Welcome Another year nearly done and dusted and in retrospect what a year it has been! For us at ADV, we stand in awe at our statistics in such a very short time – 109 000 people through our website alone to date which tells us we are doing something right. Thank you to you all for the amazing support so far and we appreciate all the feedback and the wonderful support.
The coming year is going to be jam packed for us and extremely exciting. Don’t forget to enter our fantastic competition – such a pity that we can’t give it to every single one of you but may the person who eventually wins have a stunning breakaway. ADV will also be hosting a pilgrimage to Brazil in October, so please keep a close watch on all the media sites for further Our wish for you all is that 2015 bring information in the first quarter of next you all happiness, and that which we year. are sharing will brighten your days, that the goodness we spread out into the ethos of the universe will rain down its Our January issue will be out slightly goodness upon each and every living later as we are also taking a few days soul on earth. off – however, it will be out on the 3rd Merry Christmas and a Blessed January 2015. Hanukkah celebration to our Jewish friends. As you go on leave, please make sure all your animals are supported and in good hands for the time period you are away. Remain safe in all your travels. Love, Light and Blessings And collectively let us keep those less fortunate in our thoughts and prayers Tilanie during this festive season.
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A dedication to all the rescue animals. As we enter the holiday season and many of you will be going on holiday – please remember your animals need to be taken care of as they should be known as family. There are so many who will loose their lives due to uncaring owners – don’t be one of the statistics – they love you so very much. This is a poem dedicated to Dougall, a true survivor here in Durban South Africa. Adopted by a family who adore their furkids and always make sure they are well taken care of. A LOVE POEM – ALL ABOUT DOUGALL When Dougall was only a pup, he did not have much luck. Abused, broken and scare, even his damaged leg was not spared. Hobbling on three, he needed to be rescued desperately. Then the almighty power above, shone upon Dougall and decided he deserves love. SPCA took him away, so that he may live another day. They brought him to our family, Pat, Brian, Rob, Maddie and Godmother Kim. We pampered him with love and affection, and he received all the attention. At first he cowered and trusted none, not even my grand-daughter or son. But soon he forgave, the way other humans behave. His scars and heart would heal, as he realised our love was real. However, the moral of this beautiful story, is that his rescue has us awakened and we live in his glory. ‘’Rescue a dog or cat, rescue a soul, and you will be rewarded, a hundred times over’’.
Success to Aneis de Vida- revista shanti
Kind thanks to each person who shanti shanti ~ Maria Felicia Macedo Srra sent in their comments to the Aneis De Vida team. We are grateful that so many people are Loved it, loved Serge's story, chakra's enjoying our efforts to inspire and and the enzyme story really interesting send a little light out into the world. If you would like to chat to us drop us an email on letters@aneisdevida.co.za or comment on our facebook page I have enjoyed reading your latest offering. The overall layout was superb! I found it easy to read and was drawn from one article to the next in a smoothness that surprised me when I suddenly found myself at the last page. Congratulations to you all. A super big thank you for the advert for Mazarat, it was extremely kind of you, God bless you! ~ Roy Fox
as I'm watching what I eat regards acid and alkali food atm, just in case that helps me feel better too x ~ Debbie Callaghan
We launched our new Youtube channel to amazing responses: Do pop by for some inspiration or to catch up with the comings and goings of the Aneis de Vida Team
Wow...that is really good!!! ~ Marc Liddiard
LOVE IT!! Well done. ~ Barbara
To the Aneis de Vida team I stress my So totally inspiring!! Thank you for sharing belief in what you are doing and add this with me! ~ Jacqui that I am positive about your immediate achievement and knowing that the future beckons brightly for you both to carry on—on the road you have chosen. May you be blessed with strength and perseverance and faith in what you are aiming to achieve. ~ Anne Polenz-Gerber
LOOKS AMAZING!!!!! WELL DONE Aneis de Vida team! Many blessings always ~ Chris
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General: Competition—11 Calendar—12
Tarot—86 Oracle —71 Health and Environment: Our Man in Ubud— 34 Natural Remedies—26 Interactive healing —102
Stories and Reviews: Its all about the butterfly—30
Fun: Crossword—44 Humour— 47 Recipes—72
Children and Teens: What I learned from children's stories—62—
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / DIRECTOR Tilanie Meierhans tilanie@aneisdevida.co.za
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Di Kendall dianne@aneisdevida.co.za
ON LINE Aneisdevida.co.za
DISCLAIMER The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the editor, sponsors, advertisers or publisher. 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. The publisher and editor do not promote or endorse any of the products or services advertised in this publication. Advertisers are responsible for their own advertisements. Be sure to consult your medical practitioner before you embark on any self-medication programme. Holistic remedies can be potent. COPYRIGHT Aneis de Vida is protected under the Copyright Act. All rights reserved. No publication maybe reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the publisher. MISSION STATEMENT Aneis de Vida aims to enlighten and bring hope, love and light to all.
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WIN
How to enter: 1.
Find cryptic words hidden in first 3 issues of the magazine
2.
Email all 3 answers with your name and contact details to: competitions@aneisdevida.co.za
3.
Closing date – 28 February 2015
4.
Draw will take place on 6 March 2015 and winner will be notified by 8 March 2015
Prize includes the following 2 night midweek stay for 2 people at Elephant Rock Private Safari Lodge Including 3 meals a day and 2 game drives per day T&C’s apply Elephant Rock Private Safari Lodge is situated in the big 5, malaria free, Nambiti Private Game Reserve near Ladysmith, Kwa Zulu Natal. It is a 10 bed lodge with 5 luxury chalets which over -look a very active watering hole. Delicious meals are prepared by our in –house chef and can be enjoyed in the open boma, under the stars on the viewing deck, or in the comfort of the main lodge. Wind down from the day’s activities with an after dinner drink in the lounge with a warm log fire *T&C*: Prize is not exchangeable for cash, excludes transfers to and from reserve, excludes bar services and gratuities, excludes personal purchases and additional activities offered by the lodge, prize valid between March and September 2015 excluding Easter Holidays www.elephantrocklodge.co.za December 2014
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D ECEMBER 2014 Mon
Tue
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World Aids Day
St Nicolas Day
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Hannukkah
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Hannukkah / Summer / winter solstice / Yule
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Hannukkah
Hannukkah
Hannukkah / Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
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31 New Years Eve
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Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple. Families give their children gifts, such as books or games. Hanukkah gelt (money) is also given to the children - I remember my Gramps buying chocolate gelt, The malls are a buzz with tourists, which of course beats receiving normal gift hunters, Santa and his little coins. Fried foods (such as latke potato helpers and the theme of the season pancakes, jelly doughnut sufganiyot) is giving. are eaten to commemorate the In December Christmas as well as importance of oil during the celebration Hanukkah (Chanukah) are of Hanukkah. celebrated, both are somewhat
observed through giving. By Di Kendall
In Christianity, giving stems from the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh which were given to the baby Jesus by the Magi.
Many Christian and Jewish families alike give to charities at this time of the year and encourage their children to do so too. I for one encourage giving to animal shelters – or of course children – they are the ones who tend to bring out the seasonal “spirit” in me.
With Christmas we have grown to relate Hanukkah on the other hand is known as decorations; Carols and Christmas Festival of Lights, and is an eight-day
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Christmas biscuits and minced pies. My favourite time during Hanukkah was lighting the candles with Gramps and one year as a pre-schooler I tried to remember the words to eight little candles which we had just learned at school. On the first night of Hanukkah one light (candle or oil) is lit on the right side of the menorah, on the following night a second light is placed to the left of the first, and so on, proceeding from right to left over the eight nights. On each night, the leftmost candle is lit first, and lighting proceeds from left to right. songs; a special meal; and exchanging of Christmas Cards which more than often is an e-card these days. Although most don’t like to admit, these celebrations could have a mix of pagan, pre-Christian, Christian, and secular themes and origins.
Because we at Aneis de Vida are keen on being GREENER I found this tid bit rather interesting: Some Jews in North America and Israel have taken up environmental concerns in relation to Hanukkah's "miracle of the oil", emphasizing reflection on energy The Christmas tree could derive from the conservation and energy pagan practice of bringing greenery independence. An example of this is the indoors to decorate in midwinter. It is Coalition on the Environment and Jewish also said that Father Christmas was not Life's renewable energy campaign originally a gift giver, instead he is All in all; traditions; truths; and of course supposedly a modern incarnation of old the giving... December has always been pagan ideas about spirits who travelled a special time of year for me - it’s more in the sky in midwinter. than simply a telling “Christmas Spirit”. Now I must admit that Hanukkah did It’s the feeling – a reminder that there is take a back seat to Christmas when I something more out there. A time of was a child. My Gran would spend time year when all you’ve done in the past reading her Bible and would remind us eleven months of the year are about why we were actually celebrating recollected, a time of reflection. on Christmas Day. Preparations for Whatever you may be celebrating, and Christmas took place from late October how ever you are celebrating it, I wish when the ladies of the family would you and your family love, light and come together to bake the Christmas peace throughout the festive season, cake and some of the other traditional joy and prosperity in the new year. December 2014
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Gardening
The year has just flown past and here we are, Christmas carols on the radio, Christmas cheer in the streets and in our shopping centres.
There I was, landscaping, designing a formal vegetable garden, full of mud, content with the world, and BANG, the E-mail came through. Di, asked me if I had written my December article yet. Nooo, December ? REALITY. It's December !
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Many of us are winding down our businesses for the year and getting ready to go on that long awaited holiday. I au contraire, will be enjoying a quiet Johannesburg, doing some much needed maintenance in our own garden in December, but will be spending a week in the Drakensberg the after Christmas. Ho hum, Getting back to gardening.
Our gardens have exploded into full summer bloom, and everything is bursting at the seams with summer joy. What a pleasure to behold everyday. The woodpecker have babies in our garden, the owls are on the prowl nightly, and even the bees seem busier than normally.
Everything is really just in the swing of summer things.
If you are on holiday, please make sure that your garden is cared for.
For those of you that are going on holiday, be safe, be kind, love, live and laugh as much as you can.
