Conscious Life Magazine Free Online Mar 2018 Ed 43 by 2Luni Media

Image Courtesy of Tim Hill - Pixabay

Conscious Life Magazine

CONTENTS HOW TO STOP WORRYING & START LIVING

[

SELF DEVELOPMENT & PERSONAL GROWTH WHAT IS SELF CARE FOR YOU? HEAL YOUR LIFE WITH LOUISE L. HAY’S TEACHINGS

NATURAL HEALTH & WELLNESS 15 NATURAL REMEDIES FOR ANXIETY GETTING TO KNOW BACOPA AND WHAT IT CAN DO FOR YOU HOW OLIVE LEAVES REDUCE BLOOD PRESSURE

GREEN LIVING HOW TO MAKE A BEAN TENT

HEALTHY INTAKE SUPPLEMENTATION: CHOOSE BALANCE OVER EXCESS GREEN MONDAY’S BLACK BEAN & SWEET POTATO BURRITO GREEN MONDAY’S QUINOA TABBOULEH GREEN MONDAY’S CARROT CAKE



CONSCIOUS HEALING MINDFULNESS OR CONSCIOUSNESS

WORKSHOPS, COURSES & RETREATS ACCESS BARS TRAINING ANTANEEA TECHNIQUE YOGA FLOW FESTIVAL DHARMAGIRI SACRED MOUNTAIN RETREAT FORGIVE: ANGEL CARD READING WITH MARGI MCALPINE ANGEL CONNECTION SCHOOL MINDFULNESS RETREAT WITH TIBETAN MONKS AT THE FOOTHILLS OF THE HIMALAYAS LIVE YOUR DREAMS THANKS TO THETA HEALING SESSIONS THE BUDDHIST RETREAT CENTRE

Conscious Life Magazine

CONTENTS

$ READING GET YOUR COPY OF “HOW TO STOP WORRYING AND START LIVING” GREAT HAY HOUSE BOOKS

b CONSCIOUS BODY GET READY TO BOUNCE BACK WITH REBOUNDING LISA RALEIGH’S SUMMER BOOTY BLASTER

OUR ANIMALS 10 SCARY TRUTHS ABOUT DOG FOOD

GETAWAYS, SHOWS & EVENTS SHOWS, GETAWAYS; AND MORE, INCLUDING SANTANA LIVE IN SOUTH AFRICA IN APRIL!

_ REACH OUT REACH OUT & HELP: DESERVING CHARITIES AND CAUSES NEEDING YOUR HELP

Cover Photo: Photographer: Cj Matticks Place: Gansbaai

Contributing Team & Experts

ABOUT US www.childoftheuniverse.co.za PUBLISHER 2Luni Media EDITOR/OWNER Candida “Cj“ Matticks 087 802 6102 candida@childoftheuniverse.co.za

LISA RALEIGH Fitness & Nutritional Expert

Articles from the late

LOUISE L. HAY Author/Inspirational Speaker

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

HANNA KOK BrainGym

DR CHRISTIANE NORTHRUP

Sales Linda Navon CREATIVE TEAM Designer & Creative Director Cj Matticks Content & Layout Assistant Linda Navon

Articles written by the late

DR. WAYNE DYER

BRENT LINDEQUE The Good Things Guy

Author & Motivator

Digital Manager & Social Media Cj Matticks DISTRIBUTION & ACCOUNTS

Lee Coulter lee@childoftheuniverse.co.za

Articles written by the late

HEATHER PICTON

TORSTEN A. LANGE

Founder ADHASA

Author, founder & director Reiki Academy London

LINDA NAVON

CJ MATTICKS

CONTACT NUMBERS TEL: 087 802 6102 011 026 2643 011 046 8737

Conscious Life Magazine

Contributing Team & Experts 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.

MARGI McALPINE

PENNI DU PLESSIS

Angel Connection School

Divine Space

MICHELLE LESKE

SAMANTHA LEWIS

Egypt Tour Goddess

Access Consciousness

ANTHONY WILLIAM

VERONICA HAUPT

Medical Medium

Re-code Your Life

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

WENDY YOUNG

MICHAEL HOWARD

Life Coach and Spiritual Counsellor

Mindshare

DR JAMES MERCOLA

JULIET TANG

Conscious Life Magazine

Dearest Conscious Life Friends I hope that your February was a good one and that March is already treating you well. If not, take a deep breath, hold for 4 seconds and release all the way out until there is no air left in your lungs and then resume breathing normally. Take a moment to think of all the times that you overcame life’s challenges and remind yourself that you can again do so, with ease. That worrying only leads to stress, and stress is not conducive to problem solving and taking positive action to turn things back in the direction you want to go. Remember that when the sailor sets sail, he knows that there will be rough seas and smooth seas, wind and rain, sunshine and blue skies. He plans for this. He checks his compass along the way and makes small or large adjustments to correct his course whenever he is taken off it. Such as it is with life. We need to learn to enjoy the journey. This is not always easy, we all know that well. A book, that I read many years back, that has always stuck with me is How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie. It really lives up to it’s title, and I think that you should all get it and take a moment each day to read a chapter. One of the sections that has served me well through the years is the 1st section titled: Fundamental Facts You Should Know About Worry. It covers 3 rules: 1. If you want to worry, do what Sir William Osler did: Live in “day-tight compartments.” Don’t stew about the future. Just live each day until bedtime. 2. The next time Trouble – with a Capital T – backs you into a corner, try the magic formula of Willis H. Carrier:

Ask yourself, “What is the worst that can possibly happen if I can’t solve my problem?” b) Prepare yourself mentally to accept the worst – if necessary. c) Then calmly try to improve upon the worst – which you have already mentally agreed to accept. Remind yourself of the exorbitant price you pay for worry in terms of your health. “Those who do not know how to fight worry die young”

He also talks about “Getting the Facts” because Dean Hawkes of Columbia University said that “half the worry in the world is caused by people trying to make decisions before they have sufficient knowledge on which to base a decision” Then, after carefully weighing the facts, work to come to a decision. Ask yourself: 1. What is the problem? 2. What is the cause of the problem? 3. What are all the possible solutions? 4. What is the best solution Once a decision is carefully reached, act! Get busy carrying out your decision. – and dismiss all anxiety about the outcome. Remember that you already accepted the worst that could happen and in my experience, when using this process – the worst almost never happens. Get the book (see this month’s Reading Section) and allow the wisdom contained within to help you transform your life. And, as always, we have great articles, courses etc this month that will also help you in your journey.

