Conscious Living Magazine Winter Issue 93

Australia's Leading Magazine For Sustainable Healthy Living

Established since 1989 Issue 93 Winter 2015

Christine McArdle Vibrational Art

Kartron

Temple Sciences

Lyn Fava

Feet Reading

Adam Barralet Crystals For All Seasons

DR SANDRA CABOT Body Types and Weight Loss

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CONTENTS

ISSUE 93 WINTER 2015

FEATURES 6

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34 Air Carbon - Take a closer look

Awakening Peace and the World - by Isira Sananda In this extract from her latest book, Awakening You : Embodying Peace Love Freedom On Earth , Isira Sananda provides the inspiration many have been seeking for a return to peace, love and freedom on earth

BUSINESS & CAREER 35 Slow Money – Learn more

Temple Sciences - by Kartron Kartron’s greater mission is to restore the Temples of Antiquity and return balance to the Earth using the Ancient Temple Sciences’

36 Sort My Money - David Rankin starts you on the journey

GROWTH & TRANSFORMATION

COMMUNITY 3

39 Be the Change - Dr Ari Diskin shares his perspective

Sydney Conscious Living Conference This conference has the goal of supporting businesses engaged in the co-creation of a sustainable conscious world of peace harmony and abundance.

41 Ghosts and Ghoumas – Extract from Kye Crow's latest book

FOOD & NUTRITION

44 Divide Union:The Ultimate Flame – Tala Scott

10 Why a Well Balanced Diet Is not Enough -Martin Oliver Reports 14 Yummy Healhty Raw Desserts: Deliscious and easy to make

- Raw Food Dessert -By Melissa Jane 16 Running on a Vegan Diet - Janette and Alan Murray - Remarkable story

HEALTH & WELLBEING 18 Body Types and Weight Loss - Dr Sandra Cabot Secrets Revealed 20 ProBiotics - Dr Sherrill Sellman 24 The Art of Feet Reading - Lyn Fava

PSYCHIC & SPIRITUAL

45 Crystals for Seasons - Adam Barralet 48 2015 Numerological Predictions for us in the months ahead - Sandrah Wilson 51 Opening to Channel - Sally Ananda Gadsden 52 Strange than Fiction – Living an Extraordinary Life - Carolynn Milne

REVIEWS 53 Book Reviews

ECO LIVING

54 Music Reviews

28 Kindness Warrior - Phil Wollen

55 Vibrational Art: How Surrender Led to a New Art Form - Christine McArdle

30 Take Action Against Greenhouse Gases - Martin Oliver

58 Ice Dragon - A Short Story by Claudio Silvano

Read more online at www.consciousliving.net.au 1 CONSCIOUS LIVING MAGAZINE ISSUE 93

Editor FROM THE

Co-Creating a New Reality Healthy Sustainable Lifestyle Issue 93 Winter 2015 Publisher and Editor Patricia Hamilton patricia@consciousliving.net.au T: 08 98 482748 Assistant Editor Colleen Clay editor@consciousliving.net.au Client Services Jacqueline Walker jacquie@consciousliving.net.au T: 08 98482748 Mobile: 0427 277 803 Exhibition & Advertising Sales National Patricia Hamilton patricia@consciousliving.net.au T: 08 98482748 Mobile: 0418 955 396 Subscriptions & Memberships Jacquie Walker info@consciousliving.net.au Contributing Writers: Adam Barralet, Sandra Cabot, Ari Diskin, Mark Doneddu, Lyn Fava,Sally Ananda Gadston, Melissa Jane. Janet Mawdesley, Christine McArdle, Patrick McCormick,David Rankin,Sherrill Sellman, Will Shannon, Martin Oliver, Claudio Silvano, Sandrah Wilson, Philip Wollen Graphic Design Paul Mulaa Images: Fotolia Publisher Conscious Living Co-Creations Pty Ltd ATF the PH Trust ABN 30 064 748 794 Unit 5/39 Strickland St, Denmark , WA 6333 PO Box 527 Denmark WA 6333 Tel 61 8 9848 2748 Fax 61 8 9848 1198 info@consciousliving.net.au www.consciousliving.net.au Disclaimer The publisher and editor do not necessarily endorse the opinions expressed by individual writers or advertisers. Editorial advice is nonspecific and readers are advised to seek professional advice for individual issues.

Conscious Living Purpose To facilitate the expansion of consciousness and to co-create a world of harmony, love and wellbeing Copyright Conscious Living Magazine 2015 All rights reserved ISSN 10336826

Winter is here and with it comes change and transformation A new year has brought with it new directions and change. 2015 sees Conscious Living Magazine become a truly Digital magazine. Our print magazine will only be available to subscribers (Print on Demand).

We are excited to announce the Conscious Living Show on Soul Traveller Radio.

It opens up exciting possibilities for interviews and sharing the stories with a world wide audience though our digital magazine. We are looking to create a new format that will include audio and video links with live interviews. This new direction has inspired us to join forces with Soul Traveller Radio and the launching of the Conscious Living Show in April this year. The other big news story on the Conscious Living front is the launching of the Conscious Living Show on Spiritnet.tv. You can join us and be part of the audience at our expo events.

In this issue you will meet Kartron, transmitted through Patrick McCormick, who talks to us about Ascension, the Temple Sciences and our evolutionary journey.

Sally Ananda Gadsden, visionary healer and channel of Divine Light shares with us how to open up to become a channel for the divine. Our health expert, Dr Sandra Cabot shares her secrets for successful weight loss, looking at how our “body type” and diet affects how our body stores fats. Dr Ari Diskin looks at how we Can Be The Change – how we can use our pain body to bring positive change and healing into our lives.

Also in this issue find out what Dr Sherrill Sellman has to share about Probiotics and how these healthy bacteria help us maintain a healthy immune system.

For the food conscious you will love Melissa Jane’s Raw Dessert Recipes that are easy to make and delicious.

With ease joy and love

Patricia Hamilton Editor and Publisher

New Heart Centred Conference First of its Kind in Australia A heart centred business conference to be held in Sydney in August this year may be a first for Australia. Titled Creating a Successful, Sustainable Heart Centred Business/ Career/ Lifestyle it is designed to gather together business owners and employees engaged in purpose-orientated occupations, including renewable energy, nutrition, education, health and wellness and spiritual education.

Conscious Living Co-Creations founder Patricia Hamilton is the innovator of the conference, which will be held from August 21 to 23 at Australian Technology Park Conference Centre Locomotive St, Eveleigh.

During the conference, keynote speaker sessions will be broadcast on digital media.

“Our global audience connects with us through the World Wide Web via the Conscious Living Show on www. spiritnet.tv” Patricia said.

Since the 1980s, through her Conscious Living magazine, Conscious Living expos, workshops, seminars and speaker events that included international trainers and authors, Patricia has provided leadership and vision for

“It is essential to move our culture away from consumer ‘unconsciousness’ to a creative consciousness and cocreate a world that contributes to the wellbeing of all ” spiritual growth and lifestyle choices for a sustainable future.

“It is essential to move our culture away from consumer ‘unconsciousness’ to a creative consciousness and co-create a world that contributes to the wellbeing of all,” Patricia said.

“This conference has the goal of supporting businesses engaged in the co-creation of a sustainable conscious world of peace harmony and abundance. It is designed around the five pillars or elements that we integrate into all Conscious Living events: Earth; Food; Health; Arts and Spirit.

“In line with these five elements, the conference will connect practitioners, authors, trainers and individuals who are evolving a new paradigm for heart centred collaborative business “.

“It is a golden opportunity to exchange experiences and ideas; to develop ongoing collaborative associations and to form a community of business owners and employees

with similar ethics in running their businesses. We are all in this together; collectively striving for a more peaceful, kinder, ecologically healthy world ”.

The keynote speaker program is packed full of leaders in their fields.

They are keen to inspire, educate and empower others with ideas, tools, strategies and connections for developing and growing successful purpose-filled businesses and careers.

There will be Q & A opportunities at the end of the speaker sessions and there are follow up coaching and training sessions included in the Conference Ticket package.

Friday night will see the opening of the Conference with a FREE event which is open to all Expo visitors as well as Conference participants. The free opening night event features musician and voice coach, Chris James together with Yoga Teacher, Donna Gianniotis and Robert Kirby speaking on the Heart of Relationships .

