Our Tongue Is a Sword

When we study in this Art, there are various aspects to the Work. 

Surely we are using our physical bodies and therefore gain the many benefits health-wise that this can provide.  Some individuals enter various Movement Arts for this alone.  This is fine if that is the only aspect one is interested in.  Surely, though, there is more to us ...

We also work spiritually which some practitioners in various other Arts or disciplines of spiritual study find challenging to understand.   My teacher once said that this path is for all people; however, not all people are for this path.  I have found this to be very true with personal reflection and experience.  

 Additionally we are working on our psyche - if we Work to understand and apply to our lives the many philosophical and psyche+logical (psychological) teachings and tools we learn along the Way.
One such teaching is the teaching of one of the deeper meanings of the sword (yes, there are other meanings to the sword too).    Today's blog topic discusses one tool which can assist us in the development of our psyche.

In this Art and Path, we are taught that our tongue is a sword.  It is used to formulate words and we also use tones and power behind our words that come forward and vibrate into the environment around us.   Some of us laugh when we recall hippies from the sixties talking about 'good vibrations' around certain people and environments.   Although there were some things they did that led to their poor reputations in the eyes of some, they did pick up various practical philosophies - many of their sayings hold truths.  Some of these hippies were influenced by Eastern philosophies ... but there were some who were not taken seriously with all the mind-altering drugs they did and so on.    And no, I do not condone the use of drugs ... nor do the philosophies we teach.   We can learn to feel good and cope with things in other ways!

So our words do vibrate into the air around us.  Imagine the last time you were speaking with someone who was yelling or very angry or full of grief.  Can you recall how it felt to be around them?  Can you recall another instance when someone said something gently to you with kindness and affection?  How did that feel?  Of course - even if you are not touched physically, you can sense and feel the vibrations and intentions of someone with the use of their mouth and voice alone.

There are older stories of bards and people of power using their voices to influence things around them.  You might find some of these if you look for them.

Think of a very powerful speaker.  I once worked with a business mentor of mine who was very powerful with his voice.  He was able to cut away 'bullshit' as well as stir up the emotions of those around him - all with his presence and voice alone.  He walked into the room with such flair and presence that I would feel the energy in the room change immediately.

Think of someone with healing abilities - perhaps a therapist you have seen: massage therapist, counsellor, energy worker, a friend ...   If you have ever worked with or been around someone like this, perhaps you can recall times in your experiences when something shifted within you because they were able to hold the space for you to let down your defenses and show yourself in that moment.  Perhaps they said something to you in a way that touched you very deeply.  We can heal when we are provided with a loving space within which we can relax and allow our innate abilities to come forward.

Yes, indeed, what we say and how we say it impacts us and others deeply ... depending on how open and receptive we are to that moment.   Yes, just as you can block or learn to block with a sword, you can block or learn to block out the negative things directed at you from others ... you can also block out the positive coming your way too.

Your tongue is a sword - it can cut away all that is false.  Sometimes we have to slice away at the false pretenses around us - or cut away lies, deception, dishonesty, illusions, denials, buffers, false beliefs, harmful patterns of addictions and denial ...  When we do so, if others are not aware of the intent to reveal truth or to cut away at darkness, the intent may be interpreted as hurtful.  If you are speaking your truth and others wish to stay boxed in illusions, pretenses and darkness, hold your sword ... use your sword ... and be prepared for the consequences if you choose to use it in this way.   As always, I recommend that if someone is not open to this, you can walk away, choose another approach or simply allow them to continue to be as they are ... people will not shift even if you use your sword well ... if they are not willing or able to do so at that time. 

On this Path you learn to become a warrior, a healer and a priest/priestess in your own life first.  As a warrior, when we cut away at darkness, the darker aspects of people (and within ourselves when we clear out our own) will not be impressed and will holler at us and avoid us and misinterpret us and label us and judge us.  When you find clarity and wisdom within yourself, hold your sword strong and use it to reveal the light.

Children are very susceptible to the use of our tongues.  This is because they are more open when very young.  Use care, love and caution when speaking to children.  Own up to your mistakes (because we all make them, will continue to make them to various degrees and we are not perfect) and work to see the areas you can continue to improve within yourself.   In my experience, children appreciate honesty and are very forgiving.   Children, in my experience, do not expect us to be perfect as they grow and mature (very little children sometimes imagine we are) - they do desire us to be real and authentic ...

Some adults are very open and sensitive - like children ... so they can often feel your intent and negativity even if you do not feel you are doing anything 'wrong'.   These individuals can be assisted by learning how to shield themselves while continuing to be able to sense things in others and in their environments.   There is nothing wrong with being sensitive - many individuals lack this ability to be sensitive to what is around them and what is in others and themselves.    This lack of sensitivity is due to the intensive armouring and buffers they have developed over their lifetime ... their own grief, pain, suffering and so on that is blocked and held tightly from consciousness and from feeling.  

Use your sword wisely: cut away darkness and 'bullshit' with accurate movements and promote love, peace and healing when you find a way in.   Of course, we will make mistakes as we develop discernment and wisdom. 

Practice with your sword; observe the results and reflect on what is working and what is not.  Cultivate patience within yourself ... patience and honesty ... look into the mirrors of self-reflection all around you in your life.   Over time we can learn to master the sword.

What prevents our progress:

--   avoiding our own inner work
--   forgetting to practice the sword with awareness and reflection
--   using the sword on others before we have practiced long enough with ourselves to Know it well
--   illusions, denials, addictions, buffers and so on

What assists our progress:

--    using our sword with awareness and reflection
--    willingness to work on ourselves first
--    gaining a level of proficiency before using it on others
--    facing our own illusions, denials, addictions, buffers and so on prior to assisting others


Will you practice with your sword today?  Have you done your own practice on yourself?  How will you use it in the world today?    Is there anything you desire to cut away?  Do you know of any situations that require your gentle loving strokes?

The Kung fu Chi Kung Life System is a Physical and a Spiritual Art

The Kung fu Chi Kung Life System is both a physical (and it is practical and directly applicable to daily life) and a spiritual Art.  We are both physical and spiritual beings.  These older Arts have been around for a very long time; they have reaped the benefits of evolution and expansion via the many individuals who have walked this path before and who have contributed to it from their direct life experiences and accumulated knowledge base.

There is one thing that continuously amazes me about this Art:  when I go to a book store or search on the internet, I find many books that quote scientific discoveries and discuss the ``new findings`` of science/medicine in terms of health, well-being and longevity.   Every single time, the end result of the application of what is new and recently discovered can be found in some older traditions and spiritual paths of study.  I laugh every single time I hear that this is a ``new discovery``!  All of the research and lab time, microscopic investigations and studies on athletes and the aging population come up with conclusions and recommendations that have been a part of many older traditions and Arts like Yoga, Kung fu, Chi Kung, Tai Chi ... and good old common sense!  

