Conscious Life Online Magazine - December 2019 - ed 62 by 2Luni Media

*FREE ONLINE MAG *ISSUE 62 *DECEMBER 2019

7 Tips To Achieve Your Goals

Manifesting Abundance In Your Life Now

Being Grateful For Every Moment

What Happens In the Brain When We Meditate?

12 Signs Of Depression & Beating It

What Memories Is Water Holding?

5 Day Coffee Detox For Adrenals

Staying Fit This Summer

Image by Ibadah Mimpi Conscious Life Magazine

CONTENTS [

SELF DEVELOPMENT & PERSONAL GROWTH

WHY MANY PEI OPLE DON’T ACHI EVE THEI R GOALS

BE GRATEFUL FOR EVERY MOMENT

MANI FESTI NG AN ABUNDANT LI FE

PEERI NG I NTO THE MEDI TATI NG MIND

THE MEMORY OF WATER

NATURAL HEALTH & WELLNESS

12 SI GNS OF DEPRESSI ON & THE ANTI -DEPRESSI ON DIET

SPOTLI GHT ON HEALTH COACHI NG

WHY FORGETTI NG MAY MAKE YOUR MIND MORE EFFICIENT



CONSCIOUS HEALING

THE MAGI C THAT I S YOU

RELECTI NG ON 2019 WI TH MARGI FROM ANGEL CONNECTI ON

HEALTHY INTAKE

COFFEE DETOX: A 5-DAY WEANING OFF PLAN TO GI VE YOUR ADRENALS A BREAK

MORE REASONS WHY YOU NEED TO EAT ORGANI C

GLUTEN-FREE PECAN PI E

NO-DI ARY NANA I CE-CREAM

b CONSCIOUS BODY 90

STAYI NG FI T THI S SUMMER HOLIDAY

CYCLI NG AND THE HI GHLY DEBATED NUTRI TI ON TOPI C

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CONTENTS H

GREEN LIVING

LOOKI NG FOR ECONOMIC PROSPERITY WI THOUT GROWTH

_ ANIMAL WORLD 106 TOP 10 HAZARDS FOR PETS AT CHRI STMAS TI ME

P WORKSHOPS, COURSES & RETREATS 118 SACRED CI RCLE â&#x20AC;&#x201C; AWAKEN YOUR SOUL PURPOSE 119 SOMATI C TRAI NING NIA WHITE BELT 118 LI VING A HI GHER FEQUENCY RETREAT AT DHARMAGIRI SACRED MOUNTAIN RETREAT P

READING

124

UPLI FTING BOOKS TO READ OVER THE HOLI DAYS

GETAWAYS, SHOWS & EVENTS

129

GETTI NG OUT AND ABOUT

_ REACH OUT 139 REACH OUT & HELP: DESERVI NG CHARI TI ES AND CAUSES

111

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Contributors Include

ABOUT US www.childoftheuniverse.co.za PUBLISHER 2Luni Media Articles from the late

EDITOR/OWNER Candida “Cj“ Matticks 087 802 6102 candida@childoftheuniverse.co.za

LOUISE L. HAY Author/Inspirational Speaker

MICHAEL HOWARD Mindshare

Copy Editor Linda Navon SALES & MARKETING Sales & Marketing Manager Cj Matticks

SIMON WING-LUN Founder: Unconditional Love Healing

DR CHRISTIANE NORTHRUP

Sales Linda Navon CREATIVE TEAM Designer & Creative Director Cj Matticks

DR JAMES MERCOLA

BRENT LINDEQUE The Good Things Guy

Content & Layout Assistant Linda Navon Digital Manager & Social Media Cj Matticks DISTRIBUTION & ACCOUNTS

HANNA KOK

WENDY YOUNG

BrainGym

Life Coach and Spiritual Counsellor

Lee Coulter lee@childoftheuniverse.co.za CONTACT NUMBERS TEL: 087 802 6102 011 026 2643 011 046 8737

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LINDA NAVON Deputy Editor

CJ MATTICKS Editor

Contributors Include

MARGI McALPINE

PENNI DU PLESSIS

Angel Connection School

Divine Space

MICHELLE LESKE

DR SHAVIT SACHS

Egypt Tour Goddess

Naturopath

TORSTEN A. LANGE Author, founder & director Reiki Academy London

VERONICA HAUPT Re-code Your Life

WHAT WE ARE ABOUT We believe in the ‘FIRST DO NO HARM’ principle and we select our content and advertisers accordingly. Our focus is on conscious lifestyle. We cover topics around natural health & wellness: body, mind & spirit; conscious living for a cleaner planet, healthy recipes and fitness. TO SUBSCRIBE Subscription to Conscious Life Digital Magazine is free of charge. Simply send an email to subscribe@childoftheuniverse.co.za with the subject line: Subscribe Conscious Life Mag and we will email your mag to you monthly. ISSUU APP Conscious Life Magazine is published on ISSUU. Please download the ISSUU app via the Android and Apple App Stores. It is free to use. Please follow us on there. www.issuu.com/2luni-media

DISCLAIMER The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the editor, advertisers or endorsers. While every effort has been made to ensure that the contents of this publication are both accurate and truthful, the publisher and editor accept no responsibility for inaccurate or misleading information that may be contained herein.

MEDIA & OTHER PARTNERS

Articles written by the late

SERGIO SALOTTO

HEATHER PICTON

Life Purpose Mentor

Founder ADHASA

DR AXE Doctor Of Natural Medicine, Chiropractor, Clinical Nutritionist And Author

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Photo by Raychan on Unsplash

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Photo By Tim Mossholder - Unsplash Photo By Jared Rice- Unsplash

Photo By Jessica Felicio - Unsplash

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Why Many People Don’t Achieve Their Goals

By Paula Quinsee, www.paulaquinsee.com

Lots of us have goals we want to achieve in life but very few end up actually achieving them. Why you ask? Well it’s because we get too caught up in the end result and what it takes to get there rather than the journey it takes to get there. Often we feel overwhelmed by the task at hand that we tend to procrastinate or give up too soon because it seems too hard or near impossible to achieve. It’s easier if we understand the reasons for wanting that particular goal in the first place so lets take a look at how we can do this.

1. Firstly we need to define our goal Let’s use an example: Johnny has been running for about 6 months now, he runs about 3 times a week and has recently started joining his friend at some short trail runs which he is enjoying. He’s decided that he wants to move up from the shorter trails to the next level which means increasing his distances to approx 24kms The first step is to break the goal down into smaller more manageable size chunks:

The what – to increase his trails runs from 8kms to approx 24kms

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The why – He’s enjoying trail running and wants to take on a bigger challenge.

The how – He will need to increase his weekly training to build up to the bigger distances. The when – what is the time frame within which you would like to achieve this goal eg. The next 24km trail run is 3 months away. The Resources – depending on what the goal is, we may require resources that we don’t currently have e.g. knowledge or skills. Once you have identified what resources you need, you then need to assess how you can acquire them and by when e.g. getting a coach and how this fits into your time frame as it could have an impact on your end goal date. Many people focus on the activity required to achieve their goal i.e. run 3 times a week and eat healthier as their goal instead of how achieving the goal will make them feel in the end and what it will do for them.

Should Johnny achieve his goal and complete his first 24km trail run, he will possibly feel – fitter, have more confidence on the trails, have more energy, feel healthier and better about himself and a better, more experienced runner. This is what we need to focus on as the driving motivation behind our goal which keeps us going on those days when it seems tough or we are struggling to focus and maintain our regime.

2. Break the goal down into smaller goals This way you can track and measure your progress and it will give you a sense of accomplishment and of making headway. So in Johnny’s case if he wants to increase his running distance within 3 months, that works out to 12 weeks within which to achieve this. Is this realistically possible? Focusing on a weekly target is more manageable and achievable than the overall end result of running 24kms.

3. Watch your language and thoughts Often it’s our, habits, thoughts and lifestyle that let us down or prevent us from achieving our goals. Taking into account the language we use and the way we think about our goal e.g. I have to run 24kms can influence your progress. The words ‘have to’ sound negative in that you are being forced to achieve this goal and you have no other choice. This can leave one feeling demotivated and uninspired. Making small changes such as using the words ‘I want’ to vs. ‘I have’ to is already making a change that can only contribute positively towards you achieving your overall goal. We also need to take note of the language we use when we speak to ourselves and about the goal we are trying to achieve. If every time the alarm goes off for our training session and we tell ourselves “I’m so tired, I don’t have the energy” then that’s exactly how you will feel. Instead of

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if we use more positive and empowering language like “I know can do this, I’m making good progress, I’ve stuck to my training plan this week” then guess what – you will. As the saying goes – you are what you think.

4. Reward yourself for small victories Small rewards along the way help to keep the motivation levels going throughout the process. Let’s say Johnny manages to stick to his action plan of running 3 times a week and increasing his long run from 10km to 15km slowly building up to his target of running 24kms – he deserves to reward himself for being disciplined and sticking to his plan and to celebrate this small accomplishment in the greater scheme of things. This can be any type of reward that has appeal and will incentivise you to keep going e.g. a new pair of shoes, a running top, a massage, a treat etc.

5. Get a partner in crime At times it may also be beneficial to have a partner who wants to achieve the same goal. It helps to do it together as you keep each other honest, motivate each other and keep each other focused. This works for some people while others prefer not to have the pressure of having to be held accountable so find what works for you. It also helps speaking about your goal to others, the more you share it chances are you’re going to stick to it as people will enquire about your progress.

6. Don’t let the bad patches sway you Everyone has a bad day now and then and that’s ok, we’re human after all. What’s important is that you don’t beat yourself up over it but rather get back on track as soon as possible. Let’s say Johnny’s willpower got the better of him and he skipped a training session plus had to work late the next day so missed 2 training days in a row. This does not mean all his efforts have gone to waste. Instead he needs to focus on getting back onto his exercise regime as soon as possible in order to keep the momentum going and to reach his goal.

7. Visualisation is a good technique to use. Every day visualise yourself achieving your goal. If you can see yourself achieving your goal and how that would look and feel, chances are you will. As they say, if you see it and believe it, you can achieve it. Remember it’s small changes over time that result in big changes overall. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Paula Quinsee: Relationship expert, Tedx speaker and author of Embracing Conflict. She is a certified Imago Relationship Therapy Educator and Facilitator, NLP Life Coach, PDA Analyst, MyPDA Coach and PDA Trainer. As a Relationship Expert, she teaches individuals and companies tools and skills to immediately and positively enhance the quality of their personal and organisational relationships. She conducts regular monthly workshops, of which you can find more info here.

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By Louise Hay, courtesy of www.healyourlife.com

Let’s spend as many moments as we can every day this month being grateful for all the good that is in our lives. If you have little in your life now, it will increase. If you have an abundant life now, it will increase. This is a win-win situation. You are happy, and the Universe is happy. Gratitude increases your abundance. Start a gratitude journal. Write something to be grateful about each day. On a daily basis, tell someone how grateful you are for something. Tell sales clerks, waiters, postal workers, employers and employees, friends, family, and perfect strangers. Share the gratitude secret. Let’s help make this a world of grateful, thankful, giving and receiving…for everyone!

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Let’s affirm: I look forward to each day. I am grateful for each moment.

Can you imagine how wonderful it would be if you could live your life without ever being criticized by anyone? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to feel totally at ease, totally comfortable? You would get up in the morning, and you would know you were going to have a wonderful day, because everybody would love you and nobody would criticize you or put you down. You would just feel great. You know what? You can give this to yourself. You can make the experience of living with you the most wonderful experience imaginable. You can wake up in the morning so thrilled to find yourself and feel the joy of spending another day with you. Remember, every time you make a judgment or a criticism, you are sending something out that is going to come back to you. Let’s affirm:

I notice all the good experiences coming my way today. I express infinite love and gratitude. I lovingly speak up for myself. I attract respect. I am constantly creating more good in my life. Everything falls into place today. All is well!

Louise Hay was an inspirational teacher who educated millions since the 1984 publication of her bestseller You Can Heal Your Life, which has more than 50 million copies in print worldwide. Renowned for demonstrating the power of affirmations to bring about positive change, Louise was the author of more than 30 books for adults and children, including the bestsellers The Power Is Within Youand Heal Your Body. In addition to her books, Louise produced numerous audio and video programs, card decks, online courses, and other resources for leading a healthy, joyous, and fulfilling life.

To learn more visit: www.louisehay.com and www.facebook.com/louiselhay

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Peering Into The Meditating Mind

By Bruce Lieberman courtesy of www.knowablemagazine.org link to the original article here

Some people swear by it, but studies of mindfulness have a long way to go. In late 1971, Navy veteran Stephen Islas returned from Vietnam, but the war continued to rage in his head. “I came very close to committing suicide when I came home, I was that emotionally and mentally damaged,” Islas remembers. At his college campus in Los Angeles, a friend suggested he check out a meditation class. He was skeptical, but he found that before long “there were moments that started shifting, where I was happy. I would experience these glimpses of calmness.” Forty-six years later, Islas says that he has never completely freed himself from his post-traumatic stress disorder, which was formally diagnosed in 2000 at the VA West Los Angeles Medical Center. But he’s convinced that meditation has saved his life. Various forms of meditation are now routinely offered to veterans with PTSD. It’s also touted as a therapeutic tool to help anyone suffering from conditions and disorders including stress, anxiety, depression, addiction and chronic pain. More broadly, meditation has come into vogue as a way to enhance human performance, finding its way into classrooms, businesses, sports locker rooms and people’s smartphones through Internet apps like Headspace and Calm.

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“Mindfulness” meditation, a type of meditation that focuses the mind on the present moment, is wildly popular. It has become a billion-dollar business, according to the market research firm IBISWorld. For all its popularity, however, it’s still unclear exactly what mindfulness meditation does to the human brain, how it influences health and to what extent it helps people suffering from physical and mental challenges. Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years, but psychologists and neuroscientists have studied it for only a few decades. Some studies suggest that meditation can help people relax, manage chronic stress and even reduce reliance on pain medication. Some of the most impressive studies to date involve a treatment called mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, which combines meditation with psychotherapy to help patients deal with thoughts that lead to depression. Randomized controlled trials have shown that the approach significantly reduces the risk of depression relapse in individuals who have previously had three or more major depressive episodes.

But many other studies on the effects of meditation have used only small numbers of subjects, lacked follow-up and generally been less scientifically rigorous than other medical studies — clinical trials for new drugs, for example. A 2017 article in PTSD Research Quarterly that assessed evidence on meditation as a treatment for PTSD summed up the overall state of affairs: “This line of research is in its relative infancy.” While questions about the clinical outcomes of meditation persist, other studies have focused on a more fundamental issue: Does meditation physically change the brain? It’s a tough question to answer, but as brain imaging techniques have advanced and meditation interventions have grown more popular, scientists have begun to take a systematic look at what’s going on.

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Seeking stillness Meditation that requires one to sit still and focus on the mere act of breathing can encourage mindfulness, says psychologist David Creswell, who directs the Health and Human Performance Laboratory at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. But most people spend most or all of their day being anything but mindful. They skip from one thought to another. They daydream. They ruminate about the past, and they worry about the future. They self-analyze and selfcriticize. In a 2010 study, Harvard researchers asked 2,250 adults about their thoughts and actions at random moments throughout their day via an iPhone app. People’s minds wandered 47 percent of the time and mind wandering often triggered unhappiness, the scientists reported in Science.

