As we launch into a fresh new year with great expectations and a willingness to soar uncharted courses, I am aware of our need to take off from the starting gate, but I am also very conscious of the wisdom in reflecting for a moment to ensure we bring the best of the past forward to continue the journey with us. In light of that, I’ve reprinted below a fascinating quote someone read to me recently. I was amazed to discover it was written 147 years ago and yet it seems as valid today as it was then.

Rules For Living

• Do not worry
• Eat three square meals a day
• Say your prayers
• Be courteous to your creditors
• Keep your digestion good
• Steer clear of biliousness
• Exercise, go slow and easy

Maybe there are other things that your special case requires to make you happy, but my friend, these I reckon will give you a good life.

Abraham Lincoln 1860

Old Abe is ‘quite the senior’ now, to the point that a couple of the words he used have disappeared from common language - like biliousness (means being peevish, cross, bad tempered). Does that mean there is no value in what he wrote anymore, or is this now an opportunity to learn a ‘new’ old word.

Speaking of seniors who like to write and have ‘a way with words’, it seemed appropriate to give Paul Le Baron the chance to pass on his New Year wishes to you all. At a hearty 90+... he is still writing, writing, writing in an attempt to serve the youth, (that would be anyone 90 or less). He wrote:

Dear Ones, and all your Relations, At this fertile period of unlimited possibilities and new beginnings, you may know that I am united with you in celebrating all patterns of appreciation of one another, along with gratitude for all things. Acknowledging every situation to be an essential aspect of our joint awakening to realization, that we are each a unique cell in the One Body of Wholeness. May the magnificent mosaic of Life and Love that we are privileged to enjoy,combined with the pulsing energy of Gratitude overwhelm your hearts with ongoing Joy.

In loving respect,
Paul LeBaron
plebaron@telus.net

What strikes me about what he has written is the very sincere vibration that his words carry. He REALLY means this! And it reflects an old way of doing things...pausing at the door to wave goodbye to a friend...waiting until another is safely in the house when you drop them off, before speeding away. We are so busy now that some of these old habits are drifting away unnoticed. When was the last time someone said Bless Your Heart.

A friend mentioned recently what a profound effect it had on their day, when someone said that to them on the phone. IMAGINE - the energetic vibrational ramifications of blessing each others hearts! It was quite a common thing to say when I was young. Come to think of it, heart disease was not so prevelant then as it is now either! Did those words actually surround the recipient with love and vibrate their way right into their very core? Or was it just hearing the words Bless You or Bless Your Heart that made them smile inside.

It is one of those expressions that indicates gratitude - like Thank You, only better. It conjours up a sense of fondness. It lets the person know your heart is aligned with theirs in happy and also in uncertain times. It’s a great expression...vibrationally correct!

So let’s bring back an old expression. Let’s be loving to each other this year, and sing it out from the rooftops. “Bless You, Bless You! Yes! Yes! Yes! ‘Bless Your Heart’

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. . . For quite some time now, I have been
described as “The Painter of Light.” Whenever I
hear those words, I feel an inner challenge to live
up to everything this phrase implies. In my deepest
heart of hearts, I want to be a painter of light. I
want my paintings to be sources of positive
inspiration, beacons of faith, hope, and joy...
I believe we ALL
have a greater purpose to our lives
than merely existing day to day -
a greater purpose, even, than filling our
own lives with light and joy.
Each of us, in our own unique way,
is called to let our light shine - -
to be a lighthouse to the world.. . . . .
Each life has the ability to touch
other lives, which in turn
touches yet more lives. . . .
Just as lighthouses in my paintings provide
guidance and hope for weary travelers, I
encourage you to seek for the light in your life
- whatever it is that brings you joy - and to let
it shine.
Thomas Kinkade

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One should, each day, try to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and, if possible, speak a few reasonable words.
Goethe

Last New Year’s Eve, my spouse asked me what I wanted to get done in the coming year. He wondered what I wanted to achieve, and what projects I wanted to start. It is a natural question as a New Year rolls around, yet my reaction was not what he expected. I said, “I want to do less, not more.” Considering all of the things I need to do this struck him as an odd answer.

Most of us have experienced, that without focused direction we can easily fritter away our time and look back at a year where as CS Lewis puts it “not only did I not get done what I should have done but I didn’t get done what I wanted to do either.”

Although I’m rethinking the tradition of setting goals, I continue my ritual. I take out my blank sheet of paper on the morning of the 1st and contemplate the New Year in front of me. Filled with vigour for the task, with high hopes for the faithful execution of each and every goal, I verify that each one is specific, realistic, controllable by me, and time measurable. I write them in my day timer so I can read them everyday. I don’t take this process lightly. At the end of every year I look at my goals from the previous year noting with pride what I have achieved. Yet often I am disappointed with myself for the failures on my list although they had seemed achievable when I wrote them.

In North America we have a way of life that promotes goal setting, hard work, long hours, anything is possible, and the just do it mentality. We now equate this expression with “running shoes,” and for many of us this is an accurate way to characterize our life, running from one task to another. When we fail to live up to this standard we assume rightly or wrongly that we have failed. Yet the question I ask myself now isn’t about success or failure but rather whose goal-setting standard am I using and what kinds of goals are being measured.

As an example, let’s take the goals of finishing a degree, having an organized home and office, working our way up the career ladder, going to the gym three mornings a week, or saving money. It’s not that these goals aren’t useful or worthy- rather they are limited to a view of success mostly defined as “progress” by contemporary western standards. I’m picturing our rock garden now. I have specific steps related to caring for the garden - the planting, the weeding, the maintenance and so on. The garden takes hours of care. I notice, however, there is no goal to just sit in the garden beside the fragrant rosebush for 30 minutes twice a week. Why not?

As bright, busy adults, we don’t often consider the reflective aspects of our lives even worthy of goals; we attempt to fit them in when we can. Whether it’s sitting in the garden, listening to music, or practicing yoga, we are almost apologetic to “take the time” for ourselves. Yet Socrates said, “the unexamined life is not worth living.”

As children my sister and I did examine our lives on New Years. We made resolutions that were more about developing our character, eliminating bad habits and cultivating virtue than making a precise list of what we wanted to achieve for the New Year. In retrospect I think that we were expected to do what we needed to do, to be a good student or do a good job.