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The Conscious Living Conference Sydney August 21-23 Friday 6:30pm-8:30pm Saturday 9:30am-6:30pm Sunday 9:30am-5pm 5 Sessions, 3 Workshops & 15 Keynote Speakers

Chris James is a renowned professional singer, musician and voice teacher who works with individuals and groups. His broad experience has taken him into schools, major corporations and institutions, including the NSW police service.

Russell Setright is an accredited Naturopath, Medical Herbalist and member of the advisory committee NSW Oncology Group, Cancer Institute, NSW Health.

Robert Kirby, of Heart Centred Living, has run training programs for more than 26 years. Robert holds a BSc in business and psychology;an MA with a dual major of clinical psychology and psychosomatic medicine; and an MBA.

Isira Sananda is an Enlightened Teacher and author of a new book titled, Awaken You.

Shakti Durga is a lawyer turned Guru, author and founder of the international charitable spiritual school, Shanti Mission.

Quentin Strauli is the founder of the Australian College of Traditional Medicine and Director of Glebe Healing Centre and a leader in body- mind therapies.

Eloise King co-founded the world’s largest event online for wellness business owners. which attracted 12,000+ people from across the globe through her intimate understanding of the power in joint venture partnerships and online digital and marketing channels.

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Lorri Loca is a business advisor, teacher, speaker and mentor specialising in food marketing: Foodie Dream to Reality, 5 Steps to starting your Food

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Extraordinary Leaders Authors and Presenters

Heather Pope combines an extensive career working as a Senior Executive in the Corporate world with a passion for Women’s Health.

Nikki White is the founder and director of the Wellness Hubs. A practitioner and blogger, she is a small business efficiency strategist and spiritualintuitive.

Mason Taylor is the owner of a superfood company, SuperFeast, a health educator, speaker, writer, and wellness revolutionary.

Cameron Little designs and applies sustainability solutions for environmental, social and economic benefit.

Katrena Friel is a Success Coach , Corporate Trainer and Executive Coach

Jeevi Ramtel – The Laughing Chef is a Certified Raw Food Chef and Instructor with Hannah – The Raw Model – Raw Food teacher and Menu Designer.

Get EARLY BIRD TICKETS NOW go to www.sydney.consciouslivingexpo.com.au Ron Ragel and Vicki Hansen ( India Jiva) are composers and performers of Sacred Music. Ron has recently released his book, The Way of the Sacred Warrior.

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Donna Gianniot is is a Yoga Instructor andEsoteric Healing Practitioner. With a diagnosis of breast cancer at the age of 33, she started to question that there must be more to health and well-being than diet, exercise, meditation and yoga.

T: 0898482748 F : ConsciousLivingFestival

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Feature

AWAKENING, PEACE AND THE WORLD

BY ISIRA SANANDA

In a time of global chaos and uncertainty, there is no better time than now for awakening YOU! In this extract from her latest book, Awakening You : Embodying Peace Love Freedom On Earth , Isira Sananda provides the inspiration many have been seeking for a return to peace, love and freedom on earth As a global family we are clearly on the threshold of enormous upheaval, which beckons us either to greater fear or to a shift in our consciousness.

At this time, it is evident that many of us are looking for answers and feeling disillusioned by the degree of conflict, division and environmental destruction In our own lives and at large. We have expended great energy on criticising each other and asserting forceful power for the sake of greed, or even in the name of peace. We have vied for a position of the best politics, the greatest truth, the best religion or the right way. Our efforts have focused extensively on the identity and material possessions of our human being-ness and have largely overlooked the essential truth of being human. We have discussed our ideals, politics and philosophies endlessly, only to find that we – and importantly, our leaders – are still trappedin unconscious beliefs and controlling behaviours. We have been, and still are, mostly driven by the ego.

In the quest for power we overlook the most essential powers there are to our humanity: consciousness and compassion.

We are the people of the world, yet are we conscious of what is happening around us every day? Are we conscious of our actions and their effects?

Conscious of the growing imbalances of this world? Conscious of our world heading toward a potential abyss? Are we truly conscious? Where is our compassion? Are we awake? At the end of

the day, when we take off the hats and the cloaks of individual identities, we remember that we are all human. It is only when we meet each other as such that we find the place of unity where all images are respected, even in our diversity, and are held as equal, as one.

This place is the heart.

THE HEART IS WHERE OUR TRUE HUMAN POWER ABIDES. Here, true wisdom, compassion and cooperation are born. Here, we transcend the ego and awaken consciousness. When we return to the wisdom of our hearts, we see that we are no different from each other. It is when we follow the way of the heart that we find our common spirit where all pretence of superiority or inferiority becomes obsolete. We all have families, we all long for peace and wellbeing and we all strive for our basic dignity of human rights and respect. We are all worthy.

We all have a part to play in life. And, most significantly, we only have this one world to share. A higher awareness waits in the heart of each and every one of us. This awakened one, conscious awareness, is waiting in the ever-present silence within. Awakened consciousness is the universal power that will return us to harmony and oneness. This is our true leader. The true answers we seek can only come from conscious awareness.

With awakening we discover that our true capacity for human greatness begins to emerge as compassion in all its colours: loving kindness, equal rights, respect, and constructive

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change for growth. We uncover our largely untapped potential for true hope, courage, transcendence and higher vision, even when faced with the greatest adversities. We are able to

Awakened consciousness is the universal power that will return us to harmony and oneness. This is our true leader. set out again on a true path, to return to harmony. Underneath all our fears and attachments, it is harmony that we seek.

Eventually every human comes to face one of two possibilities: either to accept an existence beset with disillusionment and suffering, or to realise that every soul was born to be happy. This leads us to the single most relevant choice: love or fear. When we choose fear we remain unconscious.

When we choose love, we regain greater consciousness.

MAKING A CONSCIOUS SHIFT FROM UNCONSCIOUS BEHAVIOURS TO AWAKENED AWARENESS If we are to create a world of love and harmony, for ourselves and each other, we must make a conscious shift from our unconscious behaviours to awakened awareness. We must awaken ourselves, humanity, without ever using violence to achieve any objective. The only way to change the world for the better is by uplifting the consciousness and the heart of

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each individual, of all people. When critical mass is achieved, the politicians and the business sector will follow.

That is when real change will begin.

Only consciousness, which is free of the mind, can reveal our true nature.

Ultimately we must renounce the belief in separation and turn from concepts to our own inner being.

When we look within we enter a different dimension of seeing. We enter the presence of conscious awareness that releases inner vision – insight.

With insight comes true and authentic feeling. With authentic feeling comes experience. And with experience comes knowing. With the experience of knowing, our doubts and the rejection of ourselves as love and peace dissolve.

For this to happen, commitment, application and vigilant self-awareness are required.

The habits of maintaining limited beliefs and looking outside ourselves are deeply rooted and compulsive. Rest assured, letting go of these habits is well worth the effort. The prize is the experience of awakening in one’s own process, of gaining one’s own true Self, something that no other can either give or take away. It is so great and immeasurable in its joy, love and peace that once we are self-realised, whatever appeared as suffering no longer has any relevance. Within the authenticity of our own realisation, we transcend all doubts and we discover that what we were seeking was, is and always will be within us.

IT IS NEVER THE TEACHER WHO SETS US FREE I remember being asked, “How do you know you are awake?” That is like asking, “How do you know you’ve eaten the apple?” Once you have looked at the apple, touched it, smelled it, picked it from the tree and tasted it, do you ask how you know you’ve eaten the apple?

However, without the direct experience, questions remain. We have been taught dependence on someone else’s experience. I could tell you, “Believe me, the apple is…” and you could blindly believe what I say but you will still have a seed of doubt until you yourself eat the apple. A master’s words or examples are only ever a signpost. The signpost is pointing us towards truth,

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to awakened awareness. It is never the teacher who sets us free, it is our exploration of what the teacher reflects back to us – our true essence – that leads us to experience and know the truth that sets us free.

Discovering our innermost power and awareness is a journey. Yes, by the nature of habit, it seems natural to keep looking for answers with the mind, to keep looking for answers from the past, or to project hope into the future. Yet despite this, every person who has encountered the liberating power of awareness has come to realise the very same thing: The where is HERE. The HOW is always in the NOW. The NOW is beyond time, beyond the mind.

The NOW is the source and presence of all that is True.

It is when we meet this, consciously, that everything we have tried to understand, the peace and love we have been seeking, is discovered in the very midst of every living moment.

Isira was born with awakened awareness. Through a series of profound spiritual events, the course of Isira’s life led her to follow her greatest passion – supporting humanity to awaken into wisdom and love and transform the world.