“In contrast, the capacity to be mindful is associated with higher well-being in daily life,” Creswell wrote in the 2017 Annual Review of Psychology. He cites a 2003 study by researchers at the University of Rochester showing a correlation between mindfulness and a number of indicators of well-being. When people who meditate say they are paying attention to the present moment, they may be focused on their breathing, but maybe also on an emotion that surfaces and then passes, a mental image, inner chatter or a sensation in the body. “Adopting an attitude of openness and acceptance toward one’s experience is critical” to becoming more mindful, Creswell says. The idea is to be view these moments with a detached and non-judgmental curiosity. Creswell first became interested in mindfulness meditation when he took courses on psychology and Buddhism in high school. Later, in graduate school, he began studying meditation in connection with reducing stress and improving overall health. “As a scientist, I’m never convinced. I’ve been trained to be skeptical,” Creswell says. “Nonetheless, I do think that there were a number of experiences I had while on meditation retreats that really struck me as very foundational.”

Even the simple but challenging act of sitting still for an hour while meditating made a great Mindfulness mediation, which aims to focus the mind on the present moment, is being tapped to treat stress, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, addiction and other conditions. But getting clear evidence of its utility for these conditions has been challenging, and even advocates say that more research is needed. Here, Barry Kerzin, an American physician and Buddhist monk, undergoes an electroencephalography, or EEG, test while meditating to measure electrical activity in his brain. CREDIT: ANTOINE LUTZ/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS [PUBLIC DOMAIN]

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impact on Creswell. “Having this disconnect between my body feeling in pain but my mind being completely silent and open … these were very powerful insights for me about how a [meditation] practice could really change people’s lives, or fundamentally change how they relate to suffering in their lives,” he says. “There wasn’t a bolt-of-lightning moment for me, but a lot of these moments of insight in my own retreat experiences that suggested to me that it was worth spending time and effort to do the science.” People from different religious, cultural and philosophical backgrounds have expounded the benefits of meditation for millennia. Meditation is perhaps most commonly associated with Buddhism, which views it as an instrument for achieving spiritual fulfillment and peace. Creswell calls the act of meditation “a basic feature of being human.” But the scientific evidence for its benefits is still lacking. “There is a common misperception in public and government domains that compelling clinical evidence exists for the broad and strong efficacy of mindfulness as a therapeutic intervention,” an interdisciplinary group of 15 scholars write in an article entitled “Mind the Hype” in the January 2018 Perspectives on Psychological Science. The reality is that mindfulness-based therapies have shown “a mixture of only moderate, low or no efficacy, depending on the disorder being treated,” the scholars write, citing a 2014 meta-analysis commissioned by the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Much more research is needed before scientists can say what mental and physical disorders, in which individuals, can be effectively treated with mindfulness meditation, they conclude.

From the yoga mat to the lab Alongside clinical work, neuroscientists have wanted to know how, if at all, meditation might change what actually happens inside the brain. Does meditation make certain regions more active than others, or more robustly connect one region to another? Does meditation result in new neurons, actually changing brain structure? Some studies suggest the answer is yes.

Neuroscientists have studied the physical effects of mindfulness meditation using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and other techniques for the last two decades. Progress has followed on the growing recognition that the human brain is capable of physical changes throughout adulthood, even into old age — forming new connections and growing new neurons when someone learns a new skill, challenges themselves mentally or even just exercises. The emerging view of a brain that can be continually shaped through experience, dubbed neuroplasticity, replaced the long-held idea that after the first few decades of life, the brain’s physiological trajectory was basically one of decline. A number of brain studies suggest that mindfulness meditation may spark neuroplastic renovations in the brain’s function and structure. Looking under the hood with fMRI, scientists have found that mindfulness meditation activates a network of brain regions that includes the insula (associated with compassion, empathy and selfawareness), the putamen (learning) and portions of the anterior cingulate cortex (regulating blood pressure, heart rate and other autonomic functions) and the prefrontal cortex (the hub of higher-order thinking skills such as planning, decision-making and moderating social behavior). It’s uncertain, however, whether these changes in brain activity can be sustained when the individual is not actively meditating, and if so how much people need to meditate for that to happen.

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When it comes to actual structural changes in the brain, some studies suggest that mindfulness meditation may increase gray matter density in the hippocampus, a brain region essential to memory. Researchers including Britta Hölzel, now at the Technical University of Munich, and Sara Lazar of Massachusetts General Hospital found evidence for this in a 2011 study.

Though intriguing, these studies are nowhere near the end goal. “We need to understand the benefits that the changes in the brain have on behavior and well-being,” Hölzel says. “‘Changing the brain’ sounds very impressive, but we don’t understand what it actually means.” Lazar agrees. “Most of the data has only looked at changes over the course of two months of [meditation] practice…. Most people feel that [meditation] continues to change and get deeper with extended practice. So we need to conduct studies that follow people for much longer time points.”

Stress tests Based on their studies of people engaged in meditation, Creswell and his colleagues have proposed that mindfulness acts as a buffer specifically against stress. It does this by increasing activity in regions of the prefrontal cortex that are important for “top-down stress regulation,” while reducing activity and functional connectivity in regions associated with the brain’s fight-orflight stress response — in particular the amygdala. The idea that mindfulness meditation engages parts of the brain involved in top-down stress regulation is widely accepted among researchers, says University of Michigan clinical psychologist Anthony King. But what’s happening in relation to the amygdala is less clear, he says. The amygdala, one of the most primitive parts of the brain, is not just a simple alarm center associated with responding to threats. It’s central to what’s called the salience network, which is vital for noticing all kinds of important things in one’s environment. In a mother, for example, the amygdala may become very active in response to her baby’s joyful face.

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Mindfulness meditation “helps people have what the old school psychotherapists call ‘reflective capacity,’” King says. “Instead of automatically responding in certain ways, it allows people to have more nuance in their ability to respond to any type of situation — stressful, fearful or otherwise — and create some psychological distance.” Two studies by Creswell and his colleagues, one in 2015 and the other in 2016, offer some initial findings that seem to support their view of mindfulness meditation as a buffer against stress. Both studies focused on the physiological effects of mindfulness mediation training on small groups of unemployed adults experiencing stress. In the 2015 study, published in Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, the researchers found that three days of intensive mindfulness meditation training reduced functional connectivity between the right amygdala, associated with the fight-or-flight stress response, and the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex, which plays a role in modulating emotions. In the 2016 study, published in Biological Psychiatry, the researchers found that three days of intensive mindfulness meditation training led to increased connectivity between the default mode network, a network of regions engaged when the brain is at rest, and parts of the prefrontal cortex involved in regulating stress. The study also found that meditation led to reduced levels of interleukin-6, a biomarker in the blood for systemic inflammation that’s elevated in high-stress populations.

Focus on PTSD, anxiety and pain King and his colleagues showed similarly promising results in 23 combat veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq with post-traumatic stress disorder in 2016 in Depression and Anxiety. Brain scans before and after mindfulness-based group therapy revealed an increase in resting-state connectivity between a network in the brain that allows people to control their attention and other parts of the brain involved in rumination and spontaneous thought. This particular connectivity has been seen in healthy people, as well as people who have meditated for long periods, says King. “What’s important about our study … is that people with PTSD can also have this change in brain connectivity patterns when they do mindfulness practice,” King says. The more this connectivity increases as a result of mindfulness training, “the more their symptoms improve,” he adds, summarizing a key finding of the study. Studies of other conditions suggest similar improvements, although many involve small numbers of subjects and other limitations that make them far from conclusive. Nevertheless, mindfulness

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meditation may alleviate symptoms of general anxiety disorder, by increasing connectivity between the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex, thereby increasing a patient’s ability to regulate emotions. Meditation may also lessen the perception of painby reducing pain-related activation of the somatosensory cortex and increasing activation of areas involved in the cognitive regulation of pain.

Work ahead Fundamentally, mindfulness is an elusive quality to study. It’s an internally generated experience, not a drug that scientists can give to a patient. That creates a question when comparing mindfulness between individuals and especially between distinct studies. What’s more, there is no universally accepted definition of mindfulness or agreement among researchers on the details of what it entails, Lazar and her colleagues note in the Perspectives on Psychological Science article.

In the context of PTSD, King says it’s likely that mindfulness meditation will continue to supplement more conventional psychiatric treatments. “I would never recommend for people to go to a mindfulness class at the YMCA or the local health center and think that that’s going to be the same as psychotherapy, because it is not. It really is not,” King says. But “I think mindfulness is a useful technique in the context of therapy with somebody who’s trained in PTSD treatment.” But people like Islas who have faced serious mental illness, and others who use mindfulness meditation to ease daily stress, say they’re convinced the practice improves their lives. One day, scientists hope to be able to link that experience to what’s physically happening in the meditating mind. Thank you to Knowable Magazine for the use of this article.

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By Aurixia

We begin our lives in amniotic fluid which is 99% water.

Our first cellular relationship with our mothers takes place in her waters. Roughly 60% of our bodies are water. And roughly 70% of the earth surface is water. All the water that has ever been on the planet has been reconstituted through rivers and seas, evaporation, rain, snow, ice and dew drops. This has been happening since the birth of the earth and the water we experience today is that very same water. Water on the planet is finite.

Water holds memory. So with this in mind when we swim in, or drink fresh clean water we are experiencing the cellular history of the planet. Not only does it store impressions but it also is susceptible to subtle influences, including pollutants and chemicals used on and around the earth. In the late 90s the Japanese scientist Masaru Emoto brought to our attention the importance of the power of intention and its affects on all living substances. He showed the world that when you spoke kindly or wrote loving, appreciative words to any living being, food or a body of water, they responded with health, vitality and longevity. If on the contrary, you projected the feelings

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or words of shame, disgust or any negativity, the substance in question would shrivel and die. He performed many experiments and encouraged children, in particular, to perform these experiments as he felt they were unfettered by preconceived ideas. He experienced that people don’t believe what they can’t see, so he developed a method whereby he froze water, creating water crystals intending to make the invisible visible, showing us how water holds memory and how our intentions affect these molecules.

Check out the YouTube clip below for more info on Dr Masaru Emoto’s work.

More recently in the fascinating, lesser-known studies of Luc Montagnier, who was the joint recipient of the Nobel prize for discovering the HI virus in 2008, we see the same findings In double-blind experiments, he proved that not only does water have the ability to retain memory but can receive messages at a distance. He proved this in an experiment between France and Italy with a film crew documenting it In both counties.

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He showed that by placing the HI virus in a water solution that was diluted so many times that there was only a minuscule trace of a molecule ( much the same as homeopathy), that this energetic frequency could be sent through resonance via the internet to another body of water across continents.

His experiment proved that water can store a memory of an imprint, it can conduct information and that it can also work at a distance in an instant, in real-time. We know that everything is energy and energy vibrates. Quantum Physics tells us that intention affects matter. Both Masaru Emoto and Luc Montagnier are two examples of proving this in a laboratory. We live in a time where we are awakening to the fact that our human potential is far more powerful than we ever imagined. Our thoughts, feelings and intentions have a great impact on all around us. Within this realisation, it opens doors to infinite possibilities.

Set your intention and feel the difference.

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Filled with inspiring articles on the Montessori Method, bringing Montessori into the home; conscious parenting, conscious living, wellness, self improvement, fitness &more.

To Subscribe to the Child of the Universe Montessori Mag-nificence Parenting Online Magazine for Free, Click Here Your monthly free digital mag will be emailed to you* *by subscribing, you acknowledge that your email address and name will be added to the publishers of Conscious Life Magazineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s database. The publishers are, Vinloco Media & 2Luni Media. You will only receive your monthly magazine and, from time to time, mails related to Conscious Life Magazine and the Child of The Universe Parenting Magazines. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in the mailer you receive.

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By Christine Ruggeri, CHHC

Did you know that depression is predicted to be the leading cause of disease burden by 2030? In fact, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s already the leading cause in women worldwide. When including depressive-related deaths due to suicide and stroke, depression has the third highest global disease burden. (1) For people with depression, their negative thoughts overshadow all of their thoughts and actions. Some people have such severe depression that they lack the energy to get help and they may have suicidal thoughts without anyone noticing. Being aware of the signs of depression can help you to determine whether or not you or a loved one needs support and treatment.

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What Is Depression? Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a syndrome that negatively affects a person’s life. It comprises certain symptom sets that disables the sufferer’s ability to function in daily life. People with depression live in a state of low mood and aversion to activity. In fact, they often feel worthless and unable to function properly. (2) Interestingly, the word depression comes from the late Latin word “depressare” and the classical Latin word “deprimere,” which literally means to press down. Researchers suggest that the term indicates a feeling of heaviness, of being “pressed down,” or feeling sad, blue or simply down. (3) Depression includes different phases and people may experience one or several of them in a certain period of time. Some people have signs of depression that last longer, with a mix of severe and less severe phases. Others will develop chronic depression that lasts for years. Some four common phases of depression include:

Depressive episode — a state of low mood and aversion to activity that goes away after a certain amount of time. Relapse — when signs of depression return within six months after the last depressive episode. Recurrent depression — when signs of depression return more than six months after the last episode, or even years later. Chronic depression — when depressive episodes last longer than two years. This type of depression is called dysthymia.

Risk Factors for Depression Depression can arise in various phases of life and under many circumstances. Research shows that depression affects women more than men; in fact, depression is the leading cause of disease-related disability in women. Studies show that the lifetime prevalence of a major depressive disorder in women is 21 percent. In fact, that’s almost twice that in men at 12 percent. National data reveals that sex differences in prevalence first appear around the age of 10 years and persist until midlife, after which they disappear. Therefore, women have the greatest risk for developing depressive disorders after puberty and during their child-bearing years. (4) Research shows that there are several biological processes that may predispose women to depression. These include genetically determined vulnerability and hormonal fluctuations related to various aspects of reproductive function. For example, the variation in ovarian hormone levels and decreases in estrogen experienced by women have proven to be important factors. Reproductive events such as infertility, miscarriage, oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy have been reported to cause depression in women as well. Studies also show that birth control pills cause depression. Women have expressed concern about low sex drive, lack of appetite, helplessness, disinterest and an overall sad disposition while “on the pill.”(5)

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Psychosocial events such as role-stress (or job stress), victimization, sex-specific socialization, internalization, coping style and disadvantaged social status have also been considered as contributors to the increased vulnerability of women to depression. According to research published in the Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, women tend to display more sensitivity to interpersonal relationships, whereas men display more sensitivity to external career and goal-oriented factors. Women also experience specific forms of depressionrelated illness, including postpartum depression and postmenopausal depression and anxiety. (6) Signs of clinical depression are also more common in the elderly, unlike bipolar disease, or manic depression, which usually appears in the late teens and early adult years. The definition of late life depression, according to most researchers, is a major depressive disorder that appears for the first time at the age of 60 or later. Researchers suggest that it’s difficult for healthcare providers to accurately diagnose depression in elderly people because signs of depression, such as tiredness, loss of appetite and sleep disorders, are commonly evaluated as part of a medical illness. Elderly people may also have difficulty expressing their emotions. Or they hide complaints when cognitive problems are encountered because they think of these symptoms as a normal process of aging.