For those of you staying at home, I have extra everything in my garden shed, or you can just pop in for some tea on the veranda. I might also just be enjoying the garden in all its glory. We will see. Be that as it may, I wish you all of the above too.
Here are a few tips for December, give your gardens a good feeding again, believe it or not but we are in the third month of growth and our flowers, shrubs and trees Merry Christmas to each and every one of you, may your Season be filled with true also need a boost now and again. happiness, and joy.
-I feed my garden beds, with Superphosphate, (about a handful per square meter) followed by a good watering.
I have a lot in store for you in the new year, new ideas, new trends, new everything, watch this space.
-Hydrangeas are going into their flowering season, so, give them a boost with a good Hydrangea fertilizer available from your local nursery.
Cheers, Till then, have a good one peeps.
-Pots and hanging baskets get a sprinkling of Multifeed.
P.S. If you would like to ask a gardening question please drop us an email letters@aneisdevida.co.za
Andre
Summer can be hot, so if no rain is on the cards, keep your pots and baskets watered thoroughly, and the garden must get water early morning or late afternoon.
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Crystals
Azurite has a vibrant nearly electrifying colour that draws one in even if only for the fact of its brilliance in standing out in the ‘’crowd’’. Even though referred to as a crystal it is a stone. This however, does not diminish its fantastic healing and psychic qualities. The word Azurite is from a Persian word “lazhward” which is an area where lapis lazuli was found and often azure was confused with lapis lazuli. The word ‘’azul’’ is the Arabic word for blue.
By Tilanie Meierhans
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Today Azurite is mined in many countries across the globe some being Congo, Namibia, Australia and parts of the United States. The early Egyptians believed that Azurite crystals were the most potent psychic stones, and their secrets so profound that only the high priests were privy to the information shared by them. The Chinese of old called it the stone of heaven as they believed it to open the gateway to the celestial and Azurite was held in high esteem by the Greeks and Romans due to its psychic and healing powers. Azurite crystals are known to activate your third eye chakra, enabling psychic abilities and resonates with the crown chakra enabling a better connection with your higher self.
THE USES OF AZURITE FOR EMOTIONAL AILEMENTS
Aids in overcoming fears and phobias and enables you to delve into the origins or root causes of your fears and phobias.
THE USES OF AZURITE FOR PHYSICAL AILEMENTS Azurite is said to help throat ailments, arthritis and various joint problems. Found to be useful in the treating the aligning of the spine, problems with the vertebrae, rib cage and smaller bones. Used for detoxification, kidney, spleen and liver problems. Azurite is thought to be good for skin and teeth problems. Aids in the development of the embryo in the womb. Assists with circulation problems and is said to work at cellular level when restoring any blockages or damages to the brain.
Clearing and expanding the mind.
A crystal/stone that is used for Balances emotions, negative thought Alzheimer’s, dementia and patterns can be transformed to positive degenerative brain related issues. whilst holding Azurite in the palm of your May be used to soothe migraines. hand. Stimulation of the intellect, developing psychic and intuitive abilities. Useful in meditation and channelling.
Balancing of vertigo. It has been said that Azurite is a powerful stone to use when overcoming inferiority complexes, or domestic bullying.
Stimulates memory and enables you to clearly express yourself without fear, Lessons tensions between different alleviates mental stress, worry and assists generations or relations between with grief. step-parenting. December 2014
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Telepathic Communications Past and Present
Canine & Feline Nutrition real fresh food
Contact me for any of your pet problems, hands on assistance
JANIS CURRIE CELL: 073 065 9302 FAX: 086 530 9908
An area that every person today has become aware of. It can be an extremely costly exercise that may actually not even work for you. So let us take a look at a few things, which most households have in their grocery cupboards and to keep in line with our softer footprint on this planet – are also not tested on the voiceless animals that take the brunt for having to make sure your skin is not going to over react.
Cinnamon and Honey These nasty little blips on the skin often arise from an infection in the pores of the skin. Cinnamon and Honey to fights the infection naturally. Make a paste with cinnamon powder and honey, do not dilute this paste with water as it will counteract the healing properties in the honey. Dab the paste on the pimple/s and leave for 12 hours. Rinse off with luke warm water. Repeat as necessary.
Lemon Juice Lemon is rich in Vitamin C and works as
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an excellent natural antibiotic. Take a fresh lemon and squeeze out the juice, and dam the pimple/s leave for 12 hours and wash off with luke warm water. Repeat as necessary. Turmeric This spice is finding its way into so many natural cures. As most people have become aware it is also a spice that helps reduce tumours and fight free radicals in the body. So it does not come with too much of a surprise that Turmeric can also help in keeping skin healthy
and glowing. Turmeric can be used in two ways. Either by consuming directly on a daily basis in a little bit of water or milk or by making a paste with coconut oil, mixing well apply to the pimple/s and leave for 12 hours before rinsing off. Reapply if necessary.
basis you will be ridding the skin of impurities formed or accumulated on the skin during the day. In effect it peels away the dead and infected layer and works like an antiseptic to the skin. Please take note NOT to use apple cider vinegar on your skin directly as it can burn and damage the skin. It needs to Apple Cider Vinegar be diluted. Half a cup of water to Âź cup Once you have managed to rid the skin of apple cider vinegar. This will of course of the pimple/s you will need to keep not stop you from getting acne or the skin cleansed and no better natural pimples related to hormone changes, method than using Apple Cider Vinegar. but will assist in keeping a clean and By using apple cider vinegar on a daily bacterial free skin.
Elephant
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Contact Roy on 076 905 6273 to kennel your furballs in a loving environment roydavidfox@gmail.com Mazarat Farm, Brackenhill Road, Waterfall
is another day, unfortunately it was the same scenario – and I thought this really strange, her being a doctor.
Have you ever wondered why things happen as they do or don't happen when YOU think they should …..? By Ja’mir Graham A few weeks ago I went to my doctor and she wanted to do some tests on me, one was an MRI but others were needed first. Once they were done I tried to contact her but she was unavailable, her office phone was not working and she was not answering her sms’s. So I thought to myself, tomorrow
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Eventually 3 days later on a Thursday late afternoon, I got to see her regarding my other tests. This was when she decided to send me for the MRI scan, managing to get it organized for the following day at 12.30. Needless to say I was surprised, as I would have thought there was a waiting list for weeks if not months. Anyway, off I toddled the next day, not really looking forward to it, only because of the noise impact, I really do not like loud noise in any form. There I lay while 500 odd pictures were taken of my head and my guide Atenar was there, smiling and chatting to me and telling me to watch as my eyes were closed, and there before me with my
eyes tightly shut, with this whirring sound hammering in my ears I saw this huge golden butterfly in my mind’s eye with the wings making this whirring sound, it was so large, the vibrations were causing the racket, I smiled and thanked him ....... much better thought pattern than the ear belting clanging of the MRI.
I had to hold still and not giggle as the butterfly started shaking and this beautiful gold dust settled all over me, on the bed and around the floor ... it was spectacular, no other word to describe it ..... it was so intense I felt almost ethereal in that moment, like the very heavens had opened up and transported me to somewhere else.
This went on and off for a while and the machine rotated around my head, the wings settled and the butterfly watched me, stared intently actually, while sitting on my chest, and then once again would flap its wings again when the machine started again ...... its gaze keeping my mind totally focused on IT and not the machine.
Once again the whirring continued and the wings flapped away, bringing me down to earth again....... when the machine eventually stopped after what seemed like forever, my guide said to me ... because of you she will be saved ... I just lay silent in the moment ... and all went silent ........ the machine was also silent .... and next I knew the ear phones they had stuck over my ears which were silent the whole time I was in there started playing a song .....
Then the noise changed and the machine and table started vibrating as the camera was changing angle.... and
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about surviving ... I found this oddly prophetic. I REALLY had no idea who or what Atenar was referring to at the time, but always know things happen for a reason so tucked it in my “put that in your notebook” just in case memory bank, for when I am out of here, to think about.
Off I went to get dressed and sit in the waiting room for my results. The next patient to go in, was a little girl probably about 4-5 years old , together with her mum, I only saw them walking in from behind but thought quietly, poor little thing, she needs a butterfly ! As I sat on the hard bench waiting for my results, the little girl and her mum came out again she had only been in there a few minutes, so obviously things had not gone to plan, pretty scary in an MRI room for a little one! As they walked towards the reception where I was sitting, the little girl, was being carried by her Mum, and was clinging to her for dear life. As she got down, the little girl ran over to me, took my hand turned it over and kissed my palm ... then ran off ..... weird I thought !!!!! It was then that I saw it …….. This beautiful lilac embroidered butterfly on her T shirt covered in gold glitter! It was all about the butterfly! A specific time on a specific day I HAD to be there, no sooner, no later ......
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The Universe has so many plans we are totally unaware of.
So Why had I not been able to find my doctor? Why had my appointment been changed? Why had they been told to fit me it? My belief is that little girl wriggled in enough magic butterfly dust left over on the bed and floor from my experience during my MRI, to heal whatever is wrong with her and soon they are going to find that she will not need any scan or anything else ....I am so happy for her, thank you Universe and Atenar for your never ending happy ever after’s. This IS what I choose to BELIEVE ....... everything happens for a reason and the Universe has perfect timing.