She is a spiritual counsellor and teacher and author of her much celebrated Autobiography Buddha on the Dance Floor along with many other published works. Isira will be a guest on the Conscious Living Show at the Expo in Sydney August 21-23 and will present a Workshop on Awakening You . Tickets available from www.consciouslivingexpo.com.au For more information and her books visit www.isira.com

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Ascension and Temple Sciences

Transmitter for Kartron, Patrick McCormick was a recent guest speaker with host Shayne Locke on Soul Traveller radio’s Conscious Living Show (March 24 ) brought to you by the Conscious Living Festivals. Here is some insight into what was revealed.

D

uring Shayne Locke’s first interview with Patrick Kartron spoke directly, describing his own mission as “Putting Humpty (Dumpty) together again”.

A Being from the Realm of Essence, Kartron, has been monitoring our world for the past 10,000 years. He entered our physical world in 1994. Basically, this was in response to an imminent threat that could have destroyed the Earth: shadow forces had hacked the planet’s timeline, creating false events artificially extending their reign and stressing matter.

Patrick’s path to becoming the ‘Transmitter’ for Kartron began in August 1987, when he experienced a fundamental quantum transformation – spiritually and physically – on Bell Rock Vortex in Sedona, Arizona during the Harmonic Convergence.

BRINGING HEAVEN TO EARTH In October that year, he met his mentor and they embarked on a

Working to restore the Divine Plan for the Earth and Humanity

Kartron saw mankind cluttered by complications from its distorted Earthly intellect. He swept off the table all religion, belief, philosophy, psychology, methods, consciousness, process and systems.

The question was asked: “What do all humans have in common?” Three things emerged: Access, Movement and Being

SYSTEM OF PRACTICAL DIVINITY Kartron created three primary methods: the God Gate; the Pillar of Transformation: and the Still Point Within: a system of ‘Practical Divinity’ implanted within the human psyche – and so simple anyone could use it to change his or her lives.

According to Kartron: “For those upon the Seeking Path its time to Awaken our God Self and apply what we've learned.

25-year journey of awakening to re-establish the original Divine Plan of bringing Heaven to Earth. That fulfilment of ancient Prophecy began in 1989 within the Lemurian Mountains known as the Hawaiian Islands.

While on this journey, Patrick was connecting with and receiving transmissions from Divine Entities, Beings, Archangels, Ascended Masters, Engineers from Motherships, Divine Councils and Heavenly Hosts involved in the ‘Greater Work’. For many of the people Patrick was working with, this resulted in spiritual and physical transformations.

When Kartron entered Patrick’s life in 1994, another chapter began of working with the Heavenly Hosts to restore the Divine Plan for the Earth and Humanity, by correcting time itself.

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“With all of life's Challenges, it is easy to not know who you truly are. The old methods of finding out why you are truly here can take years. In order to access our Destiny, we have to raise our energy to match our Destiny. This means clearing all issues which are not in alignment with that Higher Path, and that can be challenging.

“For thousands of years the ancient Temple Sciences were present on Earth but they fell out of balance when the Temples of Antiquity were destroyed.

“By combining consciousness and modern technology these metaphysical

sciences can now be restored and the world can be brought back into harmony with the Cosmos.”

Kartron does not just give information from the Light Realms, he conducts transformational energy work to facilitate Humanity’s awakening into ever expanding levels of consciousness. The current transmissions from

Kartron’s greater mission is to restore the Temples of Antiquity and return balance to the Earth using the Ancient Temple Sciences’ Kartron involve training those who are now awakening into their True Purpose aligned with Heaven on Earth again

RESTORING THE TEMPLES OF ANTIQUITY A key part of Kartron’s greater mission is to restore the Temples of Antiquity at Sacred Sites around the world, returning balance to the Earth using the Ancient Temple Sciences.

To accomplish this, Kartron has teamed up with Sole', a Dominion Solar Logos Angel received through Rebekah Pruchnic.

‘Sole will radiate the Light of Heaven from these Sacred Sites to illuminate the world. These Temple Awakenings will be Web Cast live when possible.

For more information visit www.kartron.org or facebook.com/kartron1. https://soundcloud.com/soul-traveller-radio/sets/ conscious-living-show

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Food & Nutrition

A Well Balanced Diet Is Not Enough

BY MARTIN OLIVER

According to mainstream wisdom, you should be able to get all your nutrition from food alone. It sounds like reasonable advice, and seems to make sense. Yet under scrutiny, this straightforward message starts to fall apart. We need to maximise our nutrition in order to optimise health outcomes, but what we receive from food is often depleted for a list of reasons.

THE VITAL ROLE OF SOIL Inevitably, food quality is linked to the soil. Healthy soil is rich in humus, holds a lot of water, is dark-coloured, and commonly has a spongy texture.

The underground ecosystem of healthy soil involves decaying plant and animal matter, bacteria, fungi, nematodes (tiny worms), earthworms and insects.

Cooperation between bacteria, fungi and plant roots (in the zone known as the rhizosphere) plays a key role in transferring nutrients from soil to plant.

Unfortunately modern farming methods have had severe effects on this cycle. Monocultures grown year after year in the same location deplete nutrients from the soil without replacing them, unless crop rotation systems are followed. Synthetic fertilisers destroy these healthy humus ecosystems while making the soil more acidic.

With an emphasis on providing the three core nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to crops, chemical fertilisers fail to supply other important trace minerals. In addition, pesticides and GM crops negatively impact soil organisms.

Such practices tend to lead to an unhealthy soil that is dry and compacted; today’s best estimate is that about 40 per cent of the planet’s soil is degraded to some degree.

VITAMINS AND MINERALS GO MISSING A vegetable today looks very much like the same vegetable 100 years ago.

But in reality, the two are probably quite different, given that significant losses of vitamins and minerals have been measured over the decades. A comparison of official statistics carried out by the Nutrition Security Institute in the US shows that the steepest drop-offs in nutrients occurred during the first half of the 20th Century, coinciding with a major shift towards industrialised farming.

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Official statistics in the US show that the steepest drop-offs in crops’ nutrients occurred during the first half of the 20th Century Analysis of American apples reveals a 96 per cent nosedive in iron levels between 1914 and1992; a total of 24 apples would have to be consumed at the end of this period to match the iron content that was formerly available in one. Other major losses from apples over the same period included phosphorus (85%), magnesium (83%), and

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calcium (48%).

In the UK, data between 1940 and1991 found that vegetables had lost much of their copper (76%), sodium (49%), and calcium (46%). For meats, large mineral depletions were also identified, notably iron (54%), calcium (41%), and sodium (30%). Losses among fruit were comparatively lower.

Other related figures show a steep decline in minerals across a range of British vegetables in the short interval between 1978 and 1991, especially copper (72%) and zinc (59%).

In Australia, soils are old and their minerals are depleted, with common deficiencies including selenium, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus and iodine (best supplemented with seaweed, kelp or iodised salt).

A set of 1948-1991 figures from the CSIRO report The Diminishing Nutritional Values of Australian Grown Fruit and Vegetables paints a very sobering picture, with major depletion of beta-carotene (the precursor of Vitamin A) in carrots (up to 99.6%), calcium in potatoes (89%), magnesium in broccoli (82%), and vitamin C in apples (80%).

STORAGE AND COOKING From this compromised baseline,

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how food is stored and cooked further affects its nutritional quality. The primary message here is freshness, given that for vegetables and fruit the loss of nutrients begins at harvesting. At farmers’ markets, the food is typically harvested early on the same day, making them a good choice. At the other end of scale, Australian tests on supermarket apples found that they had spent between 9 and 10 months in cold storage, after which time much of their antioxidant value would probably have been lost.

While food is being stored in a fridge, its value steadily diminishes.

Buying food that has been subjected to a preservation technique is one way to get around this, although canning is associated with significant drops in vitamin C levels. In the case of freezing, however, loss of nutrition is limited.

Compared to raw food, cooking usually depletes the nutritive value of food to a degree, but in some cases it

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Cooked tomatoes yield more of the antioxidant lycopene, and cauliflower and cabbage exposed to heat yield the compound indole

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is enhanced. Cooked tomatoes yield more of the antioxidant lycopene, and cauliflower and cabbage exposed to heat yield the compound indole.

Understandably, steaming generally retains nutrients better than boiling, and ‘waterless cookware’ is promoted as the more superior option.