Why do we waste our time and money to find out things that already exist?!!  Topic for some other time, perhaps.   One clue may be that in these cases, individuals are not valuing information that comes from older  or more spiritual traditions ... some people have to prove these things on a physical and scientific level before they accept them as real or valid!

We think, we feel, we sense, we intuit, we take action in our physical world and we have the potential to connect/engage with something that is more than this ... some call this Spirit.  In this Art, all of who and what we are is considered and worked with, so we do not worship the body at the expense of the Spirit - nor do we exalt the Spirit at the expense of the physical existence we have in the here and now.   Either extreme moves us into imbalance of one sort or another. 

All we have to do is look around and we can find imbalances of both sorts in individuals we meet all around us every day.   This is the Work we do when we embark or a path of this nature: to come to know who and what we really are: to connect with the essence of who we are ... and to do the Work required in order to get there. 



We are both physical and spiritual beings

 
When we are disconnected for a period of time from either our physical reality or being ... or our Spiritual Nature, we can experience many various forms of chronic imbalances: various illnesses, mental/emotional disturbances, worries and fears, anxieties and anger, pretenses etc.

 I have found that the Art I work with has assisted me in so many ways on my journey in this life ... with all that I encounter/have experienced: light and dark, illness and health, strength and weakness, grief and joy, pain and pleasure ... the physical and the spiritual ... along with many other states in between.  I have learned what it is to feel wide open as well as to work within certain limitations.  I have experienced the inexplicable as well as the mundane (like doing the laundry and changing diapers!).  

The yin/yang symbol, in this blog topic today, is being used to express that this Art is both physical and spiritual ... it holds symbols of all things we can experience here on our journey.  It holds many ideas within it ... we could write a book on just this one symbol alone ... so profound it is. 

Walking along the path of life with this Art we can come to experience for ourselves what this symbol really means to us both on a physical and a Spiritual level.   It really matters very little what I say; to experience these things for yourself is to feel what I am saying ... to live it ... to be it ... to transform along side it ... to really Know it in some way inside and outside yourself.

As a whole, this symbol represents all we are and have the potential to be.  That in itself is worth meditating on!


This Art and path I walk offers us keys with which we can unlock, uncover, discover, rediscover, recover, explore all our uniqueness and potentialities.   It addresses our lives in practical ways as well as mysterious and spiritual ways.  We have the potential to work with the mind, the physical body, the emotions and connect with Spirit.   We can come to Know the Essence of who and what we are.


The system ... or Path or Way that I have come to know and walk in my life is both a practical and a Spiritual Art.  In this sense, it is an open system - meaning that there is room for its knowing and understanding to evolve and expand ... as in fact it has over the many centuries of its existence.  

Basic Aromatherapy

Introduction to Some Basic Usage of Essential Oils

 

`I expect that essential oils may someday prove a vital weapon in the fight against strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.  Lavender, thyme and tea tree (melaleuca alternafolia) oils have been used for centuries as antiseptics; their chemical compounds appear to kill microbes on contact.’     Andrew Weil, MD

 

Good quality therapeutic essential oils are vital for aromatherapy usage.   Depending on which oil you choose, they can have any or all of the following properties: antibiotic, anti-fungal and anti-viral and anti-septic.  They can also be very aromatic and come in a variety of scents depending on the nature of the plant or flower chosen.

 

 

This blog is for those of you who are new to the use of essential oils – or it’s a good review for those who may not have used oils in some time.  I prepared this in response to some questions, so try out these suggestions and enjoy the wonderful benefits and fragrances of these natural therapeutic oils!

In the Oxford dictionary of English, aromatherapy is defined as the use of aromatic plant extracts and essential oils for healing and cosmetic purposes.

Aromatherapy is ancient; although gaining more popularity today, it has been practiced for centuries in various cultures.  In this blog, I answer some of your questions on the basic household uses of essential oils:  for purposes of healing common complaints, as well as spiritual and other basic applications – all of which are easy to apply.  I have included some basic recipes as well. 

 

PRECAUTIONS

Aromatherapy is also considered an art and a science; therefore these recipes and suggestions do not qualify one to act as an aromatherapist, and it is not wise for someone to experiment with these oils without proper training as some of them can be potentially toxic in nature or in the amount or frequency of usage.  They can also trigger allergic reactions or sensitivities in certain people. 

There are precautions to be aware of such as oils to avoid during pregnancy, the interaction of oils with medications and other natural remedies (like homeopathy).  There is a certain synergy one can create with oils and combinations are often picked according to precise calculations and knowledge of the interaction of the chemical constituents of these oils and their combinations with each other.   Certain citrus oils should not be applied to exposed skin if one is going to be in the sun for a while during the following 24 hr. period.  So it is useful to consult an aromatherapist for safe usage guidelines. 

Precautions being said, the recipes included in this paper can be used with confidence.  A skin test on the inner arm of a person is a great way to check for allergies or sensitivities.  After applying the skin test, wait a good 12 hours prior to a body application of the product suggested... such as bath recipes or skin applications such as skin oils (softeners) and massage.  If you have no reactions, use your product as intended.

 As an added precaution, if you have not checked out the oils you desire to use and the method in which you are going to use them with an aromatherapist, avoid direct sunlight for extended periods of time over the following 24 hrs. if you have applied oils to your skin

 

USING ESSENTIAL OILS FOR COMMON COMPLAINTS & SYMPTOMS

Stress is a well-known word of our times.  Doctors are aware of the impact of stress on the human body, mind and emotions.  At the root of most illness lies the stress we experience in our daily lives and we are further impacted by the way in which we respond to this stress.  If the body, mind, emotions and spirit is unable to reach balance and harmony, physical symptoms manifest... if these are ignored, acute and chronic illness set in.  Essential oils can be useful in assisting us with dealing with stress, working with all parts of our body to assist in our natural healing mechanisms and restoring our natural state of balance.

To be sure, we have to examine our mental/emotional, physical and spiritual states and address any issues which may be contributing to our physical symptoms; the suggestions which follow are to be used as a tool to assist us while we deal with the root of our presenting disharmony.

 

INSOMNIA AND RESTLESS SLEEP

In the home, essential oils may be used in a variety of ways, depending on your needs and intentions.  For example, many people suffer with insomnia or restless sleep patterns.  Essential oils can used to assist a person with this imbalance by using oils with calming and soothing qualities in a bath, on the pillow, as a spray in the room, in a diffuser, in a glass bowl of warm-hot water, or in a blend to apply in self-massage or massage given by someone else.