Ja’mir is the author of Musings of a Star Child. Her creativity is shared beautifully into the making of McFaeragons and Just Soaps. Read more about her here http://www.mcfaeragons.com/
Avowed carnivore and caffeine addict Mark Eveleigh submerses himself in the world of yoga, soulsearching and detox-dining that is part of Ubud, Bali’s spiritual heartland. by.©Mark Eveleigh
It's just after dawn on a Friday morning and try as I might I just can't seem to get in touch with my inner self. “Feel the energy,” a voice croons from the front of the room. Carlos is a lithe and agile ukulele-playing Venezuelan yogi – “Concentrate on reaching that higher plane…” I subdue an inward groan and try to block the uncharitable thought that presumably Carlos’s inner self is not obsessing about the day’s first longoverdue shot of caffeine. I’ve come to Ubud, and to Yoga Barn in particular, to investigate the world of yoga, meditation and healthy living that has become a central tenet of Bali’s spiritual heartland. Carlos’s dawn raid on the yoga mat is a
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harsh wake-up call (in more ways than one)on what could become a challenging day for me. I’ve just done my best to contort a body that is all too rigidly human into the shapes of a cobra, a fish and an angry cat and am now rocking on my back with my feet out in a posture that’s apparently known as ‘happy baby’. When Made Gunarta and his American-English wife Meghan co-founded the Yoga Barn in 2006 it was the only venue in Ubud built specifically for yoga. Now his hometown boasts dozens and has become one of the world’s great yoga centres. “They say that it you want to see changes you have to be part of the change,” Made is telling me when we meet for that first long-awaited coffee
later that morning. “They say that the name Ubud came from an old Balinese word meaning ‘place of healing’ and that’s really what Ubud has always been.” We’re sitting on floor cushions on a little raised platform at Atman Kafe (the name apparently means ‘Universal Self’) drinking what the menu claims to be the best coffee in Bali. Our flip-flops lie on the top step along with the heap of Havaianas, Crocs and sport-sandals that belong to the morning’s herd of healthy breakfasters. A blackboard in the corner bears a chalked quote from Paulo Coelho: ‘Anyone who loves must learn to lose themselves and then find themselves again.’ I’ve already run afoul of a young woman who thought, mistakenly, that we’d pushed into the queue in front of her. I get the feeling that some well-meaning guru had advised her that she must ‘assert herself more’…so she intends to go around for the next few weeks being stroppy to every man she meets. Eavesdrop on any conversation in an Ubud café these days – from the popular (but slightly run-down) Sari Organiks out in the paddies to Seniman Coffee Studio near the central market – and you will hear people talking about self-analysis, finding themselves, getting closure… They’re catchwords that come up with all the regularity (and significance) of lemons on an old-time slot machine. “There is a good side to all this Eat-PrayLove mania too.” It’s as if Made is reading my mind. “We used to have
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such a rich history of traditional medicines and healing methods but they were being forgotten. If trendy places like this keep them alive in their menu of ‘herbal pick-me-ups’ and ‘energy-boosters’ then it surely can’t be a bad thing.” Atman’s coffee blend is a reliable enough energy-booster in itself and I’ve been looking forward to sampling a cup of their locally grown Arabica beans all morning. Served on ice with palm sugar syrup and a pinch of sea-salt, it sounds like a bizarre combination but is actually a surprisingly delicious way to drink coffee. I feel suitably guilty about giving in to my weakness after such a brief fight so, at Made’s recommendation, I balance Atman’s dose of ‘cold brew’ with a salt-cumin-mint lassi and a shortsharp jolt of vitamins in the form of a
wheatgrass shot. “It’s got almost unmatched quantities of chlorophyll,” says Made reassuringly as I gaze fearfully at the little beaker of dark green gunk. According to the menu the little glass in front of me also contains 12 amino acids and is equivalent to eating a kilo of fruit and vegetables. I could barely manage half the glass despite the fact that I’d arrived for my meeting with Made with the sort of voracious appetite that can only come from a strenuous bout at the gym…or a completely decadent 90-minute massage at Taksu Spa. Taksu stands out from what must be hundreds of massage venues in central Ubud for two reasons. Firstly, treatments here take place in the sort of hidden paradise valley (right in the centre of town) that is so typical of the island that claims to be the world’s most beautiful. Taksu’s private treatment villas form a series of picture-perfect tableaus that might have come straight from an engraving of a thermal spring in ancient Greece. Taksu offers everything from Thai massage to hot-stone massage to intensive month-long Shades of Yoga courses but one of the spa’s main claims to fame is that it’s the only such establishment in Bali certified to practice Esalen massage. According to Esalen’s website this sort of massage is ‘the interface and integration of form, energy, structure, and soul’ – in layman’s terms it is distinguishable from other types of massage for long, sweeping strokes that maintain a constant contact
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over much of the body rather than concentrating only on one region at a time. I lay for a blissful hour and a half letting my mind wander as I listened to water cascading into the pool outside. “The Balinese believe that the body is just a temporary cage for the soul,” Made Gunarta had told me that morning. “Whatever we have in our body – whatever minerals and nutrients – are only borrowed very fleetingly from the land. We have to leave the land in the best condition we can for future generations to benefit in the same way.” Made’s great-grandfather, I Made Kari, was the spiritual leader who built the famous Monkey Forest Temple which has been passed down to Ubud’s new generation as the town’s main tourist attraction. The temple complex itself would be an impressive enough sight but more than 700 visitors come to Ubud every day specifically to see the hundreds of monkeys who ‘eat, play and rob’ there. The current entrance fee is only US$2 but Monkey Forest revenue has helped to finance non-profit community efforts that Made has spearheaded, from fighting Bali’s rampant garbage problem to establishing educational facilities to medical treatment for the poor. Taking a shortcut between Monkey Forest Road and Hanoman Road (itself named after the Hindu monkey god),I spotted a wall-size mural of monkeys in various attitudes of mischief. This was Juice Jah, an old haunt of Made’s and one of the first places in Ubud to
espouse organic dining. I stopped in for a refreshing juice as an antidote to the harsh midday sun and, scouring the menu, a Monkey Forest Juice caught my eye. It was a mixture of passion-fruit and banana but I was out of luck: “Sorry, no passion here today,” said the waitress without a hint of irony.
Yoga Barn - www.theyogabarn.com
So I moved on to another haunt that Made had recommended and ordered a concoction of pineapple, coconut milk and mint. It is not enough in Ubud these days to offer fare that simply tastes good: everything on the menu at Down to Earth seemed to be geared towards some metabolic or spiritual boost. The juice I ordered purported to be ‘nourishment for my nervous system’. I combined it with Down to Earth’s famous Dragon Bowl, a heaped dish of grated vegetables and avocado on a bed of buckwheat and alfalfa sprouts. While I ate I fantasized about tomorrow´s meaty breakfast.
Monkey Forest Temple – www.monkeyforestubud.com
“Go to Warung Pak Sanur near the market before 11am,” Made had told me with a glint in his eye. “Mr Sanur has what you need. He cooks whole ducks for eight hours overnight in a terracotta pot in a shallow ground-oven. By morning the meat is just falling off the bone.”
Mark Eveleigh
That sounded like my kind of wake-up call.
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Atman Café– JlHanoman, 38 (no web) Taksu Spa – www.taksuspa.com Shades of Yoga www.shadesofyoga.com Esalen – www.esalen.org
Juice Jah - (no web, JlDewi Sita) Down to Earth www.downtoearthbali.com Warung Pak Sanur - (no web, near Ubud Central Market) Seniman Coffee Studio – www.senimancoffee.com
Sari Organik – www.sari-organik.com Café Pomegranate (no web – in paddies near Sari Organik)
www.markeveleigh.com
we did why we kept being lured back time and again. In my situation I was married to 2 violent men, how in the world was that possible. After my 3rd failed marriage it was time for me to be brutally honest with myself, my family and the world. There were many different therapists, church counsellors, psychologist and psychiatrist, searching for solutions to my crazy mixed up life, but there seemed to be no answers and no solutions. I searched on line and came across Dr. Sam Vaknin who wrote the book MALIGNANT SELF LOVE. I bought the book, read it from cover to cover and made contact with him. Finally after 24 years of abuse it all made perfect sense. I was journalling a lot and shared my journal with the therapist I was seeing at the time who encouraged me to write a book and share my story. I wish I could say from there on it had a happy ending, but that would not be the truth. My struggle with CPTSD took me to the brink of suicide, but I am not one to quit without a fight.
I lost everything I had including my physical and mental health until I discovered With Anita le Roux Dr. Annemarie Norvello who literally http://www.ccbpublishing.com/ saved my life. Together we unravelled cwyatt.html the past and she confirmed that I had been struggling with PTSD since the First let me say that I consider myself an break up of my first marriage and exacartist and not a writer, but it was important to share my story due to the frus- erbated by the last. tration, as to why I and many of my Today I am able to not only share my smart, successful friends could not esstory of Domestic Violence but also cape our abusive marriages and when December 2014
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EclipseCrossword.com
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DECEMBER PUZZLE QUESTIONS
DOWN
ACROSS
2.
In which country will you find the Mohejo-Dara (8)
3.
Complete the saying ‘’the early bird, catches the ……’’ (4)
5.
An American State
7.
The Chinese Capital (7)
8.
A Social Media Site (8)
9.
How many moons does the planet Uranus have (6)
1.
A Russian City (13)
4.
What is the largest primate (7)
6.
A Zulu word meaning grandmother (4)
8.
Another word for emotion (7)
11. In which city will you find Big Ben (6) 12. Another name for ale (4) 14. Which element makes up stars (8)
10. The French word meaning Love (4)
16. In which country will you find the Limpopo river (12)
13. Wild animal (5)
18. The title of an international magazine
15. By what nickname was the late President Nelson Mandela also known (6)
November issue answers
NEPAL—4 ACROSS
AMOR - 14 ACROSS
NURSERY RHYME—10 DOWN
ANDES—7 ACROSS
ROCKS—12 ACROSS
BELFAST—18 DOWN
ROSE QUARTZ - 1 DOWN
BOOKMARK—3 DOWN
SINAI— 13 DOWN
CAMBODIA—17 ACROSS
SOUL— 5 ACROSS
CHRISTMAS—11 DOWN GARFIELD— 16 ACROSS GRATITUDE— 8 DOWN JOSE MUJICA—6 DOWN JOURNEY—6 ACROSS JOYOUS—2 ACROSS
LONER— 9 ACROSS
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Aneis de Vida 45
Humour The light turned yellow, just in front of him.
licence plate holder, the 'Follow Me to Sunday-School' bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk, so naturally ......
He did the right thing and stopped at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerat- I assumed you had stolen the car.'' ing through the intersection. An 80-year old woman was arrested for The tailgating woman behind him was shoplifting. furious and honked her horn, screaming When she went before the judge he in frustration, as she missed her chance asked her, "What did you steal?" to get through the intersection. She replied, "A can of peaches." As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a The judge asked her why she had stolen tap on her window and looked up them and she replied that she was huninto the face of a very serious police gry. officer. The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up.