Our character, however, was not so obvious. It seemed to require work. Perhaps now it is the opposite. Our good character is taken for granted and we consider our goals for success the ones we need to work on.

My resolutions were often to be kind to my sister, not to be saucy to my Mother, to always tell the truth, to do my best, to be helpful to my Grandmother everyday. We would compare our lists and read them off to our Mom. By making them public the pressure was on to try and live up to them. Although we didn’t keep all of them or even keep one of them all the time, we didn’t forget them either. The exercise seemed more like a gentle measuring stick, as opposed to a policeman’s club, which reminded us these traits were important to strive for, and very difficult to cultivate on a consistent basis.

Of course we need goals to grow our business, finish our thesis, complete and submit our manuscripts. Yet neither do we want to achieve those goals at the expense of our relationships with others. I now want to make sure my goals include time to reflect, time to cultivate healthy, loving relationships with family, and friends. What that implies is I will need to leave space in my New Year for others: time to listen to music with my husband, time to ski with my grandsons, or a date to fly east for my daughter’s birthday. I need to safeguard time to have lunch with a friend every month; or a date with my husband once a week, and a few times a year have tea and a long distance telephone visit with friends who aren’t nearby. It means I need to make resolutions like I did when I was a child. I don’t need a resolution to be kind to strangers or my Mom - I’m pretty good at that. A more useful resolution for me might be: be especially kind to my husband while writing an article under pressure, even when tired, and discouraged.

Ah! This resolution is more difficult. I have observed that under pressure it is easy to be careless and thoughtless with the ones we live with. It is easy to make assumptions, say the first thing that comes to mind, or in general become bossy or short tempered. It takes a split second to interrupt or correct or snap at a loved one, while expecting him to understand. After all he loves you. After all there is a deadline. I think there is something valuable for all of us in a list of New Year’s resolutions that includes more than our traditional goals. It may be worth considering both how we want to treat others, and how we measure our own efforts. Taking quiet time to regularly reflect on our lives may be the most important resolution of all.

Trudy Boyle is a Constructive Living trainer for business and individuals, she may be contacted at 1-877-247-2032.

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We often get asked about one form of yoga versus another, so thanks to Mary Jo for clearly defining the differences for you.

HATHA Yoga: This is a term, which actually means the practice of the physical postures, also called asanas which could essentially mean all styles of physical yoga. Generally though, a class called “hatha” will be an eclectic blend of a few different styles often with a more gentle approach.

IYENGAR Yoga: If you are looking for detail, therapeutic yoga or a very thoughtful and precise class this is the style for you. B.K.S. Iyengar the founder of this style has been prolific and unwavering in his contribution to the world of yoga, and stands as one of the world’s most influential yogis.

All teachers of this style go through a rigorous certification process and are often very dedicated and devoted to this style. A class typically utilizes props in the form of blocks, straps, bolsters and blankets to assist students toward exploring the poses more fully with regard to their limitations or injuries. Classes are slow moving and poses are often held for much longer than in other styles of yoga.

BIKRAM Yoga: This is the “Hot” yoga you may have heard of, with studios designed to reach the heat of India, around 100 degrees F. Founder Bikram Choudhury developed this sequence of 26 postures to encourage the proper functioning of every body system. The sweat that you are sure to experience at one of these classes is said to cleanse and move toxins out of your body. Many proponents love the workout for the effects of weight loss and purification. Classes are often full and repetitive. Not recommended for anyone with heart problems, high blood pressure or pregnancy.

KUNDALINI Yoga: A Kundalini yoga class is a dynamic practice incorporating breathing techniques, chanting, mantras (sacred sounds that empower the mind), and kriyas (action or ritual of energetics). Kundalini is an ancient form from the tantra yoga tradition, until 1969 or so, a closely guarded practice passed on only to select initiates. Yogi Bhajan, the North American rescource and leader for this powerful form of yoga brought it to North America because he believed Kundalini would help people to find their birthright to be “happy, healthy and holy” and to reach their full potential. You won’t do many postures in a kundalini class, but just the same you will more than likely work very hard. You may encounter a more traditional looking yoga teacher often with a headdress and off white clothing. The protocol for a Kundalini class is often more formal than some other styles, but it is well worth the experience and not as intimidating as it initially may appear.

VINYASA Yoga: Vinyasa comes from the Sanskrit “nyasa” which means “to place” and the prefix “vi,” “in a special way” - as in the arrangement of notes in a composition, the sequence of steps of a dance, or the linking of one posture (asana) to the next. In a yoga class you will experience this as a flowing sequence of specific asanas coordinated with the movement of the breath. The most common form of the Vinyasa approach in North America is the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga of Patabbhi Jois.

By all rights if taught with sensitivity to the essence of vinyasa - a method that assesses the needs of the individual or group and prescribes a complementary, step-by-step practice to meet those needs - vinyasa can be a much more balanced and artful approach to practicing a series of postures.

ASHTANGA Yoga: One of the more popular forms of yoga tody, perhaps for its challenging fast pace, Ashtanga is also a hot form of yoga, so be prepared to sweat. The Ashtanga Vinyasa system of Patabbhi Jois is based on six different “series” or sequences all increasing in difficulty. The first sequence called “The Primary Sequence” is most commonly taught, and incorporates breathing (pranyama), gaze (dhristi), and energetic locks known as “bandhas”.

The philosophy behind this system is that by doing your practice daily you are in effect releasing and purifying the body, known as “tapas” and that that is all you need to do in order to attain the goal of yoga. According to Jois, this system if followed completely will incorporate all of the “Eight Limbs” of the philosophy and practice of yoga as taught by the great sage Patanjali.

This is a great practice for developing strength and flexibility at the same time. It has the potential to accelerate the progress of a student quickly, if followed as prescribed - six days a week. For those who are not able to devote that amount of time it is an excellent system to learn to incorporate breath and movement as well as an awareness of the eight limbs.