According to research published in Aging and Disease, signs of depression seen in the elderly are related to: (7) • the advancing of age • being a female • living alone • being divorced • having a low education level • having a functionality disorder • being physically ill • having low-level cognitive dysfunction • cigarette and alcohol use • loss of life purpose • multiple medication use • economic problems Depression can also co-occur with other serious medical illnesses, including diabetes, cancer, heart disease and Parkinson’s disease. Also, medications taken for these physical illnesses may cause side effects that contribute to depression. Some other risk factors for depression include a family history of depression, stress, major life changes and trauma. (8)

The Many Causes of Depression There is no one cause of depression. It’s thought that biological processes, psychological factors, major events in a person’s life and personal circumstances can all play a role. Some examples of the many causes of depression include: • genetics • stress • traumatic experiences

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• • • • • • • • • • •

unresolved emotional problems certain medications medical conditions (such as cancer, stroke, heart attack or an underactive thyroid) substance abuse lack of sunlight neurotransmitter imbalance hormonal imbalance nutrition deficiencies toxicity from mold and metals diet hypoglycemia

Over the years, researchers have found that more cases of depression are characterized by the accrual of multiple chronic mild stressors. These include work-related stress, homemaking demands and financial trouble, than by major losses such as divorce or the loss of a job. (9) We can dive deeper into some of these common causes of depression in order to better understand how some environments, personal circumstances and decisions, and physical conditions can increase the risk of developing depression.

About half a million Americans, mainly from northern climates, suffer from seasonal affective disorder (or SAD), a form of clinical depression that comes and goes in a seasonal pattern. It is believed that a vitamin D deficiency and a lack of sunlight keeps a part of the brain, the hypothalamus, from working properly, leading to a disruption of circadian rhythms. When our circadian rhythms are out of whack, it can increase our levels of melatonin. These melatonin increases make us feel sleepy and lethargic, and decreases our serotonin levels, affects our mood and appetite. (10) Our diet can be a major contributor to the development of depression as well. Our bodies are interconnected systems. Everything we put in them, expose them to or do to them affects the whole person, not just one area. The foods that we eat will not only affect our digestion and energy, but also alter the neurochemistry of our brains, specifically the neurotransmitters. The neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin affect mood and behavior. When there is an imbalance, this can lead to signs of depression. In fact, serotonin eases tension and dopamine and norepinephrine raise alertness. The foods commonly consumed in the Western diet have the ability to alter the balance of our neurotransmitters. The high levels of omega-6 and 9 fatty acids in refined and processed foods, for example, have been found to cause dramatic problems in the production of serotonin.

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is a commonly overlooked commonality in depression. Consuming sugar and simple carbohydrates such as white rice, white bread and white flour, causes a rapid and dramatic rise in blood sugar. This then produces an exaggerated insulin response. A 2013 study conducted at the University of Washington Medical School involved over 4,000 patients with diabetes. Researchers found that depressed patients (compared with non-depressed patients) had a significantly higher risk of severe hypoglycemic episodes and a greater number of hypoglycemic episodes. (11)

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Alcohol lowers serotonin and norepinephrine levels, it depresses the brain and nervous system and blunts the action of stress hormones. According to a 2011 study published in Addiction, there a link exists between alcohol use disorders and major depression. Researchers found that increasing involvement with alcohol also increases the risk of depression. Potential mechanisms underlying these linkages include neurophysiological and metabolic changes resulting from exposure to alcohol. (12) Toxic mold exposure is another cause of depression that sometimes isn’t taken seriously enough. Research published in The American Journal of Public Health indicates that there is a link between homes with mold and residents with signs of depression. This data comes from more than 6,000 European adults and it proves that toxic mold causes depression. (13)

12 Signs of Depression It’s perfectly normal to feel sad and lonely at times — this is a common reaction to life’s struggles. However, when feelings of sadness, loneliness and depression become so overwhelming that they keep you from social interactions, physical activity and other normal life events, you may need to seek the help of a counselor or health care provider. Although there are complex and varied features of depression, there are some common signs of depression that can help you to make an accurate diagnosis. 1. Fatigue People who are depressed often feel exhausted and unable to carry out physical or mental work. In a large study including almost 2,000 depressed patients across six countries, 73 percent of patients agreed that they experienced tiredness. (14) 2. Sleep Disturbance Insomnia is a frequent symptom of depression. Other signs of depression are disturbances in the ratio of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep to non-REM sleep, decreased slow-wave sleep and impaired sleep continuity. According to research published in Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, about three quarters of depressed patients have insomnia symptoms, and hypersomnia(or excessive sleepiness) is present in

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about 40 percent of young depressed adults and 10 percent of older patients. The symptoms cause huge distress, have a major impact on quality of life and are a strong risk factor for suicide. (15) 3. Cognitive Dysfunction or Difficulty Concentrating Signs of cognitive dysfunction in depressed patients include disturbances in psychomotor speed, memory, verbal fluency, attention, executive functions (such as planning and problem solving) and processing speed. According to research published in Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, people who show signs of depression also have difficulty disengaging from negative material. They also have deficits in cognitive control when processing negative material. (16)

4. Feelings of Worthlessness or Hopelessness According to research published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, cognitive models predict that vulnerability to depression is due to a bias to blame oneself for failure in a global way. This results in excessive self-blaming emotions, decreased self-worth, hopelessness and depressed mood. A study involving 132 patients with major depressive disorder found that feelings of inadequacy, depressed mood and hopelessness emerged as the most closely co-occurring and consistent symptoms, affecting more than 90 percent of patients. (17) 5. Irritability or Restlessness Clinical studies of depressed children and adolescents have shown that the most frequently reported symptom in moderate depression is irritability. Research shows that irritability is more likely in female, young, unemployed people who are lower in functional status and quality of life, and have a history of at least one suicide attempt. Irritability with anger attacks might be present in more than one-third of patients with major depressive disorder, according to research published in Molecular Psychiatry. (18) 6. Loss of Interest in Hobbies or Activities One of the main signs of depression is reduced work and interest. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an essential requirement for the diagnosis of major depressive episode. The scientific term for a reduced ability to experience pleasure is anhedonia. Depressed people no longer value activities and hobbies that once brought them pleasure. People may begin to feel as though they have no purpose. They lose social connections because of their inactivity in the community, at work or within the family. (19) 7. Appetite Changes According to research published in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry, many of the easily noticeable food patterns that precede depression are the same as those that occur during depression. These may include poor appetite, skipping meals and a dominant desire for sweet foods. There is a growing body of evidence proving that nutritional factors are intertwined with human cognition, behavior and emotions. (20)

Researchers published a study in the American Journal of Psychiatry in which they found that many of the brain regions responsible for appetite and responses to food are implicated in depression. Researchers found that people with depression-related increases in appetite exhibited greater hemodynamic (blood flow) activity to food stimuli, while depressed patients who experience appetite loss exhibited hypoactivation of insular regions of the brain. (21) Conscious Life Magazine

8. Persistent Aches or Pains Physical signs of depression include chronic joint pain, limb pain and back pain. According to research conducted at the University of Texas Southwest Medical School, physical pain and depression have a deeper biological connection than simple cause and effect. The neurotransmitters that influence both pain and mood are serotonin and norepinephrine; dysregulation of these transmitters links to both depression and pain. Researchers suggest that in general, the worse the painful physical symptoms, the more severe the depression. Elevated rates of suicidal thoughts are also found in patients with chronic pain. (22) 9. Digestive Issues Data indicates that emotional stress and depression might influence the development of gastrointestinal disorders. In a 2015 study, stress and depression were related to functional dyspepsia (or discomfort in the chest and abdomen), irritable bowel syndrome and reflux esophagitis. Depression was also linked to stomach ulcers, and benign tumors and cancer of the colon and stomach. (23) 10. Anxiety Studies show that 90 percent of depressed patients have co-occurring anxiety symptoms and approximately 50 percent of depressed patients meet the criteria for a comorbid anxiety disorder, meaning they simultaneously experience signs of depression and anxiety, two conditions, at the same time. (24)

11. Sexual Dysfunction An important and often overlooked sign of depression is sexual dysfunction. Research shows that low libido may contribute to deteriorating interpersonal/marital relationships and further exacerbate depression. Although patients most often report decreased libido, difficulties with arousal, resulting in vaginal dryness in women and erectile dysfunction in men, and absent or delayed orgasm are also prevalent. According to a 2009 review conducted at the University of Toronto, sexual dysfunction is also a frequent adverse effect of treatment with most antidepressants and is one of the predominant reasons for premature drug discontinuation. (25) 12. Thoughts of Suicide Data published in Annals of General Psychiatry suggests that between 59 and 87 percent of suicide victims suffer from major depression. Suicide has proven to be a multicausal behavior. People who experience anxiety and depression simultaneously are at a greater risk of developing suicidal thoughts. Research also shows that being male, experiencing adverse life situations, social losses such as the death of a loved one, loss of work or income and cognitive decline, physical disease and acute psycho-social stressors are also risk factors. (26)

Natural Treatment of Depression Anti-Depression Diet One of the most important natural remedies for depression is your diet. You want to eat foods that boost your neurological health and cellular function; plus, you need to make sure youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re consuming vital nutrients that support a positive mood.

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A 2015 study published in Nutritional Neuroscience aimed to provide a set of practical dietary recommendations for the prevention of depression, based on the best available current evidence. Researchers found that it’s important to increase your consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds, consume plenty of omega-3 foods, and limit your intake of processed foods, fast foods, commercial bakery goods and sweets. (27) It is also important to eat saturated fats found in coconut, raw dairy and grass-fed meats because they support cellular function and neurological health. Some evidence in animal studies even suggests the ketogenic diet(high in fats and very low in carbs) may have an antidepressant effect. (28, 29, 30) And in addition to sugary, processed and packaged foods, avoiding caffeine and alcohol can help you to relieve the signs of depression and avoid recurring depressive episodes. Exercise is also extremely important in fighting depression because it releases endorphins, which are our feel-good chemicals. Aim to exercise three to five times a week for 20 minutes or more.

Supplements for Depression Fish Oil — The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil are critical for neurotransmitter function, which is a key component for emotional and physiological brain balance. Vitamin D — Vitamin D deficiency may cause seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which can manifest depression, especially in people who don’t get regular sunlight.

B-Complex — B vitamins help neurotransmitter function. Researcher have found that people with major depression have low levels of folate and vitamin B12; take oral doses of both vitamins to improve treatment outcomes in depression. (31) Adaptogen Herbs — Adaptogen herbs like ashwagandha and rhodiola improve the balance of stress hormones and help to relax the nervous system. Rhodiola helps to beat depression by enhancing brain function and lowering cortisol. St. John’s Wort — St. John’s Wort helps to relieve signs of depression such as anxiety, fatigue, loss of appetite and trouble sleeping. It treats moodiness and seasonal affective disorder. Psilocybin Mushrooms — Psilocybin mushrooms, or “magic mushrooms,” are used to reduce anxiety and depression among cancer patients and survivors. Psilocybin seems to affect serotonin, the neurotransmitter linked to depression. (32)

Mugwort — Some studies show that mugwort, which is in the same plant family as St. John’s Wort, can treat mild depression and anxiety. (33)

Essential Oils for Depression Certain essential oils help to elevate mood and bring on feelings of ease and comfort. Because smells travel directly to the brain, they serve as emotional triggers and can promote hormonal balance. The best essential oils for depression include bergamot, lavender, Roman chamomile, ylang ylang and patchouli oil.

Sandalwood essential oil can also be helpful to both sexes because it can increase libido by

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balancing testosterone levels in men and women. Sandalwood is a natural aphrodisiac, which can be helpful for people with depression who are experiencing sexual dysfunction.

Precautions Regarding Signs of Depression Depression carries a high risk of suicide. Because hopelessness is closely tied to depression and suicide, it may feel overwhelming or pointless to a suicidal person to approach a therapist, family member or close friend to share difficult feelings. This is why it’s crucial to alert a professional or reach out for emergency support if you notice warning signs of suicide right away.*

Key Points About Signs of Depression •

• • •

Major depressive disorder is a syndrome that negatively affects a person’s life. It comprises certain symptom sets that disable their ability to function in daily life. Depression can arise in various phases of life and under many circumstances. Research suggests that women and the elderly are more likely to develop depression. Stress, mental illness and major life changes are other common risk factors for depression. There is no one cause of depression — experts think that biological processes, psychological factors, major events in a person’s life and personal circumstances can all play a role. There are many complex and varied signs of depression, including fatigue, changes in appetite, anxiety, feelings of worthlessness and cognitive dysfunction. It is important to be aware of these signs in order to help yourself or a loved one get help.

*Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0800 12 13 14 *SADAG Helpline: 0800 567 567 SMS: 31393 *Lifeline SA Helpline: 0861 322 322

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By Health Coaches Academy What is Health Coaching? Health Coaches work with clients to come up with their ‘new life’ plan – one that will fully support their health goals with a clear vision for what they want. So many people start out on a health or weight loss journey simply to become overwhelmed within a few weeks and go back to more familiar patterns. Most news year’s resolutions are broken within just 3 weeks and many studies show that up to 95% of people who try to change their diet and lose weight, regain it all, and more.

Quite simply, life gets in the way of even the best laid health plans and goals. People today are stressed out, time poo, exhausted and far from feeling optimally well. As Health Coaches we are champions for the person they would like to become and the health goals they want, and need, to achieve. We help them to create a version of themselves that can enjoy optimum health and energy with control over their health, and therefore their future. The Health and Wellness industry is booming. If the idea of helping others to radically improve their lifestyles excites and inspires you, and you are keen to learn a Person-Centred Nutrition approach that is tried and tested and promotes optimum health and wellness then perhaps you would like to be one of the first South African trained Health Coaches with professional membership to COMENSA and HCA. The Health Coaches Academy trains people to become health coaches, in order to effectively support people to transform their health.

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Karen Pawley, who graduated in 2019, said the course was “the most interesting, challenging and rewarding course! It changed my life, and has enabled me to change the lives of others”. Karen’s initial interest in doing the course was for personal reasons. She wanted to achieve her own health transformation, but she loved health coaching so much that she has changed her career and started her own Health Coaching practice. Much of this is down to the support and friendships she made on the course. Another recent graduate, Zena La Roux, says “There really is nothing like this out there. My life will never be the same again. I feel alive, love my job and I’m so excited about the endless opportunities that are currently presenting themselves”. Zena experienced real personal growth on the course. She faced many of her fears and has already presented workshops in a Yoga studio, with plans to collaborate with a Pilates studio and an integrative doctor in 2020. One of the best things about her new career is the fulfilment she gets from it “there is nothing more fulfilling than seeing people go from unhappy and depressed to excited, confident and proud of the life they are living.” Imagine in 9 months being able to be your own boss, and start a whole new life and career. This 9-12 month training will teach you everything you need to know to become a highly skilled Certified Health Coach and build a thriving health coaching practice.

To find out more about the course, please visit our website to download our prospectus and to book a call to find out if a career in health coaching is right for you. www.healthcoachesacademy.co.za

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Why Forgetting May Make Your Mind More Efficient By Tom Siegfried, courtesy of www.knowablemagazine.org

Evidence builds for ways that the brain actively erases memories In the quest to fend off forgetfulness, some people build a palace of memory. It’s a method for memorizing invented in ancient times by (legend has it) the Greek poet Simonides of Ceos, more recently made popular by multiple best-selling books (and the “mind palace” of Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock Holmes). Memory palaces provide imaginary architectural repositories for storing and retrieving anything you would like to remember. Sixteen centuries ago, St. Augustine spoke of “treasures of innumerable images” stored in his “spacious palaces of memory.” But twenty-first century scientists who study memory have identified an important point to remember: Even the most luxurious palace of memory needs trash cans. “There are memories that we don’t want and we don’t need,” says neuroscientist Maria Wimber. “Forgetting is good and an adaptive thing.