THE PROBLEM OF MALABSORPTION The saying ‘You are what you eat’ could be more accurately revised to say ‘You are what you digest’. A number of conditions can be linked to nutrient malabsorption, including: • Food allergy and food intolerance, especially coeliac disease, which can cause deficiency anaemia; • Crohn’s disease; • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS; • Low levels of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, which tends to become more of an issue with age; • Imbalances in intestinal balance (dysbiosis) where bad bacteria get an upper hand. This can resolved via probiotics; • Parasites or helicobacter pylori bacteria in the stomach; and • Stress, which has an inhibiting effect on digestion.

Malabsorption symptoms include bloating, fatigue, and abnormal stools, but fortunately there are solutions to most of the causes.

GOING BEYOND THE RDI In Australia, nutrition was until recently measured against the RDI (Recommended Dietary Intake.) The RDI, which had its roots in the World War II rationing era, was once a oncesize-fits-all recommendation based on a hypothetical healthy individual, but has been replaced with a more flexible Nutrient Reference Value (NRV) range.

The NRV model is problematic because it focuses on a minimum intake designed to prevent disease, which is generally nowhere near enough to achieve optimum health.

Groups requiring added nutrition include smokers, heavy drinkers, takers of some medications including antibiotics, the elderly, and those who are pregnant or lactating. Added to this are people who drink coffee, or who eat a lot of refined sugar in their diet.

When aiming for maximum nutrition, the basic message is to eat a healthy balanced diet made up of a diverse range of foods. Particularly important is a generous quantity of fruits and vegetables, promoted in the ‘Go for 2&5’ health education campaign. Given that minerals tend to be concentrated close to the skin of vegetables and fruits, it suggested that we avoid peeling where possible.

Consider buying organic for produce with vastly reduced surface chemical residues. Another tip is to avoid buying pre-cut produce, and only chopping it immediately before use. For nuts, seeds, grains and legumes,

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Food & Nutrition

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Enhanced flavour is an indicator that food is higher in nutrition, because of increased levels of antioxidants known as polyphenols’ pre-soaking boosts nutrient values while de-activating most of the anti-nutritional phytic acid. Another important strategy less commonly promoted by the mainstream is to add to the diet highly nutrient-dense foods that may include goji berries, strawberries, liver, seaweed, kale, watercress, spinach, broccoli, red capsicum, and molasses, among others. As many people intuitively know, enhanced flavour is an indicator that food is higher in nutrition, as it relates to the increased levels of antioxidants known as polyphenols.

Nutritional strategies are easier to track and compare with online calculators such as MyFitnessPal and FitDay. THE SUPPLEMENT SPIN A further obvious step would be to take would be to take a multivitamin and mineral supplement. However, recent stories in the mainstream media warn us earnestly that buying a multivitamin is a waste of money, and some add a dose of largely baseless scaremongering about possible harm.

Most of these headlines derive from a set of three studies and an editorial published in 2013 in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. As could be guessed, the full picture is less clear-cut. The US-based Life Extension Foundation criticised one of the studies for dismissing statistically significant reductions in serious heart-related events among vitamin-takers by setting the bar on statistical significance excessively high. It also pointed to design and methodology flaws, including high dropout rates and the use of low-dose vitamins with a weak therapeutic benefit.

Other earlier supplement studies have showed improvements in health outcomes, including the Physicians’ Health Study II in the US, and the Supplementation in Vitamins and Mineral Antioxidants trial that looked at the cognitive performance of French adults.

Australian Government websites, such as Better Health Channel in Victoria, tend to discourage the use of supplementation, except for groups of people who need extra nutrition.

Even if this advice were valid today, the continuation of downward trends in food values would certainly make supplements necessary in the future.

This anti-supplement guidance is consistent with the mandatory wording

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Is spending money on supplements and multivitamins waste of money? in supplement advertising that these products should not replace a healthy balanced diet. While this may be sensible advice, there is a deeper subtext conveying the misleading idea that good nutrition is a finite quantity, to be supplied by either diet or a supplement.

A better approach would be to consider the benefits from both.

For people eating unhealthy diets, a supplement is essential. For those on relatively healthy diets, many of the nutrients in a supplement would be excreted, but, in the words of the Harvard School of Public Health website, a daily multivitamin serves as a great insurance policy.

Multivitamin and mineral supplement

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REBUILDING THE SOIL In America, the Nutrition Security Institute has a goal of restoring the fertility of the world’s soils, and it advocates a return to biological farming techniques.

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Regenerative agrculture rebuilds the soil and helps to reverse climate change by sequestering unwanted carbon from the atmosphere'

Christine Jones is an Australian soils ecologist, and an outspoken advocate of a regenerative agriculture that rebuilds the soil and helps to reverse climate change by sequestering unwanted carbon from the atmosphere. Jones points out that just a one per cent increase in the carbon content of a square metre of soil will allow the top 30 centimetres to absorb an extra two buckets of water.

Beneficial sustainable agriculture techniques include: • Cultivating groundcovers to prevent loss of soil carbon; • Sustainable conversation tillage that retains soil structure; • Biochar, a substance made from organic matter that is converted to a type of charcoal through heating at a low temperature, and which when

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added to the soil can more than double its yield; • Compost tea, which involves extracting beneficial bacteria, fungi, protozoa and nematodes from compost via a brewing process.

Another type of compost tea is made up of seaweed minerals; • The use of rock minerals or rock dust as a soil remineralisation boost; • P A Yeomans’ Keyline system, a contour ploughing technique for catching water runoff that builds soil quality quickly; and • Natural Sequence Farming, originated by agricultural pioneer Peter Andrews.

A 2014 American study by the Rodale Institute found that if all of Earth’s agricultural land were switched over to regenerative techniques, nearly 40 per cent of the planet’s annual carbon emissions could be sequestered.

BUY ORGANIC The mass media likes to debunk the idea that organically grown foods have benefits over conventionally grown foods. However, studies frequently identify a higher level of nutrientdensity in organic food than in its conventionally grown counterpart. In a recent meta-analysis carried out at the Newcastle University in the UK, a total of 343 studies were examined.

These found significantly higher levels

of antioxidants in organic crops and foods, including flavanones (69%), anthocyanins (51%), and flavonols (50%). Studies overseas point to links between organic farming and humus-building improvements in soil quality. For biodynamic farming, a more advanced organic growing method involving eight different field and compost preparations, the beneficial effects are even more pronounced.

Data for the same plot spanning at least a decade would help gauge whether organic techniques have succeeded in retaining – or even boosting – the pre-industrial-farming food nutrient levels that chemical farming techniques have steadily squandered.

Figures are unfortunately hard to track down.

At each stage in the food growingharvesting-storing-eating system, there is scope for further nutrition to be lost from already nutritionally depleted food, especially for the majority of the population who take a casual attitude to this health issue. To maximise health outcomes, we need to pursue multiple strategies, and to take an informed proactive attitude.

Martin Oliver is a writer and researcher based in Lismore (Northern NSW.)

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13

Food & Nutrition

Yummy Healthy Raw Desserts

BY MELISSA JANE

Melissa Jane is an author and Raw Vegan Pastry chef and founder of SuperFood Republic. After many years of battling her own health and weight issues she became completely devoted to educating herself and others on diet theories, bio-individuality and holistic wellness which lead her to launch her own super food powders product line, teas, raw cakes and cook books.

Enjoy these easy to prepare gluten free vegan friendly low sugar recipes by health coach, author and chef, Melissa Jane RAW CHOCOLATE CHILLI GANACHE

food processor and blitz for 16 seconds on high.Place into a 9.5inch spring form pan that is lined and firmly press into the base of the pan and set aside.

Filling: 1 cup of raw pre-soaked cashew nuts (soak for 2hrs) 1 can organic coconut cream 1 cup raw cacao chocolate 2 teaspoons of cayenne powder 1/2 cup organic maple syrup 1 cup melted cacao butter (pour in last and slowly into the mix) 3 tablespoons of sunflower lecithin (add last into the mix) Place first 4 ingredients into the vitamix and blend for 1-2minutes, until all smooth and blended. Slowly add the cacao butter and the lecithin.

Sprinkle goji berries on top to decorate pour into the pan and tap the pan firmly on the bench to allow the air bubbles to escape.

Place in the fridge overnight to serve.

that is lined and firmly press into the base of the pan and set aside.

Filling: 1 cup of raw pre-soaked cashew (soak for 2hrs) 1 can organic coconut cream 1 teaspoon of green matcha tea 1/2 cup xylitol sweetener 1 cup melted cacao butter (pour in last and slowly into the mix) 3 tablespoons of sunflower lecithin (add last into the mix) Place first 4 ingredients into the vitamix and blend for 1-2minutes, until all smooth and blended. Slowly add the cacao butter and the lecithin.

