making you feel good about yourself.

No Need To Waste Energy

Working with your Selenite crystal daily can bring you into alignment with your true feelings and protect you from from wasting your energy by being over-emotional.

Follow Your Heart

So - If you have always longed to use your senior years to achieve all those ambitions that responsibilities forced you to put aside, listen to this crystal.

You will find freedom from the enforcement of re-acting to the ways of the world and begin to work with your heart, as the green of this Selenite vibrates with the heart chakra, opening and tuning and freeing the self.

How To Use Your Crystal

Use the crystal in your meditations, give it as much natural light as you can and a prominent place in your room, from where it can radiate its knowledge. It is better not to use this crystal before wanting to sleep, as its high vibration stimulates the mind with all sorts of plans and ideas, it is the opposite of calming.

A small piece dropped into your daily water ration will work its magic from the inside, but be careful to remove before drinking.

Crystal Healing Information from:

Tracy Bell

Natural Healings Gift Shop

Cannock UK Tel.01543 502736

Getting Older Means Getting Ill

Here in the West, we seem to have an indelible belief in the ageing process, and all the ills that go with it. These bedfellows have been around for so long that they have become part of our heritage.

We pay homage to them, we indoctrinate our children with them and by example we demonstrate that: “when you get old you get ill.”

It doesn’t have to be that way, there is an alternative path that we can take. But to defeat the inevitable we need to fight on two fronts. One is physical, the other metaphysical.

Let’s deal with the physical first.

Naturopathy Nature’s Medicine

In the world of Naturopathy there is a philosophy known as the 7 doctors. They are:

1. Regular Exercise
2. Rest
3. Eating healthy foods and drinking pure water
4. Sunshine
5. Fresh air
6. Living naturally within one’s environment
7. Being happy within one’s heart

These doctor’s probably appear quaint, and there may be readers who will find some of them difficult or even impossible, depending on their circumstances and environment. But together they are a worthwhile target to aim at, and a highly beneficial recipe to achieving good health.

Perhaps the most interesting one is No.7, since it ideally connects the physical with the metaphysical, which we’ll now look at.

Why Did Some People Die Young?

I used to puzzle over the fact that some people I know, who appeared to live by the ‘7 doctors’ principle contracted serious dis-eases and died. Sometimes in their early fifties and sixties, living what seemed to me, too short a life.

Then there would be chain smokers and junk food addicts taking no exercise, living into old age.

My research into this anomaly led me to a new and dynamic understanding about the power of the mind, or more precisely, the power of thought.

The revelation that:

The thoughts we think today are constructing our tomorrows

was devastating at first, but when I analysed my health it all seemed to fit.

Old Thoughts Old Illness

My pattern of thoughts from parental beliefs and judgements, were shaping my health. And it wasn’t good health!

Louise L. Hay Teaching

Fortunately for me, my wife discovered Louise L. Hay and her philosophy. Louise says:

That all our ills are caused by negative thinking. But thoughts can be changed if we have a mind to change them.

To give you an example, if you look again at ‘doctor 7′ above you will notice 2 very important words - “Happy” and “Heart”. A person with a happy heart (meaning happy frame of mind) is most likely to have a strong, healthy physical heart. It means that the person’s thoughts are happy and joyful.

Joy itself represents good circulation, which of course, the heart depends on.

Joy And Strong Immune System

If we regard life as a burden without hope or gladness, those thoughts will be reflected in poor health and tissue degeneration, and without doubt, we will age rapidly, with weaker defences against infection and dis-ease. The choice is always ours - whatever our circumstances!

7 Metaphysical Doctors

In an attempt to balance the physical with the metaphysical I have devised another ‘7 doctors’ which you will be able to put into practice. I did, and my health was transformed.

1. Think positively about ’something’ every day (If it’s only the weather!)
2. Make the choice to forgive those who have slighted you
3. Choose to make peace with yourself before sleep (use a positive affirmation)
4. Always regard adversity as a learning curve and a chance for reappraisal
5. Choose to say affirmations every day
6. Love yourself for who you are
7. Spend a little time each day in quiet reflection

These ‘doctors’ may seem a lot to contend with, but once you get into them and make them habitual, you will never look back. They worked for me, so I know they can work for you.