Conscious Life Magazine

Available at

Conscious Life Magazine

Article by Wendy Young of Wise Living What is self care for you and how does self care unfold in your life right now? In reflecting on this vast and important topic, I was reminded of the Buddhist practices of Maitri, a Sanskrit word meaning unconditional friendliness; and Metta, a Pali word meaning loving kindness. Making friends with yourself. What does having a gentle and kind attitude towards yourself feel like in your body-mind right now? Then add unconditional: what does this feel like? No limits, no boundaries, nothing is left out, all is included. How does this land and feel in your state of being? What does it actually look like to treat ourselves with unconditional friendliness on a day to day basis? You’d think that this is a relatively simple practice to apply, but for most of us it is a struggle. Negative self-talk and an ever-increasing business permeate our lives: racing thoughts, judgements, social media craziness and a flood of information affects our ability to stay grounded. Things are changing faster than our capacity to keep up with them. These changes – technological, geophysical and social – are happening more quickly than our psyche’s ability to adapt, which puts a huge strain on our nervous systems, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and disorientated. Maitri can be seen as a form of self care. Self care is a growing and necessary awareness in

our culture right now. We need this practice so much in our world at this time of challenge: true friendliness with ourselves. The Buddha said: “You can search throughout the entire Universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire Universe deserve your love and affection.” Any form of spiritual practice that includes somatic movement and meditation, and cultivates listening, self awareness and embodiment, are great forms of self care. These practices of enquiry open the door to who we really are. And what life is really like for us. We realise we can’t pretend Conscious Life Magazine

any more: we can’t be the person we think we are supposed to be or who we are expected to be by our families and society. We have become masters at turning away from the difficult and uncomfortable things about ourselves and about our life that we don’t want to look at, acknowledge and feel. Embodiment practices unravel this habit. The body doesn’t lie; if we are listening, it shows us what we need in any particular moment. Then we are faced with a choice. Do we reject this part of our self that we don’t like and judge, or de we cultivate Maitri and open our state of being to include and accept all of ourselves, warts and all? Maitri means not lying to ourselves, it means maintaining a sense of humour and a fundamental feeling of deep and true compassion toward ourselves. Being honest means being able to say, “OK, I see this mean side and I’m still going to treat myself with kindness”. Friendliness and care toward our self is not indulgent. Applying the principle of Maitri is about maintaining a relationship with pain, difficulty, shame and guilt. Happiness comes from within: learning to sit and be with discomfort, failure and embarrassment is how the seeds of true happiness are planted. Learning to be at home in our bodymind, accepting all parts of ourselves, the judgemental and unkind aspects, and bouncing back using the gentle practice of Maitri. This taking care of our hearts and minds with the same diligence as we take care of our bodies, is a freeing and empowering way to live.

If you feel called to explore, experience and cultivate deeper aspects of self care, please join me at these upcoming events: Self Care Workshop: 24th March 8:30am – 4:30pm An invitation to join Monja, Wendy and a group of movement and meditation practitioners to discover, explore and experience what Self Care looks and feels like in ourselves and in our lives. We will be working with the somatic practices of Feldenkrais® – Awareness through Movement; and Somatic Meditation – Meditating with the Body. Email wendy@wise-living.co.za for more information and to book.

Care of Self Retreat: 20th – 22nd April, Thirsty Falls Guest Farm, Magaliesburg An invitation to slow down, rest and reconnect: to open into deep receptivity and listen to how your body, heart and mind are feeling; and to honour what your being needs in each moment to replenish and revitalise. An invitation to return home to embodiment, honesty, wholeness and aliveness. Email wendy@wise-living.co.za for more information and to book. When our inner attitude softens and changes, the world around us looks and feels different; creating a ripple effect of wellbeing into our families, communities and country.

With love, Wendy facilitating your somatic and psychological process from Open-Hearted Presence www.wise-living.co.za Conscious Life Magazine

Conscious Life Magazine

Ask about our courses for Teenagers

Conscious Life Magazine

Conscious ConsciousLife LifeMagazine Magazine

Anxiety can be a disabling condition that’s accompanied by long-term stress and a decline in overall health. It contributes to many chronic diseases, even when treated with conventional medications. That’s why we need to use natural remedies for anxiety and other mood disorders that will address the root of the problem instead of putting a Band-Aid® on your symptoms. Conscious Life Magazine

In fact, anxiety can affect people of all ages, with a lifetime prevalence between 4.3 and 5.9 percent. In addition, 40–60 percent of people with anxiety experience signs of depression, which makes it an even more serious and difficult condition to treat properly. (1) And research shows that people with anxiety cannot successfully achieve short or long term remission, with remission rates remaining as low as 38 percent after five years. (2) The good news is that there are many natural remedies for anxiety that are safe and don’t cause adverse side effects like so many anti-anxiety medications. By eating a clean and well-balanced diet that contains important nutrients like B vitamins, magnesium and omega-3s, and using essential oils for anxiety, you will notice an immediate difference in your mood, energy levels and sleep patterns. Plus, there are many supplements and lifestyle changes that serve as natural remedies for anxiety.

Causes & Common Symptoms of Anxiety Anxiety is a normal response to stress or a dangerous situation and it’s often referred to as the “fight or flight” response. It’s also the most prevalent mental health condition. Anxiety becomes problematic when it is constant or in reaction to inappropriate circumstances, which over time can negatively affect your day-to-day life. In fact, there are a number of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder and panic disorder.