Traditionally, forgetting has been regarded as a passive decay over time of the information recorded and stored in the brain. But while some memories may simply fade away like ink on paper exposed to sunlight, recent research suggests that forgetting is often more intentional, with erasure orchestrated by elaborate cellular and molecular mechanisms. And forgetfulness is not necessarily a sign of a faulty memory. “In fact,” Wimber says, “it’s been shown over and over in computational models and also in animal work that an intelligent memory system needs forgetting.”

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Far from signifying failure, forgetting may be the brain’s frontline strategy in processing incoming information. Forgetting is essential, some researchers now argue, because the biological goal of the brain’s memory apparatus is not preserving information, but rather helping the brain make sound decisions. Understanding how the brain forgets may offer clues to enhancing mental performance in healthy brains while also providing insights into the mechanisms underlying a variety of mental disorders.

Biology of remembering Memory itself is still something of a mystery, but it basically consists of physical changes in the brain that encode a representation of past experiences. Those memory traces — known as engrams — can be accessed to reconstruct the past, albeit imperfectly. Many experts believe that engrams are built by strengthening synapses — the sites where signals are transmitted between nerve cells, or neurons. Recalling a memory reactivates a pattern of nerve cell signaling that mimics the original experience.

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“The prevailing view is that the formation of an engram involves strengthening of synaptic connections between populations of neurons … that are active during an event,” Sheena Josselyn and Paul Frankland write in the current Annual Review of Neuroscience. “This increases the likelihood that the same (or similar) activity pattern within this cell assembly can be recreated at a later time.” Engrams obviously do not save every detail of every experience. Some records of activity patterns do not persist. And that’s a good thing, says Wimber, of the University of Birmingham in England. “An overly precise memory is maybe not really what we want in the long term, because it prevents us from using our memories to generalize them to new situations,” she said in San Diego at a recent meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. “If our memories are too precise and overfitted, then we can’t actually use them to … make predictions about future situations.” If your memory stores every exact detail of getting bitten by a dog in the park, for instance, then you wouldn’t necessarily know to beware of a different dog in a different park. “In fact,” Wimber says, “what we might want is a more flexible and more generalized memory and that would involve a bit of forgetting of the details and more the development of a gist of a memory.”

Such “streamlined” memories are not side effects of flaws or constraints on memory power, Frankland and Blake Richards pointed out in a paper in Neuronin 2017. Such simplification “is an essential component of adaptive memory,” they wrote. “Simple memories that store the gist of our experiences and avoid complicated details will be better for generalizing to future events.” Getting the gist, and just the gist, is therefore valuable as an aid to making smart decisions, say Frankland, of the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, and Richards, of the University of Toronto. In fact, they believe it is wrong to think of memory “simply as a means for high-fidelity transmission of information through time.” Rather, they propose that “the goal of memory is to guide intelligent decision making.” Getting just the gist is especially helpful in changing environments, where loss of some memories improves decision making in several ways. For one thing, forgetting can eliminate outdated information that would hamper sound judgment. And memories that reproduce the past too faithfully can impair the ability to imagine differing futures, making behavior too inflexible to cope with changing conditions. Failure to forget can result in the persistence of unwanted or debilitating memories, as with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Active forgetting Forgetting’s great value implies that it doesn’t happen accidentally. In some cases, forgetting may simply reflect an inability to recall a memory trace even if the engram encoding it remains intact. But a growing number of researchers believe that can’t be the whole story. As Ronald Davis and Yi Zhong point out, the brain’s remarkable storage ability suggests that it possesses an efficient information management system, equipped with data disposal methods. “Because of the extraordinary large number of memory engrams that can accumulate in the brain across time, it seems logical that the brain must have … mechanisms to remove memories that become unused,” they wrote in 2017 in Neuron.

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Psychologists have considered the possibility of active forgetting for more than half a century, but only in the last 15 years or so have researchers accumulated substantial neurobiological evidence on the issue. While the neuroscientific study of forgetting is still in its infancy, scientists have begun to discern some of the brainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tactics for information erasure. In their paper in Neuron, Davis, of Scripps Research Institute Florida, and Zhong, of Tsinghua University in Beijing, described various studies in the last few years on mechanisms that may implement the forgetting process.

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Some forgetting does appear to be “passive” — a result of either natural decay of the biological material forming engrams or the loss of ability to retrieve them, Davis and Zhong noted. But many forms of forgetting are more like running a program that wipes data off your hard drive. New stimuli can actively interfere with old memories, for instance. Recalling parts of a memory can induce loss of other parts of it. And “forgetting cells” might actually signal the brain to sweep memory traces away, Davis and Zhong suggested. “We posit that … the brain also has the inherent biological capacity to erode memory traces using signaling systems” similar to those used in acquiring memories and storing them. In fact, forgetting could be the brain’s main strategy in managing information. “I would speculate that forgetting might be the default system of the brain,” Davis said at the neuroscience meeting. “We might have a slow chronic forgetting signal in our brains that basically says let’s erase everything unless a judge … comes to intervene and says this memory is worth saving.” In various experimental studies, Davis and others have amassed ample evidence for the role of biochemical processes that actively erase memory. Studies in fruit flies, for instance, implicate the well-known chemical messenger molecule dopamine.

Flies can remember to avoid an odor that has been accompanied by an electric shock, a memory managed by nerve cells known as mushroom body neurons. Shocks activate other neurons that transmit dopamine to the mushroom body cells, initiating biochemical reactions that store a memory linking the shock to the odor. But that memory is soon forgotten (typically by the next day). Something erases it, and the evidence suggests dopamine is responsible for the forgetting, too.

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Dopamine’s dual role is not fully understood. But mushroom body neurons possess two distinct molecular antennas that respond to dopamine; one of those antennas (or receptor molecules) initiates memory formation, the other promotes erasure. Whether dopamine promotes or erases memory may depend on the context, including prevailing biochemical conditions and how active the mushroom body neuron is at the time. In any case, the erasing process involves a protein known as Rac1, which plays a part in structuring synapses. Restructuring synapses in response to Rac1 may be responsible for weakening engrams, some studies indicate. Blocking Rac1 activity, for example, helps to extend how long memories persist. Rac1 may also be involved in a second forgetting mechanism, driven by the birth of new nerve cells (the process known as neurogenesis). Studies in rats have found that new neurons integrated into existing neural circuits can restructure the circuitry. Such changes in connections might make memories harder to access, Frankland said at the neuroscience meeting. Animal studies have shown that disrupting neurogenesis preserves memories, while high levels of neurogenesis drive forgetting. Whether that form of forgetting is important in humans remains unknown, as the amount of neurogenesis in adult humans is still an unsettled question. In any case, the evidence suggests that many types of “forgetting cells” must be involved in erasing engrams. “Dozens of molecular and cellular pathways likely exist to erode memories,” Davis and Zhong wrote in Neuron. How and when those processes operate can depend on various factors, such as physical activity, stress and sleep. Sleep is known to enhance memory in humans and other animals, presumably by providing a time when memories can be stored (or “consolidated”) in the brain. But sleep may also aid memory by suppressing the processes that drive forgetting, Davis and Zhong point out. A 2015 study published in Cell found evidence that sleep inhibits release of the dopamine forgetting signal to mushroom body neurons. If forgetting is the key to how the brain successfully processes the massive data input it encounters each day — as research accumulated so far suggests — then flaws in the forgetting process could plausibly contribute to brain disorders, Davis and Zhong note. Deficits in the ability to forget may be involved in autism spectrum disorders, for instance. Certainly the powerful and debilitating memories of post-traumatic stress disorder reflect an inability to forget disturbing experiences. Unwanted, repetitive invasive memories are a feature of some psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia. And the inability to forget cues associated with addictive drug use impairs recovery from substance abuse. On the plus side, better insight into the biology of forgetting could help identify drugs capable of enhancing needed memories while disposing of undesirable ones. But such benefits may appear only after much more research, Davis said at the neuroscience meeting — speaking at a rather sparsely attended session.

“We’re at the very, very beginning of trying to understand the neurobiology of active forgetting,” he said. But he expects that the field will rapidly attract more attention.

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“I guarantee you five years from now this room will be filled,” he said. “Hordes of neuroscientists will start invading this field.” If he’s right, future meetings on forgetting might best be convened at a spacious palace — with plenty of trash bins and perhaps even a dumpster.

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Arcon Tisane – The Start Of A Success Story Daily routine often brings about decisive innovations:

The active substance combination of fenugreek seed concentrate and essential hair effective vitamins selected by Arcon is unique as an effective hair treatment. This nutritional supplement is a milestone with regard to hair loss amongst men and women of all ages. What is globally sold today started with an almost accidental occurrence in Singen (a town on Lake Constance in Germany). The company founder Heinz Mai – a convinced supporter of naturopathy – suffered in summer of 1982 a stubborn bout of bronchitis which he wanted to combat with an ancient recipe of herbal tea. He especially acquired fenugreek seeds for this tea. He persistently drank this very aromatic-tasting tea for several months and noticed – in addition to the alleviation of the bronchitis – a surprising additional effect. His hairs in the temple region became thicker and receding temple hairs lesser. This was not only noticed by his wife, but soon the hairdresser also noticed it.

As a consequence of noticing this phenomenon, years of research and exchange of views with scientists internationally on the fenugreek plant and its seed followed. The result was a fundamental knowledge of the fenugreek plant as well as a consistent and lasting development of the active substance combinations till today. Worldwide patent applications and an initial study in close cooperation with scientists and pharmacists followed. A fenugreek seed concentrate was developed with the support of renowned experts under the premise of careful processing. After lengthy experiments, the fenugreek seed concentrate – enriched with essential hair effective vitamins – came onto the market for the first time in 1987 in the form of soft gelatine capsules under the name “Arcon-Tisane Hair Vitamin Capsules”. The start of a success story

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Nutritional supplements with fenugreek seed concentrate as well as essential hair-active vitamins from the B group.

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by Anne Hahn, as published on www.clicks.co.za Ozone therapy is not about trying to restore the holes in the ozone layer, it's about tapping into the health benefits of this pure gas. Here's what you need to know. Oxygen is needed by every cell in the body for oxidation – the process which breaks down toxins and destroys damaged cells so that they can be excreted in sweat and urine. The chemical formula for ozone is O3 which means it’s made up of three oxygen atoms instead of the two that make up the oxygen (O2) we find in the air we breathe. Ozone is known as ‘activated oxygen’ because it not only has a detox effect, but is also able to kill micro-organisms such as yeasts (for example, candida that causes thrush), moulds and fungi (responsible for allergies), bacteria (which can cause infections) and viruses (ozone is effective against Epstein-Barr and cytomegalovirus, common in chronic fatigue syndrome). Ozone therapy is also used for inflammatory diseases including arthritis, and for improving circulation in heart conditions, stroke and diabetes.

How ozone therapy works Oxygen is passed through an ozone generator to produce ozone that can be administered as: • A sauna – ozonated steam is used as a detoxification process to stimulate circulation and boost the immune system. Your head stays outside the sauna cabinet because the ozone is absorbed through the skin and not breathed in. • Injections – into muscles, veins or under the skin. • Autohaemotherapy – this procedure involves taking 100-150ml of the patient’s blood into a sterile container, mixing it with ozone, then using an intravenous drip to return it to the patient’s bloodstream. • Local treatment – ozone in a plastic bag is passed into the rectum, vagina or bladder to treat infections. Burns are treated by covering the area with a plastic hood containing ozone. • Ozonated olive oil – used for dry skin, wrinkles, sunburn, cuts and bruises.

Hyperbaric therapy Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been around for centuries. It involves the administration of oxygen in a pressurised container. This therapy is routinely used for deep-sea divers with ‘the bends’ (decompression sickness caused by coming to the surface too quickly). It has been found to have beneficial effects for conditions ranging from carbon monoxide poisoning (from inhaling exhaust fumes) to burns, skin grafts and wounds (such as diabetic foot ulcers). Healing is enhanced because oxygen gets to the affected area quickly and in high concentrations. The treatment involves going into a closed chamber in which the atmospheric pressure is increased. The patient inhales 100-percent oxygen through a mask and is instructed to breathe the chamber air at intervals. The number and duration of treatments depend on the condition being treated.

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Photo by Dani Costelo on Unsplash

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Using Bars to Release Old Patterns! by Penni du Plessis - www.divinespace.co.za There are many different energy modalities that shift your healing journey out of the traditional (and often sterile) western paradigm into what is often a gentler, more ethereal eastern paradigm and into the world of energy. Access Bars is a prime example of something so soft and gentle that can create massive shifts. Bars therapy works by stimulating 32 bars of energy that run through and around your head. These connect into different aspects of your life and store the electromagnetic component of all the thoughts, ideas, attitudes, decisions and beliefs that you have ever had about anything.

This last sentence is worth emphasizing – the bars store the electromagnetic component of all the thoughts, ideas, attitudes, decisions and beliefs you have ever had about anything. As humans we forget that what we think has an invisible energetic component which is stored in our bodies. We can get our minds around statements like “what you think about expands”, but not so comfortable with the fact that thoughts have energy. But what if it were true? What if you have stored the energy of every thought, belief, idea, attitude and decision you have had about anything? What if that stored energy is acting like an invisible anchor, preventing you from moving from where you are to a new energetic space? Simply touching the Bars on your head does just that - releases the stored energy locked up in that area or aspect of your life. There are Bars for every aspect of your life, for healing, body, control, awareness, creativity, power, aging, sex and money.

By touching a bar or series of bars you are able to clear away the energy locked up in that area or aspect of your life. When you touch bars in a sequence you clear up any issues and points of view about those two Bars in relation to each other. This ability to erase stored beliefs is critical. When you function from a preconceived point of view about what is possible in life and what is not possible in life you create a series of limits that are often impossible to shift. Even worse, you are unable to even see other possibilities, all you can see is what matches your world view.

Each thought, idea, attitude, decision or belief that you have fixed in place solidifies the energy and limits your capacity to create change in that area. If you can change the energy, you change how that part of your life shows up. This is the power of Bars – it opens you up to new possibilities. At worst you feel like you have just had the best massage of your life. At best your whole life can change into something greater with total ease. People often walk out of a Bars treatment feeling as if the world has suddenly lifted from their shoulders with more energy and a more positive outlook, ready to face the challenges in front of them.

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Makes you think, doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it? Even better, bars does not require either the intensity of training that many other therapies require or any natural healing ability. The Basic Bars training is taught in a day, during which you are introduced to what Bars is, the concept of clearing statements (something you will quickly find yourself using every day) and then each participant both gives and receives 2 Bars sessions. Why not try it for yourself? Book a session with a Bars therapist or attend a Divine Space Bars course â&#x20AC;&#x201C; I run them regularly, and the next one is on the 1st February 2020. At the very worst you will walk away relaxed. Even better, this could be the shift you need to really get into creating the life you want to love.

Penni du Plessis runs Divine Space - a Colour and Consciousness Training Academy, and is a registered Access Consciousness Bars and Body Process Facilitator and Teacher. For more information: www.divinespace.co.za

The Magic That Is You

By Michelle L Geldenhuys

What is Quantum Science?