Before signing off, allow me to leave you with a positive affirmation.

Say this every day while smiling at yourself in your mirror:

I am looking younger every day

Happy positive thinking!…Richard

Merriam Webster Says

‘aging’ is : ‘the period contemporary with a person’s lifetime or with his or her active life b: along time- usually used in plural <haven’t seen him in ages>: an individual’s development measured in terms of the years requisite for like development of an average individual’.

I especially like the ‘along time’ insertion. Let it be so. ‘The period contemporary with a person’s lifetime’. What does that mean?

For Me

‘aging’ is not so much about the passing of years. Aging is a state of mind and body. I believe our minds and bodies are continually fighting off the pollution in the world. This battle is what causes aging. Our ability to find purity in the world is difficult. Some of us just give up. It’s kind of like the smoker using the excuse to smoke, saying, “I’m going to die of something, might as well be something I like”.

‘Move It or Lose It’

It’s true. Energy begets energy. Positive choices beget positive results. There is no easy or instant path to longevity. Even when we make the right choices, it’s difficult; the balance of the world has shifted and much of our innate power as well; how can we slow the wrinkling process, remain taught, yet flexable?

NEVER NEVER NEVER GIVE UP!

I’d like this opportunity to introduce you to ‘sillygolucky’, the winner of the Bodacious Blog and Totally Useful Blogger awards. A trail I know you’ll want to travel. In addition, ’sillygolucky’ has just won the ‘2007 never never never give up’ award! This is an exciting time for ‘sillygolucky‘ and each of us traveling the internet trails! Link up. Live long and learn. Prosperity is only a click away!

I will never, never, never, give up: Making positive choices; hiking, eating organic, burning as little fuel as possible, laughing and living with passion.

Happy and long trails!

Lately, almost every woman’s magazine and website I read is proclaiming “How to Lose Weight After 40″ as if they’re some secret formula to losing weight. Yes, after 40 your metabolism slows down but when I read the articles it all boils down to calories in versus calories out. The best advice I’ve taken from these sources is as follows.

Women over 40 need at least 4 hours of cardiovascular exercise a week to maintain their weight. Yes, maintain. That one really hit home. I just started walking to and from work this week to get the 4 hours. I try to walk a mile in 18 minute or less.

Running and Walking for Women Over 40 : The Road to Sanity and Vanity

Buy a pedometer. You are probably taking a lot less steps than you used too. Aim for 10,000-15,000 steps a day.

Omron HJ-112 Digital Premium Pedometer

• Concentrate on eating good fats. Olive oil, nuts and nut butters, avocados, flaxseed, sesame oil and peanut oil.

Healthy Cooking for Two (or Just You): Low-Fat Recipes with Half the Fuss and Double the Taste

Look at your fiber intake. High fiber foods fill you up with fewer calories. Prevention magazine suggests at least 25 grams a day.Dreamfields Healthy Lasagna Pasta

• Try to start with at least 5 minutes of stretching a day to increase flexibility. Work up to an hour per week. Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi and Qiqong are great practices to get into.

Yoga For Beginners

Eat smaller meals and watch those calories. 500 less calories a week=a loss of 1 pound per week.

• Strengthen your bones with strength-training exercise and calcium-rich foods.
• Eat breakfast. Studies have shown that women who regularly eat breakfast keep off the weight.
• Whole grains and complex carbohydrates should comprise about 45% of each meal.
• Lean proteins boost metabolism, make sure they are part of your diet.
• Choose vegetarian meals at least 3 times a week. High protein veggie options include beans, legumes, soy products, low-fat dairy.
• Be realistic with your weight loss goals. Even a small weight loss will decrease your chance of getting certain types of cancer.
• Experiment with meditation and positive daily affirmations.

There is so much going on ‘out there’: presidential choices, war, global warming, pollution, genocide, disease, famine, fossil fuel and those trying to benefit from it all. Don’t get me wrong…I do have a positive attitude most of the time… and to help it along, my day job demands it.