Causes of anxiety include: • • • • • • •

stress traumatic life experiences thyroid problems dysfunctional serotonin excessive alcohol caffeine or sugar intake hormone imbalance

In addition, research shows that risk factors for anxiety disorders include being female, experiencing stressful life events in childhood and adulthood, having a family history of mental health disorders, having limited economic resources and being shy in childhood. (3) Although, anxiety is characterized by excessive worrying and tension, other physical and psychological symptoms of anxiety include: • muscle tension • chest tightness • heart palpitations • high blood pressure • insomnia • digestive problems • panic attacks • irritability • difficulty concentrating • restlessness • sweating • anxiousness • inability to socialize

Conventional Anxiety

Treatment

for

Typically, anxiety is treated with a combination of psychotropic drugs and cognitive behavioral therapy. Pharmacologic interventions for anxiety include:

Serotonin-norepinephrine inhibitors (SNRIs):

reuptake

SNRIs are used to treat anxiety, depression, panic disorder, fibromyalgia and back pain. They work by blocking or delaying the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine, which helps to improve your mood. Some SNRI brand names include Cymbalta, Pristiq, Effexor and Savella. Common side effects of these medications include dizziness, nausea, loss of appetite, sexual problems, constipation, weight loss, insomnia, headaches, dry mouth and agitation. Conscious Life Magazine

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): SSRIs are used to correct low serotonin levels in the brain. SSRIs are used to treat anxiety disorders and depression. Some examples of commonly prescribed SSRIs include Lexapro, Prozac, Zoloft and Celexa. Possible side effects of these medications include drowsiness, nausea, diarrhea, headache, sexual problems, agitation, dizziness, dry mouth, insomnia and blurred vision. In fact, research shows that approximately 30–50 percent of patients on SSRIs experience these kind of mild side effects. (4)

Benzodiazepines: Benzodiazepines are used to enhance the effect of GABA, a neurotransmitter that reduces the activity of neurons that cause anxiety. Benzodiazepine drugs are used to treat anxiety, insomnia, alcohol withdrawal, pack attacks and seizures (due to their anticonvulsant properties). The most popular types of benzodiazepines include Xanax, Valium, Librium and Tranxene. These medications come with side effects like dizziness, headaches, blurred vision, sweating, trouble sleeping, impaired coordination, confusion and an increased risk of falling in elderly patients. (5)

“These medications come with side effects like dizziness, headaches, blurred vision, sweating, trouble sleeping, impaired coordination, confusion…” Conscious Life Magazine

15 Natural Remedies for Anxiety Diet: 1. Eat a Clean and Well-Balanced Diet Several studies show that there is a connection between the diet choices and psychology, physiology and behaviour. Dietary choices impact a person from the moment he or she is born, to adult life. Consuming too many or too little calories can increase anxiety symptoms and other psychological or emotional disorders. (6) Also, poor diet can lead to many anxiety symptoms, including moodiness, fatigue and abnormal blood sugar levels that cause nervousness and the jitters. A poor diet can also lead to weight gain. And this can impact your body image and bring on feelings of worthlessness and self-doubt. Eating anti-inflammatory foods can be a natural remedy for anxiety because they are important for neurotransmitters synthesizing and balancing your mood and stress response. In addition, it’s also important to eat healthy fats, unrefined carbohydrates and lean protein. To improve anxiety symptoms, make sure to add vitamin B foods, magnesium rich foods, foods high in calcium and omega-3 foods to your diet too. • wild-caught fish (like salmon, mackerel, tuna, white fish and herring) • grass-fed beef • organic chicken • nutritional yeast • eggs • yogurt or kefir • leafy greens (like spinach, kale, chard and collard greens) • fresh vegetables (like celery, bok choy, broccoli, beets and artichokes) • fresh fruits (like blueberries, pineapple, banana and figs) • sea vegetables • healthy fats (like avocado, coconut oil and olive oil) • beans (such as black beans, adzuki beans, chickpeas and fava beans)

• • • •

legumes (like lentils and peas) nuts (such as walnuts, almonds and cashews) seeds (including flaxseeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds and pumpkin seeds) unrefined grains (like farro, quinoa and barley)

2. Avoid Sugary and Processed Foods Research shows that consuming foods that have a high glycemic index can contribute to anxiety and depression. Sugar and refined carbohydrates can give you blood sugar highs and lows throughout the day, increasing anxiety, nervousness and fatigue. These foods can cause mood swings and alter your energy levels, making it more difficult to get your anxiety symptoms under control. They also contribute to inflammation and alter your brain structure and neurotransmitter function. (7)

To maintain normal blood sugar levels and improve your anxiety symptoms, stay away from refined foods, including baked goods (like pastries and cookies), sweetened beverages, fast foods, fried foods, processed meat and refined grains (which can be found in cereals and packaged breads).

3. Limit Caffeine and Alcohol Too much caffeine or alcohol can increase anxiety symptoms like moodiness, nervousness and the jitters. A study published by the British Journal of Psychiatry found that abstinence from alcohol is associated with a lower risk of anxiety. To reduce anxiety, avoid alcohol completely or limit your alcohol intake to 1–3 drinks per week, but no more than two at a time. (8) Research also shows that consuming too much caffeine can induce anxiety symptoms, and people with panic disorder and social anxiety seem to be particularly sensitive to the effects of caffeine. (9) Limit coffee or black tea to no more than one cup per day. Conscious Life Magazine

Supplements: 4. Ashwagandha Ashwagandha is an adaptogen herb that is often used as a natural remedy for anxiety because it helps to stabilize the body’s response to stress. In a systematic review that assessed data on the effectiveness of ashwagandha as a treatment for anxiety, researchers found that most studies concluded with significant improvement in anxiety symptoms with ashwagandha therapy. (10) However, ashwagandha is not only a stress reliever. It also protects the brain from degeneration and it works to improve anxiety symptoms by destroying free radicals that cause damage to the brain and body. Research shows that ashwagandha helps to improve focus, reduce fatigue and fight anxiety without the side effects of most antianxiety medications. (11)

5. Kava Root Research shows that kava root can be used to treat anxiety because it’s a non addictive and non-hypnotic anxiolytic. Kava is used to improve mood, ease anxiety and boost sociability. It works by stimulating dopamine receptors and inducing euphoria. In fact, a randomized controlled trial conducted in Australia found that kava can be considered a first-line therapy for generalized anxiety disorder and it’s shown to be safe for people undergoing treatment. (12) And a metaanalysis reported by Cochrane, which involved 7 trials, suggests that there are significant effects from kava treatment for anxiety with few side effects, which are all considered mild. (13) Take kava under the guidance of your health care provider, as it can interact with certain medications. Also, do not consume alcohol if you are using kava and be aware of the most common side effects, including headache, drowsiness and diarrhea.