It is the study and application of the particles that make up our physical reality. Within Quantum Science we have what is called Quantum Physics which, put simply, explains how everything works at its most quantum level. Quantum being the smallest units of any physical entity. You, me and the table... at the core level we are all dancing to the same quantum melody. So there was a quantum physics experiment that was conducted in the early 19th century by a physicist named Thomas Young called "The Double Slit Experiment". It's an experiment that has been duplicated many times over the years with some variations but always yielding the same results.

The experiment basically observes matter and waves to understand how they behave. So matter in its 'denser' form is taken, like marbles or sand, and is propelled through a single and a double slit respectively after which it displays a specific pattern on the wall behind the slits. And then waves, like light or waves of water, are propelled through these slits which then display a specific pattern too. The conclusion is that matter and waves create a different pattern. Matter creates a more precise pattern whereas the waves create a sort of 'interference' or â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;distortionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; pattern.

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However, when particles of matter are taken at their quantum level and are propelled through the same slits something strange happens... When the particles are propelled through one slit they behave as matter. But when the second slit is added they behave as waves! But what is even stranger is that when the scientists decide to place a type of observation device near to the slits to observe exactly what happens to the particles when they move through the two slits the particles go back to behaving as matter. What is even stranger, as if it can get any stranger, is that the scientists had no other choice but to assume that the particles are aware of being closely observed and so they snuck off to the where the measuring device was plugged into the wall and unplugged it. But then the particles behaved differently again! As if they were showing the scientists that they were fully aware of them unplugging their measuring device. This can all be researched and there are great videos available to watch covering the details of this experiment. Just go into Youtube and type in 'double slit experiment'. Watch the one by Dr Quantum or Jim Al-Kahlili... or any of the videos really.

The simple conclusion to this experiment, which is really not conclusive at all, is that particles behave differently when observed. I will expand with my own take on this in just a bit. You see physicists were hoping that they could conduct this experiment and conclude that matter and waves are separate from one another because they behave differently, also in a way concluding that there is such a thing as matter. But they cannot make this conclusion. This experiment has been baffling these physicists for over 200 years and continues to do so. What always fascinates me about things of this nature is how so many people base their perception of the world they live in on what science can and cannot prove. However when something of this nature is presented it is simply ignored. I remember a time where scientists turned their noses up at the suggestion of an aura that surrounds the body. But now they have come forth and said that there is in fact an electromagnetic field around the body. And all the clairvoyants out there are going "Yeah of course there is... it's called the aura and we can see it.â&#x20AC;? Science, Quantum Science, Quantum Physics, Quantum Mechanics... it's all great and we need to study the nature of our reality, but people really need to start investigating what science does not openly talk about. These 'inconclusive' (perhaps inconclusive and conclusive at the same time) experiments bring us a whole new realm of understanding, that of course would send many people into a spiralling vortex of cognitive dissonance since it defies all logical explanation, but is never the less real and deserves its place on the great stage play called "Understanding Reality." I call it a stage play because it is only a limited version of the real world, an act, a show designed to give the impression that we understand what is going on but in reality we don't. We can never fully understand this reality or even the realities beyond but that does not mean that we cannot dance with all possibilities and be open to the magic and mystery that is presenting itself to us.

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The magnitude of what is presenting itself to us in this 'double slit experiment' cannot be overstated. What is presenting itself is that the particles that make up our entire reality, our reality of 'matter', are really just waves... and not just waves but waves that carry in them a profound and unexplainable intelligence. What I see is that these particles, when observed with the intention of understanding, with the intention of limiting, behave in such a way as to give us that finite conclusion we are looking for. But when merely observed, or experienced, as they are without the intention of limiting they behave in a much more fluid and magical way. Also this demonstrates that there is no physical world, there is no such thing as matter. There are only waves of energy expressing as 'matter’. When you break everything down you get particles, everything is made up of particles, but particles sometimes express as matter and sometimes express as waves!... Depending on the level at which we deliberately shrink the lens of observation. And depends upon our level of obsessiveness with trying to understand this omnipresent intelligence. Subsequently this reduces its magnificence and limits its infinite waves of potential.

It makes me think about the physical world around us behaving as matter should, perhaps because our vision is tunnelled and limited. But what would happen if we were able to open up our sensory perception and allow the universe to merely express… perhaps we would see something different? Perhaps we could begin to see and experience waves as opposed to matter. Perhaps, when we are not focused upon the particles of our body, they are expressing as waves? Perhaps we can feel other people’s waves of energy? Have you ever thought about someone whom you haven’t thought about in a long time and all of a sudden they call or message you?

Photo by Aliyah Jamous on Unsplash

It is all quite a lot to try and understand. Our minds are only one tenth conscious and so it would be ludicrous to say that we can understand more than that. We currently possess the ability to only understand one tenth of this greatness at our absolute full capacity of understanding since we are only one tenth conscious. But perhaps we can feel more than that? Nobody has ever been able to measure the depths at which we feel… is it only one tenth? Eight tenths? Are we fully sentient?

How much of this magnificently magical world around us can we feel? Perhaps there are people who can tap into this world of infinite potential and ride these waves of magic and perhaps even sculpt reality out of these waves like an artist. It depends on how much we have boxed our vision, how much intent we have stocked behind our experiences of trying to limit and understand the world around us. What this shows me is that we are surrounded by an omnipresent intelligence that is fully aware of us and how we think and what our intentions are. Are you feeling the magnitude of this yet!?

Our very observation of the fabric of our reality changes the behaviour of the fabric of our

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reality. When we view and experience from a place of wonder and awe without any intention of limiting and boxing what we are experiencing we are faced with infinite waves of potential, infinite waves of intelligent fluidity. We are alchemists here on Earth to discover and experience the magic around us. And perhaps to not only discover and experience but to create from. We are here to create from the infinite possibilities surrounding us. The infinite waves of potential and magic that lives inside of the very cells of our being.

Doesn't that make you feel excited and powerful? We are this intelligence, this universal intelligence that has the ability to completely baffle the world's leading scientists and physicists! So go on and be that crazy magical wave of energy that you are and be prepared to baffle the socks off of people! Because you will. But that is the beauty of being. The universe is crazy beautiful, and so are you!

Here is a link to a short video I made about this experiment. Although my mind tends to jump around a bit I do try to explain it in my own words:

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Our thoughts are perhaps too limited for us to understand this because they have been shaped with logic and reason. However our feelings are a lot more feral and free and perhaps that is what we should gauge in order to come closer to understanding this magic. These scientists entered this experience with specific thought patterns and all they were left with at the end of it was a profound feeling of bedazzlement. I bet if you ask any of those scientists they will tell you that they were left with a deep appreciation for the universe and its mysteries. Just like a surfer who spends most days out in the surf will tell you of the deep appreciation they have for the immensity and wonder of the ocean. Perhaps this is the feeling the universe wants us all to feel, the feeling that best resembles what it actually is: Bedazzlement! And since we are all made up of the same particles that the entire universe is made up of it would suffice to say that we are all expressions of bedazzlement! Of magic and mystery. Expressions of infinite potential. My challenge for you this month is to find the magic around you. Go and have a close look at a spider’s web and catch your breath when it is lost on the sheer geometrical symmetry of the art those little creatures produce. Go have a look at the head of a sunflower and allow yourself to be swept off of your feet by the sacred swirling design of Mother Nature’s secret code. Listen and fall in love with the songs of birds and how they sing the trees awake and how they just intrinsically know the melody of their specific song. Allow yourself to marinate in bedazzlement at the beauty and magical magnificence all around you. And very quickly you will awaken to the intelligence that surrounds you, the intelligence that is within you! This life is a beautiful journey and you are an alchemist here to create from the quantum field of energy all around you. Don’t let anyone limit you…

Be the magic that you are! -Michelle L Geldenhuys www.michellelgeldenhuys.com

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About Michelle: Editor Cj: “I am honoured to call Michelle a dear friend of mine. She radiates such beautiful light and love, that one cannot help but be drawn to her. Her posts always resonate so deeply with me and I know that many of you will find the same” Michelle: “Life is an incredible journey of pain and pleasure engaged in an infinite dance. Our ability to embrace both our light and dark determines the depth at which we will experience our lives. I share my perspectives and my personal lessons for those who resonate with my journey to enjoy.”

Michelle’s Books: A Guide To Shadow Work A short and powerful 9 step guide to healing Kindle Edition Once again this incredible author highlights the importance of healing our pain that we carry. Her first book "Evolution of a Battered Mind" described how she had learnt of the importance of healing through her experiences in life. Now she has put together a brief but powerful 9 step guide that will help anyone on their path towards healing their inner trauma, or 'shadow’.

"I myself have been working with my own shadows for most of my life and can say with humbleness and pride that although there were times when my shadow completely overcame me, I have learnt to embrace every inch of what is me and I have found the key to liberation from the torment of this inner shadow. The ‘key’ to it all, that I have discovered through my journey, I have broken down into 9 separate parts.” Click Here to Buy on Amazon Evolution of a battered mind: A true story of depression, addiction, sexuality and spiritual awakening Kindle Edition Reading this book may cause you to question your reality, question your comforts, question your addictions, question life.

Click Here to Buy on Amazon

This multi-faceted autobiography dives deep into the authors experiences of depression, addiction, coming to terms with her sexuality and subsequently her emergence into spiritual awakening. The mind can be our worst enemy. Our inner demons torment and control us. This is a real, raw and uncensored journey to the depths of the soul, where darkness is embraced, and where healing begins.

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As this year draws to a close ..... For most of us, it feels as though this year has just sped by at an amazing rate of knots leaving us amazed and bewildered as to where time has gone to! Many have found this to be an extremely difficult year filled with challenges and stresses which has not made it an easy year to deal with. One of the greatest lessons that seems to be coming up for so many people is the very hard and difficult lesson of patience! Never an easy one and always one that you have no control over and so are forced to step back and allow the process to unfold in Divine Timing! Now before we start a new cycle and hopefully a new beginning with the start of a New Year it is time to look back and show gratitude not only for all the wonderful blessings we have received but also for all the amazing lessons we learnt with the challenges we faced.

Looking back on this past year you might feel that it is not something that you would like to repeat again in a hurry! However, the moment you allow yourself to understand the challenges and issues that you faced and that this was a process that you were privileged to work through, you should be overwhelmingly filled with gratitude that you were allowed to progress through this with all the growth and self-development that subsequently occurred. It is easy to be filled with gratitude for the abundance and good things in your life and yet you should feel even more gratitude for the difficult challenges and issues that occur for these are the things that allow you to make the necessary changes and shifts in your life. Sometimes you resist the shifts but often when that happens it is taken out of your hands and you have no option but to move into a new cycle which at times can be quite painful.

It is at these times that you need to hand everything over to the Universe and the Beings of Light with faith and trust knowing that they will bring about what is for your highest good. That includes being stretched to your limit and being pushed into new beginnings that challenge your boundaries and what you think you are able to cope with and achieve. Earth is being flooded with the Christ Consciousness Energy which consists of pure unconditional love so that those who are ready are able to take on and experience this amazing energy. By opening your heart chakra you are able to live in unconditional love for yourself and others which will allow this energy to pour into you. You will then allow others to receive it by loving them unconditionally and showering them with light and love. In this way, the planet will eventually be enveloped in unconditional love which will allow it to also go into Ascension as it should. With all the darkness and sadness engulfing the Planet at this moment in time it is essential that we now flood it with love and light! We are also so grateful for the amazing family and friends in our lives without whose support we would find our lives so empty and bleak! Even the ones that you find quite difficult to get on with! Those are your special gift and they are your greatest teachers so embrace what they teach and show you. I look back with gratitude and wonder at the abundance and the lessons that have occurred during the past twelve months and feel so blessed, honoured and loved! I look forward to whatever the future holds with anticipation, joy and trust knowing that even if it is a roller coaster ride it will be exciting and fulfilling!! Let us live in love, light and integrity and shine our lights so that we are able to see the path that we have chosen to walk and light up the way for those around us!

Angel light and blessings Margi xx

Welcome To The Angel Connection School of Africa The Angel Connection School of Africa, established as a non-profit organisation, for the highest good of all, will incorporate all forms of Spirituality continuing with the basic teachings of Angels, Ascension, Atlantis etc. which we all know to be Universal. The teachings of various modalities will however, be enhanced by adding the specific requirements of our culture and ethnicity, whilst retaining flexibility.

The mission statement of the school is:“To Light up Africa so that Africa can Light up the World”

A Letter From The School Principal – Margi McAlpine

Angel Connection Day

Meditations

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Coffee Detox: A 5-Day Weaning Off Plan to Give Your Adrenals a Break By Rachael Link, MS, RD courtesy of www.draxe.com

For millions of people around the world, the thought of a coffee detox is unthinkable. Not only is sipping a cup of coffee each morning an integral part of their daily routine, but it also provides a burst of energy to start the day right while fine-tuning focus and mental clarity. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s true that coffee has been linked to several impressive benefits, ranging from increased fatburning to protection against liver disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes. However, going overboard in the caffeine department can also be harmful to health, causing a long list of caffeine withdrawal symptoms, such as increased heart rate, high blood pressure, dehydration and panic attacks. Giving your body a break with a coffee detox can be incredibly beneficial, and swapping out your morning cup of joe for other healthy beverages is actually easier than it seems. Keep reading for everything you need to know about how to get started.

Coffee Addiction: How to Know When Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Time for a Break The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends limiting caffeine consumption to 400 milligrams per day, which translates to about four or five cups of coffee. (That means 32 to 40 ounces, not five venti cups.) However, this amount can vary, as some people may be more

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sensitive to the effects of caffeine in the body.

next morning.

This is because caffeine acts as a stimulant in the body, which alters the function of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. This leads to increased energy and alertness, but it can also cause other side effects like nausea, jitters, anxiety and headaches.

A coffee detox is a simple strategy to improve your mood, fight anxiety and keep you feeling your best all day long.

Caffeine is also highly addictive, which means that missing your morning cup can come with a number of nasty side effects. Some of the top signs of caffeine withdrawal can include: • • • • • • • • •

Depression Low energy levels Shakiness Anxiety Headache Irritability Fatigue Difficulty concentrating Constipation

7 Benefits of Quitting Coffee 1. Saves Money It may seem like a minor expense, but keeping coffee in your routine can start to slowly stack up over time. This is especially true if you’re swinging by coffee shops every day on your way to work. According to research from the NPD Group, the average consumer spends about $3 on a single cup of coffee, which adds up to $90 a month, or $1095 a year – and that’s if you’re only drinking one cup per day.

2. Improves Mood Many people don’t realize just how much of an effect coffee can have on your mood. It can cause stress, anxiety, nervousness and “caffeine jitters,” which can make it difficult to concentrate and focus during the day. It can also contribute to lack of sleep, which can make you even more irritable and grouchy the

3. Whitens Teeth Drinking coffee can stain your teeth, erode your enamel and contribute to bad breath. Swapping coffee for a cup of water or herbal tea is a simple way to improve oral health, whiten your smile and freshen your breath.

4. Supports Better Sleep It’s no secret that caffeine is a stimulant, meaning it increases energy levels and alertness. While this may be great during the workday, it’s not so stellar when it comes to your sleep schedule. For the average person, caffeine has a halflife of about five hours, which is the amount of time it takes for half the caffeine in your blood to be eliminated. This means that even a cup or two in the afternoon can impact your sleep and keep you from catching Z’s when you hit the sack.