To make a bath blend, use 1 oz. Sweet almond oil, and add 4 drops lavender, 2 drops chamomile and 1 drop bergamot.  A teaspoon of this can be added to a warm bath, or massaged into the skin – shoulders, neck and upper back are particularly useful areas to apply   these blends, but they can also be used like a moisturizer – all over the body.  The drops of oil without sweet almond may be placed in a warm-hot glass bowl and left in the bedroom for a while before bed.  The drops may be placed on a tissue and placed into the pillow or mixed with a carrier of distilled water and placed into a small spritzing container – linens, pillows and the room can then be sprayed prior to bed.  An electric vaporizer for essential oils can be purchased.  Many of the better ones will come with clear instructions, and then any of the oils we provide in recipes may also be used with this method.  When using a vaporizer, it is not necessary to use any carrier oil, but water is added to a reservoir.

Young Living Essential Oils are wonderful ... a lot of them are now Kosher and many can be ingested for their dietary and therapeutic properties as well.  They tend to be a bit pricy, but they are worth it.   A nice blend for assistance in relaxing before bed is a blend called Peace and Calming.  Place a drop or two on your pillow about a half hour before bed ... diffuse several drops in your room for half an hour before bed ... take a bath with a few drops of this oil in the tub about a half hour before retiring to bed.  Make a spritzer and spray yourself before you leave the house – it makes a lovely relaxing scent and you get the therapeutic benefits as well.

 

HEADACHES AND HEAD TENSION

Headaches and head tension can be soothed with the cooling properties of peppermint and calming lavender.  Use 1 oz. Sweet almond oil and blend in 2 drops of peppermint with 4 drops of lavender.  You may use this to massage the temples, back of the neck and upper shoulder area.  A cooling compress could also be used: Add the essential oils mentioned to a bowl or cool water.  Place a clean cotton cloth into the bowl, wring it out and place it on the forehead.  Relax into a comfortable chair with eyes closed.  This can be repeated a few times as necessary.

  

FEELING RUN DOWN OR OVERWORKED?

When feeling overworked and/or rundown, combine 1 oz. Sweet almond oil with 4 drops tea tree, 2 drops of lemon and 1 drop of frankincense.  This blend will stimulate the immune system and assist the body with getting back into balance.  You can use this in a diffuser once in a while to promote this balance or for a few days when needing extra assistance.  A teaspoon of this blend can be used in a soothing bath, and can also be applied directly on the skin via massage.   When working, a bit of this blend may be placed on a tissue and can be used by sniffing the tissue periodically during the day.  This tissue can be protected by placing it into a plastic baggie which one can reseal after each use. 

 

SPRING DETOX TIME

While you can make the following water drink at any time of the year, in the spring, it is an especially useful practice to tonify and detox your liver.   

Young Living lemon and grapefruit can be ingested safely.  Place a couple of drops of lemon or grapefruit into your water bottle and sip on it during the morning.

We also have liver blends that you can place into your bath and massage oil in the spring to assist your liver in its detox and refreshing period.

 

FLU SEASON

Vaporizing can be used with practically any blend you can create.  It is effective and preserves the therapeutic value of the oils by not subjecting them to extreme temperatures.  The following is a blend which is great to use during flu season: 50 ml. distilled water, 8 drops eucalyptus, 6 drops lavender, and 8 drops lemon.  Place this into a 50 ml. dark glass bottle. Shake the bottle a bit to disperse the oils prior to each use.  You could also use this blend in a spritzer and spray your sheets, pillows and room before bed.  Using the above blend, you could also add 3 – 4 oz. sweet almond oil instead of the 50 ml. of distilled water and now you have a blend for bath, and massage.

 

I have a number of wonderful recipes to use depending on the nature of your flu symptoms, so come in to see me if you’d like a special blend prepared for you specific to your complaint and/or symptoms.

 

 

SKIN:

MINOR BURNS, INSECT BITES AND PLANT IRRITATIONS

 One of my favourite oils is lavender.  I love it for its many applications and its gentleness on the skin.  It is one of the few oils which can be applied directly to the skin without a carrier and without irritation.

 I was having a fire one night in my backyard and was burning some brush leftover from the fall before.  As the fire was burning, I went to pick up what looked to me like a very thin branch on the side of the fire which I wanted to move more deeply into the fire.  I went to pick it up and burned my hand across all my fingers and was suddenly in severe pain.  Looking closer, I realized that it was a hot piece of wire that I had picked up.  I remembered what I learned about lavender and its healing properties – particularly with burns, so I ran into the house and liberally poured lavender across my fingers.  My fingers had already started to swell and were throbbing with pain.  I did this a few more times and then made a cool compress with some lavender on it and kept it across my fingers.  The pain subsided and there was no burn mark except for one small area on one finger – which healed without a scar.  I literally had no sign of being burned within hours. This was my most dramatic experience with essential oils, but I was a huge fan afterwards!

 I had a burn some months ago which was not nearly as bad – hadn’t been near my lavender and dealt with the pain for hours, had a longer period of healing time and ended up with a small scar.   My experience convinced me of the effectiveness of essential oils and their healing, restorative and regenerative potentialities.

 I keep a lot of lavender handy and use it for insect bites, burns, and one of the oils I use the most in my own blends.  Chamomile is also useful for insect bites, but lavender is one to keep handy, as it has multiple purposes.  It is an adaptogenic oil, so it will be used by the body in the areas it is needed.

A synergistic blend which can be used as a disinfectant is 2 drops lavender, 4 drops thyme and 2 drops of eucalyptus.  This blend can be made in larger quantities by doubling or tripling the recipe and kept in a dark sealed glass bottle.  Then 8 drops can be added to a warm-hot bowl of water in order to make a disinfectant wash.

 This particular one is especially effective for insect bites and other irritations which can be encountered out of doors while gardening or while kids play.  It is a great little blend to take on a camping trip or to keep handy for the home.  The above blend of 8 drops of essential oils could also be added to 1 oz. of sweet almond oil and used on the skin as a moisturizer  for a week or so prior to your trip.  This ensures the oils are well into your system. The rest of the blend can be taken with you on your trip and used daily – you may be pleasantly surprised that the insects are not as interested in you due to the oils in your system.

 I have personal experience with this as well, though everyone is different, so give the blend a try.  Many people use citronella oil for insect repellent in a variety of ways; however, I have not chosen to use that oil in this discussion, as I personally do not enjoy the scent as much as other oils which will do the same job.