6. 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) Supplementing with 5-HTP, which is synthesized from tryptophan (an essential amino acids that acts as a mood regulator), can help to treat a number of issues that are associated with anxiety, including trouble sleeping, moodiness and headaches. 5-HTP increases serotonin, which is a calming neurotransmitter that transmits signals between the nerve cells and alters brain functions that regulate your mood and sleep patterns. Studies show that 5-HTP therapy is associated with a significant reduction in anxiety due to its calming effects. However, it’s important that you do not take 5-HTP with any prescription anti-anxiety or antidepressant medications. (14, 15)

7. GABA (Gamma aminobutyric acid) GABA is an amino acid that is responsible for decreasing anxiety in the nervous system, and it also helps to relax your muscles. It’s used for a number of conditions, in addition to relieving anxiety, including reducing PMS, relieving insomnia, stabilizing blood pressure, treating ADHD, burning fat and relieving pain. GABA is also an inhibitory neurotransmitter that can cause a sedative effect, helps regulate nerve cells and calms anxiety. Antianxiety drugs, like Xanax and Valium, work to increase the amount of GABA in the brain. There are GABA supplements available in your local health food or vitamin store. Or, another option is to use valerian root, which naturally increases your brain’s GABA level and helps to calm anxiety. (16)

8. Magnesium Magnesium plays many important roles in the body, and magnesium deficiency is one of the leading deficiencies in adults. So if you’re struggling with anxiety, you may want to try taking a magnesium supplement. (17) Magnesium helps to relax your muscles and calm the nervous system. Also, it’s vital for GABA function and for regulating certain hormones that are crucial for calming the Conscious Life Magazine

Conscious Life Magazine

brain and promoting relaxation. Magnesium is commonly used to combat anxiety, poor digestion, muscles aches and spasms and trouble sleeping. Look for magnesium in citrate, chelate and chloride, which are forms that the body absorbs better. However, be aware that too much magnesium can cause diarrhoea, so be careful with the dose. Because of this, start with smaller amounts of magnesium and work your way up to a dose thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s effective for you.

9. Vitamin B Complex B vitamins help to combat stress and stabilize your mood. Vitamin B6, in particular, serves as a natural remedy for anxiety because it works to boost mood, balance blood sugar levels and maintain a healthy nervous system. In fact, symptoms of a vitamin B6 deficiency include anxiety, irritability, depression, changes in mood, muscle pains and fatigue. In addition, Vitamin B12 is also important for fighting chronic stress, mood disorders and depression. It helps to improve your concentration, improve energy levels and allow your nervous system to function properly. (18)

Essential Oils: 10. Lavender Oil Lavender oil has been shown to reduce anxiety and help relax the body. A multicenter, double-blind, randomized study conducted in Germany found that Silexan, an oral lavender oil capsule, was just as effective as benzodiazepine, anti-anxiety medication that usually induces sedation and had a high potential for drug abuse. (19) Research also shows that using lavender oil topically or inhaling lavender can help to induce calmness and relieve symptoms of anxiety like nervousness, headaches and muscle pain. (20) Put 3 drops of lavender oil in your palm and rub it onto your neck, wrists and temples. You can also diffuse lavender oil at home or at work, inhale it directly from the bottle for immediate relief, and add 5â&#x20AC;&#x201C;10

drops to warm bath water to fight anxiety naturally.

11. Roman Chamomile Roman chamomile essential oil is used to calm nerves and reduce anxiety because of its mild sedative and relaxation-promoting properties. Inhaling roman chamomile works as an emotional trigger because the fragrance travels directly to the brain to help fight anxiety symptoms. A study published in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine found that when chamomile oil is taken orally, it causes a significant reduction of anxiety and depression symptoms when compared to a placebo. (21) Diffuse 5 drops of Roman chamomile oil at home or at work, inhale it directly from the bottle or apply it topically to the neck, chest and wrists. Roman chamomile is also gentle enough for children to use as a natural remedy for anxiety.

Lifestyle: 12. Physical Activity Regular physical activity helps to improve sleep quality, reduce inflammation, boost confidence, improve energy levels and ease stress and tension. People with anxiety can benefit from exercises like yoga and tai chi because they promote relaxation and involve deep breathing techniques that help to reduce stress and muscle tension. A 2012 review published in Alternative Medicine Review found that of the 35 trials that addressed the effects of yoga on anxiety and stress, 25 of them noted a significant decrease in stress and anxiety symptoms as a result of practicing yoga. (22) In fact, yoga changes your brain by impacting your GABA levels and suppressing neural activity. Besides yoga and tai chi, you can practice other exercises that help to calm the body. For example, running, walking or hiking outdoors, lifting weights and even dancing can help to combat stress. Conscious Life Magazine

13. Get Enough Rest Researchers at the University of Berkeley found that a lack of sleep can amplify anticipatory anxiety by stimulating regions in the brain that are associated with emotional processing. This means sleep deprivation can contribute to common anxiety symptoms. These symptoms include excessive worrying, and by restoring proper sleep patterns, people with anxiety can reduce feelings of fear, worry and tension. (23) Aim to get 7–9 hours of sleep every night in order to reduce stress, balance your hormones, prevent moodiness and reduce fatigue. You can also diffuse lavender or Roman chamomile essential oil in your bedroom to help induce relaxation.