5. Reduces Your Environmental Impact Disposable coffee cups can have detrimental effects on the environment. According to one study conducted by the Environmental Defense Fund, each paper cup is responsible for nearly 0.25 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions. Unsustainable practices used in the production of paper cups also contributes to deforestation and environmental degradation. And much like plastic cups, most disposable paper coffee cups are not recyclable, as they’re coated in plastic resin to help make them more durable.

Cutting back on your coffee consumption can

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help minimize your environmental footprint and support the health of the planet.

6. Boosts Productivity Although giving up coffee can negatively impact your focus and concentration initially, it also frees up extra time throughout your day, which can actually boost productivity in the long-run. You can easily take advantage of the time spent on coffee breaks, waiting in line or brewing up your own cup at home. Those extra few minutes each day can be spent tidying up the house, finishing projects, squeezing in some extra sleep, reading a book or even meditating.

7. Increases Weight Loss If you’re like most people, your go-to coffee order may include plenty of cream, sugar, syrup and other high-calorie add-ins. Cutting these ingredients out of your diet is a sure-fire way to decrease calorie consumption and keep your waistline looking trim. On the flip side, coffee can sometimes suppress appetite and hunger, which can actually enhance weight loss. But instead of reaching for high-fat, high-calorie snacks when cravings start to strike after quitting coffee, fill up on healthy, whole ingredients instead, like fruits, veggies and protein foods.

Potential Coffee Effects 1. Alters Regularity

Detox

Side

Coffee acts as a natural laxative to support regularity and stimulate bowel movements. This mans that cutting back could, temporarily at least, cause symptoms like constipation and decreased regularity. An easy way to combat constipation caused by coffee withdrawal is to eat more fiber-rich foods and drink plenty of water. Staying

active, managing stress levels and including a variety of probiotic foods in your diet can also help support regularity.

2. Impacts Concentration Many use coffee as a quick and easy way to boost focus and concentration. For this reason, reducing your intake may take a toll on your productivity within the first week or two. While this generally evens out over time, you can try incorporating some strategies to increase focus into your routine. Practicing mindfulness, minimizing distractions and using aromatherapy with peppermint essential oil, for instance, can help fine-tune your focus during the day. Many people on a keto diet also list improved concentration as a beneficial side effect.

3. Modifies Hormone Levels Drinking coffee stimulates the adrenal glands, which boost levels of hormones like adrenaline and dopamine in the brain. When you deprive your body of coffee, the levels of these hormones plummet and levels of other hormones like adenosine start to skyrocket instead. Adenosine stimulates sleep, which is one reason that energy levels may take a dive when you first quit coffee. It’s also involved in dilating the blood vessels and may contribute to the dreaded caffeine withdrawal headache that many people experience when giving coffee up cold turkey.

How to Gently Detox from Coffee If you’re a chronic coffee consumer, there’s a good chance you may experience some symptoms of withdrawal, such as the notorious caffeine headache, once you start to scale back. According to a paper published by Drexel University, withdrawal side effects typically peak after 20

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to 51 hours, and can last anywhere between two to nine days. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to ease the process and minimize side effects. Instead of quitting cold turkey, try gradually decreasing your consumption by 1 to 2 cups per day until you wean off completely. Alternatively, try slowly swapping regular coffee for decaf instead for an easy way to cut back on caffeine consumption. Check out this sample five-day weaning schedule. You can easily adjust it to fit your personal preferences and lengthen or shorten it based on your personal timeline and goals:

• • • •

•

Day One: Drink your normal amount of coffee Day Two: Try replacing around 25 percent of your regular coffee with decaf, or simply decrease your coffee consumption by 25 percent Day Three: Start mixing half of your coffee with decaf or cut overall coffee consumption in half Day Four: Replace 75 percent of your coffee with decaf, or reduce consumption by 75 percent Day Five: Drink only decaf coffee or other healthy beverages instead

Looking for another replacement for your daily jolt of java? Tea is a great substitute that supplies many of the same health benefits as coffee, but with a fraction of the caffeine. A glass of warm lemon water is another soothing alternative to coffee that can help kick off your morning right. Or, try chicory coffee, a popular caffeine-free coffee substitute that is made from roasted chicory root. Throughout your coffee detox, it’s important to stay hydrated, get plenty of sleep, stay active and enjoy a balanced and nutritious diet. This can help decrease withdrawal symptoms and improve your overall health in the process.

Final Thoughts • • • • •

•

In moderation, coffee can be a healthy part of a balanced diet and has been linked to several health benefits. However, excess consumption of coffee (and caffeine) can cause side effects like anxiety, dehydration and increased heart rate. Because coffee is highly addictive, cutting out your daily cup can trigger withdrawal symptoms. The official withdrawal definition is “the process of ceasing to take an addictive drug,” which can cause side effects like depression, low energy levels, irritability and fatigue. Quitting coffee can save you money and time while also increasing weight loss, improving oral health, supporting better sleep, enhancing your mood and reducing your impact on the environment. To start a coffee detox, slowly reduce your intake and replace it with other healthy beverages like tea, lemon water or chicory coffee. Be sure to also stay hydrated, get plenty of rest, stay active and pair your coffee detox with a well-rounded diet to optimize the potential results.

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More Reasons Why You Need to Eat Organic By Dr. Mercola

While the controversy over whether organically grown food is healthier lingers, scientific research continues to demonstrate the health benefits to both humans and the environment of growing and consuming organic foods. Food grown in healthier soil, with natural fertilizers and no harmful chemicals, is quite simply more nutritious and less dangerous to your health. Detractors of organic farming rest on a meta-analysis published in 2012 by Stanford University, which found similar nutrients in both organically growth produce and those laden with pesticides and insecticides. 1 That same study did admit organic foods were not burdened with antibiotic-resistant bacteria and pesticide residue, but stated these were the only benefits. More recent analyses of organic foods also found similar levels of nutrients between organic and pesticide-treated crops,2 with lower pesticide residue on organic foods.3 However, the more recent studies also found lower levels of cadmium, 4 a known carcinogen, and higher levels of antioxidants.5 Organic fruits and vegetables may contain as much as 18 percent to 69 percent more

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antioxidants than pesticide-treated produce. As antioxidants play a critical role in the prevention of diseases and illnesses, these higher levels of nutrients, in combination with a lower toxicity level, make organically grown foods a superior choice.

Eating Organic Has Long-Term Benefits One of the strongest selling points for eating organic foods had been to reduce your exposure to pesticides and insecticides. Now, a recent study demonstrates that organic foods hold more benefits to your future health and the health of your children. The study conducted by the European Parliamentary Research Service reviewed existing research and made several determinations.6 From their analysis they concluded that eating organic foods reduces pesticide exposure, improves the nutritional value of the food, lessens disease risk and improves early childhood development.7 They also found those who ate organic foods tended to have healthier dietary patterns than those who ate foods treated with chemicals. In other studies, researchers found epidemiological data demonstrating the negative effects of pesticide exposure on the cognitive development of children and determined these effects would be minimized eating organic foods, especially during pregnancy and during early infancy. Another important finding, also supported by previous studies,8 was organic foods had lower cadmium content than conventional crops.9 There is no safe level of cadmium, as it is a known carcinogen and produces a number of negative effects on human health.

Your highest rate of exposure is from plant-

based foods grown in contaminated soil or using certain fertilizers. Other sources include smoking and exposure to nickel-cadmium batteries.10 Once absorbed, your body efficiently retains cadmium, which can build up over your lifetime unless you take steps to remove it.11,12 Being deficient in calcium, iron, protein and/or zinc may worsen cadmium uptake and toxicity.

Antagonists that can help detoxify cadmium include calcium, zinc, copper, vitamin D and C, iron, manganese and protein. 13 Cadmium is very toxic to your kidneys, may trigger bone demineralization and increases your risk of dying from lung cancer. It can also affect your blood pressure, prostate health and testosterone levels.14 Organically raised animals also reduce your exposure to antibiotic-resistant bacteria as the organic practice of preventing animal disease restricts the use of antibiotics in production. Minimizing your exposure to these bacteria may minimize your risk of illness and may have significant public health benefits.

Higher Antioxidant Levels in Organic Foods May Mitigate Disease Risk Researchers have determined the levels of polyphenols in organically grown crops is significantly higher than those sprayed with pesticides.15 These higher concentrations of phenolic acids, flavones, stilbenes, flavonols and anthocyanins were estimated to be between 19 percent and 51 percent higher in one study. These plant-based antioxidant compounds have been linked to the reduction in a number of different diseases, including cardiovascular

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disease,16,17 neurodegenerative conditions,18 cancers 19,20and slowing the aging process. 21 Antioxidants are a class of molecule that are capable of inhibiting the oxidation of free radicals that cause damage in your body. Some antioxidants can be produced by your body, but some are not and, as you age, your ability to produce those antioxidants declines. Antioxidants are crucial to your health and can be acquired through eating real foods. They are nature's way of defending your body against an attack by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Your body naturally circulates a variety of nutrients, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenes and lipoic acid, to control the destructive chain reactions associated with ROS. Antioxidants are micronutrients that help your body resist the damage of pollutants and free radicals produced during metabolism.

Oxidative stress occurs when there are more free radicals and ROS in your body than antioxidant defenses, and leads to accelerated tissue and organ damage. Oxidative stress may also shorten the length of your telomeres, which researchers believe can be used as a measure of biological aging. Antioxidants are present in higher quantities in fruits and vegetables that are organically grown and those eaten closer to the time they were harvested. This is why eating the majority of your fruits and vegetables raw, organically grown and locally harvested increases the number of nutrients from which you benefit.

Studies Indicate Other Advantages to Organic Foods Researchers have also linked eating foods organically grown to even more health benefits, including a reduction in obesity and type 2 diabetes, two of the more common health concerns facing people today.22 More than two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese,23 one of the risk factors for type 2 diabetes that affects over 9 percent of the American population. 24 Research has also linked an increase in allergic reactions to foods coated with pesticides in people who have not otherwise experienced food allergies. 25 Exposure to specific weed-killing chemicals are associated with higher sensitivity to foods. 26

Dichlorophenols, chemicals used for pesticides and to chlorinate tap water, may also be to blame for the rising number of children suffering from allergies. 27 Demand for organic foods is rapidly expanding. This demand is not limited to real foods, but also prepackaged and processed foods. In 2014, people around the world spent $72 billion on organic products.28 The largest organic market located in the U.S. recorded an 11.5 percent increase in 2015. Some make the decision to buy organic based on a concern for the environment, while others are focused on their personal long-term health benefits.

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Even Record Growth Not Meeting Consumer Demand for Organic Food This continued growth provides incentive for U.S. farmers to enter the market. Organic foods are sold through direct-to-consumer sales, conventional groceries and natural health food stores. Produce accounted for 43 percent of organic food sales in 2012 29 with 93 percent of all sales taking place through conventional and natural food stores. Although organic foods are more accessible, there continues to be challenges in the supply chain. Organic food sales may have enjoyed greater growth had the supply been available. 30 Securing a supply chain that supports demand includes ensuring more organic acreage and helping farmers transition from conventional produce farming to organic. As more consumers become interested in eating a healthier diet and more willing to pay for higher-quality foods, smaller markets are carving out a niche in the marketplace. It is anticipated that the growth of the organic food market will reach $1 trillion in 2017. 31 This increase in sales is helping successfully launch small companies providing products to meet consumer demand.

Angel investors and venture capitalists are also taking advantage, investing more than $2 billion in 2015.32 Despite the growth in organic sales, the number of certified organic farms in the U.S. are finding it challenging to keep pace with the demand. As fewer than 1 percent of American farms were certified organic in 2012, the availability for growth in this field is wide open. 33 Foreign suppliers provided $134 million in organic soybeans in 2014, prompting U.S. Congress to expand their support for organic farming and double their funds for the Organic Certification Cost Share Program.34 A recent report found 17 of the top 20 grocer retailers are not meeting the increased consumer demand for organic, pesticide-free foods.35 The same report also revealed food retailers don't publish a publicly available policy to reduce or eliminate pesticides that impact the growth of pollinators, the largest group of which are bees.

What Does an Organic Label Mean? For food to carry the certified "organic" label, it must meet several federal guidelines. 36 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) defines organic as: 37 " â&#x20AC;Ś [P]roduced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation.

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Before a product can be labeled 'organic,' a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too.â&#x20AC;? Without certification, products are not allowed to display the USDA organic seal. 38 However, a certified organic product may contain a mix of conventionally grown and organic ingredients depending upon the labeling.39 This mix of pesticide-laden ingredients with organically grown ones may negate many of the benefits of eating organic foods. The easiest answer is to avoid processed fare, and cook from scratch, so you know exactly what you're eating. One of the benefits to the environment from organic farming and the reduction in pesticide use is the impact on the bee population, pollinators necessary to the growth of crops and plants. Tiffany Finck-Haynes, from Friends of the Earth, and lead author of the paper studying top retailers and organic foods, commented:40 "Without bees and other pollinators, our supermarket shelves would be pretty bare and empty. And they're an indicator species, so they're really telling us that their decline is most likely resulting in a larger decline that we're seeing for the rest of the species in our ecosystem.â&#x20AC;?

Organic Farming Improves Soil Biodiversity

This video demonstrates sustainable agriculture techniques used on the Allison Farm in Illinois. Another benefit to the environment is soil biodiversity, or the species, genes and entire communities of life that exists within the soil. If you think these tiny creatures aren't important to your health, the nutrient value of the food grown in the soil and to your children's future health, think again. Here are a few fun facts about soil: 41

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Scientists have identified approximately 1 percent of the microorganism species living in the soil and the soil is home to over 25 percent of all species living on earth.

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Over the area of a football field, microorganisms in the soil produce organic matter equivalent to the weight of 25 cars every year.

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These organisms aerate the soil, allow water to permeate, provide nutrients to plants and store carbon, which affects the global climate system.

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Rich soil biodiversity is better able to withstand and control pests as it contains a range of predator species and nutrients; the greater the diversity the better the capacity to obstruct pest development.

A meta-analysis of over 250 studies found that organic farming increased species richness in the soil by 30 percent, and this number has been consistent over the past 30 years of study. 42 In fields that were intensely farmed, organic farming had a greater effect on the biodiversity of the land. This analysis of research confirmed that organic farming has a positive effect on biodiversity compared to conventional farming.

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GLUTEN-FREE PECAN PIE Recipe courtesy of Nature’s Choice

The beauty of food is that there is always a healthier alternative and among our favourite desserts is this utterly satisfying Gluten-free Pecan Pie. Create this dish at any time of the year as it can be enjoyed both warm or cold.

Ingredients

Method:

•

1. 2.

• • • • • • •

1 Unbaked Gluten-Free Pie Crust (Made according to the instructions from Nature's Choice GF Pie crust packet) ½ cup Nature's Choice Coconut Sugar ¾ cup Pure Maple Syrup 3 tbsp Organic Butter, melted and cooled 3 Large Eggs, at room temperature 1 tsp Nature's Choice Sea Salt 1 tsp Vanilla Extract 2 cups Nature's Choice Raw Pecan Halves

3. 4.

