Writing your story

Igniting the writing process begins with daily meditation and mindfulness.  You can unlock your story through a practice of quiet contemplation. 

Writing is much more than plot, theme, and an outline you follow with excruciating precision.  Writing is about expression, the expression of your inner voice.  That is the work- developing your voice.  You learn to be free, vulnerable, and open to creating.  

We all have a story that we want to tell, that needs to be told.  Whether it is for our children, grandparents, friends, or a yet unknown audience, our voice needs to be heard.  The question then becomes:  how do we get our thoughts down on paper? 

Try this simple exercise before you meditate:

1. Think about who you are.  Ask yourself:  Who am I?  What is my role in life? 
2. Explore further than the expected/accepted roles of being a mother/father, spouse, worker, American, etc.  What gives me joy?  Sadness?  Fear?  Happiness?
3. Honor the thoughts that surface, rather than place judgement on them.

Sitting silently being mindful brings you into the present moment.  And in the present moment lies the truth about yourself. Readers love a story that is compelling, coming from truth and inner knowledge whether you are writing a novel, memoir, or non-fiction.  

Now go get started on that manuscript!

The simple act of breathing is a technique that helps you in your life, to achieve balance and harmony.  It freshens your mind, and gives you crystal clarity.

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One conscious breath a day can be life changing.  One conscious breath brings you into the moment.  One conscious breath brings you into your heart.

A daily practice of remembering to take one deep breath is powerful.  When you get up in the morning, before you even get out of bed, see if you can remember to take a conscious, deep breath - slowly inhale through the nose, pause, then exhale through either the nose or mouth.  As a beginning yogi or meditator, you may need to start by exhaling through the mouth.  Then as you get more practice, it will be easier to both fill and empty the lungs through nose breathing.  

As your day continues, when you remember, take another deep breath.  Say to yourself:  I am taking a conscious breath.  Feel how the oxygen fills your lungs, and distributes it to the cells in your body.  Notice how you feel.

The act of breathing is simple, yet by being able to focus in the present moment you learn how to access your inner voice, which will help you understand who you are, and live a life you choose by following the true path meant for you - the path of your heart.  

Healthy aging habits of the super-healthy

Want to live a long healthy life with little or no degenerative disease or dementia? Follow some of the lifestyle habits of the Ikarians.

 

Ikarian Isle

Ikarians enjoy a wonderful lifestyle on their Greek isle and are one of the five countries in the Blue Zone, which boast the oldest citizens of the world. They reach the ripe old age of 90 with a very low dementia rate, and live over a hundred years.

Ikarians manually work in their self-sustaining gardens which include vegetables, herbs for teas, and grapes for wine. They eat hearty portions of beans, drink goat's milk, eat fish twice a week, and have two to four glasses of wine a day. They also consume as many as 6, yes, 6 cups of coffee a day.

Five secrets of their healthy aging are:

1. They keep active, walk extensively, bike, and manually work their gardens.

2. They eat a Mediterranean diet of vegetables, fish, beans, and goat's milk in the mid portion of the day. Fasting is a regular part of their lives in accordance with their religion.

3. They take naps. Studies show that people who nap on a regular basis are 35% less likely to die of heart disease than those who do not nap. It is good for reducing stress hormones as well.

4. At sunset Ikerians gather to socialize and drink wine or herbal tea.

5. Ikarians value their families and friends.

 

How to strengthen the immune system with your mind power

Body-Mind Medicine

Sitting silently in nature accesses the spirit, and when you learn to harness the energy of the spirit, you become powerful and free.

Your body naturally heals itself, given time. Using your mind is a painless, powerful key to unlocking your body’s healing potential.

The idea that the mind can influence the body is an idea whose time has come. What you think, is what you create. The body will respond to the cues that you give yourself. Deepak Chopra and Andrew Weil are two famous pioneers of this important discovery. Andrew Weil, MD discusses in his new book, Your Health Matters, how the doctors in the near future will spend an hour with their patients, and recommend mind-body techniques, herbs, nutrients, and other relaxation techniques to create superior health.