14. Meditate A 2013 randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that mindfulness meditation had a beneficial effect on anxiety symptoms and improved stress reactivity and coping mechanisms when faced with a stress challenge. (24) If you’re new to this, try guided meditation as one of your natural remedies for anxiety, which is available on YouTube and podcasts. It will help to reduce your cortisol levels, improve your sleep quality, boost your productivity at home and at work, and treat your anxiety.

15. Find Support In your effort to overcome anxiety, finding support from your family, friends, community and professional therapists can be extremely helpful. For example, cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on a person’s underlying thoughts in determining how we act and feel. Therapists help to change your thought patterns and reactions so that you can better-handle stressful situations. If your anxiety is affecting your quality of life, consider joining a local support group or connecting with other people who are dealing with anxiety. Together, you can use these natural remedies

for anxiety with members of your community and work through tough situations with their support.

Precautions If you choose to use any of these natural remedies for anxiety, do so under the guidance of your health care provider. Also, make sure that he or she knows what other medications you are taking in order to avoid dangerous interactions. For example, some of these natural remedies, including kava root, 5-HTP and GABA, do interact with commonly prescribed anti-anxiety and antidepression medications. So, do not use these supplements or herbs along with prescribed drugs.

Final Thoughts on Remedies for Anxiety

Natural

Anxiety is a normal response to stress or a dangerous situation. However — referred to as the “fight or flight” response — it’s the most prevalent mental health condition. Research shows that people with anxiety cannot successfully achieve short or long term remission, with remission rates remaining as low as 38 percent after five years. Conventional treatments for anxiety include a combination of psychotropic drugs and cognitive behavioural therapy. Natural remedies for anxiety offer alternative therapies that don’t cause adverse side effects and have been proven effective. These remedies include supplements like magnesium, GABA and vitamin B complex, herbs like kava root and essential oils. Dietary and lifestyle changes will also help to relieve anxiety symptoms naturally.

About Dr. Josh Axe Dr. Josh Axe, DNM, DC, CNS, is a certified doctor of natural medicine, doctor of chiropractic and clinical nutritionist with a passion to help people get healthy by using food as medicine. Conscious Life Magazine

Conscious Life Magazine

Conscious ConsciousLife LifeMagazine Magazine

Conscious Life Magazine

Green Monday’s Black Bean & Sweet Potato Burrito Serves 8

Photo credit: Ken Botts Recipe credit: HSUS

Image Courtesy of Gourmet Mum

Ingredients: • 8 Flour tortilla • 2 Cups Black beans • 2 Cups Sweet potatoes cooked tender, cut into small cubes • ½ Teaspoon Cumin • ½ Cup Red bell pepper (diced small) • ½ Cup Green bell pepper (diced small) • 1 Tablespoon Fresh garlic • 1 Tablespoon Chili powder • 1 Cup Red onion (diced small)

Directions: • Sweat onions, garlic and peppers in a pan. • Add black beans, sweet potatoes, cumin, and chili powder. • To serve, portion ½ cup on each tortilla and roll up..

Conscious Life Magazine

Green Monday’s Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad Serves 6

Adapted from BonAppetit

Ingredients: • 1 cup (225g) quinoa, rinsed well • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice • 1 garlic clove, minced • 1/2 cup (115ml) extra-virgin olive oil • Freshly ground black pepper • 1 large cucumber, cut into 1/4-inch pieces • 1 pint (450g) cherry tomatoes, halved • 2/3 cup (2/3 bunch) chopped flat-leaf parsley • 1/2 cup (1/2 bunch) chopped fresh mint • 2 scallions (spring onions), thinly sliced

Directions: • Bring the quinoa, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1 1/4 cups (285ml) water to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender (about 10 minutes).

• Remove the quinoa from the heat and let it stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Then fluff the cooked quinoa with a fork, and spread it out on a large, rimmed baking sheet to cool. • Meanwhile, prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice and garlic, then gradually whisk in the olive oil. Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste. • Transfer the cooled quinoa into a large bowl and mix in 1/4 cup (60g) of the dressing. • Add the chopped cucumber, tomatoes, herbs, and scallions and toss together. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and drizzle any remaining dressing over the mixture. Tip: This recipe can be made one day ahead of time. Cover the remaining dressing and quinoa separately and chill before combining and serving.

Conscious Life Magazine

Green Monday’s Carrot Cake Best shared with loved ones

Recipe credit: Laura, Beauty Without Cruelty Photo credit: My Darling Vegan

Ingredients: • 3 tsp Orgran No Egg mixed with 6 tbsp water until frothy • 3/4 cup oil • 3/4 cup soy milk • 1/2 cup sugar • 2 cups flour • 2 tsp ground cinnamon • 2 tsp baking powder • 1/2 tsp salt • 1 can crushed pineapple in syrup, undrained • 2 cups grated carrot • 1 cup sultanas • 1 cup chopped pecan nuts

• Gradually beat dry ingredients into wet mixture. • Add pineapple, sultanas, nuts, and carrot and mix well. • Pour into a large greased baking tin. • Bake at 180 degrees in a preheated oven for 60 minutes. • Test with a toothpick in the center - if it doesn't come out clean, bake for a while longer (make sure you didn't just poke a sultana) • Optional: Ice with white icing sugar or coconut whipped cream once cool and top with extra chopped pecans.

Directions: • Beat no-egg, sugar, soya milk and oil together until well mixed. • Combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder and salt.

Conscious Life Magazine

MINDFULNESS OR CONSCIOUSNESS

Mindfulness or Consciousness is making every decision from a perspective of being totally in the now and being absolutely aware of the decision I am making, its results and consequences and the ultimate outcome that I wish to achieve. n years gone by people would often just â&#x20AC;&#x153;allowâ&#x20AC;? things to happen so that they had no input whatsoever and then just accepted what would occur. This almost gave them the feeling of not having to take responsibility for what had occurred and simply being the victim or the victor depending on what the outcome actually was. In this way they felt they had no responsibility for what was happening around them and absolutely no control over the consequences of what had occurred. They would either then go into victim mode where everyone was against them and they felt so sorry for themselves or would allow their ego to take over and think what a big deal they were as they had achieved something great even though they had no input into the event at all. We are now being told that all of this needs to be put behind us and that we need to start taking responsibility for ourselves and our decisions.