Sprinkle on top Pura Veda seeds and coconut for topping Pour into the pan and tape the pan firmly on the bench to allow the air bubbles to escape. Place in the fridge overnight to serve.

Raw Green Matcha Tea Cheesecake

RAW GREEN MATCHA TEA CHEESECAKE Ingredients: Raw Chocolate Chilli Ganache

Ingredients: Base: 1 cup blanched almonds 1 cup shredded coconut 7 large Medjoul dates Place all three ingredients into a

Base: 1 cup blanched almonds 1 cup shredded coconut 7 large Medjoul dates Place all three ingredients into a food processor and blitz for 16 seconds on high.

Place into a 9.5inch spring form pan

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SWEET POTATO PIE: Ingredients: Base: 1/2 cup of soaked dates 1/2 cup of activated mixed nuts (blend lightly in food processor) 1 tablespoon of agave 1 teaspoon of coconut oil (melted) add shredded coconut if desired Line a glass or ceramic dish with coconut oil and place baking paper down.

Press in the base with a wet metal spoon and place in the fridge for setting.

Filling: 2 puree sweet potato (bake the sweet potato in the oven (45min) skin on and then peel off the skin) 1 teaspoon of agave pinch of nutmeg pinch of cinnamon pinch of Himalayan Salt Topping: Keep organic coconut can in the fridge and scoop out the top (cream) whip it up lightly and pour over the top of the cooled filling decorate with pecan activated nuts.

Place in fridge (allow 2-4 hours for setting)

Sweet potato pie

RAW STRAWBERRIES & CREAM CHEESECAKE Ingredients:

Raw Strawberries & Cream Cheesecake

Base: 1 cup blanched almonds 1 cup shredded coconut 7 large Medjoul dates Place all three ingredients into a food processor and blitz for 16 seconds on high.

Place into a 9.5inch spring form pan that is lined and firmly press into the base of the pan and set aside.

Filling: 1 cup of raw pre-soaked cashew nuts (soak for 2hrs) 1 can organic coconut cream 1 teaspoon vanilla bean 1/2 cup xylitol sweetener 1 cup melted cacao butter (pour in last and slowly into the mix) 3 tablespoons of sunflower lecithin (add last into the mix) Place first 4 ingredients into the vitamix and blend for 1-2minutes, until all smooth and blended. Slowly add the cacao butter and the lecithin.

Pour into the pan and tape the pan firmly on the bench to allow the air bubbles to escape. Place in the fridge overnight to serve.

Top with fresh strawberry For more information visit www.superfoodrepublic.com

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15

Food & Nutrition

Running Vegan Boomers in their 60s run around Australia There’s deservedly a lot of ‘buzz’ around two record-creating senior citizens, raw vegan athletes Janette Murray-Wakelin and Alan Murray.

Described as Ultra-runners, they ran together around Australia, covering 15,782 kilometres, a marathon a day for 366 consecutive days, from January 1, 2013 to January 1, 2014, setting a world record.

The record was for the most consecutive marathons run by a couple more than 60 years of age fuelled entirely on a raw vegan diet, wearing barefoot shoes.

While running around Australia, their average running time was six hours each day and they tried to get at least eight hours sleep at night to help keep their energy levels up.

The aim of their marathon runs was to inspire and motivate others to make conscious lifestyle choices, promote kindness and compassion for all living beings and to raise environmental awareness for a sustainable future.

They also wanted to raise more awareness of four charities they support.

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CHEMO-FREE CANCER SURVIVOR To date, Janette is the oldest woman to have run around Australia. She is also a chemo-free cancer survivor, of more than 13 years.

Watching them ‘Protein from a plant-based running on You Tube diet… does not contribute to (Echonetdaily) health issues such as heart shows them to be surprisingly sturdily disease and cancer’ built, considering they don’t eat meat.

While filming them, a young male news reporter exclaimed: “Talk about Boomers with zip!”

Because they are raw vegans, Janette and Alan are often asked where they get their protein.

“The answer is simple,” Janette said. “The same place the

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Food & Nutrition cow gets it: from greens. Protein from a plant-based diet is healthier than protein derived from animal sources and does not contribute to health issues such as heart disease and cancer.

“We are also asked where we get our calcium or B12, or any other nutrients a person thinks to name. Again, we get all our necessary nutrients from the food we eat, just the same as animals in their natural habitat.”

ACID FORMING FOODS ELIMINATED Their 100 per cent low-fat raw vegan diet is based on ripe, fresh, organic fruits and vegetables with no animal products.

It excludes processed and junk foods, supplements, stimulants, drugs, painkillers, and ‘superfoods’.

“By eliminating all acid-forming foods and increasing the amount of alkaline could and give my body 100 per cent foods in our diet, we have attained a nutrient-laden food so that it could higher level of optimum health, improved heal, rejuvenate, revitalise and reverse our physical fitness and increased our the process. performance level, even at our age!”

“Ten years after my ‘death senJanette said. tence’, I wrote the best-selling book, They follow the 80-10-10 principle of Raw Can Cure Cancer. Prevention is the 80 per cent carbohydrates, 10 per cent key to optimum health, and everyone protein and 10 per cent fat derived from has a choice about how well they want fresh, ripe, organic fruits and vegetables.

‘I decided to do my own Janette is the author of Raw Can Cure Cancer based on her own experience with research, and discovered truths and lies about cancer’ cancer, and Running Out of Time based on their Running Raw Around Australia project. She and Alan are internationto live,” she added, “so my advice is not ally acclaimed endurance athletes and to wait for the diagnosis!” inspirational speakers and have travelled The natural path Janette chose to and lived worldwide. take with the support of her family In her best seller, Raw Can Cure resulted in an inevitable journey to Cancer, Janette tells the story of how healthy living and the passion to share her adventurous life with Alan and their their extensive knowledge and experichildren was affected when at the age of ence with others.

52 she was diagnosed with stage three “We founded a Centre for Optimum Health in Canada, where our focus aggressive breast cancer. was on encouraging healthy lifestyles REVERSING THE CANCER PROCESS “I was given a prognosis of six months through living nutrition and exercise for the mind, body and spirit,” she said. to live, or a year if I underwent the conDESTRUCTIVE ACCUMULATED STRESS ventional regime of chemotherapy and “Our vision was to share our knowlradiation treatment,” Janette said. “But the conventional medical process being edge gained through our multitude of life experiences and to encourage offered just didn’t make sense to me.

“I decided to do my own research, and natural, healthy lifestyles within our discovered truths and lies about cancer. community. We established a highly successful Living Food & Conscious “What I did next changed my life forever. I chose to help my body do what Lifestyle Course, and shared our secrets it is designed to do – take you to a state of good health through a series of inspirational presentations internationof optimum health and keep you there. ally during the following 10 years.”

I chose to do 100 per cent the best I

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Janette and Alan recognise that in addition to balancing the acid-alkaline in their bodies, all negative emotions produce acid in the body. They note too that daily chronic stress accumulates and is destructive.

Originally from New Zealand, They now live a conscious lifestyle near Melbourne, Australia with their son, daughter-in-law, and three of their grandchildren.

A feature film entitled Raw – the Documentary, based on their run around Australia and the message it conveys is being presented at the Cannes Film Festival in France this May, and will be screened worldwide later this year.

Janette Murray-Wakelin and Alan Murray were keynote speakers at the Conscious Living & New Earth Festival, Melbourne Showground, May 1-3, 2015. Their new website is: www.rawveganpath. com

RESOURCES: http://rawveganpath.com https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=DvDrDyeO0uY http://www.vivalavegan.net/community/ articles/471-interview-with-janette-murraywakelin-a-alan-murray-athletes.html https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=DvDrDyeO0uY

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17

Health & Wellbeing

Body Types and Weight Issues

BY DR SANDRA CABOT

Learn how two women’s thyroid and insulin issues improved their health and shed their excess weight.

Although I wrote the book titled The Body Shaping Diet in the late 1980s, I am continually reminded just how important it is to know your Body Type.

Recently I have seen two women in my medical practice who were the classic Android Shape and both were very overweight. Typically they carried their weight in the abdominal area and both had a fatty liver. They craved carbohydrates such as bread and pasta as well as sugary foods.

What struck me about these two women was the very high level of their fasting insulin – one had a level of 67 and the other a level of 46. Bearing in mind that the normal fasting insulin level should be less than 12 this was very abnormal and explained the reason that they could not lose weight.