The judge then asked her how many peaches were in the can. She replied 6.
He took her to the police station where she was searched, fingerprinted, photographed and placed in a holding cell.
The judge then said, "I will give you 6 days in jail."
After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door. She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects. He said, ''I'm very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, giving the guy in front of you the finger and cursing at him. I noticed the 'What Would Jesus Do' bumper sticker, the 'Choose Life'
Before the judge could actually pronounce the punishment, the woman's husband spoke up and asked the judge if he could say something. The judge asked, "What is it?"
The husband replied, "Your honour, she also stole a can of peas." ———————————————————Guest: "Why does your dog sit there and watch me eat?" Hotel Host: "I can't imagine, unless it's because you have the plate he usually eats from."
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Did I read the sign right? In an office: TOILET OUT OF ORDER...... PLEASE USE FLOOR BELOW In a Laundromat: AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES: PLEASE REMOVE ALL YOUR CLOTHES WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT
On a repair shop door: WE CAN REPAIR ANYTHING. (PLEASE KNOCK HARD ON THE DOOR - THE BELL DOESN'T WORK)
———————————————————-
A young businessman had just started his own firm. He rented a beautiful office and had it furnished with antiques. Sitting In an office: there, he saw a man come into the outWOULD THE PERSON WHO TOOK THE STEP er office. Wishing to appear the hot shot, LADDER YESTERDAY PLEASE BRING IT the businessman picked up the phone BACK OR FURTHER STEPS WILL BE and started to pretend he had a big TAKEN deal working. He threw huge figures around and made In an office: giant commitments. Finally he hung up AFTER TEA BREAK STAFF SHOULD EMPTY and asked the visitor, "Can I help you?" THE TEAPOT AND STAND UPSIDE DOWN The man said, "Yeah, I've come to actiON THE DRAINING BOARD vate your phone lines." Outside a secondhand shop: WE EXCHANGE ANYTHING - BICYCLES, WASHING MACHINES, ETC. WHY NOT ———————————————————BRING YOUR WIFE ALONG AND GET A A man walks into a pub and sits down WONDERFUL BARGAIN? next to a man with a dog at his feet. Notice in health food shop window: CLOSED DUE TO ILLNESS "Does your dog bite?" In a London department store: BARGAIN BASEMENT UPSTAIRS
Spotted in a safari park: ELEPHANTS PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CAR Seen during a conference: FOR ANYONE WHO HAS CHILDREN AND DOESN'T KNOW IT, THERE IS A DAY CARE ON THE 1ST FLOOR
"No." A few minutes later the dog takes a huge chunk out of his leg. "I thought you said your dog didn't bite!" the man says indignantly.
Notice in a farmer's field: THE FARMER ALLOWS WALKERS TO CROSS "That's not my dog." THE FIELD FOR FREE , BUT THE BULL CHARGES.
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with children and parents. They are often referred to by the public as “Child Psychologists”. The following are the main reasons why a child may be referred to an Educational Psychologist:
Behavioural and emotional problems (such as aggression, bullying, acting out, defiant behaviour, etc)
Scholastic-related problems (such as possible Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder [ADHD], under-performance in school, among others)
Suspecting the child has various disorders (such as ADHD, Autism, Depression, etc)
Placement in a special school which caters for learners with special needs (such as a remedial school)
transition (like divorce, change of life circumstances or death of a loved one)
By Vicky Downing Educational Psychologist (M.Ed, B.A. Hons, HDE) Your child may be referred to an Occupational Therapist, Paediatric Physiotherapist, Speech Therapist, Audiologist or Educational Psychologist at some stage. The following is a list of how each specialist assists children as well as the more common reasons a child may be referred. Educational Psychologists work mainly
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Helping the child through a life
For a Global Assessment as sometimes required by schools (which includes an IQ-assessment and scholastic-related tests)
Assessments such as School Readiness Assessments, Career Guidance Assessments and Subject Choice Assessments
Certain Educational Psychologists are able to conduct psycho-legal
assessments which may be used
when the child is the subject of a court case (as in the case of abuse or custody hearings)
Screening for disorders treated by Occupational Therapists, Speech Therapists, Audiologists Neurologists and Developmental Paediatricians
Occupational Therapists assist children in improving their cognitive, physical, sensory and motor skills. They usually evaluate children’s skills for playing, school performance and daily activities and compare them with what is developmentally appropriate for that specific age group. Children may be referred to Occupational Therapists for the following reasons, among others:
Low muscle tone (for example:
the child slouches when sitting)
Poor postural control (often seen when the child is unable to sit upright or cannot sit still for a long period of time, for example)
Use of gross motor muscles to perform fine motor tasks (such as using the shoulder to control the pencil when writing)
Poor use of position in space (poor knowledge of positions such as “behind”, “in front of”, “next to”, etc.) and spatial orientation
Difficulty moving through space (seen when a child may be reluctant to do somersaults, play on the jungle gym, etc)
Difficulty crossing the midline
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and laterality (awareness of left and right)
Certain textures which are unpleasant to the child)
Cross-dominance (for example: using the left hand to write but right foot to kick a ball). Some researchers believe this could have an impact on the child’s ability to learn.
Difficulty with visual tracking, eye convergence and eye control (which includes being able to use eyes to follow an object from left to right and up to down in fluid, smooth movement as well as to focus on an object moved close to the eyes and away again)
Poor motor planning and use of space on a page
Paediatric Physiotherapists assist children with developmental, neurological and biomechanical difficulties associated with posture, movement, control and co -ordination. Among others, they help children with the following conditions:
Difficulties with posture and movement (seen as difficulty sitting still, untidy or difficulty with handwriting and drawing)
Problems with visual perception
Clumsy and awkward movement
such as discrimination, figure-ground perception, visual-motor integration, visual closure, analysis and synthesis, visual memory, visual sequencing
Low muscle tone and/or joint
Problems with sense of direction
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hypermobility (such as increased suppleness) Sensory processing, modulation or integration issues (such as being very sensitive to touch and the
ability to control responses to physical discomfort)
Neurological issues (for example: Cerebral Palsy)
Use of gross motor muscles to perform fine motor tasks
Difficulty moving through space
Difficulty crossing the midline
Problems with sense of direction and laterality
Difficulty with balance
Poor integration of the upper and
Language Therapists assess and remediate speech disorders (such as articulation problems, stuttering, cleft lip and palate, delayed language development and problems after a stroke). Audiologists diagnose problems, fit hearing aids and provide therapy for patients with impaired hearing. Therapy is aimed at improving language, speech and lip-reading abilities as well as listening difficulties. Common reasons for referral include:
Problems with hearing
The child often needs to have instructions repeated
lower body which has been linked to the child’s ability to work effectively with motor movement
Speech and Language Therapists and Audiologists help babies, children and adults to overcome or reduce their communication disorders. Speech and
Poor pronunciation of words (unless these are ageappropriate) Auditory perception which includes: auditory discrimination, analysis, synthesis, sequencing, memory, association and closure
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Neurologists are able to diagnose and treat various disorders of the nervous system including diseases of the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles. They perform neurological examinations related to muscle strength and movement, balance, sensation, memory, speech, language, and other cognitive abilities. A Developmental Paediatrician specialises in childhood development, learning, behaviour and socialisation. They aim to understand children from a medical point of view enabling them to identify reasons for different developmental and behavioural problems.
than in people
Being clumsy or accident-prone
Engaging in behaviours that are dangerous to self or others
Bedwetting or soiling of pants
Impulsive behaviour
Defiant attitude
Daredevil behaviour
Being slow to learn
Fidgeting or twitching a lot
Excessive talking
Tending to tell lies or steal
Please note: some Neurologists and Developmental Paediatricians may insist that the child is assessed by an Educational Psychologist for a full assess- ment prior to referral. Common reasons for referral include:
Blank spells
Poor concentration
Inattention
Problems with co-ordination
The child prefers to be alone
The child holds his breath
Poor communication skills
Displays of aggressive behaviour
Stubborn behaviour and attitude
Excessive activity
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Being more interested in objects
Excessive worrying Crying easily Easily excitable
Talking in his/ her sleep
Sleepwalking
Frequent nightmares or night terrors
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Repetitive behaviours
If you would like more info or would like to chat to Vicky personally contact her at Guiding Hands Therapy Centre— 011 894-5655/ 084 474 7744 E-mail: edpsych@guidinghands.co.za Website: www.guidinghands.co.za
change in the landscape of the fabric of our society and it grows by leaps and bounds every day. It is an unquenchable force that can not be stopped, it is humanity evolving. There is a psychological revolution going on, everyone is entitled to an opinion and everyone has the right to be heard. In the past, politicians, priests and teachers were in charge and their stifling authoritative voice was the only one that mattered. Those days are gone.
This brings us to the question, what place do teenagers and children have in society today? The truth is that they have a loud voice on Social Media and it is their personal playground. We were all teenagers once but as time went by we lost our innocence and the experience of what it felt like to be young. It seems as if it has Written by Richard Koseff - founder been wiped away from our memory due to and developer of The Mind Experi- the pressures of life. Teenagers need time ence devoting his energy to breaking to enjoy being who they are while finding down barriers that prevent harmony their own person in this world. in relationships.
When parents say to teenagers they should get over their emotional turmoil, while their hormones bring about all kind of changes in their bodies, it shows us what little understanding most of us adults have concerning teenagers. We do not know In days gone by children were told to know what they are experiencing and if their their place, to be seen and not heard. Now actions bother us, we do not want to know. days the Social Media has brought about a It is far easier to put things in boxes in our Even in this day and age, when we as a society have grown so much with modern technology, do we still have such a lack of understanding in relationships.
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The key to us understanding teenagers is found in our emotions far more than in our thinking habits. Emotional understanding, which is emotional intelligence, is the key that unlocks the interaction between parents and teenagers. Thinking often blocks communication, it is old school, the old way of living and it is time we summoned the courage and fortitude to face the emotional surge within us and others.