The way to do this is to be absolutely aware of what decisions we make, why we are making them and the consequences to those around us. It is an understanding of all being one and all intrinsically connected to each other, animals and nature and the Planet. It is realising that the time of the Lone Wolf is long gone and that unless we understand and accept the concept of Oneness and that every action has a reaction, this Planet and mankind will not survive. It is the ego and selfishness to think that we can make decisions indiscriminately without thought of the consequences and repercussions. Every single decision you make will have an impact on the people and nature around you. So be responsible and before you make a decision ask yourself how it will affect the greater good. Conscious Life Magazine

We also need to be putting pressure on our leaders including world leaders to ensure that they are working for the highest good of all and not their own egos which is so often the case. If each and every one of us lived like this we would live in absolute harmony, peace and tranquillity because everything that was not harmonious would fall away and be of no consequence. Our aim is to live in harmlessness. In other words nothing would ever be done or said deliberately to create harm and all would be harmonious.

Start with yourself and the corner of your world and as you come into contact with more and more people you start to spread this wonderful energy and light. In this way we can light up the world in love and integrity one person at a time! As Light workers that is what we are here to do. Enlighten and empower with unconditional love, no judgement and absolute trust. In this way we can change the world one person at a time!

Angel light and blessings Margi (Angel Connection) Interpretation by Margi of Goddess Guidance Oracle Cards by Toni Carmine Salerno

Conscious Life Magazine

Click on arrow below to watch video on the Antaneea process

Conscious Life Magazine

Dharmagiri Sacred Mountain Retreat is dedicated to wellbeing and the transformation of our individual and collective consciousness through insight meditation, mindfulness, and healing modalities. At Dharmagiri, we hold a dream that healing and liberation is the birth right of all. Our focus is to catalyze this potential through contemplative practices that reconnect with the core of who we are, beyond the masks we wear, at the timeless level of our being. The power of Mvuleni-Bamboo Mountain where Dharmagiri is nestled, and Dharmagiriâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legacy of Buddhist inspired wisdom teachings, enables a process of awakening from personal and collective wounding. As dysfunctional conditioning is released, our innate, intuitive intelligence is activated, guiding our way home so we remember that we are loving and compassionate, and as unique and authentic selves, belong together within the inter-connected web of life. Dharmagiri is on the border of South Africa and Lesotho near Underberg, KZN. It was founded in 2000 by Kittisaro and Thanissara, who trained in the Thai Forest monastic Tradition, and is guided by them, Chandasara, who also trained in the same tradition, a board of directors, and members of Sacred Mountain Sangha, an affiliated community of South African and International Dharma practitioners. We offer guided silent meditation retreats, self-retreats, and a range of shorter retreats that promote physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Within an ethos of open inquiry and self-empowerment, we share teachings and practices that encourage the cultivation of mindfulness, insight meditation (vipassana), compassion, integrity and wisdom. We believe changing the world for better grows from each personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to access peace, clarity, and their positive creative potential.

Conscious Life Magazine

RETREATS 2018 Schedule Date: Title: Teacher:

March 9 - 11, 2018 The Moon at the Window: A Silent Retreat with Ryokan (weekendonly) Stephen Coan

The Zen hermit-monk Ryokan (1758-1831) remains one of Japan's favourite poets. An eccentric original (he is also known as the "Great Fool") his antics have endeared him to successive generations. After his initial Zen training Ryokan spent several years of wandering before settling in a mountain hermitage. However Ryokan was no world-hating recluse and was often to be found playing with village children or sharing a drink with farmers. According to one authority Ryokan's life "was a living sermon". In an atmosphere of contemplative silence this retreat will use Ryokan's life and his luminous poetry to reflect on our own relationship with the world and all the beings who inhabit it alongside us. Apart from a talk on Ryokan and a feedback session this retreat will be held in Noble Silence.

Date: Title: Teacher:

March 11 - 15, 2018 Playing a Lute with No String - A Practice Retreat Stephen Coan

This will be a simple no-frills, "bare-bones" Zen-style retreat consisting of sitting and walking meditation including a morning and evening dharma reading as well as time to experience the beautiful surroundings of Dharmagiri while listening to emptiness and capturing the rare sound of a lute played with no string. Held in the supportive space of Noble Silence this retreat presents an ideal opportunity to extend and deepen your meditation practice.

Though these are separate retreats their focus on practice means they could be combined into single retreat by those wishing to experience a longer period of sustained meditation.

Stephen Coan has been involved with Buddhism for three decades. His retreats draw on his life experience of moving between being and doing as a writer, journalist, film and theatre director. Stephen has led retreats at the Buddhist Retreat Centre at Ixopo and the Emoyeni Retreat Centre in the Magaliesberg. His retreats, inspired and informed by the Theravada and Zen traditions, place an emphasis on the centrality of practice in living a skillful and enlightened life.

Conscious Life Magazine

RETREATS Date: March 30 - April 8, 2018 Title: Still Clear Water: Transformation through Mindfulness Teachers: Chandasara & Nolitha Tsengiwe The focus of this retreat is on experiencing transformation through mindfulness – releasing the grip of stress to rest in a still, clear, peaceful heart – in meditation and in daily life – using the Buddha's teachings as a guide. We will explore particularly the teachings on mindfulness, insight, and the four transcending states of being: compassion, loving-kindness, appreciation and equanimity. This is a 9 day meditation retreat which will be held in noble silence with morning instruction and evening talks, periods of group sitting and walking meditation, some short meditative dialogue.