Use Power Wisely

There are those of us trying to ‘change the tide’ and make sustainable choices. Using our power wisely is crucial, for we know our thoughts become things and give definition to who we are as a species. And, as I leave every morning for work, my bumper sticker reminds me, ‘choose the good ones’.

Tigers and Lambs

So, we’ve got all that ‘out there’ stuff going on. What’s a human to do? Well, I find I must be as fierce as a tiger and gentle as a lamb; purring from the heart as much as possible. Learning the ‘Way’.

What does that mean? Some of what it means is to find a balance; harmony; a sense of connectedness.

Finding The Way

After you’ve taken the time to find the ‘way’, then what? Well, hold on to it as tightly as possible, never let it go. Most importantly once you recognize your inherent power, use it wisely. I feel and see power being wielded, all around me. Unfortunately, the majority of power is unwisely spent; clogging up and poisoning our lives and the life of our planet. Take fossil fuel; it has a leg up and we just can’t let go. We ignite it with our whimsical nature and special interest groups keep fanning the flame, making it possible for these ‘special interest groups‘ to rule the world!

Don’t Succumb To The Powers That Be

I feel it necessary, and believe that in order to make a go of it; and not succumb to the prevalent powers that be, I need to be as ‘fierce as a tiger and gentle like a lamb’. It takes strength to ‘just say no’… and a gentle nature to carry it off. The passion that comes with exercising this strength creates an enduring nature. Endurance makes it possible to keep making wise choices that correct our folly.

Powerful Stewards

Go ahead, shed some tears…it’s not ‘all about us’. Our choices need to be all inclusive; and in consideration of all life and our planet’s diversity. We are not here to be entertained. Every individual must do his or her part; the government cannot do it alone…and have made little plans to do so. As stewards of the earth we have great power and along with this power comes great responsibility.

Good Shepherd/Bad Shepherd

Make two lists. Label one column ‘Good Shepard’ and the other ‘Bad Shepherd’. List everything you do that supports sustainability. And of course, the other list has everything you do that is ‘not’ good for sustainability. Is there a balance? How quickly can you shift the list? How far will you go to make a difference?

A World In Balance

Stay home! Tend to your home and community! Make everything around you beautiful and alive. Make it somewhere you love to be. Entertain the idea of getting to know your neighbor. You have a lot in common; we each want to create beauty and life. We want a loving home and community. We want water to run pure and clean air everywhere. We all want the world in balance and to live in harmony, and yes, we are learning to manage our power.

Happy sustainable trails!

Healing Gems

When we think about first-aid it isn’t usual to think, gemstones. We also don’t wonder how our accident came about in the first place. Finding a plaster or soothing cream is uppermost in our mind, and when that is applied, off we go into our fast paced lives again.

Electro-Magnetic Pulses

Accidents come about through thoughts, and thoughts are electro-magnetic pulses that travel through the body in waves.

Low Vibrations

Thoughts that cause accidents are low vibration, long and slow when measured, and although the plaster has been applied, those vibrations need attending to, they go away much quicker if we attend to them with Nature’s Healing Crystals.

Ametrine

One crystal that we might use is known as Ametrine. It is a combination of two beautiful gemstones. Amethyst and Citrine.

Leonardo Da Vinci wrote that:

Amethyst is able to dissipate evil thoughts and quicken the intelligence.

It is certainly my favourite dowsing crystal, it takes me to places that other gems don’t.

Amethyst

Amethyst is the gemstone variety of quartz, and it is iron that produces its variety of colours from pale lilac through to deep purple.

Amethyst Loved By Royalty

Amethyst has been popular with royalty, sages, mystics and magicians for centuries. In Tibet, amethyst is considered to be sacred to Buddha and rosaries are often made from it.

It enhances spirituality, and raises the vibrational level of the holder, cleanses the physical body and produces a peaceful, tranquil state of mind.

Citrine

When nature chooses to pair this gem with Citrine, another quartz form we have the purifying and elevating energies of Amethyst with the cleansing and energizing properties of Citrine. A marriage made in heaven!