To change the fabric of society we have to start with ourselves. If we do not change today, then when? Tomorrow is too late. We need to face our fears and not be suffoThinking out of the box is an expression we cated by them. That in essence is the only entertain in exceptional circumstances but way we can alter the status quo. Now is the which we frown upon in everyday life. To only time we have. think out of the box means great psychological and emotional changes must Relationships are the core and the essence take place and society does not appear to of our existence. Relatioships between you be ready for this inner revolution. Fear and me and with ourselves. Between keeps us back. bosses and their employees and the stranger we have yet to meet. Life is a Parents need to guide their children with fleeting experience that speeds up as we compassion, which is the heart of love, and grow older. We only get one chance, no be their best friend. Authority is needed at matter what we may believe. times when it is in the child's best interest but not all the time. Parents need to protect their kids from harm and difficulties Richard Koseff but this should not throttle the freedom (+27) 072-420-4888 that surges through them and the www.themindexperience.co.za freedom adults have long forgot. mind and demand that our children fit into those boxes made by us.
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I grew up in a household where I heard the line “children should be seen and not heard” Now as a mother I know that – this line is so outdated that it should be buried in the cave where it came from.
We at ADV talk about inspiring others through the most amazing life journeys.I for one don’t have the greatest past but I am learning to look at my past as a series of lessons that made me a better person today, and will see me improving myself tomorrow and learning and growing through life. By Di Kendall
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I believe that children have right to be heard and that us as parents are merely here to help them on THEIR journey. In saying that children will never really learn from our words but our actions. I don’t advocate rebelling, rudeness, spitefulness or nastiness. I believe that children should be respected as much as an adult. I believe that adults should know better than to hurt a child. I know I always write in such a clichéd way but the truth is that the clichés – the quotes – words to live by are actually our truth… in living our truth we are teaching – we are putting our vibration on the world and imprinting it on our children. I believe in imprinting on them that they can live out their dreams – they can do anything their hearts desire
if they are willing to put in the effort to make their dreams a reality.
“Promise me you will always remember you’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you “First think, second believe, third dream, think” AA Milne and finally dare” – Walt Disney As much as I believe we need to inspire children I believe that children inspire us On facebook we quoted from Whitney adults – I mean honestly – Houston’s song “Greatest love of all” – Who has not learned something infinitely profound from their children? "I believe the children are our future Who has not found something infinitely Teach them well and let them lead the profound in a children’s story? way Show them all the beauty they possess If not… inside “Some day you will be old enough to Give them a sense of pride to make it start reading fairy tales again” easier Let the children's laughter remind us By no means am I saying that one how we used to be" should tell children lies. I honestly believe these words. I don’t I am talking about that momentous ocbelieve in breaking a child’s spirit to casion that we learn to believe in ourmake them learn. Mine was broken way selves – too many times as a child. “She believed in dreams all right, but she also believed in doing something about them”. Walt Disney
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“Let your heart guide you. It whispers, so weirdness and call it love.” Dr Seuss listen closely.” Little Foots mother “Sometimes the smallest things take up believe in the unseen magic… the most room in your heart” AA Milne “It is only with the heart that one can “How do you spell love” - piglet? see rightly, what is essential is invisible to “You don’t spell it you feel it” – pooh the eye.” The little prince Life should contain balance and balhave faith… ance means we need laughter J “All you need is faith trust and a little pixie dust...”
“A little nonsense now and then is cherished by the wisest men” Roald Dahl
be strong and know that we can get through any obstacle that is thrown in our path…
“People say nothing is impossible but I do nothing every day” Winnie the Pooh
“Fairy tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” Neil Gaiman Most importantly they teach us about love…
“One of the advantages of being disorganised is that one is always having surprising discoveries” Winnie the Pooh And remember … “You’re off to great places. Today is your day. Your mountain is waiting. So get on your way.” Dr Seuss
“We are all a little weird and life’s a little “If you ever find yourself in the wrong weird. And when we find someone story” – leave - Mo Willems whose weirdness is compatible with ours we join up with them and fall in mutual
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animal” is. To make a success of this project they had to choose an animal who would be the head of the competition. It would need a lot of planning and it had to be someone they could trust and depend on. They all got together in the clearing between the huge eucalyptus trees in the forest before sunset and voted who the organizer should be. It was unanimously decided that the best candidate would be Edward Elephant, a young elephant bull, who would not want to compete and he was to elect a few animals or birds to help him.
Hello Young Ones, I hope you are all happy, healthy and ready for another story – it is about animals again, but this time the animals are in the wild. I love all animals, and I so often wish we could all talk to them and understand them. The world would be such a better place.
Edward chose Peter Parrot to help spread any information that he needed to give the animals and he chose his sister, Amelia to plan the route the animals would use to race as well as the general nitty-gritty of the day. Oliver Owl, Lola Lioness and Bobby Bear would be the official judges. The animals now had to enter the competition and Edward would oversee that.
The very next day, the arrangements started in earnest. There was a buzz of excitement and planning and so much The animals decided it was time to find to do. The animals made plans to train out who is best at various things, like who really hard before the race and each is the fastest, cleverest, prettiest, biggest, one believed that he would be the strongest. You see, they were always champion. competing and arguing over silly things, just like humans do. Kevin, the kangaroo, laughed silently, he Well, this is something you would have loved to experience. They decided the first item of the overall competition would be to determine who the “fastest
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knew he was going to beat the rest, after all he could jump eight metres at a time. That would give him an advantage without much exertion and
about good sportsmanship anyway. Danny Dingo, fast as he was, knew he would not be a match for Chelsea Cheetah, so he immediately started working on another plan of action. He was desperate to win something, anything, so ….. would it be soooooo terrible if he took a bit of a shortcut while nobody was looking. Maybe, just maybe he could pull it off. So it went, for the next seven days, the contestants went all out to do the best they could. They trained, they exercised, they confided in other animals, got hints from the more effort. He was going to win this race experienced animals. The race was smiling all the way. scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 5 Everyone of course feared Chelsea o’clock. The distance was 5 kilometres Cheetah. She could outrun anything or and the weather was perfect. Oliver anyone and of course, she knew that. Owl had taken a nap before the event All she had to do was make sure her and was looking alert and ready. nails weren’t too long and that she Edward Elephant was pacing, checking looked good enough. The race was not that everyone was in position and that a problem for her. She would make sure all the rules were understood by all the that she ate all the correct things to contestants. Oh, this was going to be boost her energy levels and of course to such fun, especially as all the animals impress the rest, she would do a few were happy together and there was stretch exercises. such good team spirit among them. Harold the hare, was pretty confident, if It was time, the animals lined up on the he did not win, he thought he could starting line and Edward was ready to make second place quite comfortably. trumpet…… “On your marks……… get He was going to try very hard. Wouldn’t set ………. GO “he trumpeted. it please his parents so much if he could There was a cloud of dust and the prove he was the fastest, if not the animals set off……… Who do you think cleverest. won the race???? Timothy Tiger also decided to join in. He Until next time, children, when I shall tell wasn’t that fit and had put on a bit of you the outcome, keep well and be at weight, but he would at least give them your best behavior, As always a bit of a challenge. He didn’t care all Granny Goose that much about winning, it was all December 2014
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Magical Messages Doreen Virtue – Fairies Oracle Cards Magical Messages Doreen Virtue – Fairies Oracle Cards
Card: Summer Everything you are asking for becomes yours in the summertime.
Have you made a wish and you are sitting there wondering whether you will actually see the manifestation of your wish? If the answer is yes, then know that it will manifest during the summer months. Know deep in your heart that your wish and prayer has been heard and that there is reassurance of it coming true, and that it will happen at the perfect time for YOU.
walk in nature, dipped your toes into a stream, river or ocean of late? If not it does speak of taking that time and doing this so that you can reconnect with yourself and the wonders that lie around you – just waiting for you to notice and fall in love with who YOU are. Interestingly enough, there is a feeling that comes through that no matter whether the sky is grey above, summer is felt in the heart. So I am gathering that for you teens, even though you may not always feel the summer sun on your body – feel it in your heart at the very least. Believe in who you are because that is the way to living in a constant summer sunshine. Experiences build you, and only you. Be kind to yourself and all around you. And most of all be grateful for each and every new experience, good or bad, the lessons are invaluable for the future. And YOU are the future.
For you in the Northern hemisphere it could very well be that you vacation in a warmer climate, and this brings you feelings of contentment and perhaps within this spectrum of time you will Remember you are special, unique and have clarity to know the way forward to beautiful just the way you are. achieving and accomplishing that which you have prayed about and wished for.
This card also speaks of fun, enjoying the beauty of nature, have you taken a
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The Oracle If you would like to consult with The Oracle please drop us an email with your question oracle@aneisdevida.co.za selected questions with answers will be published in our next issue.
Planting own veggies – doesn’t the soil need to have time to regenerate? Or is it being regenerated by supplements being given? Paul South Africa
Dear Paul The soil can be used for a year or two, but remember that plants take out nutriends from the soil to grow. It is important to fertilise (use Multifeed or Seaweed). I use Superphosphate every season – in other words 4x a year. Also remember when planting new plants to take out at least one third of the old soil and plant with new potting soil. (information supplied by Andre Duif – inhouse gardening expert)
My son loves the stories supplied by Granny Goose. Is there a book published which I can buy via Amazon?
Sharon UK Dear Sharon
The stories written by Granny Goose are only available within the pages of Aneis de Vida – there is as yet not a book out there to be bought – we will however pass on this information to Granny Goose and perhaps in the future a book will officially be brought out with all the amazing stories within.
Granny Goose has a new tale to tell in every issue
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Recipes
MAKES ABOUT 30 SMALL PANCAKES Because these pancakes contain so little flour, they are very light and do not resemble the heavier, pancakes. These should be very lightly browned when done. Serve with jam, applesauce, yogurt or fresh berries. 60ml low-fat ricotta cheese 1 to 2 Tbs. sugar 1 tsp. vanilla essence 4 large eggs 6 Tbs. all-purpose flour
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2 Tbs. melted and cooled butter or margarine Place all ingredients in blender and mix till smooth. Set mixture aside.