Our bodies respond to stress, anxiety, and fear, so it is a natural corollary that it will respond to positive actions such as exercise, relaxation, and meditation. You can strengthen your immune system with your thoughts.

Presently, it is a difficult time for many people. To prepare for the more challenging moments in life, you can strengthen your chi-energy. You want your 'vault' to be full, and to be able to have access to that vault during hard times.

Here is a simple visualization to help you heal:

Sit as quietly as possible, in a place of nature that is comfortable. Or you may lie comfortably and imagine the scene.

You are sitting on the greenest grass, sweet smelling, after a gentle rain. Large, strong pine trees shade you from the sun. Focus on the trees, how solid and rooted they are, and how you and the trees are both a part of this great design on earth. You are the energy of the grass, trees, sunlight and breeze. They strengthen your molecules, cells-your whole body, especially at the navel. Allow your mind to release worry.

This is a simple method that practiced consistently will strengthen the immune system at a deep level.

Try meditating in the light of a moonbeam- a new crescent moon, the warmth of the sun, sitting on a red rock, or at the beach. It will refresh your body and mind. A clutter free mind is always a good option to create a peaceful existence.

secrets of healing with stones

My newly released novel, The Lovers, has the lead character, Nadine, journey to the sacred land of Sedona, where she learns many secrets of healing from the ancient spirits on the sacred Native Indian land.   https://www.createspace.com/4243434

 

 

Here is a powerful exercise on how you can access your healing energies where you live:

 

Jewelry, watches, and photos are favorite things that we collect to remember a loved one.  Modern science is now supporting the physics of material objects.  Everything is made up of matter; and thus has a rate of vibration.

 

Take an object that is meaningful to you, a ring, or an old photo and sit quietly with it.  Meditate for a few moments and experience what you feel.  Do you get a picture in your mind, or hear a message, or feel a presence in your heart?  If you get ‘out of your head’ you will be surprised at what transpires.  Make a note of it for later reference in your life.

 

You may also use objects to heal yourself and others. You can charge your quartz crystals with positive energy, a high vibration, and an intention.

 

Sedona is the perfect place to energize yourself and your objects, but you can do it as well wherever you live. Imagine that your ring, necklace, bracelet, or stone is filled with healing, loving, prosperity, or whatever energy you choose.  Imagine that every time you look at this object you are filled with the quality that you set your intention with.

 

 

Access your inner doctor

“A wise man should consider that health is the greatest of human blessings, and learn how by his own thoughts to derive benefit from his illnesses.”
― Hippocrates

“The soul is the same in all living creatures although the body of each is different.”
― Hippocrates

How to access your inner doctor

The good thing about accessing your inner wisdom is that you can listen to yourself. Take your own advice.

When you quiet your mind, take a few moments for yourself, you will be amazed at the information that you can get.  There is a wealth of knowledge that can improve both how you feel and the quality of your life.

Recently when I went to for a check up with my doctor, I found that he was not listening to what I was saying.  He had a set of questions that he read off from the computer and ignored the information that I gave him. 

It is frustrating to have a physician that does not listen, and unfortunately it is all too common.  As an advocate for seniors, this is a huge problem area that needs attention, and at this time the best solution is to not only have a doctor that listens, but treats you as a whole person rather than just as a sum of parts.

Many doctors are surprised when a ‘patient’ comes in and understands their symptoms, dis-ease, or other problem that they are coming for help with.

Our bodies are intrinsically smart-our cells, tissues, organs and systems are constantly striving for homeostasis or balance.  When something starts to go wrong, the body will compensate to correct it. 