POWER Yoga: Perhaps the person responsible for the term “Power Yoga” is a woman from New York, Beryl Bender Birch. Her dedication to the Ashtanga system and desire to teach it to North Americans led her to come up with a term that American’s could relate to, as “Ashtanga was too foreign of a word to describe a system of yoga that was dynamic and could provide a good workout. From there Power Yoga is a term used to describe not just the ashtanga system, but a whole array of various interpretations of dymamic “vinyasa” flow sequence’s. Generally a class called “Power Yoga” will be some form of a “Vinyasa Flow” with an emphasis perhaps on strength and endurance.

KRIPALU Yoga: This describes a center as well as a style of yoga as developed by yogi Amrit Desai and the staff at Kripalu - a center for yoga and health in Massachusetts. Kripalu yoga follows three stages - willful practice (a focus on alignment, breath, and presence of consciousness), willful surrender (a conscious holding of the postures to a level of tolerance and beyond), and meditation in motion (the body’s complete release of internal tensions and a complete trust in the body’s wisdom).

ANUSARA Yoga Anusara means “to step into the current of divine will”. A very heart-centered and thoughtful approach to yoga practice, Anusara Yoga is an integrated approach to hatha yoga that blends the human spirit with the precise science of biomechanics. Anusara defines itself with three main areas of practice: Attitude: The practioner balances an opening to grace with an aspiration for awakening to his or her true nature. Alignment: Each pose is performed with an integrated awareness of all of the different parts of the body. Action: Each pose is performed as an artistic expression of the heart in which muscular activity is balanced with an awareness of the expansive state of inner freedom.

Although we do not normally print personal profiles - we thought this one would inspire you beyond the norm. This is a classic example, of the Dalai Lama’s motto, to ‘never give up’. Against all odds, in the face of adversity...Never Give Up!

Profile: In January 2004, Mary-Jo Fetterly, broke her back in a tragic ski accident, leaving her paralyzed. Mary-Jo was back teaching yoga only three months after her accident, now from her wheelchair, with a whole new understanding of the physical form and the essence of Yoga.

As a mother of two daughters, an equestrian horse back rider, an accomplished chef and a body worker, Mary Jo is a pillar of strength in the community. She has been an active member in the Yoga community for twenty years and is now an active member in the Spinal Cord Research movement. Currently she is the President of Trinity Yoga, a board member of Yoga Outreach, an advisor to both the Rick Hansen Spinal Cord Injury Strategy Group and the Yoga Association of BC, a senior teacher of Yoga Association of BC, and a member of the Federation of Ontario Yoga Teachers.

Mary-Jo is the founder of Trinity Yoga, a yoga system and yoga teacher training program developed in 2000 in British Columbia. Trinity has trained hundreds of students across Canada, authored three teacher training manuals, and acquired international certification as a Yoga Teacher Training Institute. It’s mission statement is, “To make yoga accessible to people of all walks of life, to bring the essence of yoga to the world.”

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How many of you set New Year’s resolutions feeling like you ‘should’ or were unclear about the whole thing and did nothing. Perhaps you fell back on the old ‘standbys’: Quitting something (smoking, drinking, sugar, caffeine) or losing something (weight, addiction, debt, relationships)?

Ask yourself, ‘Do you feel good or not good?’ When you answer this question, what is your felt experience? What if I told you that your purpose here is to feel good? How would you live your life, how would you think, how would you feel, and what would you be doing if this was true for you? The good news is that you can’t get it wrong. There are an infinite number of possibilities and you get to choose what you want to experience. You get to choose what feels right for you, what feels good. You inherently know this. To quote a dear friend, “I know, that I know, that I know, like I know how to breathe!” We all have this deep inner knowing, ALL OF US. We were born with this knowledge as an individual human expression of the ‘All that Is’, ‘God’, ‘Universal Life Force Energy’, ‘Chi or Prana’, ‘The Infinite Now’, ‘The One’. We are simultaneously ‘ONE’ and an individualized human expression of the ‘One’ in physical form.

So I ask you, knowing that you can’t get it wrong, ‘How would you be living, feeling, experiencing, doing, and Being?’ What makes your heart ‘sing’, brings you tears of joy, fills your whole being with joy? Maybe it’s a thought. If it is, then think it. Is it a dance, a prayer, affirmation, a walk with a friend, racing downhill on a mountain bike, an act of kindness, or all of the above? Then do it, be it! Yes, there are other things that we choose to do for a variety of reasons, ie: ‘It pays the bills, or pays for the fun we’re having’. However, we still get to choose how we feel and how we go about doing the stuff that ‘pays the bills’, or how we clean the house, cook the meals, care for our families. What if you were to put how you feel at the top of your list, that you took time to ‘fill yourself up’ first? What would that look like? What would your experience of life be like if you gave to yourself first? You are worthy! You already deserve to do, have and be all that you want. Your very being here is enough! You are an important part of the ‘ONE’. No part is less important than another. We are all God and Everything is God.

The good news is, if you did not make “resolutions”, it’s not too late to begin. This is a time of New Beginnings. Time to be gentle with yourselves. We are all learning and hence we fall down from time to time. This is a quote from the movie, ‘Batman Begins’: “Why do we fall down?” A: “So that we can learn to pick ourselves up.” There is always an opportunity to brush ourselves off, and lovingly start again. We need the darkest nights to see the stars shining bright.

One of my favourite things to do, (when I notice myself off-track), is to sit with pen and paper, and write a new version of what I want to create. I begin again! I imagine a new vision of the highest of myself, my life, and my relationships. Then I write about it, expressing my gratitude as if I am already experiencing it. I claim it now, experiencing joy and love in the now, instead of ‘when I have it, I’ll be happy’. I love doing this for myself and helping others with this practice too! It’s one of the things that brings me joy, fills my heart with love, spills out from my eyes, and my entire being. My Life is Good (God)!!! I invite you to take the time to find out what brings you joy and book time on your calendar or in your day planner for yourself now, before you fill it with a whole bunch of ‘stuff’.

To quote another dear friend, “NOW is Good.” Happy New Year and New Beginnings to you ALL. Namaste.

Michelle D. Ross is a Reiki Master-Teacher, and owner of Heart Body & Soul Healing Centre, she looks forward to another fabulous year of being “In-Service”to you.. 250-619-7962

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Reiki; meaning Universal Life Force energy, is a gentle and supportive modality which is a wonderful tool in offering comfort, healing and relaxation for anyone, but especially for an expectant mother.