Preheat oven to 200°C In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the organic coconut sugar, pure maple syrup, butter, eggs, sea salt, and vanilla extract. Stir in the raw pecan halves. Pour the filling into the prepared unbaked pie shell and place the pie on a large baking sheet (just in case the pie spills over). Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 20 minutes at 200°C. Reduce the oven temperature to 160°C and bake for an additional 30 minutes. The pie is completely cooked through when the top is deep golden and the filling doesn’t jiggle. The filling may puff up during baking. If this happens, don’t be alarmed. It will settle as it cools. Place on a wire rack to cool. Cool completely before serving. Conscious Life Magazine

NO-DAIRY NANA ICE-CREAM Recipe courtesy of Nature’s Choice

Naturally sweet and low in kilojoules, this simple and quick treat can be enjoyed by the whole family anytime of the year, because, who needs to wait for summer to enjoy ice-cream, especially when it’s healthy? Enjoy the benefits of banana like Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Potassium and Manganese. While peanut butter is known to suppress hunger, is packed with good fats and can help with prevent an array of illnesses.

Ingredients • • • • • •

Method:

4 Ripe Bananas, Chopped and Frozen 1. ¼ cup Nature’s Choice Peanut Butter, or an Allergy-friendly Substitute 2. ⅓ cup Cacao Powder 3. 1 tbsp Cocoa or Chocolate Protein Powder (Optional) 4. ¼ tsp Vanilla extract ⅛ tsp Nature’s Choice Sea Salt 5.

Add bananas and raw cacao to the blender and blend until smooth. Scrape down the sides if needed. When done, add cacao nibs and mix together, scoop into a bowl and enjoy. You can add toppings of your choice, like nuts or fruit. You can freeze to enjoy later but the texture will be slightly different, you might have to blend again before enjoying again.

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CREDIT: REUTERS/ALEXANDRE MENEGHINI

Looking for economic prosperity without growth Q&A — Environmental scientist Giorgos Kallis By Bob Holmes – Courtesy of www.knowablemagazine.org

The only way for humanity to solve its environmental problems may be to abandon our quest for continual economic expansion. It’s time to study what a future of degrowth might look like, some researchers say. A growing economy is a healthy economy, almost everyone today agrees. But not Giorgos Kallis, an environmental scientist at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain. Kallis and his colleagues argue that the looming climate crisis threatens to bring the modern era of continuous economic growth to an end, and it’s time for researchers to study how society could function and prosper in the absence of growth — a condition he calls “degrowth.” It’s an idea that has been around for several decades, particularly among radical environmental activists, but only recently have researchers drawn together to study degrowth in a systematic way. With training in environmental engineering, economics and environmental policy, Kallis bridges the many disciplines involved in degrowth. He recently coauthored a review on the subject in the 2018 Annual Review of Environment and Resources and spoke with Knowableabout how to study what might happen if we dump the widely accepted assumption that prosperity requires growth. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

What is economic growth? Formally, it’s defined as the annual increase in GDP [gross domestic product], and by GDP we mean the market value of goods and services in an economy. But beyond that, economic growth is a broader process of increasing or accelerating transformation of the environment, of the speed with which we work and communicate, produce and consume, et cetera.

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What’s wrong with continued economic growth? It sounds like a good thing. Environmentally speaking, growth is a huge problem. In terms of climate change, carbon emissions are directly related to the pace of growth of the economy. We have had real reductions in carbon emissions globally, but only in years the world economy also slowed down. The economy is growing again, and carbon emissions the last two years have gone up.

Wouldn’t “green,” or sustainable, growth be the answer then? Behind the idea of green growth is the idea of decoupling, that we can have higher and higher GDP using fewer and fewer resources. But our reading of the data is that this is really unlikely. You can have slower growth of resource use than the growth of your GDP — what is called relative decoupling — but you cannot have fewer and fewer carbon emissions and more and more GDP. Some people would argue that we can shift to solar energy or wind or nuclear power and keep growing the economy. It is definitely necessary to do this, but we question whether such a transition would be really compatible with continued GDP growth. Fossil fuels are unique in the amount of net energy they can provide; renewables have a lower energy return. An economy of low energy returns and low labor productivity — since substantial resources will be redirected from more productive sectors to energy production — is unlikely to be a bigger, growing economy.

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We’re saying we should have a greener and more inclusive society, and that this is probably not compatible with growth. Either there will be an uncontrollable collapse of the economy through a climate breakdown, or we will have to adapt to a very different type of economy that’s compatible with not-catastrophic climate change. Either way, this would mean a dramatic transformation of the economy, either forced or more intentional. More and more, we will have to be in a context of trying to maintain some level of prosperity without growth. So what do we do? These questions should no longer be taboo.

What are the most pressing questions that we need to answer now? The first one is this: to see if we can learn something from societies — recent ones like Cuba or, in the past, like classical Greece — that managed to secure well-being without growth. We can learn something from them that’s relevant today. The second question is to start developing economic policies and models of how this could work: How could you have an economy that prospers without growth? There is a lot of diversity already in the current economy. There are nonprofits, there are social enterprises, there are community currencies — alternative structures where people produce, consume, in a different way. Let’s study these alternatives, because they carry the seeds of something different.

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You’ve argued that Cuba after the fall of the Soviet Union is an example of a society that has maintained well-being, to some extent, without growth. Please explain. Suddenly Cuba’s import of oil from the Soviet Union collapsed and it had a huge economic depression, coupled with an embargo from the US. The way certain sectors in Cuba adapted to this external shock has lessons to offer us in the context of how we might adapt to a similar shock of climate change or an energy shortage. The point is not that everyone should become like Cuba. Cuba has a lot of problems. But there aren’t many examples of industrialized societies — and Cuba was an industrialized society — that managed to adapt to a collapse like that. Resources were reallocated so that the public health and education systems didn’t suffer. Health and life expectancy didn’t fall, despite a dramatic fall in the economy. Compare that to the former Soviet Union, where you had a dramatic fall in life expectancy. This means that there is something interesting to look into with Cuba.

What about the past? Are there lessons we can learn there? This is an invitation for research, rather than a research finding. We know there were civilizations that flourished in periods where they did not necessarily expand economically. Greece in the classical period would be an example. And many civilizations tried to put limits on how much money an individual could accumulate, or how much money you can lend, or interest rates. We have examples where we know society tried to limit and tame this self-perpetuating character of growth. And we know there are societies that flourished without having constant growth. The easy but stupid critique to that is, “Oh, you want us to go back and be like hunter-gatherers or live like the Romans?” No, that’s not the point. We’re not saying look at how other civilizations are better, we’re saying let’s study other civilizations to get ideas about how things could potentially work differently in our society.

What would a degrowth future look like? Can you speculate a bit? It would definitely involve much less material and energy use. We will have to live lives that are much leaner, in material terms. Food would be delivered from closer distances, not flown from the other side of the world. Energy would be locally produced in renewable forms. In a future society, after climate change — or a society that has managed to temper climate change — I cannot imagine that people would be able to just get on a plane and fly wherever they want. Our material life would be more constrained — but it could be better, by putting more emphasis on relationships and well-being and community.

People worry that their jobs and pensions depend on growth. What do you say to them? I don’t have an answer there. I’m saying the important thing is to stop taking for granted that this is how things are, and start asking the right questions. So we would ask, then, how would the pension system be sustainable without growth? How can you have employment without growth? We don’t know — but we do know that probably we’re going to have to do without

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growth if we’re serious about not having a total climate breakdown. And if we have a climate breakdown, we’re also going to do without growth, because the economy will be destroyed. We don’t have the answer, but we do have growing knowledge pointing to small bits about technology, democracy, other civilizations, that make us think there are some alternatives here and there, such as greater reliance on sharing material goods, that may be working and that we should study.

How have other researchers received your ideas? Within mainstream economics, fundamental critiques of growth are anathema. But I would say that most climate scientists know deep inside that the idea of solving climate change while the economy keeps growing is close to a fantasy.

How fast do we need to do this? Is this an emergency? Climate change is an absolute emergency. People are saying we have to act within the next 10 to 15 years. I’m not very optimistic, though. I don’t see action being taken. So in that sense, I’m thinking more about how we will take care while the system gets more and more destabilized. It’s already starting, and I think there are going to be convulsions. So it’s important to produce a new type of knowledge that we need for this era instead of answering questions, especially in economics, that were invented for a previous era. We are stuck with questions that have to do with a period of nineteenth-century expansion, while in the twenty-first century we are thinking about how can we make a soft landing. It’s a very different objective.

Do you think we’ll get this figured out in time? I’m not optimistic. To think that tomorrow people will wake up and come to their senses and realize that climate change is a huge problem and economic growth is unnecessary, and take action on that? No, I don’t think this will happen. But this doesn’t make me a pessimist. History has always been dire. I don’t think I’d be better off living 100 years ago, having two world wars in front of me, or facing famines. History never stops, and constantly there’s a moment of fighting for things to be better.

The last 200 years, we lived in a capitalist society where growth is fundamental for the stability of the system. Maybe there is no alternative, and the only way is to have growth. If this is becoming catastrophic, what do we do? Do we bow our heads to catastrophe, to disaster, or can we think outside of that? We know that we humans are very inventive. Why can’t we think of alternatives? Why is this the only thing where we can’t think differently?

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December offers us a wonderful opportunity to show love and appreciation for those that we love and cherish. The practice of giving gifts has long been practiced as a way of doing so. Over the next few pages are some wonderful gift ideasâ&#x20AC;Ś

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Ultimately, you are not a person, but a focal point through which the universe is becoming conscious of itself. Eckhart Tolle. Can we change the old stories that haunt us, personally and collectively, that keep us locked in cycles of suffering, harm, fear and grief? The Buddha said, “Mind is the forerunner of all things.” What is this mind? Max Planck, father of Quantum Theory said, “All matter originates by virtue of a force, we must assume behind this force, the existence of a conscious, intelligent mind. This mind is the matrix of all matter.” At the heart of all evolutionary change there is a shift of consciousness. Within our planetary emergency, as we journey through shadow, loss, and dismemberment, there is an invitation. We are invited to co-create a new story. A story that can transmute old suffering and dysfunctional beliefs into the light of freedom, clarity, creativity, and love. We have the possibility of forging the more beautiful world already seeded within us. A world where, as said by Thich Nhat Hanh, we “awaken for the illusion of separation.” Join us as we draw from Dharma teachings, meditative practices, deep breath journeying, inquiry process, mantra practice, and explorations through art, writing and ceremony. Together, let’s focus 2020, a momentous year for planetary orientation, towards a more positive trajectory, generating a loving frequency that can resonant throughout the year. For more information, please go to www.dharmagiri.org

About the book:

Understanding higher consciousness and why it matters, from the New York Times bestselling author of You Are The Universe and Super Brain

What would it mean to become supernatural? What if you could tune in to frequencies beyond our material world... change your brain chemistry to access transcendent levels of awareness... create a new future... and transform your very biology to enable profound healing?

Is it possible to venture beyond daily living and experience heightened states of awareness? In this highly anticipated new book, integrative medicine pioneer and New York Times bestselling author Deepak Chopra states that a higher state of consciousness is available here and now, for us all. Chopra unlocks the secrets to moving beyond our present limitations of the mind to access a field of infinite possibilities and reach our full potential. How do you achieve this? By becoming metahuman. Drawing from the latest research on neuroscience, artificial intelligence and biometrics, Chopra offers a practical 31 day guide to help us ‘wake up’ at the deepest level in order to liberate ourselves from the conditioning and constructs that underlie anxiety, tension and ego driven demands. Only then does your infinite potential become your personal reality.

All Books in this section are courtesy of Penguin Random House South Africa

This is what Dr. Joe Dispenza offers in this revolutionary book: a body of knowledge and a set of tools that allow ordinary people-people just like you-to reach extraordinary states of being. Dr. Joe, author of the New York Times bestseller You Are the Placebo as well as Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself and Evolve Your Brain, draws on up-to-the-minute research in neuroscience, epigenetics, and quantum physics to show how this kind of transformation takes place and what it can mean for our lives. In these pages, you'll explore: How to free yourself from the past by reconditioning your body to a new mind. How changing your frequency allows you to create reality in the "generous present moment”. The secret science of the pineal gland and its role in accessing mystical realms of reality. How to shift your awareness beyond the limited, predictable material world and move into the quantum field of infinite possibilities. And much more

About the book:

A #1 New York Times bestseller. An international phenomenon. A spiritual masterpiece.

Slow down, relax and find happiness.

In this beautiful new edition of selected passages from A New Earth, Eckhart Tolle has picked the essential phrases - the gems of the book - that he feels are most important to readers. These are the passages to savour and absorb, the inspirational essence of the book. They are both a wonderful introduction to the original book and a way to take those who have read A New Earth further in their inner dialogue. As you dip in and out of the book you will also discover the passages inspire a meditative way of reading, so can be pondered and revisited time and time again.

Let Japanese Monk and chief priest of the Soto Zen temple give you refuge from the chaotic world.

Drawing on centuries of wisdom, renowned Zen Buddhist priest Shunmyo Masuno applies the essence of Zen to modern life in clear, practical, easily adopted lessons--one a day for 100 days. Discover the secrets to a calmer, more joyful life: Understand uchimizu: conveying your true intentions without asserting them Welcome a Zen mindset into your life and your home Immerse yourself in zazen, and sweep the clutter from your mind Create gateways between the different aspects of your life In Zen: The Art of Simple Living, you will learn to find happiness not by seeking out extraordinary experiences but by making small changes--to what you do, how you think, how you interact with others, and how you appreciate the present moment. With each task, you will open yourself up to a renewed sense of peace, inner calm and joy.

About the book:

Nobel Peace Prize Laureates His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have survived more than fifty years of exile and the soul-crushing violence of oppression. Despite their hardships – or, as they would say, because of them – they are two of the most joyful people on the planet.

"Hearing the words 'be good to yourself first, then to others' was like being struck by lightning."

In April 2015, Archbishop Tutu travelled to the Dalai Lama’s home in Dharamsala, India, to celebrate His Holiness’s eightieth birthday and to create this book as a gift for others. They looked back on their long lives to answer a single burning question: how do we find joy in the face of life’s inevitable suffering? They traded intimate stories, teased each other continually, and shared their spiritual practices. By the end of a week filled with laughter and punctuated with tears, these two global heroes had stared into the abyss and despair of our times and revealed how to live a life brimming with joy. This book offers us a rare opportunity to experience their astonishing and unprecedented week together, from the first embrace to the final goodbye.

Many of us respond to the pressures of life by turning inwards and ignoring problems, sometimes resulting in anxiety or depression. Others react by working harder at work, at school or at home, hoping that this will make ourselves and the people we love happier.

But what if being yourself is enough? Just as we are advised on airplanes to take our own oxygen first before helping others, we must first be at peace with ourselves before we can be at peace with the world around us. In this beautiful follow-up to his international bestseller The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down, Buddhist monk Haemin Sunim turns his trademark wisdom and kindness to self-care, arguing that only by accepting yourself - and the flaws which make you who you are - can you have compassionate and fulfilling relationships with your partner, family and friends.

"Even products labelled 'limited edition' are made on a production line with hundreds that are exactly the same. But there is only one you in the world."

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The Antbear Drakensberg Lodge is a thatched, whitewashed lodge built high on a natural platform overlooking the Bushman's River and Giants Castle. Antbear Drakensberg Lodge offers various Drakensberg accommodation options in en suite double rooms, luxury suites, family units and also boasts a luxury cave too. Antbear Drakensberg Lodge is one of those smaller intimate kind places which has been lovingly put together. The natural setting of the accommodation is stunning and we have managed to encase all this beauty with an atmosphere of comfort and ease. The cottages are smartly appointed and individually designed and the fact that we are a small place makes for an intimate and personal accommodation experience. Each of the accommodation units are different and are decorated with uniquely eccentric and artistic wooden furniture. It is a bit off the beaten track and is more of an insider tip than just another bed and breakfast. We cater for small intimate groups and never have more than 45 guests at a time. It's a laid back, lovingly cared for kind of place where you feel a sense of happiness and peace. Honeymoon stays turn into anniversary commemorations just as guests become friends. Even foreign tourists return for a second and third taste.