 

SPIRITUAL APPLICATIONS

 

 Oils and incenses have been used throughout time in spiritual and religious practices.   We can still find some of them used in contemporary churches as well as in other more ancient spiritual practices.   Frankincense is one of the more well known oils.  Other oils have also been known throughout history for their uses spiritually and religiously: sandalwood, myrrh, cassia, cedarwood, cypress, galbanum, hyssop, myrtle, onycha, rose of Sharon (cistus), and spikenard.

The use of essential oils adds a wonderful addition to any rituals or ceremonies you do.

When looking more deeply into the balance, rhythm and harmony of a person, we come to consider the aspects of the person which are not related to the material or physical only.   There are many ways in which oils can assist us when we are working on these subtle levels.  Below is one example that you can easily work with for some time.

Being that we are essentially energy, we can approach wellness, healing and balance by reaching for higher levels of consciousness and freeing the flows of energies throughout our form.  By doing so, we can also relieve stress, heal imbalances and restore the natural flows of energy in the more subtle aspects of our being.

 One way of doing so is through working with the 7 major chakras (wheels or vortices of energy residing along the main central channel of the body...or spine for a visual).  These centres of energy become blocked by stress, life experiences and our responses to them and other factors, restricting the flow of the universal life force energy which permeates and sustains all things.  While we can also work with these energy centres via breath and movement and visualizations, we can also do the following meditation with the use of crystals and essential oils. 

Lie down on a flat surface like on a mat on the floor or a massage table or your bed.  Pick out about an hour of instrumental, calming music that you like and put it on low.  It is useful to have a friend assist you with this process, but if you are prepared, you may do it alone. 

1.  Place a small hematite or garnet stone at the base of your pubic area.  If this is unstable... balance it on the pubic bone - place a drop of cedar, cypress or rosemary on it.

 2.  Place a piece of coral, gold topaz or aventurine about an inch below the navel with a drop of myrrh, sandalwood or pepper on it.  

3.  Place a piece of amber, tiger’s eye or citrine on your solar plexus with a drop of lavender, chamomile or lemon on it. 

4.  Place a piece of jade, rose quartz or emerald on your heart area with a drop of rose or jasmine on it. 

5.  Place a piece of lapis lazuli, topaz or aquamarine on your throat with a drop of eucalyptus or peppermint on it. 

6.  Place a piece of blue sapphire, opal or blue tourmaline on your third eye area (middle of forehead) with a drop of lemongrass or violet on it. 

7.  Place a piece of amethyst, rock crystal or diamond at your crown chakra with a drop of rosewood on it. 

 In various sources, some of these stones and their corresponding essential oils are different... there is more than one choice possible for uses of this type of meditation and chakra clearing, so remember that you can choose from several options you might have available.   If you study the chakra system more deeply, you will understand the correspondences and possible substitutions.

Once you are all set up, lie down with your spine and neck straight and properly aligned.  Close your eyes and relax.  Breathe in the aromas, listen to the background music and move deeper into your self.  

 If any thoughts come into your mind, let them pass like a cloud in the sky in a gentle breeze.  This is not time for thinking or analysis or anything but relaxing, breathing in the lovely aromas, and quieting your mind and body.

 Let your CD play until the end and then slowly, as you are ready, open your eyes and begin to remove the stones.  You can clean them by laying them out in the sun or moon, with a soft cotton cloth and incense, water and sea salt or a little bit of organic soap, but refer to a crystal book for information on cleaning stones, as some of them do not like water submerging, and can get damaged.

 

Candle meditations

Another way to use oils is to place several drops of an oil or an oil blend into your diffuser.   Frankincense is a great oil to use during meditations, but we can suggest other oils and blends for you as well.   Sit quietly in a comfortable position and simply gaze at the candle and the moving mist from the diffuser.  Take in the aroma and quiet your mind.  Simply observe your thoughts as they arise and let them pass as a cloud would in the sky in a gentle breeze.

Light a pure beeswax candle beside your diffuser (other regular candles emit chemicals into the air when burned, so use pure candles).   A diffuser is a great tool to have for the use of oils in your home and during your meditations.   Many people enjoy the use of these oils during their spiritual practices such as yoga, chi kung, tai chi, meditation and healing sessions etc.   Be sure to know the amount of oil to use and how long it is appropriate to diffuse, as these oils are therapeutic and need to be used with care ... Enjoy!

 

COSMETIC APPLICATIONS

 Essential oils are very popular in the area of beauty and cosmetics.  Virtually all products we use can be made with natural ingredients which include essential oils.  From shampoos, to soaps, moisturizers, creams and deodorants, essential oils can be a part of your daily beauty and cosmetic applications.

 In order to learn more about creating unique recipes, taking an aromatherapy course is very useful; otherwise, there are plenty of books on the market written by certified aromatherapists which include dozens of recipes you can make at home once you have the proper ingredients and tools.

To make a delightful anti-wrinkle night oil, add 2 drops patchouli, 3 drops lemon, and 5 drops of rose to 2 drops of evening primrose oil and 1 teaspoon (10 ml) sweet almond oil.  Blend this well and apply it to your face and neck at night.

A really nice aftershave soother can be made by adding 4 drops of sandalwood, 6 drops benzoin, and 4 drops of chamomile to a bottle with 4 teaspoons (20 ml) of hazelnut oil.  Warm a tiny amount in the hands and then apply to the area after shaving.  This aroma is especially appreciated by men, but can be used by anyone who likes the heady rich aromas it provides.

For those who are athletic, here is an after-sports shower formula: add 2 drops of rosemary, 2 drops of pine and 4 drops of lemon to a handful of unscented shower gel.  Work this into a  lather all over the body with a shower sponge or cloth.  This is both refreshing and invigorating.

You can make a very nice hair and scalp tonic to use prior to shampooing by placing 10 drops of juniper, 7 drops of cedarwood, 8 drops of rosemary to 1 ½ oz. of olive oil and massage this into your hair and scalp.  Wrap your hair up into a warm towel and wait for about 2 hours before shampooing.  Before wetting your hair, massage your shampoo into your hair to assist with removing the oils.

At the end of a busy day, you can refresh your hot and sweaty feet with a nice footbath.  Place 4 drops of citronella, 3 drops of cypress with 2 drops of tea tree and soak in warm-hot water.

For greasy hair you can add 2 drops of lemongrass to a bit of unscented shampoo and wash your hair.

You can make a nice skin replenisher by preparing the following recipe for yourself in a glass dark battle you can seal:  4 teaspoons of sweet almond oil with 3 drops of rosewood, 3 drops of frankincense and 3 drops of sandalwood.  Seal the bottle and shake before use.  Use this mixture over your face and neck and dry skin patches, using gentle circular strokes over the skin.