Preheat large pan over medium heat, and spray with non-stick spray or add a drop of oil. Spoon about 2 tablespoons batter into pan, or more for larger pancakes. Turn pancakes over when surface has several bubbles and appears dried. Cook for several seconds more, and remove from heat. Vegan Times 2003
Method:
2 large egg whites 1 tsp lemon juice, plus zest 1 lemon 200g icing sugar, plus extra for dusting 250g ground almonds 2 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ground ginger
1.
Heat oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2 and line a large baking tray (or 2 smaller) with baking parchment. Place the egg whites in a large bowl and use an electric mixer to whisk until foamy. Add the lemon juice and whisk again until they hold soft peaks.
2.
Slowly mix in the icing sugar and continue whisking until the mixture is stiff. Remove about a quarter of the meringue mixture and set aside to use for the topping. Put the almonds, cinnamon, ginger and lemon zest in the bowl with the meringue and mix to form a stiff, slightly sticky dough.
3.
To form the stars, put the dough on a piece of baking parchment lightly dusted with icing sugar and dust the top of the dough with sugar, too. Place a second sheet of parchment on top of the dough and roll out to about 0.5cm thick (the dough is a little sticky, so the parchment makes it easier to roll). Peel off the top sheet of parchment and use a 5cm star-shaped cutter to cut out as many cookies as possible. Place them on your prepared baking tray.
4.
Using the reserved meringue mixture, spread a small amount onto the top of each cookie, covering the entire top – you may need to add a few drops of water to make the meringue a little easier to spread. Put the tray in the oven and bake for 12-15 mins until meringue is set but not browned. Allow to cool fully before storing in a sealed container for up to 2 weeks. December 2014
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intelligence centre which functions on certain colour vibrations. Here is a breakdown of the chakras, their colour, where they are located on the spine and what their individual functions portray.
Chakras are seven energy centres that govern all the organs of the body and all independent and yet working together. When all chakras are open your body and soul function to its full potential. The balancing of all chakras is an ancient Eastern belief, and yet has been proven to work wonders for many.
The body itself, because it is made up of energy fields rotating around it, acts like a magnet, collecting energy at all levels. There are seven main energy centres in the body (chakras), each connected to organs or glands that govern body parts, and all connect on different levels be that physical, emotional, mentally or spiritually. From an energy perspective chakras spin in a circular motion, creating a vortex and having a vacuum in the centre which draws in other energy fields vibrating at the same level. These seven chakras are aligned along the spinal column, if there are any disturbances it comes to the fore in the vitality of the operating level of the chakra. Even though they operate in synchronicity, each chakra has its own
Root Chakra Colour: Red Base of the spine on the coccyx Imbalance to this chakra will cause, lower back ache, depression, colds and flues, tiredness and anaemia. Stimulating this root chakra, wear red clothing or jewellery, eat and drink red foods/liquids, physical exercise and restful sleep. The emotions relating to this chakra are – survival issues such as financial independence and nourishment.
Sacral (Spleen) Chakra Colour: Orange Lower abdomen just below the navel Imbalances which may occur if this chakra is not functioning correctly, eating disorders, depression, lower backache, allergies and urinary issues. Emotions relating to this chakra are sense of well-being, pleasure and sexuality.
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Solar Plexus Chakra Colour: Yellow Stomach area above the navel Imbalances that may affect this chakra stomach ulcers, diabetes, nervousness, parasites, digestive issues and poor memory. Stimulating this chakra with puzzles, or informative reading matter and sunshine as well as wearing the colour yellow is recommended. This chakra is used in the ability of self-control, confidence and balance of self.
Imbalances in this chakra are thyroid problems, swollen glands, fevers and flu. Mouth infections, neck and shoulder problems, mood swings, bloating and menopause. Stimulating the throat chakra – poetry, singing, meaningful conversations. Wearing blue clothing or gemstone.
Third Eye (Brow) Chakra Colour: Indigo Forehead between the eyes Imbalances to the third eye chakra could result in learning problems, depression, sleep disorders or coordinations issues.
Heart Chakra Colour: Green Centre of the chest
Imbalances affecting this chakra are heart and breathing disorders, breast cancer, chest pains, high blood pressure, immune system issues and muscular tension. This chakra pertains to the right to love and be loved, forgiveness, compassion and the acceptance of oneself.
Stimulating the third eye with the following is recommended –star gazing, meditation, wearing of indigo clothing or gemstone the use frankincense or patchouli oil is also helpful.
Crown Chakra
Stimulating the heart chakra would be taking walks in nature, time spent with family and friends, green foods/drinks. Green clothing or gemstones are also beneficial.
Colour: Violet
Throat Chakra
The stimulation needed is writing down ones dreams and visions, wearing violet coloured clothing or gemstones. The use of lavender or jasmine oils are also helpful.
Colour: Blue Throat
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Top of the head Imbalances to the crown chakra may result in headaches, neuralgia, mental illness, skin rashes or co-ordination problems.
The Location Samahita Retreat is located in the peaceful southern end of Koh Samui and is located on the beach. Set in a quiet area, off the beaten track, amongst peaceful Thai villages yet still close to markets and amenities. Only a few minutes’ walk down the beach is the golden pagoda of a realized Buddhist monk, whose presence drew the founders to this special setting. Retreats: Guests enjoy a full, daily
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schedule, practicing with leading yoga teachers and wellness practitioners. Programs: Combine daily yoga with Detox, Wellness Spa, and Health options. Available to start any day of the year. Education Courses: Suitable for teachers or those looking to go deeper into study with Yoga Alliance accredited Centered Yoga and The Yoga Academy.
An unrelenting will and an eternal presence.
You see my outline against the irmament, And you use my distinctive peaks to mark where you are. You are guided by my contours and my elevations.
by Beryl Broekman, personal energy field consultant, visionary healer and author.
When you have the time at hand, you come and speak to me. You pitch your strength against mine,
You play in my folds and streams, You walk endlessly along the paths and ridges and boulders,
You look to me. You see something that is not there.
And you feast your eyes on the vistas spread before you.
You see an image of majesty and beauty,
You use me as a journey, an inner journey and an outer journey,
You see a towering force, an immense strength,
For as your eyes and feet wander across my landscape your consciousness gets enmeshed in mine
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And we become one.
and spear.
Or so it seems.
I know not the essence of mercy and you may plead and beg for clemency at my feet: But in vain.
Look carefully! Look so closely that it cannot escape your attention
How I change with each reflection of the sun’s rays. Note how nothing is ever the same: no blade of grass, no birdsong, no colour on my earth. Every second of every day, that which seems changeless and solid shifts endlessly. And it is an illusion to think that a mountain never moves.
Eons have I hardened my being into the sheer cliffs and overhangs: I cannot be tamed into submission.
Therefore, although I stand in grandeur and magnificence, and although beauty and awe are my trademarks, Do not be fooled. Do not step into my domain with anything less than a healthy respect for my power, For I shall neither relent nor care when the tides of circumstance turn against you.
Do not invest your hopes and dreams in [The Drakensberg mountain range is an me. image of South Africa that epitomizes the implacability and heartlessness of I cannot promise to stay steadfast and the lower energy vibration of its people. true for you. It stands as a monument to remind us I am buffered by storms and winds and that we have this aspect carved into our ancestry and we should be very inhospitable drifts of snow. careful not to allow this negative enerI am lashed by the violence of nature gy to dominate our collective and my heart is frozen solid, consciousness unless we are threatened by dire forces out of our control.] Here where the air is miserly with its life force.
I am a barrier, and I stand implacable between sea and land.
Find out more on www.powatheta.com or www.mysticstoryteller.com.
My energy is of the warrior and shield December 2014
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67 Aero Valhalla, Centurion Pretoria
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Cards used: Archangel Power Tarot Cards by Doreen Virtue & Radleigh Valentine
Capricorn 22 Dec - 20 Jan
Capricorns this December, stand up for what you believe in. Have confidence in your convictions and claim your personal power. Whatever the situation is, know that you have a great deal that you can learn out of it.
Aquarius 21 Jan - 19 Feb This month is all about the bigger picture, leave the details to others. Those around you expect you to take the lead. Let your enthusiasm and charm shine through. And for some of you there could be unexpected money coming in.
Pisces 20 Feb - 20 Mar There could be an excellent opportunity being offered to you this month. It is definitely a time to get to work on your passions and interests and stop the procrastinating. Some of you may have this feeling of getting back to studying – so what are you waiting for – do what is calling you.
Aries 21 Mar - 20 Apr For those of you born under the sign of Aries, December presents a month of joy, freedom from responsibilities. For some it could even herald a new job or promotion. In general December looks to be a good month for all.
Taurus 21 Apr - 21 May
This is a month of growing, be that planting seeds in yourself – a dream you want to see fulfilled or being out in nature planting actual plants, December brings a month of new beginnings. There is a definite feel of moving forward
Gemini 22 May - 21 Jun If you are feeling stuck this month, it is advised to seek council from those in the know. Some of you may feel your ambitions are too risky – take a deeper look, it may not be as risky as you think.
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Cancer 22 Jun - 23 Jul
This month is about embracing life. Taking care of yourself, loving yourself. There is excitement surrounding a move for some – could be home or career, do not question this as it will definitely be right for you.
Leo 24 Jul - 23 Aug
December heralds a month to be decisive even if you feel it’s too complicated, you will find once you have made up your mind all else will fall into place. And do not be lulled into daydreaming, make sure you are clear in what you are expecting for yourself.
Virgo 24 Aug - 23 Sept You Virgo’s will be well pleased this December as your plans are working out better than you expected this month. Financial and career success, and as always you use your resources wisely. It is also time to spend a few hours in nature to clear your minds and bring joy to your inner being.
Libra 24 Sept - 23 Oct This is not a month to take too much action. Relax within yourself, and hear the answers that float through to you in your dreams. Be patient with yourself and others. And if you have been told a secret, it would be wise not to talk about it as there could be repercussions.