The gift of bringing a new life into the world is magical and also fraught with challenges, which many mothers will attest to. Pregnancy is an exciting time for a woman whether it is the first time or not. As the physical body changes in form for the growing baby, Mom can become emotional and fatigued, nauseous and more. For some, this continues throughout the entire pregnancy. Reiki brings balance to the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects, relieving tension on all levels. A session will also bring the Mother an opportunity to completely relax and be at peace while allowing the spiritual bond to mesh with the child. Becoming attuned to reiki energy early in pregnancy, or experiencing sessions throughout the pregnancy deepens the Mothers connection to her body, the baby and the whole birth experience.

During my daughter’s second pregnancy, she was seriously nauseous pretty much the entire time, and with a 3- year-old son at home it was often difficult for her to get enough rest. Not having experienced this the first time it was a surprise to have to deal with this time. For her health and the baby’s, she was finally put on a medication to stop the constant nausea. Since I am a Reiki Master teacher, it was natural for me to attune her and offer the support of reiki on a regular basis. This proved to be very useful for calming her emotions or the usual aches and pains towards the end of the pregnancy. During this delicate time we found reiki to be very gentle and beautifully supportive.

She had also chosen a midwife and home water birth. Again, reiki contributed in many ways. During labour she was confident, calm and felt safe to allow her body to let go and flow with the natural rhythm of the birthing process. The combination of being in warm water and the Reiki she was receiving was soothing, relaxing and relieved much of the pain and discomfort. With the help of the midwife and myself the baby was quickly delivered after 3 strong pushes. My daughter still marvels at how smoothly it all took place and how peaceful the whole experience was. How delightful to discover first hand the powerful experience Reiki is for mothers during this time, and to know our beautiful baby girl was welcomed into this world with this loving vibration. By the way, her name is Faith and it suits her perfectly. Now we are doubly blessed, with Faith and the gift of Reiki!

Cathy Simons may be contacted through Crystal Clear Reiki at 250-743-9259 or on line at www.crystalclearreiki.com

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Law of Attraction is at work in your life RIGHT NOW! And it’s attracting people, events and experiences to your life, not all of them positive. So understanding how Law of Attraction works and why you attract things you don’t want is important.

It’s all about vibes. We use the word vibe to describe moods or feelings that we’re “picking up.” For example, we meet someone and would say that they gave off a positive vibe or a negative vibe, or a neighborhood gives off a positive or negative vibe. We use the word vibe to describe moods or feelings. The word vibe, of course, comes from the longer word vibration. Law of Attraction is about vibrational energy. It’s a science. There are only two kinds of vibes that you could be sending - negative vibes and positive vibes. These vibes are a result of the feelings you have and at every moment, including right now, you have a mood or a feeling. You can tell by how you feel what the vibration is that you’re sending.

Law of Attraction (a science), the Universal energy around you, is responding to the vibration you are sending by giving you more of the same vibration whether negative or positive. So right now Law of Attraction is matching your vibration. If you’re attracting negative things, it means you’ve been sending negative vibrations.

So why do some positive people attract negative things? Is it because they’re negative? No. It’s because they were giving attention, energy, and focus to what they didn’t want, which raises the question “Why would we give attention, to something we didn’t want?” It’s the words we use that create the thoughts we think that in turn cause us to send a negative or positive vibration. So if I’m feeling a negative vibration it means I’m having a negative thought, and if I’m having a negative thought, it means I’m using some negative words in my thoughts.

We all have within us the power to reset the results we’re getting. We generally use a reset button when something is not working. So, if there is an area in your life that’s not working and you’re getting negatives results in,then reset it. Reset the results! The way to reset your results is to reset your vibrations (from negative to positive). And to reset your vibrations you need to reset your thoughts, and to reset your thoughts, you need to change the words you’re using.

There are three commonly used words that cause us to send a negative vibration. They are “Don’t, Not and No”. Every time you use the words don’t, not and no, you’ve just brought attention, energy, and focus to that which you don’t want. For example, don’t think about the Statue of Liberty – oops you just did! Whenever you say what not to do you just gave it attention. Some business people might say “I don’t want my clients to cancel their appointment” therefore giving attention to cancelling clients. “I don’t want this to be difficult”, giving attention to it being difficult. Parents say “Don’t get your clothes dirty”; “Don’t spill your milk”, giving attention to all these things.

So to help reset a vibration from negative to positive your homework for now and the rest of your life is to eliminate these three words - the words that cause you to send a negative vibration.

So, how do we reduce the use of the words don’t, not and no? Each time you catch yourself using the words don’t, not and no, ask yourself this question “So, what DO I want?” This question will help you go from what you don’t want, to what you do want. For example, “Don’t forget” and you will hear yourself say, “So, what do I want?” The answer would be – remember. “Don’t slam the door” would become “Close the door quietly. Every sentence that has the words don’t, not and no, can be relanguaged by simply saying “So, what do I want.

Notice when you go from what you don’t want to what you do want, the words change, and when the words change, the vibration changes. When you change your vibration it will change the results that you’re getting. The secret to resetting your vibration is eliminating the words Don’t, Not and No - and saying “So, what do I want”?

Michael Losier is an N.L.P. Practitioner and a Law of Attraction Coach and Practitioner. He assists and supports people so they can understand and practice the art of Deliberate Attraction. www.LawofAttractionBook.com

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We are all exposed to various sources of chemicals, toxins and pollutants on a daily basis. These toxins enter the body in three ways: through the skin, the lungs and the digestive system. They interfere with your body’s ability to function properly.

As toxins accumulate over time, due to various enviromental exposures, overloaded and not properly being released, the body‘s ability to fight off disease and infection increases. This results in a build up of toxins, a stressed system as well as low energy.

With the foot spa, you simply sit in a chair with your feet in warm salt water for a half hour while the Platinum Energy System does the work. The system is specially designed to stimulate the glands in the feet and release the toxins into the water. We have 2000 eccrine sweat glands in each foot that become the natural door of exit for the toxins through this process. The benefits from this detox treatment are amazing. The toxins that are released in a half hour session through this process would normally take your body 3-6 months to naturally download.