Nolitha Tsengiwe - Nolitha, Catholic by upbringing, has always been, even as a child, curious about "what truth is." Her search for answers led her to become a practicing Buddhist. She is a Psychologist in private practice and an Executive Coach. In both roles her primary task is to create a holding space for people who are also in search of truth as a doorway to freedom. Nolitha is a mother of a 19 year old son, Singatha who is her teacher on how to be in the "here and now". She is a facilitator in Biodanza ( Dance ) which is food for both heart and body, and graduate of the Community Dharma Leader Program at Spirit Rock Meditation Centre CA USA. Nolitha is currently doing a four year Buddhist teacher training program under IMS in Barre, Massachusetts. Chandasara - spent her early adult life in political exile and later worked as a political analyst at the Centre for Policy Studies in Johannesburg. Chandasara trained as a Buddhist nun in the Forest School for 9 years. She holds degrees in Politics, Linguistics and Psychology, is co-guiding teacher at Dharmagiri Sacred Mountain Retreat where she also offers counselling, and teaches mindfulness at Riverview Manor clinic. Cost - Daily Rate + R300 Teacher Travel Contribution Surcharge + Dana for teachers and managers

Conscious Life Magazine

RETREATS Date: April 26 - May 2, 2018 Title: Understanding our True Connection with Nature: An African/Buddhist Dialogue Teachers: Mandaza Kandemwa & Chandasara Everything is teaching us – Ajahn Chah Our real home is inner peace – Ajahn Chah Be like the ocean that refuses no river – Mandaza Kandemwa The focus of this retreat will be on understanding our true connection with Nature and rediscovering how to live in balance and harmony with natural processes, both inner and outer. Can this reawakening of our intuitive sensitivity support the restoration of peace in our own hearts and minds as well as the healing of the social divisions that divide us? The retreat will include dialogues about African and Buddhist understandings of our true relationship with Nature, sessions and meditations outside in Nature, ceremonies honouring Nature, as well as opportunities for private individual readings with Mandaza.

Chandasara

Mandaza Kandemwa - is a spirit-medium and medicine-man from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. He was initiated through the tradition of the njuzu, the water spirits. As a vessel of the Spirits, Mandaza receives visions and dreams, makes offerings, performs healing rituals, and serves as a messenger for the Ancient Ones. Mandaza carries with him in his heart the African spiritual tradition of healing and peacemaking. He is known internationally for his loving presence and for his preservation of the old ways. He stands for Truth, Love, Justice and Peace in this world. Like the water spirits he carries, Mandaza flows between the worlds, moving easily between the worlds of Christianity, the secular, the traditional, the modern, the industrial and the earth ways, all that is sacred and profane. Currently, Mandaza travels internationally offering teachings and healing counsel in churches, schools, prisons and hospitals. You can listen to a talk by Mandaza on the Mind and Life website www.BotswanaUbuntuConference2017livestream

Dharmagiri Sacred Mountain Retreat Underberg, Southern Drakensberg KZN www.dharmagiri.org office@dharmagiri.org Cost: From R450 – R550 a night, full board, vegetarian food. + Dana (free-will offering.) Scholarships available.

Conscious Life Magazine

Angel Card Reading – Interpretation by Margi, of the Magical Unicorns Oracle Cards by Doreen Virtue “Forgive – It is time to let go of anger or blame.” Interpretation If you are unable to forgive then you are judging the other person or yourself. You do not know why a soul has chosen a certain path and you will never know why it walks that path, therefore you may never judge. Forgiveness has to come from the heart and must be all encompassing. It is not something logical but something that you have to feel. Very often the person that you are unable to forgive is blissfully unaware of how you feel and so just carries on with their lives as if nothing has happened. In the mean time you punish yourself with anger, bitterness and tension which results in ulcers, heart attacks, gall bladder problems and many other things. So in actual fact you are only punishing yourself. There are no degrees of forgiveness. It has to be all or nothing. When you are truly able to forgive and let go of the hurt, your body will feel different. All the tension and anxiety becomes a thing of the past. The person or event causing the pain becomes a memory no longer charged with emotion. Your Solar Plexus is a very good indicator of whether you have totally forgiven or not. You know that you have completed what you have to do when you can see the person and your Solar Plexus remains very calm with no tension or spasm. However if you have not yet completed the task then you will feel it in your Solar Plexus and will know that you have more work to do. Remember that you also need to forgive yourself unconditionally. Only once you have achieved this are you able to stand in your full power as a Master. Only then are you able to fully participate in your Ascension process. Angel light and blessings Margi (Angel Connection) Conscious Life Magazine

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

SPIRITUAL TEACHER TRAINING COURSE - SOUTH AFRICA 2018 Are you ready to change your life forever and in the process assist others by enlightening and empowering them? Do you feel that this is your Divine Life Path, helping to spread the light to others and accelerating your own personal growth? If this is the case then this life changing Teacher Training course is for you! I am delighted to announce that the next Teacher Training course is from 2nd to 15th March 2018 at The Angel Warehouse, Spirit of Amberfield, Rheenendal (near Knysna). http://angels.za.com/venue/ This course is for those that are passionate, motivated and committed to working with the Angels and Ascension and wanting to pass their knowledge and passion onto others so that they too are empowered and enlightened. You do not have to be very experienced in your Spiritual abilities, but must be working from the heart with enthusiasm and integrity. Academic qualifications are not important. Your own personal self-development and the desire and passion to pass this onto others, is what counts. This course emphasises your own self-development which is so very important. I take pride in inviting you into our sacred and very special space where you will be nurtured and supported whilst you grow and learn. This beautiful country venue offers a special and safe place to focus your attention and listen to the longing of your own soul allowing you to grow and do your own self-development. This experience is unique and a special gift that you give yourself whilst you are preparing to go out and spread the light. The Angel Connection School of Africa is delighted to announce that there will be a bursary available for those who would like to do the course but are unable to afford it. Please contact me for more information and application forms. Closing date for applications is the 15th January 2018. Terms and conditions apply. Please call me on 082-563-7422 margi@angelconnection.co.za www.angels.za.com

make

appointment

Conscious Life Magazine

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.