EVERYDAY HOUSEHOLD USES

 We have already mentioned how essential oils can be used to freshen rooms when added to distilled or spring water in a spritzing bottle.  This can effective for unwanted odours such as cooking, animal and other unwelcome smells.  Prepare a bottle with distilled water and put 5 drops of lemon, 3 drops of eucalyptus and 2 drops of lavender per every 2 ½ cups of water...depending on the size of your bottle, you can adjust this recipe accordingly.  This mixture can be used to spray and wipe counters after cleaning them in order to disinfect and add a lovely scent to the kitchen.  It can be used to disinfect and deodorize any room in your house, but due to this particular combination, it is useful in areas like the kitchen and bathroom.

I was given the following recipe by a woman at an aromatherapy shop years ago.  She told me to dissolve ½ cup of Borax into boiling water.  Immediately remove from heat.  Let this cool and then add 30 drops of lavender and 20 drops of eucalyptus with 2-3 drops of organic liquid soap – like dishwashing liquid.  Place mixture into a gallon container and add water to the top.  You now have a concentrated cleanser for the house.  This is meant to be diluted just as you would dilute another household concentrated cleaning product.  I dilute this product and use it to clean my ceramic floors, bathrooms, fridge (not stainless steel) and counters... dilution is important as this is a potent cleaner.  It works well and leaves the house refreshed and disinfected.  I use this product on ceramic, tile or concrete flooring – diluted properly out of your prepared gallon container, it cleans the floors nicely.

For carpets, use Borax – for each tablespoon in your prepared mixture, add one drop of lemon essential oil.  Mix this well.  Sprinkle the carpeted areas and let sit for about 15 minutes, then vacuum slowly over the sprinkled areas. 

You can infuse your clothing with an essential oil, cut a piece of cotton about 4 inches square and place 2 drops of one of the following oils on it – depending on what you like: for a fresh scent, use lavender or rosemary.  For a floral scent, use pettigraine, palma rosa, neroli, or Bois de rose.  For a romantic essence, pick jasmine, or ylang ylang.  Put the piece of cloth with your chosen oil into the dryer with your clothing.

Essential oils are versatile.  They may be used therapeutically for healing, wellness and preventative measures.  They can be used in spiritual practices and for cosmetic and household purposes.  With proper training in the use of essential oils, we can have the knowledge necessary to use more natural products in our everyday life. 

Fear .... Aggression and Anger

Yes, my book project is still on-going!   Some of you have asked about the date of release.   I do not have a set date for completion and it will still take time in the print process.   I will post it when it is out and ready to be purchased ... my writing is only one part of my working schedule, so I do not write every day!  It has been some time since I wrote a blog, so here is one to reflect on for a while.

Since I last wrote a blog topic, I have encountered several situations in my work with similar themes.  I am reminded about how common these themes really are.  I decided to put in a quick blog to assist those with whom I am working with - overseas, in North America and here in my own community.  This blog will answer some of the e-mails and phone consults I have received and provide a reminder of some of the things we have discussed.  As these topics are so very common in society, we can all gain benefit from reviewing them.

Face your fear

Let's take a look at fear. 

This past spring, my father came for a visit (he has since passed away a few months ago but is with us always in our hearts and fondest memories).  My son enjoyed visits with his grandfather and liked taking my father around the property (we live in the country), and finding bugs, reptiles, and fish in the pond to look at.

They found snakes several times over the years.  We have pictures of snakes in bushes, in pails and so on.   This one day, my son told my Dad to bring the snake they found over to show me and to pick it up so he could take a picture of it.  I have pictures and a video of my Dad holding the snake by its tail and it squirming around wildly.  As I came up to them, I said,   'Hey - the snake could get hurt and is very uncomfortable being held like that.'    My Dad said,  'Well, I am scared of getting bit.'   I walked over to my Dad and said, 'Here give it to me and watch this - it's far more uncertain of what you are going to do to it ... look at how big you are!'  I took the snake and transferred it gently from hand to hand as it thrashed around, carefully avoiding its head.   I projected a sense of calm and told them to be still and quiet.  It started to slow down its movements until eventually I had it sitting up in my hand quietly.  My son then took one of his best pictures - the one you see here.

My father was surprised - he asked: 'You are not afraid of getting bit?'  I said,  'Well, sure, some snakes will bite, but it is because they are protecting themselves when feeling threatened.  Don't give them a reason to feel threatened and most of the time you will not get bit.  The way you were handling it made the snake feel threatened so it likely may have bitten you.'

I am accustomed to being in nature and catching snakes as well as other creatures for me and my son to look at.  We were hiking some time later and caught a much larger snake than this one and were able to calm it down in the same manner - until it sat quietly on my arm.   I was bitten by a small snake like the one in the photo above many years ago, but when I went to catch it, I hesitated and felt fear for an instant and in that instant of hesitation, I was bitten.

Our minds get in the way like this in many things - for those of you who have trained in the movement arts with me for some time, you will know how this relates to your body and to freedom of movement as well ... freedom on the inside corresponds to freedom in the outside.  Inside creates outside ... in many ways.


A few years ago, we came across a crow in the middle of the nearby highway.  It appeared disoriented and I decided to pull over and pick it up, as I felt concerned that it might get run over.  I used a shirt to grab it and to hold it and I brought it into the vehicle.  As we drove away, it was thrashing about wildly with its eyes bulging.  I held it in such a way that it could not bite me, and I calmed my insides down and then held it close to me and began to sing a gentle song for it.  I just made it up in the moment and it had a lullaby quality to it.  Soon, it stopped thrashing about and it settled down and relaxed - always looking into my face.  I kept this bird in my house for three weeks as it rehabilitated.  We became fast friends.  When it was time for it to go, I let it go ...   What struck me was the way it settled down when I sang and how it never took its eyes off me; I felt as though it understood that I would not hurt it.  Once it settled down, I never had another issue with it.   This experience made me think about fear and the unknown.  When we are in a situation that we are unsure of and we feel threatened, we have reactions that come out in our behaviours; we, too, can  thrash around emotionally, mentally and physically ... we, too, can be calmed.   Though we can seek out assistance or come across it (there are so many loving caring people in the world who are happy to offer assistance), when we are in suffering or in pain, sometimes we are alone and must learn how to tame the inner beast ourselves. 

These stories remind me that if/when we can feel the fear, face the fear, and move forth regardless of it, we can then come into the place we need to be in order to cope, to heal, to see clearly etc.   Many times, we find that our fear was misplaced to the reality of what is truly before us in the moment.   Other times, feeling fear is a gift: it is telling us to get out of a dangerous place or away from a dangerous person or situation.   The trick lies in knowing which is which.