Attractions Drakensburg Hiking Trails Bushman Rock Art Giantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Castle Kamberg Weenen Game Reserve Royal Natal National Park Drakensburg Boys Choir

Horse Trails Injasuti Nature Reserve Monks Cowl Natal Midlands Tugela Falls Sani Pass Fly Fishing

Retreats The Antbear Drakensberg Lodge is the ideal retreat venue where we can provide all the services and accommodation for your retreat. Situated 4 hours from Johannesburg and 2 hours from Durban with easy access from the N3 Antbear Lodge is easy to get to but has the feeling of being far from the madding crowd. This wonderful place for group retreats offers spectacular views, vast spaces, wild winds, rain, sunshine, clouds and rainbows and in all of this â&#x20AC;&#x201C; silence and peace. Retreat groups can book the whole lodge for their exclusive use. The Lodge can accommodate 44 persons in 15 separate accommodation units Antbear Drakensberg Lodge has a spacious dining room with a wood-burning fireplace, a comfortable lounge with a fireplace and spectacular views, a breakaway meeting room, a large veranda and a large meeting room for retreat, team building or training activities. We provide excellent meals and will fit our menu to your expectations.

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Because food is an important part of your stay Meals are part of the real surprises that the Antbear Lodge has to offer where home grown cooking is part of the deal. We like to use our own home grown organic vegetables and if we havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t got, then we lean heavily on those local providers with similar attitudes to our own. Conny and Andrew both like cooking and are up to changing just about anything to suit tastes or philosophies. Our cooking experience is in part a journal, a record of events and memories expressed in recipes. In the course of our travels we have filed away many recipes and with them images of people and places and their lives. How food tastes has much to do with the associations we make and if you would like to hear the tales of our meals we would love to tell them.

Sustainable & responsible tourism is our social responsibility and what we do to give something back to our community and environment We believe in sustainable tourism and social responsibility. We live is a spectacularly beautiful place called the Drakensberg and our standard of living here is exceptional. But around us lie contrasts of poverty and lack of development. If we are to keep our way of life then it surely follows that we must do everything in our power to contribute to the upliftment and prosperity of this rural area. We believe that the future of South Africa is linked to the prosperity of the people, and that upliftment is linked to education. And as such we have chosen to support our local primary school called Vulakani Primary School.

Pet friendly accommodation Drakensberg One of the few pet-friendly places in the Drakensberg. Beautiful, vast views of the Drakensberg with plenty of ground for my dogs to roam. Walk for hours. Your dogs will be happy with lots of dams to swim in and horses to discover. One of the accommodation units at Antbear Lodge is fenced in so its really easy to leave your dog behind if you would like to explore some of the sights where pets are not that welcome. If country life is for you and you would love to take your pet with you then Antbear Lodge is a great accommodation choice. Your hosts will advise you on all the activities available. Antbear Lodge prides itself on being both family-friendly and petfriendly.

CONTACT Mobile 076 441 2362 Email: reservations@antbear.co.za Web: www.antbear.co.za

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The Buddhist Retreat Centre, where people of all religions, and none, come to experience peace and tranquility. How to Retreat The Buddhist Retreat Centre offers various types of retreats, ranging from those investigating Buddhist thought and philosophy, through to practice retreats where the emphasis is on meditation; as well as retreats featuring bird watching, cookery, drumming, pottery and photography. At first glance the latter might appear to be unrelated to Buddhism but even these retreats will contain some element of meditation, of mindful awareness, refracting the chosen subject matter through a Buddhist lens. People from all walks of life come to these retreats with a variety of motivations and expectations. Perhaps they want to deepen their meditation practice, to take some time out from a hectic working life; to reflect on a tense domestic situation; to consider the trajectory of their lives; to make a decision about a way forward. Maybe they just want to learn how to take a good photograph. Each person will have a different reason for going on a retreat. Different paths will have led them to this place.

We all need to make an appointment with ourselves from time to time. To re-connect with who we are; to maintain balance; to recharge exhausted batteries. To make time to go on a retreat is a necessary and healthy step for anyone.

General Information The Centre has been established on an exquisite 125-hectare country estate near the village of Ixopo, KwaZuluNatal 90 kilometers south of Pietermaritzburg, one and a half hoursâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; drive from Durban.

Set in hilly grasslands amongst dams, indigenous bush and forests, it overlooks one of the great valleys in the Umkomaas river system. CNN featured the BRC as one of the ten finest retreat centres in the world. It was awarded Natural Heritage status by President Nelson Mandela in recognition of its success in establishing indigenous vegetation on the property and providing habitats for wildlife to return, including the endangered Blue Swallow. It is a birderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s paradise with more 160 species recorded. Walks lead to many interesting sites and viewpoints on the property, including evidence that Bushman lived there and Voortrekkers and Settlers passed through. In 2000, the BRC facilitated the founding of Woza Moya, the community-based NGO, located in Ufafa valley. It continues to support the organisation in a variety of ways.

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Accommodation Fifty retreatants can be accommodated in single and twin-bedded rooms, en-suite cottages and thatched chalets overlooking the secluded valleys on the property â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a short distance away from the dining room, office, library, studio and meditation hall.

The Centre is justly famous for its fine lacto-ovo vegetarian cuisine which is featured in its own bestselling recipe books, Quiet Food, The Cake the Buddha Ate and Plentiful: The Big Book Of Buddha Food. The BRC menu includes organically grown vegetables and farm-baked bread.

Observances The Retreat Centre offers a tranquil environment for the study and practice of philosophy, psychology, meditation and the arts associated with Buddhist culture. The Centre therefore encourages adherence to traditional Buddhist moral principles during retreats, such as respect for all forms of life and abstinence from alcoholic drinks and hallucinogenic drugs. Noble Silence is maintained from the last meditation at night until the first session after breakfast in the morning. During some retreats, Noble Silence is maintained throughout. Pets are not allowed at the Centre. Only some retreats are suitable for children: please check with the Administrator.

Forthcoming Retreats: For full details of each retreat please go to the website page: http://www.brcixopo.co.za/retreats/detailed-list-ofretreats.html

Email: brcixopo@futurenet.co.za Tel: +27(0)39 834 1863 or 0878091687 Mobile: 082 579 3037 www.brcixopo.co.za

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The Beautiful Hopi Indian Labyrinth at Thirsty Falls Guest Farm

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EVERY HOME NEEDS A LOVING PET! THERE ARE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS WAITING TO BE ADOPTED â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PLEASE REACH OUT! WE ALSO ENCOCURAGE YOU TO REACH INTO YOUR HEARTS FOR THOSE WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE AND REALLY NEED OUR HELP.

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Help us bring hope to girls without and choices to those with none. Founded in 2000 by Khanyisile Motsa, and run under her diligent care ever, Home of Hope for Girls is an autonomous, self-started initiative to provide real care for exploited, trafficked and abused children in the city of Johannesburg. It is more than just a residential shelter; it is a loving home where dignity is restored, the past is healed and the girls are given the tools to take control of their futures. Home of Hope also reaches out to the community offering the most vulnerable members support, practical help and a lifeline.

The Background to Home of Hope An estimated 10,000 children are prostitutes in Johannesburg and this figure is increasing. When Khanyisile Motsa relocated to Hillbrow she was shocked to observe girls as young as nine working as prostitutes and selling drugs on the streets at night. The truth about these forgotten children is: • •

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Child Prostitute. Photo by Tseliso Monaheng

Criminals pay agents to recruit children They usually target often orphans or/and those from very disadvantaged rural communities Victims are trafficked or seduced to leave with lies about a life in the city Their IDs are frequently taken from them to make escape and identification difficult Their IDs are often sold on the black market ‘Owned’ by their exploiters they are prostituted, abused, made to sell drugs

Email: info@hopehome.org.za Mam Khanyi: 073 250 2086 Telephone: 011 614 0861 Conscious Life Magazine

Call 012 430 7775 Lines open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In South Africa and around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique needs are met and their voices are heard. We deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach. We do whatever it takes for children â&#x20AC;&#x201C; every day and in times of crisis â&#x20AC;&#x201C; transforming their lives and the future we share.

We need your help to ensure that no child is left behind. In a tough funding environment, we have ensured we have multiple avenues of funding and are proud to have 11,000 generous individual donors contributing monthly. We will continue to be innovative in securing funding to enable us to reach more children and will work on increasing unrestricted and consistent funding streams. You can help us make a difference. Even just by becoming aware of our work by reading our annual report. To download and read the full annual report, click here.

Help us do whatever it takes to save the children.

Thank You Gugulethu Ndebele CEO

www.savethechildren.org.za Conscious Life Magazine

Hotel Hope Ministries is a fully registered South African non-profit organisation established with aim of ensuring that each and every child is brought up in a safe, happy and healthy home so that they can grow up and develop into responsible and positive adults. Although children are our main focus, we have a holistic approach to the problem of orphaned and abandoned children. We realise that we need to focus on the cause of the problem too and not only the symptoms. So we have projects to focus on assisting Mothers and Fathers, so that they can look after themselves and their children. We group our projects under three focus areas: BABIES IN NEED Creating and supporting several small family style foster homes for orphaned and abandoned babies.

MOTHERS IN CRISIS Providing young mothers facing unplanned pregnancies with counselling, guidance and practical support. SOCIAL ENTERPRISE Helping Mothers and Fathers to help themselves by providing jobs and skill development opportunities through our fundraising and trading projects.

As a fully registered South African charity we are registered with the following authorities: · Section 21 company without share capital - 2010/006792/08 · Non-Profit Organization (NPO) number – 084 289 · Public Benefit Organization (PBO) number – 930 034 387 Mission statement: To engage the local Church Worldwide to embrace its God given responsibility of taking care of destitute mothers and orphaned and abandoned children.

Vision statement: To see a full service (either ourselves or in partner with others) covering: •Children’s homes •Adoption advocacy •Mothers in crisis •Counselling centres •Training Academy •Charity shops / trading Conscious Life Magazine

Our fundraising model: We have a unique funding model in place where we are able to generate funds to cover 100% of our administrative costs through our Charity Shop(s) as well as the output of our carpentry workshop and sewing workshop. We are extremely committed to Social enterprise as it creates employment in South Africa, funds for the Charity, volunteering opportunities as well as a lowpriced outlet for customers from low-income groups. Furthermore we can assure donors that 100% of their support will directly benefit the children in our care as well as mothers in crisispregnancy situations. Thank you to our donors and corporate sponsors: As an organisation we are incredibly blessed to have many active supporters, individuals and corporates, who make it possible for us to do what we do and to make a difference. People often comment that it must be difficult to work in our environment hearing sad stories all the time, and it is sometimes hard, but it is also so rewarding to see those stories turning into stories of hope and it is so inspiring and such a privilege to witness people, like our supporters, coming forward to help and to give so generously. There are amazing people out there in the world, click here to see who some of them are and how they have made a differenceâ&#x20AC;Ś Click here Our Sponsors:

DONATE FINANCIALLY Deposit or Electronic transfer directly into our account First National Bank Account name: Hotel Hope Account number: 62194003382 Branch: Melville, Johannesburg Branch code (sort code): 256505 Account type: Cheque account SWIFT code: FIRNZAJJ (For international deposits) Reference: Donation (your name) OTHER WAYS TO DONATE/HELP US Conscious Life Magazine

Dear Reader, Because of animal lovers like you, Humane Society International is working around the clock to fight the gruesome dog meat industry – to end it for good.

We’ve slammed the doors permanently on nine dog meat farms in South Korea and rescued more than 900 dogs. Not only that, but we’re lobbying hard for better laws throughout Asia to fight the cruelty, transition farmers out of the business of cruelty, and so much more. Here is one transformation that we can't stop smiling about. Sophie was rescued just this year from a horrible life on a dog meat farm. Now, she is running free and playing in the grass, surrounded by the love of her forever family:

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This kind of ending never gets old, but so many other dogs still need you.

You can make a difference for dogs caught up in this brutal industry: Sign the dog meat pledge today.

With you by our side, we're committed to this huge fight against the dog meat trade. We’re closing farms and rescuing the animals; we’re raising public and political awareness of the cruelty involved; and we’re growing substantial support for a phase out and ban of South Korea’s dog meat farms. Become a part of the global campaign to end the dog meat trade—sign your name right now. Thank you, for protecting animals from cruelty all across the globe. Sincerely, Kitty Block President Humane Society International

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Who we are: The Monkey Helpline, started in 1995, is a volunteer group, based in Westville near Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, but operating throughout the province and also anywhere else in South Africa and abroad where our assistance and advice are requested. Our team of dedicated rescuers and rescue assistants, veterinarians, educators, monitors, fund-raisers, administrative assistants and supporters is what makes this project the success that it is today. Monkey Helpline is a registered NPO. 130-166 NPO

What we do: As a team we devote our time to educating people about the reasons why the monkeys are here, why monkeys behave the way they do, the things people should do or not do when monkeys are around, and how to humanely keep monkeys away from those places where they are not welcome. Just knowing that monkeys will NOT attack and bite people, and that they DON’T carry rabies, is usually enough to change antagonism and fear into tolerance, and frequently into appreciation. We also run a rescue operation and a “high care” unit. We rescue an average of three monkeys every two days, and their injuries range from wounds sustained during fights with other monkeys, dog bites, being run over by motor vehicles, electrocuted, snared, trapped or poisoned, shot with airguns (pellet/BB guns), catapults, paintball guns and firearms, as well as being caught or injured on razor-wire. Many are babies who are orphaned or injured when mother monkeys are attacked by dogs or other monkeys, or are severely injured or killed in human-related incidents. Over eighty percent of the monkeys we rescue, irrespective of the reason why, have got air-gun pellets lodged in their bodies. Lead pellets cause terrible pain, suffering and a lingering death and no person, adult or child, should ever shoot monkeys, or any other animals, with an air-gun. As the only dedicated monkey rescue project in KwaZulu-Natal, the Monkey Helpline is available to do rescues 24 hours a day, every day! On any given day we are treating ten or more monkeys in our home-based high care unit – frequently in excess of twenty monkeys! Once they have recovered from their injuries these monkeys are released back into their home territory, transferred to a rehabilitation facility or placed in a sanctuary. Education is a vital tool in our hands and we distribute thousands of information leaflets, and visit many schools (at least two schools per week) to do educational talks about the monkeys. During 2009 we spoke to over 40 000 school learners and their teachers. We also do talks to many other interest groups such as police cadets, garden clubs, public service groups, conservation bodies, body corporates, etc. In addition, we advise farmers, businesses, hotels and casinos, housing and golfing estates, botanical gardens etc on the best ways to manage human/monkey “conflict”.

Monkey Helpline networks with a number of other Vervet-related individuals, groups, and general primate- and animal-care NGO’s. NB. There is no charge for the services we offer, but donations towards the cost of running the project are welcome. Without your support we would not be able to change attitudes and legislation in favour of the monkeys nor would we be able to rescue the hundreds that we do every year and alleviate their suffering.

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With much appreciation to our advertisers, contributors, endorsers and of course, our readers Namaste

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Conscious Life Online Magazine - December 2019 - ed 62

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The Memory of Water - Conscious Life Magazine