Conscious Life Magazine

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

Conscious Life Magazine

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living By Dale Carnegie

Kindle Edition: $1.40 Read with Amazon’s Free Kindle App on your phone or tablet. Click here

Paperback Edition: R186 Purchase online via Loot.co.za. Click here Learn how to break the worry habit -- Now and forever!

With Dale Carnegie's timeless advice in hand, more than six million people have learned how to eliminate debilitating fear and worry from their lives and to embrace a worry-free future. In this classic work, How to Stop Worrying and Start Living, Carnegie offers a set of practical formulas that you can put to work today. It is a book packed with lessons that will last a lifetime and make that lifetime happier! DISCOVER HOW TO: • • • • •

Eliminate fifty percent of business worries immediately Reduce financial worries Avoid fatigue -- and keep looking young Add one hour a day to your waking life Find yourself and be yourself -- remember there is no one else on earth like you!

Fascinating to read and easy to apply, How to Stop Worrying and Start Living deals with fundamental emotions and life-changing ideas. There's no need to live with worry and anxiety that keep you from enjoying a full, active life! Conscious Life Magazine

Conscious Life Magazine

LISA RALEIGHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

FOR THE LOVE OF WELLNESS www.lisaraleigh.com

Conscious Life Magazine

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.

Conscious Life Magazine

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

Conscious Life Magazine

FIND & BOOK ECO-FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATION IN SOUTH AFRICA lovetostay.co.za is your green heart guide to eco-friendly accommodation throughout beautiful South Africa. We partner with all kinds of accommodation establishments that operate in an eco-friendly, sustainable and responsible way. So whether you opt for a luxury boutique hotel or rustic tree house, you can feel good knowing your holiday supports a place that serves the environment and community in a positive way. To help you make these good choices, we are committed to growing a wonderful selection of urban and country, luxury and rustic green accommodation options where you will love to stay! Search for your next green getaway on www.lovetostay.co.za by location or type; the Check Availability & Book Online green button will enable you to check real-time availability, make a booking & secure online payment through the Nightsbridge booking system at no extra charge.

WHAT IS ECO-FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATION? Eco-friendly accommodation is defined as a lodging establishment with structural features that minimize the impact and footprint on the environment; as well as well as those that follow green living, sustainability and eco-friendly practices.

WHAT ARE GREEN HEARTS? Look out for the Green Hearts Seal of each establishment. We are proud to showcase all of our members and love to highlight their specific efforts to protect and conserve the environment. Seals display between 1-5 Green Hearts as awarded to them for their positive Green Acts. Here`s more info!

Conscious Life Magazine

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.

Conscious Life Magazine

Help us Fight the Dog Meat Trade URGENT: Our Animal Rescue Team has identified a dog meat farm in South Korea where more than 170 dogs are in desperate need of help. Please make an urgent donation to help us rescue these dogs and save them from a brutal death. Stolen from the streets, shoved into trucks, locked in cages. Then slaughtered and sold to be eaten. This is the horrifying fate of the millions of dogs caught up in Asia’s dog meat trade. Please join the fight to shut down this brutal industry for good. With your help, we’ll shut down farms in South Korea, assist farmers as they transition to more humane livelihoods, support our local Chinese partners in intercepting dog meat traders’ trucks, fund the care of confiscated and rescued animals and lobby for better laws throughout Asia.

You can help stop this cruelty. Please give today.

Act Now Please fill out the form (link) to add your name to the petition calling for vital legal protection for cats and dogs in South Korea. Conscious Life Magazine

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: • • • • • •

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

PAWS R US (SA) is looking for INVESTORS – help us BUILD THE DREAM of our “HAPPY PLACE”! After 6 years in animal welfare/rescue, PAWS R US (SA) has moved into the LINBER KENNELS facility out in the Tarlton area, JHB. It is time to spread our wings, create a permanent home, and contribute more effectively to both the cause and effects linked to animal welfare/rescue in SA. Our dream is to build the LINBER KENNELS facility into a top-notch rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming haven for rescue dogs. We also want to establish a home-base for our EDUCATION campaigns, so that we can work with the youth in returning to the core value of COMPASSION and RESPECT for Self and All Life. To make this dream a reality, we need to BUY the LINBER KENNELS site. And to get that done, we need to find INVESTORS and PARTNERS who want to contribute to something greater than themselves, and help make a real, immediate and practical difference in a world that has lost its way. The PAWS R US (SA) TRUST has been created as a legal entity – and we now look to spread the net open wide and “go on the hunt” for kindred spirits who want to help build something GOOD. We need INVESTORS of the HEART and MIND – those who want to protect the vulnerable, educate the youth of tomorrow, and know that their investment has directly uplifted lives and communities. CONTACT: For all enquiries and details related to this search for INVESTORS, and the implications for each INVESTOR within the Trust, please email us on woof@pawsrus.co.za

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

Education The quality of education in the foundation years has a lasting impact and we are working hard to ensure that every child receives quality basic education.

Child Protection South Africa is marked by high levels of violence and exploitation of children in places where they should be safe. All children should thrive in a safe environment.

Health & Nutrition No child under the age of 5 should die from preventable disease and all our children deserve long-term good health.

Children’s Rights Insufficient recources prevent children from achieving their rights as enshrined in the South African Constitution. We are campaigning for a strengthened childrights system

One in Every Four Children Being Robbed of Their Childhood One in every four children being robbed of their childhood, new report from Save the Children finds One quarter of the world's children are being denied a childhood, a new report from Save the Children has revealed. The report includes a global index ranking the places where childhood is most and least threatened. Launched to coincide with International Children's Day, the Stolen Childhoods report has found that at least 700 million children—and possibly hundreds of millions more—have had the promise of a full childhood brought to an early end.

The reasons vary from extreme violence and conflict, often driving families from their homes; early marriage and pregnancy; child labour, poor health and not being able to go to school. In South Africa, the high levels of child homicide and extreme violence against children is the most concerning indicator.

Read: Save the Children to the rescue to take street kids under its wing Conscious Life Magazine

Conscious Life Magazine

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

www.facebook.com/ConsciousLifeMagazine Conscious Life Magazine