Elevated insulin levels cause a problem with your metabolism of fats and sugar, which inevitably leads to weight gain – this metabolic problem is known as the Metabolic Syndrome or Syndrome X. Insulin makes you overweight for several reasons: • It is a fat storing hormone • It makes you hungry especially for carbohydrates • It suppresses your fat burning hormones • It promotes a fatty liver Both these women had Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), which is far more common in Android Shaped women. They did not ovulate regularly and thus were progesterone deficient. They both had high levels of male hormones (androgens), which promote weight gain and hair loss.

I placed them on a low carbohydrate diet which was grain free meaning they could not eat any wheat, rye, barley, oats, rice or corn or the by-products of these grains. See a summary of this diet below.

AVOID THESE FOODS • Wheat, rye, barley, oats, corn and rice • Flour, bread, cereals, pasta, noodles, pastry, cakes, cookies, donuts, muffins, etc • Sugar, jam, molasses, treacle, ice cream, lollies, sweets (pure dark chocolate is allowed in small amounts), deep

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fried foods, wine, beer, sweet drinks • Margarine, all hydrogenated fats (trans-fats), all deep fried foods CHOOSE THE FOODS BELOW • Spreads – tahini, hummus, avocado, tomato paste, nut spreads, real butter • Salads – good dressings include organic apple cider vinegar, lemon, cold pressed oils • Lean fresh red meat especially lamb or veal are healthy, grass fed is best • Eggs – free range organic - eat a lot of eggs – omelet, fried, scrambled, hard-boiled, etc • Poultry – chicken, turkey, duck, etc. (free range, organic is best but not essential) • All seafood • All vegetables • Fruits – 3 pieces daily is a maximum – berries, passion fruit, citrus are best • Raw Nuts and Seeds, can be salted if desired • Biodynamic yogurt – plain, unflavoured, full fat or Greek yoghurt • Cheese - Feta, pecorino, vintage, parmesan cheese, cottage, ricotta etc • Coconut milk (canned) and A 2 dairy, almond milk (check labels to be sugar free) • Synd-X Slimming Protein Powder – for breakfast smoothies or add to yoghurt. You can even make your own ice cream with Synd-X Protein powder. Mix it in a blender with cream (dairy and/or coconut cream), raw eggs, fresh fruits and you have a low carb treat!

LOW CARB NO GRAIN MUESLI – MAKE IT YOURSELF Ingredients: • Whey protein powder or Synd-X Slimming Protein Powder • lsa, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds

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• Chopped nuts • Use coconut milk, A2 dairy, almond milk and/or use bio-dynamic full fat plain yoghurt • Sweeten with Nature Sweet Sugar Substitute or stevia.

Add any fresh fruits NATURAL SWEETENER: Nature Sweet Sugar Substitute – contains stevia, chicory, maltitol and erythritol. Has no carbohydrates and almost zero calories; use for tea, coffee, cooking; tastes just like sugar!

MILKS: A2 Dairy, Almond, Coconut (no added sugar) LOW CARB ALCOHOL: Spirits – whiskey, rum, etc, soda water & ice, sweeten with Nature Sweet Sugar Substitute or Stevia, fresh limes or lemons or grapefruit I encouraged the two Android Type women to use Synd-X Slimming Protein powder to make smoothies if they felt hungry at a time they did not need to eat.

Synd-X Protein powder tastes great in coconut milk or dairy milk and contains specific ingredients to reduce hunger and promote weight loss. It contains first class whey protein, taurine, glutamine, chromium and stevia and this promotes a stable metabolism and blood sugar levels. Remember that the key to weight loss is to keep your insulin levels low.

These women did really well and within four weeks their fasting insulin levels were below 10. This meant that they no longer had Syndrome X. They were losing weight and feeling under control – they were very happy with their weight loss.

LYMPHATIC SHAPE AND FLUID RETENTION It is interesting how things often occur in pairs! Recently I saw two Lymphatic Shaped women in my practice who were battling with their weight. They both had excess weight and severe fluid retention affecting most of their body. This is

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typical of Lymphatic Shaped women and men.

In particular both these women had severe fluid retention just below their knees, and the skin in this area was thickened and puffy. This appearance is suggestive of a thyroid problem called myxoedema. Sure enough after testing their levels of thyroid hormone they both had low levels of thyroid hormone – they had an underactive thyroid condition known as Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.

I have found that Lymphatic Shaped women are more prone to underactive thyroid conditions. I tested them for thyroid resistance and as I’d suspected, they both had high levels of Reverse T 3. I prescribed thyroid hormone tablets (both T 4 and T 3) to which they responded beautifully with a loss of weight and fluid. I also prescribed a supplement containing iodine, selenium and zinc, as these minerals are essential for healthy thyroid tissue and thyroid function. I told them to avoid foods containing gluten and to go on a low carbohydrate nutrition plan.

Also, don’t forget that once you get your hormones under control you will have much more energy – so guess what? No more excuses for not exercising. Our bodies crave exercise and it really helps to lower insulin levels.

Dr Sandra Cabot is the Medical and Executive Director of the Australian Women's Health Advisory Service and the author of The Liver Cleansing Diet www.sandracabot.com

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19

Health & Wellbeing

ProBiotics A Woman's Best Friend

BY DR SHERRIL SELLMAN

Probiotic is a compound of Latin and Greek words meaning ‘favourable to life’. Here, Sherrill Sellman, ND, explains why.

One of the secrets to optimal health is cultivating a great relationship with bacteria. Although many people reach for their antibacterial soap at the mere mention of bacteria, there are certain types of bacteria that we literally cannot live without.

Our digestive tract is home to a thriving population of life promoting gut bacteria that take up residence within us from the moment of birth. These micro flora are so critical to our survival that without their presence every aspect of our health would suffer.

WELCOME TO OUR INNER WORLD Our digestive tract is more than nine metres in length (30 feet) and is one of the most complex and immensely important organs of the body. The healthy functioning of our digestive system is profoundly dependent on the 100 trillion micro-organisms that dwell there, outnumbering the 10 trillion cells that make up our body by 10 to one!

While it is commonly believed that intestinal functions are relegated to the absorption and assimilation of food, a healthy digestive tract is intimately connected to our overall wellbeing. Medical science has only recently discovered that it plays a fundamental role in our immunity, emotional health, and our hormonal balance.

Referred to as our ‘second brain’, our digestive system is endowed with its own local nervous system and contains as many neurons as the spinal cord Our digestive system also has another name. It is called the “enteric nervous system”. It is also referred to as our

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“second brain”. Endowed with its own local nervous system, it contains as many neurons as is found in the spinal cord.

HOW THE GUT’S ‘SECOND BRAIN’ AFFECTS MOOD AND WELLBEING The gut has a mind of its own and – like our larger brain in our head – it is capable of sending and receiving impulses. It also records experiences and responds to emotions. Its nerve cells are bathed and influenced by the same neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine that are found in our brain. Our gut and brain are continuously influencing and affecting each other.

In order to have a healthy functioning digestive tract, we must have a healthy and robust gut flora population.

More than 99 per cent of the microbes living in our intestinal tract are a very diverse group of bacteria, numbering between 500 to 1000 different species. Collectively, they add about 1.3 kilograms (three pounds) to our overall weight.

The rest are yeast or parasites.

A healthy gut population needs to be composed of about 85 per cent beneficial microflora.

The vast majority of our gut bacteria reside in our small and large intestines. The bacterial population of the large intestines, which is more hospitable to microbes, outnumbers that of the small intestines by about 100,000 to 1.

We might liken our gut flora to a large, thriving, and diverse community of microbe species, living harmoniously in their particular neighbourhood. Each colony contributes their unique functions to the benefit of the whole.

Microbes are a natural part of the human nutrition

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system. Our microflora are little factories that convert plant and animal products into usable nutrition.

Humans require many nutrients that can only be manufactured by these industrious micro-organisms. For instance, trillions of cells of bacteria manufacture the following vital nutrients: B vitamins, (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, biotin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, cobalamin), Folic Acid, and vitamin K. Friendly bacteria are also hard at work allowing for the efficient absorption of essential minerals including calcium, copper, iron, and magnesium.

Beneficial bacteria are responsible for ensuring a strong immune system. An impressive 70 per cent of our immune cells lines the intestinal wall Beneficial bacteria play another major role; they are responsible for ensuring a strong immune system. An impressive 70 per cent of our immune cells line the intestinal wall.