Before

After

The benefits are improved circulation, acid/alkaline balance, increased metabolism, improved organ and glandular functioning, as well as more energy. This system also assists in detoxifying accumulated heavy metals. You will notice a decrease in acidity, benefiting organ and cellular functioning, stress reduction, improved sleep, and an overall feeling of well-being. Each body and health situation are different, therefore we need to determine the appropriate amount of sessions for each individual.

What a relaxing way to detox, and improve your health at the same time.

Debbie Shkuratoff is the owner/practitioner of Reiki Wellness and The Zen Place at The Valley View Center, Cobble Hill (250) 743-1733 reikiwellness@shaw.ca

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When I was growing up, I saw everything as energy around me. I didn’t know anything consciously about energy fields or that we all had one, but I knew what I saw. And as I consciously grew to know myself as Indigo, equally I was able to start confidently verbalizing what I “knew” all along—that we are all energetic beings and nothing but that. I also knew that I was different somehow—I just couldn’t explain it. But I was determined to figure it out.

Indigos in general come into life understanding this and consciously recognizing that they are aware of energy in many ways. Whether it is your intuition, clairvoyance, clairaudience, sensing, feeling, or describing it simply as “his vibes were off” or “I just knew that,” these are all ways of plugging into and utilizing energy. The challenge however is that most often Indigos feel like they are at the mercy of the energy. They experience it randomly or sporadically, and feel as if they have no control over it. To survive, you need to learn to manage energy—because you can.

Let’s talk about basics for a minute. You are energy, and you inherently know it. You have come into this life, knowing that you are somehow different. You feel it, but perhaps you can’t figure out why. The reason is simple—your energy is different. There is a difference in your energetic template—your auras and chakras. Your aura is the electromagnetic field that surrounds, penetrates, and emanates from all beings and living things. It has many layers, some stretching as far as twenty feet in all directions. Layers of the aura are associated with different vibrations, with each layer carrying information about the person.

While the aura is considered very broadband, your chakras within the auric field are concentrated energy centers that co-relate with the surrounding layers of the aura. There are thousands of chakra points throughout the body, but the traditional chakra template has seven main energy centers from the base of the spinal cord to the top of the head or crown. Each chakra relates to emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual aspects in addition to carrying specific colors, sound frequencies, and elements as follows:

The Third-Dimensional Chakra System and Template
No.	Chakra	Location	Color	Note	Element
7th	Crown	Crown	Purple-White	B	Cosmos
6th	Third Eye	Mid-Brow	Indigo-Violet	A	Light
5th	Throat	Throat	Blue	G	Ether
4th	Heart	Heart	Green/Pink	F	Air
3rd	Solar Plexus	Solar Plexus	Yellow	E	Fire
2nd	Sacral-Spleen	Navel	Orange	D	Water
1st	Root	Tailbone	Red	C	Earth

The chakra system of Indigos and Crystals is very different. The auric bodies or layers of energy are expanded, more refined, and more developed. As all information is held in the energy field, Indigos therefore carry and are more consciously plugged into the Universal database of knowledge. That’s why you tend to just “know things” without necessarily knowing how you know. You just know— period. By being plugged in to more conscious thought, your energy centers, through which information and knowledge flow, are expanded and awakened.

The Indigo chakra template is considered to be the Fourth-Dimensional Chakra System and is comprised of at least thirteen chakras. For brevity, the Fourth- Dimensional Reference is about moving beyond duality, polarity, and our threedimensional way of life. In essence it is about tapping into the concepts of quantum physics. While there are more than thirteen chakras, for simplification, the current system cuts off at thirteen.

The kundalini energy that flows through the chakras in the third-dimensional, seven-chakra system typically moves in an upward direction starting at the base of the spine. In popular meditative exercises, the energy movement is depicted by visualizing earth energy coming up from the ground and divine energy flowing down through the crown chakra to blend and meet in the middle.

The Indigo/Crystal energy system moves differently. Energy flows down through the upper five chakras (nine through thirteen), down through the head and heart, through the spine down to the base of the spine (fifth chakra). At the base of the spine, the energy turns and moves back up the spine and outward. As it moves outward, the energy creates a large oval circle moving out past the arms and down, all the way to the feet, and then finally back up again through the base of the spine to the thirteenth chakra. If you were to visualize this as a more solid picture, you would most likely see the energy creating a winglike shape, similar to an angel.

Unlike the third-dimensional chakra system, the chakras of the Indigo-Crystals arrive fully open and activated. This explains why many children come into this world fully exhibiting the “clairs,” healing abilities, or artistic gifts, as well as having profound thoughts and alternative viewpoints.

Having this template is a gift—a gift that Indigo-Crystals bring to the rest of the world. Their expanded chakra system fully opens them to their purpose, consciously or not. Because their purpose is to usher in peace and harmony, they bring a gift of expanded awareness through their energy system as an opportunity for the rest of humanity to follow and expand into—if they so choose.

Bottom line—if you feel different but can’t explain it why, now you know— it’s because you actually are!

Olena Gill has recently published a book”The Indigo Survival Guide”. She may be reached at 250-954-2204 See ad inside back cover.

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‘Everyone’s got a story’ and sometimes hearing others helps us clarify our own. So I offer these scenes of life from the rear view window of a VW van.

A while ago, I spent some time building 10 by 8 foot “houses” in a settlement camp south of Colombo, Sri Lanka. These houses were simple and didn’t even have one mirror for 700 people. When I reflected and viewed the world from that earthen floor, I was shocked at how much stuff I had that I really didn’t need. Back home, my sacred objects were still crated in a plastic bin...but so many other unused things still lingered. What did I need really except food and love and honest communication, I questioned.

As I returned to Canada, on the 18-hour flight I contemplated ‘stuff’ and gave the whole concept of clutter bustin’a good long think.

At home I faced my ‘paper-collector’ self, the one who needs something to touch/show to prove ‘facts’ to another. I faced my ‘recorder’ self - who saves endless images and words (truly thousands of them written). Thus I was determined to reassess the storage container and pack only the essentials in a VW Van. It was obvious some things had to go. Actually a LOT had to go!