Scorpio 24 Oct - 22 Nov Do not absorb the negative energy from others around you as it will not serve you well this month. Stay in a positive mood to keep your spirits up. Whatever you were contemplating, let it go as it is not serving you.
Sagittarius 23 Nov - 21 Dec
For some of you there are big changes taking place this month, do not resist them because they will ultimately lead you to something better. Be careful how you spend your money this month, it could very well seem to flow faster than what you are getting it.
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Through her art therapy class, she will inspire you to greatness in yourself. Sharyn is a person who will walk the walk with you, take your hand and guide you. A deep believer in God and the angels and the wonders that they bestow on us.
Sharyn and her husband live in the Valley of a 1000 Hills in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa. Picturesque, tranquil and inspiring. A woman with many talents, someone who has known the heartache of loss so profound she herself did not think she would survive. Therefore, it is without a shadow of a doubt, after interviewing her, that I can say she understands trauma and pain, she understands the essentials of being human and seeking the preciousness of life, to love and hold dear that which our souls are in search of. Website: http://msla.co.za/ sharynann
E-mail: shazlan@msla.co.za
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How blessed are we that these beings are just a thought away. Call upon them often for help, there is nothing they love more than to be there for us earthlings, and to guide us through our day to day lives. In her own words …… THERES A CRACK IN EVERYTHING
Leonard Cohen sang, ‘’There is a crack a crack in everything, that’s where the light comes in’’. This song is a precious metaphor to me of how LIGHT heals. The CRACK … the LIGHT that poured in after my son Ryan’s death is what kick started my healing process…. My wanting more than ANYTHING to LOVE myself back to life
shut down and become cold and bitter and hardened. Along my own journey, I have found that the great fight is NOT against the person who has hurt you so deeply or the losses of your precious loved ones. Oh NO, my loves, that would be far too easy. The great fight is to STAY OPEN, to stay HONEST, to stay TRUE and KIND, in SPITE of and in the FACE of unbearable pain and ugliness. Easy? Hell NO. Trust me, beautiful soul, I have found working with your inner light of creativity is a nurturing wonderful easy way to heal.
THAT is why I paint. I pick up my brush almost every day, to remind you and me WHO WE ARE. I know all too well, in the deep dark place of pain and hurt, it is soooo easy to forget who we are. We get side-tracked with hate, drama and all those ugly things that we are NOT. Whether we are the wound or we are the light of healing. You are NOT While painful, the wounds or cracks, that broken. Don’t you see? The parts you bring us into therapy can also hold call broken are the very parts where openings into our most beautiful and your light shines the brightest. My mission brave parts through our creative through the medium of Art is to remind process. you who you ARE. through colour paint and brushes. When we are paining and creating we share LIGHT, that’s why I love teaching creative art journaling and intuitive big canvas painting. Art Therapy offers a place to explore and develop a meaningful relationship with yourself, and your light.
I paint to SHARE my lessons. I paint to reach other souls who are going emotions that I have gone through. I paint to offer HOPE. I paint to show you that it won’t last forever. (It won’t, I PROMISE). I paint to remind you of your STRENGTH. I paint to show you that you have CHOICES, that you can LEARN and GROW from your experiences. I paint to show you that you can choose NOT to
My deepest HOPE is that art will help you HEAL. Give you HOPE, remind you that you are NOT alone, lift you up when you need it, and in general, remind you that you are a Creative Being. Sharyn is world renowned with over 25 years of experience in healing, growing within yourself and art therapy is but one of the modalities that she works with.
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fears that surround us. He is completely unpretentious, down to earth and gives off an aura of calmness with a very interesting sense of humour, and has a definite twinkle in his eye. However, in saying that, Thomas Budge is a deep thinker and believer.
By Tilanie Meierhans
Thomas Budge an interesting man who has come full circle in his private belief system and who has a deep understanding for human kind and the
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He was born in Johannesburg South Africa, in 1953 and grew up in a loving but principled life style under the Jehovah’s Witness faith. When he turned 19, he was called up for military service, as were many young men at that point under the then governing South African system. Due to his convictions not to take up arms, he was put into solitary confinement in the army barracks.
Those were dark days, not just that the cell itself was dark, but Thomas had to
dig deep within. He had to learn the power of his mind. Imagine this for yourself. Close your eyes, see the darkness and now take away sound, and smell – how does one overcome these problems? By using the power of the mind and digging deep into your own essence and being. This is where Thomas Budge learnt to think about many issues in life, where he started questioning belief’s and systems that had been put in place to keep him and many others in place. The decisions he came to resulted in him being excommunicated from his religious upbringing, church and community as he had known it. However, in that also came the freedom of choice, to explore that which he needed to, to ultimately become the man that he is today. Thomas decided to go into the IT industry, interesting choice somewhat, in many ways another solitary situation, perhaps it was a subconscious decision – which at the end of the day paid off as he established a very successful business, which he sold a few years back. However, having chosen this field to further himself, was not in itself too strange as Thomas has a scientific mind and needs to know and understand before believing. In many ways science and faith intermix, interwoven if you are open enough to see the similarities. He was for a lack of a better way of saying it – reintroduced to spirituality through a man who became a mentor
to him, Ram Dass, and who played an important role in Thomas’s life. Thomas Budge, a respected South African and international hypnotherapist who has taught many the skill of being a top notch hypnotherapist. And in his own words, you do need to make very sure that whoever you turn to for help has the credentials to be of service to you. Ask many questions, and if you do not get the answers you want, find someone who suits your needs in the field of hypnotherapy. Even though there are many who are highly professional and capable, as with all professions, there are sadly a few that do bring this industry into disrepute. For this reason Thomas started the Hypnotherapy Guild South Africa, in so doing trying to keep the ethics of those who practice within this profession above board and for the highest good of those who seek hypnotherapy as a medium for help. His book ‘’It Is What It Is - Grace through acceptance’’ was published in 2013 and is available either directly from Thomas whilst having a hypnosis session with him or in paperback via Amazon. Thomas Budge believes that to ‘’cure’’ your ills you need to dig deep and disentangle that which has become a big knot in your life. Living on a farm between Johannesburg and Pretoria – South Africa, Thomas has come to help many lighten their load in life, and experiencing the joy of living a life to the best of their ability. December 2014
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Let us take the subject of food in relationship to our physical body. There are two approaches of available foods; 1. Whole foods, Living foods, free from chemicals, organic foods, clean foods, eating in-season foods, eating locally grown foods, home prepared and cooked foods, pasture fed animals, drinking clean water
What information are you sending your body? Deborah SutherlandHealth, Eco and Life Style facilitator While the concepts are quite complex and can be expanded upon almost endlessly, I will give a basic definition that will suffice for this article. Growth of the body is the motivation from the moment of conception. While we are growing in our mother’s womb, we are being influenced by her intake of foods and beverages. From birth and thereafter, our body becomes an independent organism. Everything we come into contact with is giving us information. How we relate with it, is what we in turn put back out into ourselves and our environment.
2. Chemical foods as in pesticides, herbicides, preservatives, artificial colorant’s, synthetic vitamin, minerals, genetically modified foods, animals fed with hormones, grains and confined to an un-natural space, imported foods, eating out of season produce, drinking poor quality and bottled water, restaurant eating, fast food outlets, pre-packed and pre-cooked foods. Some questions we could ask ourselves: What condition do we want our body, which is our vehicle that carries us through life, to operate in? Example, do you want a body that has healthy organs that in turn gives you a gorgeous, glowing energetic body, good sleep, a healthy mental outlook? What do we want from our bodies? Example, do you want a body that is energetic so that you can get your daily tasks done with vitality and enjoyment? If we go back to our list of two approaches to food, we will see that each list will give you a clear picture of a potential outcome. List one: Your physical body has a greater opportunity of healthy, balanced living. List two: You December 2014
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By Stefani Clark – Giving you her life and history, she will be writing for us so we felt it a good idea that you get to know her and her life to understand where she is, at this moment on her life’s journey
started to understand that thoughts are very powerful, and that gratitude is the gate to abundance, a huge practical learning process.
Oman was good for me, the open spaces I loved were healing for me and I loved my home there. I also did my first healing course in that time, travelling to Lebanon to do Basic Theta-healing and Continued from our November Issue loved it. It was like everything I had ever learnt in my spiritual life all tied together I ended up in the beautiful country of in a beautiful bouquet. I spent a lot of Oman. I am a desert girl and I loved it time in the tranquillity and magic of the there. My husband joined me there for a desert, became friends with a bedu while, but he was still drinking and I had family and felt as if Oman would be my to make the very hard decision to tell forever home. My first relationship after I him to go, to change the locks on him in left my husband was with a young bedu the end after a very long process. I was man. It was exotic and secret and satistired of the lies, betrayal, disappearancfying and was just what I needed for my es, denial, cleaning up after him. It was heart and for my self-esteem. But it literally a choice between him or me. I could not be true love, there could be never ever thought I would break the no future in it. vows I had made to myself and to God. I started vision boarding, making lists The messages came very clearly to me though, and it was at that time of my life and calling in a more serious I got to know my guardian angel. I really relationship. It was amazing to me
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what it feels like to see his name on Facebook and feel like a dagger has gone into my stomach. I know what it feels like to remain silent.
because an Afrikaner I had met locally and been friends with for a year, ticked all the boxes and when I let my defences down it developed into a close relationship. He was divorced and an ex-military man, a complex character, an expert at compartmentalising and would not let me fully into his life. I was blinded by love, determined always to have hope, and was completely floored when he broke up out of the blue a year and a half later, on our return from a really romantic barging holiday in Ireland. I just had not seen it coming at all. I know what it feels like to stand by the open fridge door, talking happily about the cake ingredients for the weekend, and literally watch the words coming out of his mouth, the syllables like little mini bullets, exploding in every cell of my body; my safe comfortable world as I knew it crumbling apart. I know what it is like to wonder every night for months, what I had done wrong, why I was not good enough, and how to fix it. I know
That was two years ago now. He soon hooked up with someone else and moved in with her and got engaged, and it was clear to me that I could not stay. Even today, he lives in my head, and I am still learning to let go, to drain the colour out of the picture. I was in a thick mist about the next move and wrote a prayer, prayed it for the next 30 days. On day 16, the answer came that I should to go back to South Africa to spend time with my mentor and close friend who had just had a pace maker fitted at the age of 85. I followed the call. Little did I know that the next eleven months were to be one of the most radical healing periods of my life. Coming back to Cape Town for more than three weeks since Hester had died in 1998, brought on a full scale grieving process for my mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, 4 miscarriages and of course the latest shattered relationship. It was a journey of trust every single day. I moved into a house in the Strand and started my life again. All my things were in storage in Muscat, so I was living in an empty space with the bare minimum I could borrow from friends. As you know SA is not easy, finding work was a real challenge and I ran out of money at one point. It was really a time of radical acceptance and living from day to day. December 2014
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has equipped me to support, help and better understand the lives of people around me. It has taught me about gentleness and compassion and empathy and patience. As I look back on the scenes of my life, no matter how difficult they have been, they have always been permeated with Light. I believe that Light streams in to all of our lives, we just need to stop staring at our feet, look up and see.