Go back in the older blogs I wrote and read about my experiences with shrews and deer mice.  I am a huge fan of deer mice - they also make great pets.   Rats are wonderful creatures as well.  I learned directly through observations of shrews how fear leads to tension which, in extreme cases, can lead to death (or intense perceptions of stress ... I say perception because in all situations I encountered with shrews, they were not treated badly - they were simply very aggressive and tense upon being captured, which we had to do as they were coming into the house).   Go back and read the story in my earlier blog ... deer mice are very different by nature.   Are you more like the shrew or the deer mouse?   Fear ... your inner reactions to things ... affects your health very directly .. the way you move very directly and the quality of peace and ease in your life ... very directly.


Fear and anger are often related.  Sometimes, when someone is angry and we look a little deeper, we can find that Fear is the actual root.  We discuss aggression and anger below.



Anger and aggression

Some of you have spoken to me about dealing with frustration, anger and other aggressive tendencies - either in yourselves or in those with whom you are in relationship with.   Yes, with Work we can transform aggressive energy.  One thing which is helpful is to seek out guidance and work through these things with counsel.  Assistance from someone can bring forth insight and practical suggestions for Work which can transform and heal these physical, mental and emotional states.   One way in which aggression can transform is when it is utilized outwardly in some sort of creative work.

 It is also beneficial to do movement.  Have you ever done forms or run or push-ups when feeling angry?  The upper body is important to clear out which is why people sometimes punch things when they feel anger ... the energy runs up and out the arms so we can take advantage of that and clear it out.  Have you felt this in your own body?  If you are sensitive to it, you will actually feel the energy rise up and move into the arms.  With developed awareness and choreography of your own energy, you can take advantage of this and release it so your body does not hold the charge in a negative way ... which it will, in the form of accumulated tensions over time.

Fear is also held in the body in the same way... in the form of accumulated tensions over time.  You can see how this happens, for example, when someone freezes and is unable to move when frightened, as fear often affects the legs.  Sometimes people have been known to collapse in response to a situation.  These are extreme examples, though, and most people are not aware of how fear traps energies, drains energies and creates unnecessary tensions in their bodies, as most are not sensitive or aware enough to feel this as it happens.   When reacting to things, we have less ability to respond with appropriate action in the moment.  Tensions due to fear can appear in other parts of the body as well.  

How often do you feel angry?  Look and see if this is a habitual pattern for you, though, and if so, we have to look a little deeper.  In the moment, movement can clear out a lot of this pent up energy and assist one in relaxing.  The important thing to do is to deal with the root so it doesn't end up becoming a chronic issue.

One of my teachers once told me that anger is misdirected unfocused energy.  With proper guidance, we can learn to bring awareness to aggression in the moment and to channel it and focus it into something positive.

What are your thoughts, beliefs or feelings around an aggressive aspect of someone's (or your own) nature?   Here is a different story about a snake:

There once was a very fierce and venomous snake.  One day this snake met a wise teacher of the wisdom ways and was overpowered by the sage's gentle nature.  In that moment, the snake lost its ferocity.  The teacher told the snake to stop hurting people and so the snake, impressed with the sage's peaceful nature, made a vow to live life innocently and not to harm anyone ever again.

As the snake went forth in life, people began to realize that it was harmless and innocent and began to bully it, harass it and tease it continuously.   The snake was having a rough time wherever it went.

One day, the snake came across the same teacher and when the sage saw how abused the snake had been, sat down to talk with it.   After listening to the snake for some time, the teacher said: 'Unfortunately, you have mistaken my advise and have been applying it in the wrong way.  By nature, you are a snake.  You hiss and frighten those around you and so they do not bother you.  I asked you to stop going around hurting people by injecting them with your venom without cause; I never said you couldn't hiss at or scare off those who would wish to do you harm.'

This is a great story about balance.   Sometimes we are angry because we are being taken for granted, or are being abused, disrespected and/or have put up with far too much for far too long.  To go around injecting everyone with our poisonous venom before we know their intentions will not remedy the situation.  It is part of our Work to unravel the hows and whys of what we are feeling ... looking for the root of it all, we can dig it up and lay it to rest finally.  In the meantime, we can hiss at and scare off those who would wish to do us harm (whether they are conscious of the effect their words or actions have on us or not) and be OK with that too.  Repressing or suppressing our anger will not enable us to determine the best direction for our focused energy in the moment.

Sometimes we are imbalanced in our physical, mental or emotional aspects and this can lead to anger as well.  It is up to us to determine the roots and to cultivate a more harmonious state.   When our organs have imbalances our emotions are also affected.  Movement and breath work assists us in clearing out tensions and energy blockages and are very helpful in restoring meridian balance, muscle and tissue relaxation.   Diet can also wreak havoc on our emotional and mental states, as what we eat can create  imbalances in the organ and system functions in our body and this can also impact how we feel and think.   Looking at ourselves holistically is therefore vital.

So for those of you who have various fears or aggression manifesting in your lives, remember these stories and keep working.  If you are not one of my students, seek out guidance or counsel sessions ...channel these energies out of your body via body and breath work as you need it and keep moving onward in your journey.

Cleaning the mirrors of perception

I am currently working on a book project, so though I like to have a monthly post, I may write shorter ones or skip a month.  I recommend that you go over my previous posts ... the post topics have depth and layers of meanings and so you can pick up new insights over time as you continue to do your Work ...  we all know how we tend to pick up different things when we read material several times.

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Perception is a vast topic in philosophy, sciences and psychology.  Today I have posted some simple statements about perception in practical terms as it relates to our interaction with ourselves, others and various atmospheres and environments we encounter.


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When we perceive with clarity, we can see someone newly and not through our old filters of how they once were ... or how they may have responded to us in certain circumstances or environments in the past.   How much can change?   People are capable of amazing transformations ... we must be sure we really know someone before we assume they are as they have always been.

If we approach others that know someone or once knew someone and ask opinions about this person, we must be cautious about making assumptions that this information is 100% accurate.  Sometimes it is, to be sure ... sometimes it is not.  We often perceive others through our own dirty mirrors and see in them the things we project outward and disown within ourselves.   Other times, if/when we know ourselves well, we can see others equally clearly ... as our mirrors are cleaner.    Be aware of distortion!

When people or things alter and we are unable to see these changes, it is a reflection of our own unconsciousness and sleep-walking patterns as unaware beings.   Due to our own issues, we may be sure that we know someone ... meanwhile we neither know them deeply nor do we know ourselves.