Citrine ranges from cream, through yellow to deep copper, and unlike some gems never needs cleansing from accumulated negative energy and dissipates it.

Crown Chakra

Citrine stimulates the crown chakra, which makes it an excellent stone for clearing the aura of negative emotions.

The combination of these two stones creates a powerful stimulus to the crown chakra, cleanses the emotional body and stimulates the holder’s vital energies and physical body.

You might also consider Angelite, a stone which lay undiscovered until 1987.

Its light blue colour relates it to the fifth or throat chakra, which relates to communication.

Loving Your Body

If you want to communicate loving kindness, and forgiveness of yourself for harming your body, there is no better stone.

This is especially true during those days when everything goes wrong. Some people are angry at others, some are angry at themselves, in either case Angelite helps to bring us back into inner and outer harmony, re-uniting us with our sense ot the Oneness of life.

Use these gems in your meditations, or drop them into a jug of spring water and sip throughout the day.

All pictures and information supplied by:

Tracey (Crystal healer)at

Natural Healings Gift Shop

Cannock West Midlands UK

My greatest fear when hiking with Pieper or any K-9 off lead is that they may eat something that will harm them. Luckily most of my hikes are in the woods and there are less lethal things to get into. However, K-9s always have there noses to the ground searching for something to eat. That’s the negative thing about letting your K-9 friend off lead. I keep my eyes on her as much as possible and she never really goes too far without checking back with me. This morning I noticed her nosing around a bush and she came out with something in her mouth. I immediately said ‘leave it’, went to her and grabbed her nose; wrapping my hand around the top and pressed gently on her gum toward her teeth and told her to ‘drop’ whatever it was. She complies and we continued on.

How Can She Do It?

Pieper also likes to tear the skin off of tennis balls. Yuck! I’m always afraid she is going to eat the skin. I watch her sleep and wonder if she ate something that was bad for her, and in a coma! Then I have to go wake her and make sure she is alert and responsive.

Then there are the ‘fuzzy and squeaky’ toys; she loves to kill them and get to the ’squeaky’. I’ve almost stopped giving her these type of toys for fear she will swallow the plastic squeaky.

Preventative Measures

Providing your furry friend with safe toys is one good preventative measure; puppy proofing your house is another and crucial to keeping your puppy safe. The holiday season adds some lethal temptations to your K-9; holiday poinsettias are poisonous and decorations can be swallowed; keep those sparkly delights and poinsettias out of their reach. Also, keep unshelled nuts and candy out of your k-9’s reach.

Safe Toys

Safe toys are dependent on the size of your dog and their environment. Almost all dogs love to chase, capture and retrieve. Balls and Frisbees are great for this kind of play; just make sure the ball is the correct size for your K-9… you don’t want your friend to swallow it. Squeaky toys really bring out their hunting instincts; however, be careful, if the squeaky is small inside the toy, your K-9 may dig it out and eat it. Hard rubber toys are great for exercising their jaws…some hold treats that come out during play.

Rawhide Chews

Rawhide chews are popular. However they can be dangerous. I usually get a large one for Pieper; but only let her chew about half of it before I take it away. Rawhide expands when wet, so I don’t want there to be more in her tummy than can get through her system.

Puppy Proofing Your Home

Puppy proofing your house before you bring a new puppy home is a must! Puppies are like babies; but more active. They can get into every nick and corner of your house. You can not let them run wild…they will destroy wiring, shoes, socks and anything that is loose on the floor. It’s important that they have a safe place to play; provide a crate or play pen; some fuzzy, squeaky toys; delicious chews; balls and rope pulls. Make sure all poisonous cleaning and gardening products are stored up high and out of reach; that all office supplies like tacks, paper clips and staples are off the floor. Many plants can be poisonous, keep them up and out of reach. Keep the toilet seat down…there could be cleaning residue left…and it’s lethal to your new puppy, plus it’s a difficult habit to break.

Overview

If you think your pet has been poisoned

Contact your veterinarian or one of the Animal Poison Hot-lines (listed below) if you think your pet may have accidentally received or been given an overdose of the medication.

ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center

1-900-443-0000 ($55.00 per case) The charge is billed directly to caller’s phone.