I know what it feels like to stand in a pawn shop with my father’s coin collection and my mother’s most loved family jewels, knowing that I was letting them go for a fraction of their value, but that I needed food and fuel, and that there was little choice. This year in May, a friend sent me the link to this mentoring job in Malaysian Borneo, and the minute I applied, the dominoes started to fall. It was like a huge arm pulling me through the door. I arrived on 16 June and have not looked back. I have had my things shipped here from Muscat and have set up house which is tremendously comforting. The contract is only until next September, but I am not thinking about the future too much. I know that everything I have experienced in my life from losing my father, physical abuse at a young age to living with an alcoholic, to several unsuccessful pregnancies and coming to terms with the fact that I will not be a blood mother in this life, to living through the rape and murder of my own mother,
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Throughout this journey, these “happenings” have just been quizzes that I have gone through in this soul school, and there has always been the thread of Light, knowledge of a higher purpose, holding it all together. This reminds me of a wonderful poem written by William Stafford less than a month before his death.
The Way It Is There’s a thread you follow. It goes among things that change. But it doesn’t change. People wonder about what you are pursuing. You have to explain about the thread.
But it is hard for others to see. While you hold it you can’t get lost. Tragedies happen; people get hurt or die; and you suffer and get old. Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding. You don’t ever let go of the thread.
William Stafford
By Bea Potgieter – Registered Clinical Psychologist in Independent Practice
Children’s Book Author, Professional Speaker & Poet B.Soc.Sc.; B.Soc.Sc.Hon.Psych.; M.Soc.Sc.Clin.Psych.(UFS) 2002 PS 0080128; PR. No.: 0108375 Life is about experiencing ourselves, people and situations fully – in “High Definition”. We are here on a wonderful journey of unfolding: a journey of connection to that which is infinitely precious within us. Our purpose is to discover and/or uncover the authentic energy within us and how it wishes to manifest through us. For this we need to be fully present in the moment: physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. That requires us to be fully connected to what lies within us and with what is outside us. In the words of James Hollis: “…the quality of all of our relationships is a direct function of our relationship to ourselves. The best thing we can do for our relationships and the transcendent, then, is to render our relationship to ourselves more conscious.”
Photography by Anela If an imbalance exists within us, it will spill over into the context/world outside us. We cannot have meaningful interactions with others, live purposefully and in harmony with our environment, if we are disconnected from ourselves. Being fully present in the world and our relationships require us to gather up the pieces of ourselves that got disconnected or lost along the way. Wounding, pain and trauma from the past will prevent us from being present if we do not deal with it. To suppress and deny the effects of unresolved issues uses up a lot of energy, robbing us of the opportunity to fully experience life. To heal the past we are required to start an honest conversation with ourselves.
First, we need to acknowledge the strong, intimate and dynamic relationship/connection between our minds, our environment, our past and what manifests in our bodies. Our mental and physical health is interconnected, they affect one another. “Nothing is To be continued in our January Issue illogical, everything is psychological, that
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Photography by Anela is if we can discern the affective state from which it has arisen.” – James Hollis
Marion Woodman.
Many physical conditions will have a psychological origin and thus will be unsuccessfully treated if the underlying causes and roots are not identified. Of course most people are not aware of the psychological pain, trauma and conflicts residing in their psyche (soul), but they may acutely be aware of the physical ailments, aches and pains in their body. Unable to make the connection, the consequences may be severe. I see many cases where the body becomes a dumping ground for all the stuff we refuse to deal with psychologically. If the psyche is unable to express itself fully, it will find expression through the body. Our bodies serve as maps to our psychological pain, trauma and unresolved conflicts. Trauma, emotional pain, long-held resentment, anger, bitterness, hurt, fear, guilt, feelings Our bodies seem to tell the story of what of unworthiness, abandonment, we do not always want to listen to. “The helplessness, powerlessness, loss, anger, body is like an elaborate metaphor. One betrayal, rejection are all feeling states may be able to taste and not swallow, that can have an effect on our body’s like the anorexic, or to swallow and not reproductive-, immune-, circulatory-, integrate, like the bulimic or obese.” – Through years of practice, further training and my personal psychotherapy, I can confirm with Freud that the body serves as a map to the unconscious. Many psychologists and other professionals have since Freud confirmed and elaborated on the body-mind connection and today many including myself firmly believe that to understand what is happening in the body, one need to understand what lies in a person’s psyche. In most of the cases I work with in my practice, the body would manifest psychological trauma, conflicts and pain in physical illnesses and conditions. Most clients would first present with a physical / medical concern to a medical doctor before being referred to a psychologist.
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Photography by Anela digestive-, respiratory and nervous systems. “If my colon is in pain because of anxiety, then that organ is not just a piece of biologically functioning flesh. It has some link with consciousness and a particular mode of expression.” Thomas Moore: The Body’s Poetics of Illness in Care of the Soul Many painful emotions associated to childhood traumatic experiences such as abandonment, rejection, abuse, feeling unloved, neglected and many more get repressed. Research has revealed the powerful relationship between these emotional experiences during childhood and the consequential dire effects of such experiences on a person’s psychological and physical wellbeing later in adulthood. The research also showed a far higher incidence in the development of addictive behaviour in those who had experienced adverse childhood experiences. This is considered as a form of self-medication for unresolved emotional pain.
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“The separation of psychology from the premises of biology is purely artificial, because the human psyche lives in indissoluble union with the body.” – CARL JUNG, Factors Determining Human Behavior Emotions that are repressed, ignored, or denied, that never find expression, or were never fully acknowledged, runs like a torrent river deep within us and thus requires our focussed attention. I am often asked why we repress these emotions and psychological pain. Most often it is because: a) The environment, in which we were brought up, wasn’t supportive of the expression of such emotions. It was wrong, bad or disallowed. It would have probably led to rejection, disapproval or further abuse from caregivers. b) The emotions caused such a great deal of discomfort within our systems and without the necessary language, ability to express it, became too overwhelming. Survival would have necessitated the suppression of such emotions.
Photography by Anela c) Often these emotions manifest in our bodies because we are unable to identify or express what we are really feeling. Children will mostly manifest their emotional distress in their bodies because they lack the ability or freedom to express it or access to someone who cares and won’t just dismiss, diminish or minimize their feelings.
re-surface through physical symptoms or illness and/or strange, unpredictable behaviour, projection, as well as relationship difficulties. These are signs that we need to turn inward and resolve our unfinished business. I have worked with many people who complained of physical symptoms, chronic pain, and other illnesses which could not be explained or treated medically. The “The body is a multilingual being. It symptoms and pain started speaks through its colour and its temperdisappearing as they worked through ature, the flush of recognition, the glow the psychological origins of the bodily of love, the ash of pain, the heat of manifestations, during the process of arousal, the coldness of nonconviction. . psychotherapy. It is often easier to seek . . It speaks through the leaping of the help through the body than to seek help heart, the falling of the spirits, the pit at psychologically. We refer to the link the centre, and rising hope.” between psychological pain and Clarissa Pinkola Estés physical pain/illness as psychosomatics. That which we resist, will persist. Unfortunately, repressing, denying or ignoring emotions does not make them go away….they do sometimes appear to have disappeared, but only because it was absorbed by our body. Much later these repressed emotions need to find an outlet and they will eventually
“Since a complex has a quantum of energy, charged by history, it always manifests in the body.” – James Hollis We may not be aware of what we have repressed or what it means and therefore we may need the help of a professional to facilitate this process of self-discovery and – healing. It is December 2014
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Photography by Anela important to do everything we can to restore our soul to wholeness. We will not be able to live our lives to our fullest potential, nor connect in meaningful ways to others if there is still old, stale, toxic energy caught up in old wounds. “It is amazing how many hints and guides and intuitions for living come to the sensitive person who has ears to hear what his body is saying.” – Rollo May
emphasised the importance of stimulating a person’s own healing energies. “The body always leads us home . . . if we can simply learn to trust sensation and stay with it long enough for it to reveal appropriate action, movement, insight, or feeling.” – Pat Ogden
I truly believe that people have the innate capacity to heal and grow towards authentic being in this world. It The ancient art of healing is built on the however requires commitment, premise that the body has innate perseverance and hard work. There are wisdom and that it knows exactly what it many pathways to healing, regardless of needs to heal. All it requires is an optimal which you choose, but it must be a environment wherein this healing can process aiming to restore soul, body and take place. It is essentially about connection to natural flow to wholeness. stimulating the recuperative powers of There is however, an important aspect in the person suffering into restorative healing that has been separated from action. In the ancient healing processes and ignored in the healing process and bodily processes were aroused and that is our relationship with Earth. focused on through intensities of “Psychology, so dedicated to suggestion and or touch. The body-mind awakening human consciousness, relationship/unity was always needs to wake itself up to one of the emphasised. To affect one meant to most ancient human truths: we cannot affect the other. Pasteur said near the be studied or cured apart from the end of his life that: “the microbe is planet.” -James Hillman nothing, the terrain is everything.” He
106 Aneis de Vida December 2014