We will receive messages or symptoms from our bodies, whether on a mental, emotional, or physical level.  We might feel tired constantly, or lose our ability to sleep.  Our joints may hurt, or migraines may become a problem.  We have many lines of defense, and the best way to be healthy is to pay attention, and make immediate changes or seek help in the early stages of a condition or dis-ease.

Accessing your inner doctor:

Here are some easy steps to becoming self-aware.

1.  Develop body awareness.  Pay attention to what your physical body is telling you.  Ask yourself, is your symptom normal for you?  Is this symptom something new that is getting worse?  Does it keep you awake at night?

Yoga and tai chi are excellent ways to develop body awareness.

2.  Slow yourself down.  Take quiet time, by meditating, listening to music, or doing nothing at all. 

3.  Trust your inner voice, the messages you hear.  Listen to the whispers, before they become shouts.  Are you noticing that you want to change your diet, eat less meat, add fish, skip the junk food?  Does you body crave certain foods or herbs all of a sudden?  Follow those instincts.  Look up the herb or food you are craving, and see what vitamins it may have.  For example, you might be craving cherries, and cherries are good for reducing arthritic pain. Lately I have been craving licorice (root) which is excellent for helping the adrenal glands- they regulate stress in your body. 

4.  Look in the mirror.  What do you see?  Are there changes in your hair, eyes, face, body? The body will give clues as to what is happening inside of you.  Do you have dark circles under your eyes?  This may indicate not only lack of sleep but that you have an allergy, even a food allergy.  Use your senses to assess how you feel. 

5.  Follow through with your gut feeling.   If something feels wrong, it is probably is.

Trust what you feel and sense about yourself.  Research reputable sources for further information.  One of my favorite sites is drweil.com.  He is medical doctor who pioneered integrative medicine, and has a school in Tucson, Arizona that teaches nutritional principles to medical doctors.

Lastly, when you visit your physician, stay in your power.  You know yourself better than anyone else, and see the doctor as a partner, a person who helps you in your process of wellness.  Ultimately, it is you who can create super health for yourself. 

Type Z personality

To live peacefully one must learn to be a type Z person, letting go of what society dictates is a successful way to work and live.

Because I am single I am often asked what qualities I seek in a relationship partner.  I have the usual standard answers, loving, kind, funny, cute, etc.

But I have one important quality that I look for in a partner and that is a person who is willing to live their life in a relaxed and calm manner, in a happy and healthy way.  This makes for a true easy going relationship, without room for disharmony in our every day lives.  A relationship can be your sacred place of peace and harmony.  I know this sounds idealistic but it is not that hard to create.

I call a person who lives their life in a calm and relaxed manner a type Z person. 

I first learned this idea from Marcus Allen, a brilliant writer and publisher of NEW WORLD LIBRARY.  He is different and a pioneer because he chooses to live outside the mediocre rules of life yet still maintains a happy family and hugely successful business that promotes service and makes a difference in the lives of not only the readers of his book, but  within his own.(see The Millionaire Course)

A type Z person does everything that everyone else may do, but in a more MINDFUL way, with awareness.

Are you a type Z person?

Qualities of a type z person

1.   handles the day in a relaxed manner, instead of yelling at coworkers, family, customer service reps throughout the day

2.   enjoys their life, even the mundane tasks, does them with awareness

3.   does one task at a time, and does it well instead of multi tasking several at once

4.   considers what they says BEFORE speaking, will this be a good communication or a hurtful one?

5.   considers what his role in life is and follows his path regardless of what others say or may think of him

6.   is not busy every moment of the day, with to do lists that can never be completed

7.    allows time for  for himself and his family and loved ones

A type Z person knows who he is, follows his heart and lives his dreams in his own manner rather than the dictates of society.

This creates a peaceful, satisfying lifestyle.  The more persons who choose to be calm, and happy changes the balance of their environment, helping others to feel the same way, and thus we have a rippling effect, with more conscious lives and better relationships. 