During this process, I realized there is often as much clutter inside us as there is in our closets and basements. When I sifted through this concept it was apparent that my mind quickly focused on friendships and ideas. Fascinating, how these invisible forces, taking up little space physically can be such a powerful force in our lives. Emails flying through the electronic universe 24/7, to red lights bleeping on answering machines. Could the ‘physical stuff really go...practically unnoticed? as long as love and friendship prevailed! So what could I do to begin removing some clutter, I asked myself? I wanted to make a smaller tidier footprint so first I gave some of my shoes the boot!

Selling and giving away certain items seemed easy, but what about all that personal stuff. The looming question swelled up within me. Shred my old journals? These journals were my life - literally. Yet as I read random sections, page after page, they were boring even to me. The same stories over and over and over. The character’s faces always changed, ‘but’... Definitely time for a change! Time to free my innerself. Time to take the shredder to almost melt-down heat!

So there I sat, shredding thoughts and feelings and using them as packing material for breakables. What a joke - what a relief! Inside, I could feel a release of old emotions I did not realise were even there. I felt free at last. I was lighter and yet I still weighed the same.

Most people need to define themselves by what they possess, so finally I put the day’s date at the top of a piece of paper and listed what remained. I began to watch who I had instantly just become. I’d say most people want the same things – peacefulness and love.

So what if this year, each of us could/ would begin with a new fresh slate. What if we not only cleaned the cupboards but did an inner overhaul at the same time. Forgive / Forget and Move On. (ah..I can hear my van motor rumbling) In our quiet spiritual inner place, let’s leave the narrow rear view mirror behind. Lets look out the big front window in full appreciation of the panoramic view stretched out before us and peacefully embrace what lies ahead in 2007.

If you need help clearing the clutter call Janit Bianic at 250-331-3335

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When we hear the word healing, it conjures up many different ideas to different people; from the bruised eye that seems to take forever to diminish, or healing after a tragic event. It could include spiritual healing, hands-on-healing, or energy healing such as Reiki or Healing Touch. Some people might think of a miracle cure or perhaps a visit to a shrine for ‘faith healing’. Yet whatever you call it, healing really starts with the universal desire to feel better. When I speak of healing I am talking about receiving help to aid our minds and bodies to get well by route of our spirit. The objective is to have mind, body and spirit in harmony. This is the way to good health.

From where does healing energy flow? It is a divine cosmic force. Universal healing energy is channelled through the healer to the recipient. The healer is a passive conduit for the healing energy. Healers have to spend considerable time attuning to this source. The more they practise, the more the energy flows.

Personally I do not believe in ‘miracles’ although I have seen incredible healings take place. Healing works in accordance with natural law. This has many aspects to it. If we think in a negative way we draw that to us. It is the law of attraction. For good health, thinking in a positive way is a good start. I believe that everything happens for a reason. It makes us what we are. We are what we think. We create our own life.

So by taking lessons learned from setbacks in our life as a springboard for our future, we turn the negative into positive. Think of your body’s own healing power. When you have a cut in your skin, your whole body goes to work. Your brain does not tell the platelets to coagulate and white blood cells to increase. The body, in the form of all your cells, works together and independently to heal. This is what I call body intelligence. We all regularly have enough rogue cells in our body to form cancer. It’s our body intelligence that prevents this from happening. If the body, mind or spirit become out of balance you can become ill. I believe that your spirit influences your mind and your mind directs your brain and bodily intelligence. Healing works first through your spirit.

After my own Reiki healing attunement, I found that people received benefit when I sent healing to them. I could ask for absent healing for people and it would work despite the fact they had no idea I was sending it to them. Perhaps the most difficult part of healing is helping the very ill with ‘incurable illnesses’. We have all heard of miracle cures; of people recovering quickly when the prognosis is bad.

So why then do some people not get better? It is certainly not because they had a lack of faith. The reason must be according to Natural law.

Here are a few possible reasons:

1. Part of their karmic journey. A path they have agreed to go on before their incarnation to learn.
2. The reason for the illness not removed. (Example, still smoking)
3. Natural law. The person may be at the end of their life path.
4. Harmony between mind, body and spirit is out of balance. They need to look at their life choices as part of healing.
5. Individual does not want to be healed

Last April I attended a course in England at the Arthur Findlay College. This was for trance healing. While I was there I witnessed several quite amazing events. People with eye problems, such as cataracts and a detached retina, were healed. This was later confirmed medically.

Trance is an altered state of consciousness, which the healer enters through meditation. This enables the healer to more closely blend with his or her healing guides. These guides are people like doctors who have passed to the spirit world and wish to help us. Sometimes they come forward personally by talking and working through a healer who is in deep trance. The guide is then able to do his work more closely, often with better results. Harry Edwards was an example of this style of healing. He worked closely with his guide often in front of audiences of several thousand. George Chapman, with his guide Dr William Lang, was another notable healer. British Columbia’s own Adam also achieves remarkable results.

It is very easy to criticize trance healing. There is nothing wrong with being skeptical as long as you remain openminded. The evidence that it has worked for thousands is found in abundance all over the world. Be open minded, positive and perhaps you will be pleasantly surprised.

In August 2007 Stephen Upton, who is a world-renowned teacher of trance healing and tutor at the Arthur Findlay College, will be in Nanaimo as part of his North American tour. He will be demonstrating healing and will be speaking at several workshops.

Please contact John Shurvell at Avalon Healing if you would like to know more. 250-754-3330 or avalonhealing @shaw.ca

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The easy part for many of us was falling in love! We met someone who stirred a deep inner emotion in us, then gravity took over and we went head over heals down the path of no return. Our friends and family watched helplessly as we went tumbling by. Their words of caution went unheeded as we were confident that this path of love was leading us somewhere special.

However, similar to hiking on a trail, this path has many ups and downs and twists and turns. It is actually a selfguided trail and our purpose is to learn about love along the way. Our partner can help, but we must learn our own lessons as we move along. When the going gets difficult, we have to work harder and encourage each other to keep moving forward.