When something is presented to us and we are unable to see through its glamour ... or its falseness ... or its trickery ... or its ignorance, it is the reflection of the same things mentioned above ... our own distorted mirrors ... our own unconsciousness ...

In the same room with others, we will perceive things according to our own level of being, level of awareness etc.  When we react to someone because they point out things we have missed that was going on right in front of them, it is simply our ignorance showing through ... our psychological buffers   (buffers are amazing things, they literally create psychological blind spots to perceiving things as they are) ... our ego gets in the way! ... in other words, we often react to things because of our self-importance ... we are unable to accept that we are wrong and our perception of what is before us is not accurate.  It is vital that we work to correct this, as we could potentially be ripe for the ignorant manipulations of others ... as well as being ripe to lies we unconsciously tell ourselves.

When someone says something about us that is simply not true, it ought not be as important to us as if WE were to believe something that is not true about our own self.  Work to be free of the concerns of what others think of you ... imagine about you ... gossip about you ... perceive about you ... judge about you ... Care more about working to come to know yourself better than anyone else knows you.   Once you reach this self-knowing, all concern drops away and there is inner peace ... acceptance and further growth.

When we do not desire to see the truth about ourselves in the moment, we are self-deceivers.   We can often see this in action:  Simply tell someone directly what you see them doing in the moment in a non-threatening way ...  if your mirrors are truly clean and you are seeing clearly in that moment, and they do not see themselves clearly, they will disagree ... if they have a self-important image, they will show a subtle postural shift (you have now triggered them and they are about to fall into an unconscious pattern), followed by a behaviour to match it,  and you will be able to tell that a part of their psyche does not want to hear what you are saying ... or simply, they may not wish for you to see them as they are.   In these cases, it is very difficult to convince someone of what they are doing or how they are behaving in that moment.   It may not be the right time for you to pursue this, and often, if you do, you may be met with subtle or highly aggressive behaviour.  Simply step back, back off and realize that it is a part of the person's buffer system, inner resistance, reluctance to see in their own mirror, and a sign that their psyche may simply not be ready to deal with the truth you are presenting.   It is also possible that the person may be aware of what you are talking about, but simply does not wish to own up to that to you ... this is a sign that they have a self-image with you that they do not wish to have disrupted for some reason.


Also as you work to apply this ... remember to apply it yourself first ...watch yourself ... clean your own mirrors first ... discover your own postural changes and behavioural shifts when you are triggered by someone or something .... find your own buffers and work to remove them .... all of the above can be improperly applied if/when we are not working with clean mirrors ourselves.    Know thyself first ... and then you will know/understand and perceive others and everything around you even better.

Walking Meditations in Nature

While the movement Arts we teach are meditation in motion, we can also hike in nature and meditate.  Find a nice quiet place to visit often.  Spend time sitting by a body of water or near a tree ... breathe in the fresh air ... allow your thoughts to come as they will and float away the way a cloud moves across the sky.

If you are hiking, pay attention to your breath ... feel the muscles in your body as you move ... use your senses ...  listen to the many subtle sounds in nature ... feel your heatbeat ... take in the rich aromas around you ... breathe in through all the pores in your body, taking in the rich energies around you ... breathe out and release all you no longer want to carry around.  Feel yourself relaxing with each step you take.    As new thoughts arise, allow them to float away without lingering with them ... without identifying with them ... without creating stories ... let them simply be ... come and go ...


Walking mediations in nature assist us in connecting with All that Is around us and within us.   Camping, hiking, walking mediations, relaxing by a nice fire, sipping herbal teas on a beach ... make sure you create time and space to enjoy the beauty ... connect!

Forgiveness, Healing and Inner Freedom

Forgiveness purifies us and frees us

There is much written about forgiveness.  It is not a novel concept to come across ideas regarding healing, spiritual growth and forgiveness.  Forgiveness is also a very important part of any mental/emotional work, as it is one of the major keys we Work with in most healing modalities or spiritual paths we walk and/or study. 

Working as a counsellor and teacher for many years, I frequently come across individuals who have challenges letting go and healing from painful past memories.  Many of us carry burdensome fears, grief, guilt, painful memory loops, resentments, anger, revenge fantasies, frustrations and so on from past experiences involving difficult situations with others from past relationships - whether with family, friends, work environments or even strangers.  In most cases, various levels of health issues are also a part of these individuals' experiences.


People have shared many traumatic stories with me and I have had a few of my own stories to contend with, so inner pain is no stranger to most people I have met ... no stranger to me.  

The pain individuals feel can also be seen on a larger scale in cultures/groups who have been unnecessarily targeted with fear, hatred, greed, power and control issues.   Don't we all have stories ... individuals and cultures alike?  Don't we also have a collective human story? 

Throughout our collective histories, human lives have been full of stories of suffering and pain.  When we review our histories and cultural stories, we can find endless examples of needless suffering and pain.  I use the term needless, here to shift our topic today towards personal responsibility.  

External causes of suffering and pain occur in situations like war, when people are killed and tortured needlessly.  Yet these wars go on - murder and torture continues even today when we like to imagine we are far more civilized.  We wage wars inside of ourselves as much as wars are waged externally.  Once again, we find this principle of macrocosm and microcosm ... or as within, so without.  Individually and collectively we are responsible for our inner and outer world conditions.

Examine your own inner world.  Examine your health, your body, your tensions, your postural holding patterns, your breath.   Just as we are meant to be free of tyranny and war and pain as a collective people on this planet, so too are we meant to be free within ourselves ... in our bodies, minds/emotions, and spirits.   Forgiveness is so huge due to what it does to us when we do not let go and forgive.  Much of what we hold onto we are no longer even conscious of, so when someone tells us we are in need of forgiveness, we may imagine otherwise!  It may be shocking to you to realize how much you do hold onto when you may imagine you have nothing to forgive ... your body, your habits, your reflections in the World say otherwise!

Again, I ask, in a new way (as somewhere in the pages I have written elsewhere, I point to this idea):  How can a people so riddled with inner wars, disharmonies and incongruencies ever hope to live in peace on a larger worldly scale? How can we hope to attain optimal health given the conditions of our inner states?

In my Work, the individual is a key.  I am my own key and have my own Work.  Start freedom within yourself.  Heal yourself.  Free yourself from inner bondage and war.  Let your scars heal.  Uncover your own self-protective measures from wars which may have been long gone in your inner and collective histories ... in yourself and in your family and ancestral lines.  If you are currently in a stressful, traumatic situation and your inner war is here and now, then you must take the steps to get the support, guidance and tools to free yourself and to heal.