Natural high energy booster

One  fresh squeezed orange a day can give you the energy boost you need to get started more than a glass of concentrated or premium orange juice in a container. 

A great energy booster and alternative to a cup of coffee is a fresh squeezed orange with a B vitamin upon rising.  By the time you get dressed and ready for breakfast you will feel a burst of energy that is natural.

This is because you are getting fresh vitamin C along with your B vitamin, and the benefit of the enzymes of the orange.  When you eat a piece of fresh fruit the enzymes in the fruit – enzymes are catalysts which begin reactions within your cells- it improves your daily functions.  Your digestion is improved, as absorption of the vitamins is immediate.  Vitamin C also has anti-inflammatory properties.

The white part of the orange is the bioflavonoid, which helps your blood clot, and thus improves the look of your skin.  If you bruise easily, it can be a sign of bioflavonoid deficiency.

Squeeze some orange peel for a natural aromatic bath into your bath water.  Dry the peels and add to dried rose petals for a natural potpourri. 

Balance your chakras for high energy and clarity

A simple, yet powerful, way to create harmony is
by balancing your chakras. Often we are told to relax, unwind, and be happy.

This exercise is an easy and pleasurable way to reconnect with yourself.

1. Lie comfortably on the floor on top of a yoga mat or beach towel.
2. Bend your knees so the soles of your feet are on the mat.
3. Take three deep breaths.
4. Place your left hand on your heart and your right hand on your belly(button).
5. Take seven deep, even breaths- the inhale is the same length of time as the exhale.
6. While your left hand remains on your heart, move your right hand to another energy center, or chakra. See diagram. It may be your throat, hips, etc.
7. Take seven deep breaths. Notice when you feel a connection between your hands. You may also feel a pulse or rhythm.
8. When you feel complete, sit you by holding your knees and rocking gently on your spine. This naturally aligns your spine.
9. Take a moment to sit up and notice how you feel.
Enjoy your day! Namaste!

My favorite
FREE THINGS TO DO IN SEDONA
Climb a red rock, sit there and meditate, do a balance yoga pose (tree or mountain pose)
Visit a vortex: Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, the Airport Mesa
Sit in the Chapel and pray, light a candle for a loved one that has passed
Watch the stars shine in the darkness of night
Talk to the ancient spirits in the red rocks

Snow falls,
in the shadow of the night.
The moon
illuminates
the softness,
the flakes.

This is from the Tao Te Ching, it always helps me to read this. It is the translation by Gia-Fu Feng

TWENTY-TWO

Yield and overcome;
Bend and be straight;
Empty and be full;
Have little and gain;
Have much and be confused.
Therefore wise men embrace the one
And set an example to all.
Not putting on a display, They shine forth.
Not justifying themselves,
They are distinguished.
Not boasting, They receive recognition.
Not bragging,
They never falter.
They do not quarrel,
So no one quarrels with them.
Therefore the ancients say,
“Yield and overcome.”
Is that an empty saying?
Be really whole,
And all things will come to you.

From TAO TE CHING

Balance your chakras for high energy and clarity

A simple, yet powerful, way to create harmony is
by balancing your chakras. Often we are told to relax, unwind, and be happy.

This exercise is an easy and pleasurable way to reconnect with yourself.

1. Lie comfortably on the floor on top of a yoga mat or beach towel.
2. Bend your knees so the soles of your feet are on the mat.
3. Take three deep breaths.
4. Place your left hand on your heart and your right hand on your belly(button).
5. Take seven deep, even breaths- the inhale is the same length of time as the exhale.
6. While your left hand emains on your heart, move your right hand to another energy center, or chakra. It may be your third eye, throat, or hips
7. Take seven deep breaths. Notice when you feel a connection between your hands. You may also feel a pulse or rhythm.
8. When you feel complete, sit you by holding your knees and rocking gently on your spine. This naturally aligns your spine.
9. Take a moment to sit up and notice how you feel.
Enjoy your day! Namaste!