1-888-426-4435 ($55.00 per case) billed to caller’s credit card only.

Follow-up calls can be made for no additional charge by dialing 888-299-2973.

There is no charge when the call involves a product covered by the Animal Product

Safety Service.

**Animal Poison Hot-line – a joint service provided by North Shore Animal League

America (NSAL) and PROSAR International Animal Poison Center (IAPC).

1-888-232-8870 ($35.00 per incident). The charge is billed to caller’s credit card only.

Staffed 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.

Happy and Safe Trails!

I went to the doctors yesterday

To see about a wound

I’d trodden on a rusty nail

Just as the week-end loomed

He sent me over to A and E

To have my anti-tet

When I arrived the place was shut

The concrete hadn’t set

“It’s over here” informed a nurse

She pointed to a pod

But as I turned and looked

I saw the queue and said “Oh God!”

Eventually I had my shot

Deep into my thigh

The frontiers of pain had moved

I thought the end was nigh

In my distress, a thought occurred

At the end of a tiring day

Of dealing with such accidents

Is this the only way?

My wife went into research mode

And Googled through the night

She found some old alternatives

Self-heal? Self-help? That’s right

She found in nature’s treasure trove

Amongst the website blurbs

Echinacea and Calendula

St.John’s and other herbs

So now, if we ever need first-aid

We look to nature first

She’s had the answers all along

Allopathy, do your worst!

Houses Are Dangerous Places

Houses can be dangerous places. We fall off step-ladders and bruise ourselves, trip over obstacles and sprain an ankle, gash ourselves with knives and garden tools, burn, scald and sun-burn ourselves. Get bitten by insects and pets, and shock ourselves while taking liberties with electrical appliances.

Become Self-Sufficient

If we can become self-sufficient in this area, it is much more convenient, and often less traumatic to treat these simple accidents quickly and efficiently ourselves.

Looking through my First-Aid Box, here are the herbs that I use most often:

Shock

1. Rescue Remedy…A Dr. Bach flower remedy that comes as liquid or pills. I like liquid best.

1. A packet of dried Chamomile flowers or some bought Chamomile tea-bags will make a quick drink of soothing tea

Bruises and Sprains

1. Arnica in homoeopathic potency 6x for shakes and shock
2. A tube of Arnica cream…not to be used if skin is broken
3. Jar of Comfrey ointment…for gently soothing over the sore area
4. OR. A small bottle of home-made Comfrey oil
5. Small bottle of Cider Vinegar…Use dilute to bathe the injury

Cuts, Wounds and Grazes

1. Small jar of Honey (organic and best that you can afford to buy) No germ can live in honey. Use as a disinfectant
2. Fresh Yarrow leaves will stop bleeding. A pinch of dried Yarrow leaves moistened with Honey is effective
3. Calendula (Marigold) ointment which is anti-septic and healing

Burns and Scalds

1. A small bottle of Nettle extract (sold as ‘Urtica’) Apply neat and fast to take pain away
2. Aloe Vera (gel)

Headaches

1. A small bottle containing 3 drops essential oil of Lavender in Almond Oil. Rub into temples

Migraine

1. Keep a few leaves of Feverfew wrapped in foil in freezer ready for chewing as soon as the first sign appears. If you can’t stand the taste buy Feverfew pills or capsules

Sun-Burn

1. Aloe Vera gel can’t be beaten. Snap a leaf in half and squeeze the cut ends to extract the gel which should be smoothed over the affected area and left to dry
2. Keep an Aloe Vera plant growing on a sunny window-sill or in the garden for hotter climes

Insect Bites

1. Hysopp oil or lotion
2. Lavender oil
3. Calendula ointment
4. Plantain poultice

The Common Cold

1. At onset take some large doses of Natural Vitamin C
2. STOP eating milk and eggs (they produce mucous)
3. Eat Onions
4. Drink Honey dissolved in Hot-Water with Lemon Juice and Ground Ginger added
5. OR drink tea made with equal parts Elderflower, Hyssop and Peppermint. Take these drinks HOT every 2 hours.