Probiotics are the beneficial bacteria that compete with harmful ones. However, this equilibrium between beneficial and harmful is a delicate balance.

HOW WE DISRUPT FRIENDLY BACTERIA Many of our 21st century habits are disrupting influences wreaking havoc on our friendly bacteria. A junk food diet, pharmaceutical drugs (such as antibiotics, steroids, and birth control pills), environmental chemicals, and psychological or mental stress all impact our gut flora.

Specific beneficial strains can be killed or crowded out, allowing their neighbourhoods to be overtaken by harmful bacteria or yeast, such as Candida albicans.

Friendly microbes help prevent disease in several ways.

They deprive invaders of nutrients and secrete acids that less friendly microbes can’t tolerate. They also reinforce the mucosal barrier of the intestines, which blocks dangerous pathogens, toxins, and allergens.

Some bacteria stimulate the immune system by increasing T-cell counts, while others produce natural antibiotic and antifungal substances.

PROBIOTICS – A GIFT TO WOMEN’S HEALTH It is now coming to light that the trillions of probiotics that populate our inner ecology are our best friends: they provide beneficial, nutritional, and therapeutic functions necessary for overall human health and vitality.

When it comes to ensuring woman’s health, probiotics are indispensable allies for wellbeing. Beneficial microbes metabolise and recycle hormones, including oestrogen, thyroid hormones, and phyto oestrogens. This facilitates proper hormonal balance, which can help offset symptoms of menopause and peri menopause, and may protect bone and breast health as well. In addition, they detoxify drugs and harmful compounds, and have anti-tumour and anticancer effects.

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PREGNANCY AND BIRTH – GETTING THE GUT RIGHT It is only when an infant takes a trip down the birth canal can it be properly colonised with the various species of gut flora found in the mother’s vaginal tract.

Breastfeeding is the next stop for the delivery of gut flora.

The baby’s intestines colonise with bacteria soon after birth, through contact with the environment and from breast milk.

As a child grows the bacterial population can diversify to contain many hundreds of different species. This is how an infant’s digestive and immune systems are established.

Caesarean-delivered babies have their initial exposure of bacteria from environmental microbes in the air, other infants, and the nursing staff. As a result, the gut flora in infants born by caesarean delivery can be disturbed for up to six months after the birth.

Breastfeeding helps to colonise the intestinal tract, along with additional supplementation with strains of baby bifido bacteria, in order to protect against pathogens.

It’s been observed that infants who develop allergies have intestinal bacteria that are distinctly different from those of non-allergic infants It’s been observed that infants who develop allergies have intestinal bacteria that are distinctly different from those of non-allergic infants, suggesting that the type of intestinal microflora is an important factor in forming allergic conditions.

Therefore, it is critical to replenish the beneficial flora through mother’s milk, fermented foods and probiotic supplements.

HORMONE BALANCE VS OESTROGEN DOMINANCE Probiotics play a major role in helping to maintain hormonal balance in women of all ages, from the menstruating years all the way through to the post-menopausal years.

The greatest challenge to hormonal health is maintaining an optimal balance between oestrogen and progesterone.

Hormone havoc ensues if that balance is thrown out of kilter from an excess of oestrogen.

Oestrogen dominance symptoms include: weight gain, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), endometriosis, ovarian cysts, fibroids, hot flashes, migraines, autoimmune diseases, and an increased risk of breast cancer.

Intestinal bacteria react with chemical compounds, such as hormones, in the intestines. One of the functions of healthy gut flora is to make sure that the breakdown products of oestrogen metabolism are tightly bound so that they can be safely excreted from the body.

One of the ways in which the body eliminates excess oestrogen, as well as fat-soluble toxins such as pesticides and solvents, is by binding the toxin to a molecule called glucuronic acid. This complex is then excreted in the bile.

However, the bond between the toxin and its escort can be broken by the enzyme glucuronidase, which is produced by certain bacteria.

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Health & Wellbeing Excess glucuronidase activity means more of the toxins are liberated and reabsorbed. High glucuronidase activity in the gut is associated with an increased cancer risk, particularly the risk of oestrogen dependent breast cancer.

Taking probiotic supplements increases the proportion of the beneficial gut flora, lactobacillus and bifido bacteria to the beta-glucuronidase producing bacteria.

Supplementing with probiotics becomes an essential strategy for reducing oestrogen excess – and reducing the amount of dangerous chemicals in the body For overall hormonal balance, and in order to reduce the level of re-absorbed, unbound (free) oestrogen, it is critical to supplement the diet with the friendly bacteria. Therefore, supplementing with probiotics becomes an essential strategy for reducing oestrogen excess and reducing the amount of dangerous chemicals in the body.

Many women are unaware that their vaginal health depends directly on a flourishing probiotic population, which exists in the vaginal tract.

FEMALE HEALTH: CANDIDA ALBICANS, URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS AND VAGINITIS Candida albicans (also known as a yeast infection), urogenital tract infections (UTIs), bacterial vaginosis and vaginitis, all indicate that there has been a major disturbance of the gut flora. This results in an over-production of more toxic pathogens and a weakened immune system.

For instance, few women realise that the bacteria that cause bladder infections can travel from the gut to the vagina and then into the bladder. Beneficial bacteria take the same route. The use of probiotic supplements has been proven to reduce bladder infections.

It is estimated that at any given time, nearly 80 per cent of women have unhealthy vaginal flora, although they may not exhibit any overt symptoms. Probiotics have been proven to reduce infections by increasing the good flora and restoring the requisite balance.

Normally, Candida albicans is harmless yeast that lives in the gastrointestinal tract, which is well populated by healthy gut flora and a healthy immune system.

Unfortunately, when this internal ecology is disrupted, Candida can quickly multiply out of control, especially in the colon. Antibiotics, birth control pills and environmental chemicals are major causes for disrupting this inner world.

Probiotic treatment restores the balance of vaginal microflora. It plays a major role to help heal vaginitis, bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, bladder infections, and urinary tract infections.

It is also interesting to note that women who do not have adequate vaginal probiotics double their risk of getting HIV and herpes simplex infection. Moreover, they quadruple their

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risk of getting gonococcal infections and Chlamydia.

SUPPORT FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH Probiotics play a key role in the prevention of osteoporosis. Bone loss is one unfortunate result of a lack of friendly micro-organisms in the gastrointestinal tract.

Vitamin K, a vital building block to healthy bones, is a by-product of Lactobacilli, a friendly gut flora.

Recent studies indicate that healthy bacteria impact on mood and behaviour by influencing the production of brain chemicals, including Serotonin and GABA Probiotics are responsible for producing lactic acid, which greatly increases the body’s ability to absorb minerals such as calcium. Studies with rats whose ovaries are removed (in order to stop oestrogen and induce osteoporosis) have shown that the rats fed with probiotics maintain their bone mass better.

Recent studies indicate that healthy bacteria have a direct impact on mood and behaviour by influencing the production of brain chemicals, including Serotonin and GABA. Friendly bacteria, specifically Bifido bacteria, help prevent bad bacteria from altering the inner ecology the intestines.

People suffering with mood disorders may be affected by an overgrowth of Candida albicans, which is often a cause of anxiety and depression.

The presence of abundant Lactobacilli bacteria can help contribute to a more relaxed state of mind. During fermentation, Lactobacilli release Tryptophan, which produces the calming neurotransmitter Serotonin. An imbalanced digestive tract may contribute to weight gain and obesity. Taking friendly flora is an important step to improving digestion, thus promoting the normal metabolism of calories and fat.

Aging does not only affect the way we look, it also affects the microflora living in our gut. Since our body is a host to both good and bad bacteria, the process of aging tilts that balance towards a decline of beneficial bacteria. As a result, the immune system is compromised, digestion and absorption are impaired, and so on. It is therefore essential to replenish the friendly intestinal bacteria to support healthy aging.

GUIDE TO CHOOSING AN EFFECTIVE PROBIOTIC An effective probiotic ought to be an essential part of any health program. However, the information about probiotic supplements is confusing, to say the least.

So, what are the most reliable guidelines for choosing a proven probiotic? First, it should guarantee the highest number of live microbes.

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In the world of probiotics, the microbial contents are described as “Colony Forming units” (CFU’s), meaning the number of microbes – bacteria or yeasts – that are capable of dividing and forming colonies. CFU’s should be in the billions; the more severe the health problem, the greater the CFU’s required. Ideally we want at least 10 billion CFU per dose.