Just like outer wars are justified in our world, where all parties have their own stories, are convinced they alone are justified and deny personal responsibility, we too do exactly the same thing.  I often encounter huge layers of resistance and buffers within individuals ... I have to deal with their justifications and layers of inner defences to seeing themselves clearly and to seeing the parts they have played in their own suffering, health issues and mental/emotional patterns.  I also walk this path myself, so I understand that it is not always an easy one.   Everyone could use a cleaner mirror - not everyone is prepared to look and see what is truly there under their preferred view of who and how they imagine themselves to be.


There is no one immune to the above description, though I have met many who imagine themselves to be somewhere they are simply not.   We easily fall into illusions and cycle around in circles going back the same place when we imagine we are progressing - which happens when we get caught up in self-importance and illusion.   Don't we see this too on a cultural level?   People die for causes they are convinced are justified and yet simply do not see the fallacy and false ideas they cling to.  This Work is very individual and is the exact reason why we get so much variety in results to efforts in the field of healing and spiritual Work.

I have said and will continue to say again that this is very individual Work and one only gets the results according to what one is ready for, is able to do and according to the personal inner level of Being one can Work to attain with consistent Work over time.  For those who have asked for the keys to healing, these two paragraphs hold the biggest key: Quite frankly, once you are on a true Path, you and you alone determine your attainable level of healing, inner freedom and spiritual development.  


Prayers and affirmations have been used since we have records of histories.   Since we all do have inner dialogues anyway, these prayers and affirmations are useful tools in replacing the many negative patterns we have developed over time.   As a close to this topic, I offer you three levels of prayer and affirmation in relation to healing through forgiveness: one of the keys we work with.   If they speak to you, use them for your personal work.  You can also create the three in your own words according to how you like to state things and according to your own beliefs:

Three levels of forgiveness: 

Level 1 is forgiving others:   We forgive others in order to free ourselves from carrying around all the trapped energies in relation to these experiences ... imagined or real.

Level 2 is asking for forgiveness from others:   We ask for forgiveness in order to admit personal responsibility for things we may have thought, said or done which may have contributed to the suffering of another.

Level 3 is forgiving ourselves:  we forgive ourselves, which is often the hardest ... which can sometimes also be why we (sometimes unconsciously) find it challenging to forgive others.



If you desire to work with forgiveness and speak to these people directly, you can do so, but it is not necessary if you feel that it would either be inappropriate, or that the individual would not be receptive, or that you simply wish to do it on your own.

LEVEL 1

 

Think of a person and do one at a time for a deeper effect.  Then, in certain parts, be more specific with the memories...ie.  say what you are forgiving them for.


--  I forgive you for your ignorance ... for not knowing better ... or for knowing better and not doing better

--   I forgive you for any and all things you have done or that I imagined you have done.

--   I have suffered due to my reactions to these things and have experienced pain and perhaps various illnesses or health issues as a result of this inner suffering.  I am ready to let go of all of that now.

--   I have been unhappy and unwilling and unable to free myself in order to fully give to life what I really am.

--   I forgive you for not being able to do better

--  I forgive you because I know that in order to inflict pain, one must also be in pain or be so out of touch with their essential nature that they do not know what they are doing - nor the consequences of doing so ... I can feel compassion for someone in that state

-- I forgive you ... I can let you go ... I release any and all negative ties, emotions, mental movies and projections of any sort between us on any and all levels

--   I expect nothing from you, for I am able to free myself from this inner suffering and require nothing from you in order to do so

--  I let go of any conscious or unconscious desire to punish you for anything from this day forward ... I release any and all negative emotions, memories and thoughts of you or what you may have done or what I may have imagined

--  I now forgive you.....     I now open my heart .....   I now send you a blessing of healing for any suffering of your own

LEVEL 2

 

 

--  Please forgive me for times I have been ignorant ... for the times I did not know better ... for the times I knew better and did not do better .... forgive me  ...

 

--  Forgive me, please,  for ever thinking, saying or doing anything that may have contributed to your suffering in any way ... forgive me for not doing, thinking or saying what may have assisted you in some way ...

 

 

--  Forgive me for anything I may have done or for what you may have imagined I did or said ... forgive me anyway

 

 

--   Forgive me for the times I was in pain and lashed out in negative ways ... I am so sorry that my pain caused you any grief or suffering of any kind

 

 

--   Forgive my imperfections and patterns I am aware of and work to transform and forgive all that I do not yet see I am responsible for

 

 

 

LEVEL 3

 

 

-- I forgive myself for all I have done ... for my ignorance ... for not knowing better ... for the times I knew better and did not do better

 

 

--  I forgive myself for any and all negative thoughts, words and actions over the course of my life

 

 

--  I take responsibility for all I have done and I realize that I made mistakes due to ignorance, due to my suffering and due to my own pain

 

 

--  I forgive myself and hereby let go of any need to further punish myself ...whether mentally/emotionally, physically or spiritually ...

 

 

 

--  I open my heart ... I am free ... I am healed ... I release anyone and anything from any expectations ... I  hold onto nothing which can harm me ...  In every moment I am able to let go of more ... open my heart more ... release more ...

 

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When you do these prayers and affirmations, you would find an extra benefit and result if you do one of the following things:

 

--  if you go to a church, go when they are open and it is quiet and take the time to spend with this exercise ... the environment will add a huge benefit ... if you can do candles, light one for each person you work with in the forgiveness exercise

 

--  if you do not attend church and enjoy nature, go to a very special spot and do it there ... you can bring candles if you wish

 

--  if you do not choose to go outside or do not wish to or can't for some reason, set up a special place at home ...  make an altar and have your candles ready there ... set it up to do one person for each candle or do all the people and have one candle ...this will depend on how long you feel you require for each person you want to forgive and release ...are you doing this all in one day/  are you breaking it up into several workings?  Consider all this and design it as you feel it will work for you ... you can always do it again!

 

You have this idea now.  you can use these prayers and affirmations or you can get the ideas, and create your own ways of saying these things.   Pick a time every day, pick the people in your life you know you have to do this work with and begin to do these with real feeling daily until you feel the shift inside yourself.  Perhaps you need to work with one person for days or weeks ... perhaps it is all at once ... no one can tell you how long ... here is the tool and the Work is individual.  You know it is real when a shift happens, you heal something, you gain energy, your outlook shifts, and so on.  Sometimes we return to this work to find there is more to let go or new things to let go....

 

Forgive and heal

Forgive and be free

Forgive and let go

Forgive and Live

Forgive and open your heart
Forgive and BE in Peace

Forgive, ask for forgiveness and forgive yourself 





Remember, as with all things, be gentle with yourself and with this process.  We have the ability to do this without adding more pain ... feel the freedom and joy this brings and allow it to BRING YOU MORE LIFE!