Falling in love might be easy, but staying in love requires patience, honesty, nurturing and commitment. There can be many obstacles along our path, like busy careers, family demands, or even other seemingly attractive hikers, sometimes causing our journey to end. However if we haven’t learned the lessons about love the first time, then we may find ourselves walking a similar path with a new partner. In our relationships we have to look beyond the “toilet seat syndrome”, or the “constant reminders to put away our stuff”, and focus on all the loving things that we experience. The path of love principle states that when we focus on love, we will be rewarded with more love.

First, we must learn to love ourselves unconditionally, so we can share our love with others. If you are walking alone right now, recognize this as an opportunity to practice selflove. If you are in a relationship, take a real hike in nature with your partner. The beauty and peacefulness will help promote more harmony and love. There is an exception to the environmental law of ‘If you pack it in you must pack it out’. While hiking the path of love, leave behind negative emotions like fear, anger and jealousy-these emotions are biodegradable and they will break down. Positive emotions like love, caring, and compassion are recyclable and should be used over and over again.

Our relationships teach us important lessons about love, however these lessons can’t be rushed. So enjoy the journey.. it is a gift that you can share with yourself and others.

Bobby O’Neal created Syncrohearts- visit www.syncrohearts.com

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Ever feel like the Universe is trying to get your attention? Have you ever had a series of events steering you towards something? I remember a few summers ago, I had a calling to South Dakota. I kept being reminded in different ways. I ignored the intuitive nudge over and over again until one day I was on my way to Victoria. I was stopped in traffic and I couldn’t believe my eyes. Talk about a crystal clear sign from the Universe! The licence plate on the car in front read ‘South Dakota’. At that very moment I was in total alignment with the Universe. I finally surrendered and travelled back to South Dakota. It turned out to be a very important trip for me.

We sometimes forget to listen to that quiet voice within or that loud knock on the door. Look for the SIGNS, they are all around us in different forms, but one must be willing and open to receive them. When we do, we will be amazed with the end result. The Universe is always helping us in one way or another. The messages or the SYNCHRONICITY may find you in different circumstances. I continue to get signs through licence plates. Just recently I had a similar experience.

I had a strong feeling to go to California. My life was moving in a different direction and I felt a little confused about the decisions that I was making. Once again, I was stopped in traffic. I noticed the jeep next to me looked odd, as there appeared to be nobody driving. I looked closer and saw it was attached to a RV named ‘SPIRIT’. I looked at the licence plate and there it was happening again, right in front of me, a California plate! The message for me was to take control of my situation, get into the driver’s seat and trust that Spirit was with me. I decided to return to California.

Just recently I received a wonderful blessing. During our snowstorm I was looking out of the window watching the fierce wind blowing the snow everywhere. ‘This is how my day is going’, I thought to myself. Then something magical happened, the most beautiful hummingbird appeared facing me at the window. Feelings of joy rushed through me. Even in the middle of a storm this precious bird reminded me of its grace and strength.

There are signals everywhere and I am always grateful for their presence. Stay in tune and you will be surprised with the miraculous experiences that are waiting just for you.

Rosanna Ienco Barned is a Shamanic Practitioner and Spiritual Consultant. She is also available for Reiki Healing and Angel Readings. (250) 760-0396 or www.wolvesdenhealing.com

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Crystal Healing – What is it & how does it work? There are a variety of different explanations.

All around us is measurable energy. Not all of this energy is visible or explainable to our five senses but that does not mean that it does not exist.

It is now widely recognized that all human beings have an electro-magnetic energy field or auric field surrounding our bodies. This energy field via our chakra and meridian systems is directly connected to our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well being.

The environment, the air we breathe, the food we eat and the thoughts we think can directly affect our health. Crystals and gemstones, as well, have auric fields that can be scientifically measured. It is believed that our electro-magnetic field and the various electro-magnetic fields of crystals interact or communicate. Gem stones and crystals can help restore balance to the human body.

To further explain, our biological make-up is electromagnetic, carbon based and liquid crystal lined form. Within our body is every mineral on earth.

The human brain contains silica (quartz is from the silicon family) which is used for the storing of electrical charge and the release of light and energy. The outer cortex of the brain contains billions of magnetite crystals, which have a high magnetic vibration within this bio-crystalline form. We also have quartz-like structures such as fatty tissue, cell salt, white blood cells, the lymphatic system and pineal gland. Our bones are crystalline in nature, made of collagen and apatite (which is mainly calcium phosphate). These systems are responsible for mediating the input of higher vibrational energies from the crystals from the etheric bodies into the physical bodies by way of the chakra & meridian systems.

So, although we have different forms of consciousness, chemical composition and growth structures, interactions between crystals and humans comes quite naturally. We have this wonderful gift from the mineral kingdom but with it comes responsibility on our part. To use these crystals, we take them from their homes where they have been naturally sustained for hundreds perhaps thousands of years. Contrary to popular belief, crystals do not have limitless energy (the exception being the energetic Master Teacher Crystals). Their energies like ours must be recharged and there are many ways to do this. A few sources are the sun, the moon, the earth, but there are many more.

The sun and the moon work well with all crystals. The yellow color of the sun energy brings more self-assertive energies to the crystals, if this is what is needed. Crystals can be laid in the sun for seven hours. This is useful for both men and women. Using the silver colour of the moon energy (full or crescent) for seven hours also works well to recharge your crystals. This energy is subtle, strong feminine energy that is very powerful, very energizing for women or men who wish to be less overly aggressive but more self-assertive.

Earth Energy (color brown) which is good for Agate, Boji Stones, Calcite, Carnelian, Citrine, Jasper, Mahogany Obsidian, Petrified Wood, Tiger Eye and Tiger Iron. This will bring very healing energies of our planet to the crystals. Place in a glass jar in the earth for at least 7 hours.

Another aspect of caring for your crystals is clearing them. All crystals with the exception of smoky quartz, citrine, or morion crystals absorb negative energy that comes into their auric fields. When a crystal fills one of two things will happen. You might feel ill when you touch the crystal or the crystal can eventually explode. So please clear your crystals regularly. (Again Master Stones are an exception - they neutralize negative energy as it passes through them.) There are several ways to clear crystals. Here are a few.

1. Clearing your crystals by rinsing them under water, termination point down to let negative energy wash away.

2. Washing them in warm water & very mild dishwashing liquid. Please make sure to rinse them thoroughly, again termination point down.

* Note for 1 and 2, it is important to know their chemical composition, selenite, for example, would melt away.

3. Blowing on your crystal with the “Intention” of clearing.

4. I personally use a glass pyramid.

Crystals, I believe are a Gift to help us experience our connectedness to “All that Is”, our Oneness.

The higher energy of the crystals when used with love, intention and for the purpose of healing cannot fail. For in the subtle realms, INTENTION IS ACTION.

References:
Maryann George – Can Am
Diane Bloom & Bonnie Seeman – The Kiss Guide to Crystals
Bohmer & Schrieber – Healing Crystals & Gemstones

Gabriele Lanoue is co-creator of the Inner Peace Awareness Center, check their website for crystals and long distances courses and services . www.innerpeaceawareness.com

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Balneotherapy is the ancient art of healing by bathing. It was practiced extensively by the Romans who advocated the use of mineral baths for such diverse ailments as leprosy, arthritis and dropsy (heart disease). They piped water through their towns so that the citizens could soak in aromatic herbal pools, and even named the town of Bath in England after this favoured occupation. Maurice Messugue, the famous French herbalist, had remarkable results treating heads of state and the royal families of Europe exclusively with hand and foot baths. Father Sebastien Kneipp created the healing discipline of hydrotherapy that uses water and herbs to heal all manner of ailment. Today in Europe the taking of a spa retreat always includes therapeutic bathing and hydrotherapy is an honoured method of healing. But you don’t have to travel to enjoy this form of healing - with a little experience you can use herbs effectively at home in baths, foot and hand soaks or in a sauna and enjoy your own customized spa treatments.

What is the correct temperature for a herbal bath? The temperature of the water used for therapeutic bathing is very important. In general hot water is soothing and relaxing to the body, easing cramps and stiffness and drawing heat from the core of the body to the periphery. Cool or cold water is stimulating and tonic to the body and will cause a reflex dilation of the blood vessels in the area being treated to encourage blood flow to this part.

Contrast bathing with hot and cold alternating water can be very effective as a stimulant to all the body parts as can finishing a hot shower or bath with a quick cold splash! Generally, though, herbal baths are taken in warm or hot water and are as much of a pleasure as a medicine.

How to make a herbal bath: The best way to make a herbal bath is to take a generous handful of dried herbs and place them in a drawstring muslin bag. Hang the bag off the hot tap so that the water runs through it. Or you can make a pot of very strong herbal tea and pour it into the bath. Another method would be to use essential oils which are very concentrated plant extracts. Use 10 to 15 drops of an oil blend - but be careful, essential oils are very strong and you should treat them with respect. If you are making a hand or foot soak simply use less herb and water accordingly. To use herbs in a sauna use a strong herbal tea as the water you splash on the stones. The scented steam will fill the sauna and the suspended particles of oil will penetrate the skin to exert a therapeutic effect. Do not put essential oils directly on the hot stones as this will cause burning of the delicate ingredients.

What herbs to use in the bath: Most herbs which are used in baths tend to be aromatic. The essential oils are released by the leaves or flowers and not only smell nice but are powerfully therapeutic as well. Essential oils are, of course, not water soluble and tend to escape the hostile environment of the bath water by soaking into your skin very quickly - it is almost as if the water drives them in. This is much more effective than if they are simply rubbed onto the skin with almond oil. So, generally speaking, the more highly scented a herb the more effective it will be in a herbal bath. Some herbs also release non-scented properties which are medicinal. An example of this would be mucilage (a complex sugar molecule) which is released into the water by many plants. This serves as a skin soother and softener as well as being nourishing to the skin.

Refreshing Herbs: Use in the morning and any time you want to waken up add sparkle to your life: Pine needles, Rosemary, Peppermint, Lemon grass, Eucalyptus, Hibiscus. Relaxing Herbs: Use in the evening for bed or any time you need to unwind and let go of tension: Chamomile, Lavander, Lemon balm, Vervain, Hops, Valerian, Lobelia. Warming Herbs: Use with tired and aching muscles and to ease stiffness or cramps including the pain of arthritis: Black pepper, Marjoram, Basil, Oregano, Juniper, Ginger, Cajeput.

Skin Softening Herbs: Use with dry or irritated skin including excema: Plantain, Chamomile, Calendula, Rose petals, Chickweed, Oatmeal, Irish Moss, Mullein, Red Clover.

Antiseptic Herbs: Use as a local soak where there is superficial infection such as a dirty cut, a deep splinter, or a skin infection: Goldenseal, Myrrh, Sage, White or Red Oak bark.

Anti Fungal and Anti Parasitic Herbs: Use with fungal skin infections such as athletes foot or ringworm as well as with infestations such as scabies, lice or fleas: Black walnut, Sassafras, Tansy, Wormwood and Tea tree oil.

Purely For Pleasure: Some herbs and especially many essential oils smell so delicious that you don’t need a reason to immerse yourself in them! Sandalwood, Ylang ylang, Benzoin, Bergamot, Petigrain, Rose geranium and Basil are some of my favourite essential oils for a truly luxurious bathing experience. Rose petals, Lavender and Chamomile are a pretty flower mix for a soothing and healing bath.

Chanchal Cabrera MSc, MNIMH, AHG is a medical herbalist. See ad pg. 34 www.chanchalcabrera.com

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Happy Happy Happy! What a great start to the New Year. Look out Nintendo DS Lite - with the selection of books and audio we are presenting this issue, you’ll be putting down the toys and remembering what a joy it is to read an interesting book again. Since some will say you have no time to read anymore, you can breathe a sigh of relief, because the dedicated crew at at Sounds True (www.soundstrue.com) have produced some of the finest Audio Books on the market today. What a Gift! Dig out your portable CD player and enjoy your ride to work again. From the Dalai Lama chanting, to practical Conscious Business, whatever your taste, we have something to entertain you.

Conscious Business-How to Build Value Through Values Fred Kofman, Ph.D. This consultant to Google, Microsoft, and other leading companies presents a training manual in ‘new’ business techniques.