Our probiotic supplement should also be composed of multiple strains of Lactobacillus and Bifido bacteria in a formulation that assures live delivery into the intestinal tract.

In addition, a good probiotic includes a prebiotic in order to help the flora survive the acidic environment of the upper GI tract.

One important component to keep in mind is that a probiotic touting a large mixture of probiotic strains that are consumed simultaneously may be self-defeating, since these strains may actually compete with each other.

In the US, Theralac® is an outstanding probiotic supplement that achieves all the important criteria. Theralac® is a multi-strain probiotic supplement containing a minimum 30 billion CFU of five well researched compatible probiotic strains.

Theralac® has a patented acid-proof formulation that protects sensitive probiotic bacteria as they pass through the acidic stomach; this allows them to enter the intestinal tract unharmed at full strength. The patented formulation, utilising sodium alginate and grape skin extract, forms a buffered gel in the stomach, which protects the probiotic micro-organisms.

This is a significant improvement over entericcoated probiotics.

Once in the intestinal tract, Theralac’s® five probiotics are stimulated into action by its two prebiotics, (LactoStim and Lactoferrin), to give the maximum probiotic benefit.

Aside from being a proven powerhouse, the probiotic formula, Theralac®, is also affordable.

A WOMAN’S FRIEND FOR LIFE Incorporating an effective probiotic supplement into one’s daily program is really an essential part of every woman’s health strategy.

Probiotics help maintain hormonal balance while helping to ensure a strong immune system, efficient digestion, mood balance, vibrant energy, and strong bones.

There is no doubt that the regular use of effective probiotic supplementation is, indeed, favourable to every aspect of a woman’s health throughout her entire life.

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Sherrill Sellman, ND, (Naturopathic Doctor, Board Certified in Integrative Medicine) is a best-selling author. To learn more about her work and effective probiotics for women’s health, visit www.whatowmenmustknow.com

CONSCIOUS LIVING MAGAZINE ISSUE 93 23

Feet Reading – Window To The Soul

By LYN FAVA

Lyn Fava reveals how to read your own feet, uncover your true emotional state and start changing your hidden beliefs about yourself today.

Do you like your feet? Are your toes squashed, bent, or turning in on themselves? Is the ball of your foot red and puffy? Is the instep pale, or are your heels cracked and calloused?

All of these characteristics are the body’s way of broadcasting something about your emotional state. They are examples of your feet trying to tell you something is wrong. You just need to pay attention. For all of us, any unaddressed emotional states of imbalance can have an impact on our physical health.

The soles of our feet reflect the health of our mind, body and spirit.

They are fascinating barometers of the soul. Pain and illness are the body’s way of getting our attention when we’ve wandered off the right path, or when we are suppressing pent up emotions.

The role of the feet reader is to gain clues about the root cause of the illness or dis-ease in the body, and an insight into the client’s self-perception.

According to The Universal Foot Lady Christine Stormer-Fryer (author of Language of the Feet and What’s

A-Foot?): “Feet display characteristics so that we are able to recognise these signs in the hope that something worthwhile is done to improve the situation.”

‘Feet reading… highlights aspects of clients’ lives for which they can then seek help’ Feet reading does not reflect how a client is perceived by those around them. It does not reflect how they wish to be perceived. It is truly a reflection of how clients perceive themselves, and highlights aspects of their lives for which they can then seek help. This is how our souls communicate and indicate the root cause of dis-ease from a soul level. The mere act of talking through the characteristics being presented and how a client really views his or herself life can be a stepping-stone to improving health and wellbeing. The realisation that another person can see through our persona and masks and seems to understand what is going on can be immensely

24 CONSCIOUS LIVING MAGAZINE ISSUE 93

beneficial.

WHAT DO YOUR FEET SAY ABOUT YOU? Hold your feet up to a mirror and take a look at the souls of your feet.

Your right foot reflects impact of past, male or career related situations, while your left foot reflects present, female and domestic related situations.

CONSIDER THE OVERALL IMPRESSION How do you feel about your feet?

Does this reflect how you really feel about yourself? Have you ever thought “I don't like feet”? Quite often, when the information conveyed through the feet is brought to light people take a gentler approach to how they feel about their feet, and in turn may be gentler on themselves.

The first question to ask is “is this person happy”. The feet should be pink warm and flexible, any variation from this tells a story. I look to see if the feet “look” happy, what colors are presented and whether the feet look tired, sad, hurt, or lacking in nourishment. I then look at the individual characteristics of each part of the foot as each one tells

WINTER 2015

Health & Wellbeing a different story, if you know how to listen.

THE TOES The toes reflect the ability to feel secure and alert. They also reflect the ability to adapt well to all the different ways of thinking. They are like little antennae that pick up information from the universe.

Toes squashed together: Represent a busy mind, with little room to think clearly or expand thoughts.

SMALL TOES IN RELATION TO FOOT SIZE: Indicate a lack of confidence in one’s own abilities. This may prevent people from pursuing what they really want in life. This in no way indicates that a person lacks competence, just that they lack confidence. This is often a characteristic of people who never recognise their own achievements.

They accomplish a task and then look straight to what is yet to be achieved.

Or they may never have been praised for what they have accomplished.

Toes squashed, no necks, indicates difficulty in expressing thoughts and feelings to others, perhaps feeling unworthy or fearful to express soul truth.

THE BALLS OF THE FEET The balls of the feet reflect the emotional issues of the heart.

Callusing on the balls of the feet: Indicates a need to protect yourself from being hurt.

Thumb print callous: Indicates you are protecting yourself from the perception of being controlled emotionally by someone. Many people have a puffy

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area; this indicates held-in emotions.

Let it out, grab a box of tissues, a soppy movie and really allow yourself to feel.

THE INSTEP The state of the instep indicates your inner responses to what you are doing.

Pale Instep: This indicates soul tiredness. You may be giving out more than you are allowing in. This can be because you do not feel worthy to receive, or just playing the martyr.

Remember, you can do anything for anyone at any given time. If what you are doing does not make you feel good, or does not nurture your soul, you may want to reconsider your actions or attitude toward what you are doing.

Fallen arches: Emotionally dependent on others, seeks approval from others to know that they are okay.

Again, this comes from lack of confidence in one’s own abilities.

Very high arches: emotionally independent and will not allow others to help for fear of being let down.

SIZE OF THE FEET Big: These are the party people and usually capable of making a big impact. They may have a tendency put their “foot in their mouth”. They are the people with presence when they walk into a room. They tend to be grounded and live in the here and now.

‘Individual characteristics of each part of the foot… tell a different story, if you know how to listen’ Small: Tend to be the quiet achievers. They pick their way through life more delicately. They are more comfortable behind the scenes and shine when they are supporting others to achieve success.

THE HEELS Heels cracked and calloused: Represent digging the heels in; stubborness, or crack (weakness) in support.

Different feet size Wide: Broad minded, grounded down to earth.

Narrow: These people are focused on given outcomes and do not easily get side tracked.

Cracked Heels

CONSCIOUS LIVING MAGAZINE ISSUE 93 25

Health & Wellbeing LENGTH AND NATURE OF TOES Long: These are ideas people.They tend to be creative and sensitive. They may have trouble with grounding their ideas, or completing jobs before they move on to the next idea.

Shorter: These people pay attention to detail. They dot the ‘i’s, and cross the ‘t’s. They are able to ground ideas and follow through to complete the job. If the toes look squashed down then they may be lacking confidence in their own ability (this does not necessarily mean that they are lacking ability).

Open and flexible: Their mind is clear. They are easy going and are able to be creative because they are open to ideas.

Squashed: This indicates a stressed mind. There is too much going on.

They are unable to ‘see the trees for the forest’. Instead of maintaining a calm the mind and being open to possibilities, these people focus on a given outcome. This can cause them to miss other opportunities that present themselves – simply because they may not have been in their immediate line of vision,

Bent: Indicate someone who is holding themselves back, possibly because they lack confidence.

Square and squashed in: The person feels they are boxed in, and that others are stopping them from doing what they want to do.

Physically the toes represent the head. To help with clear creative thinking, spread your toes and take a few deep breaths: see what ideas you come up with!

If you are not happy with how your feet look, or your life situation, start working toward being happy with who you are. These steps will help by changing your attitude to how you feel about yourself.

• Surround yourself with pink or green – clothing, food, flowers or candles.

• Carry a small rose quarts crystal: assists with unconditional love of the self • Say an affirmation: “I love and approve of myself unconditionally.” Or if that is too hard at this point, ask for help, saying: “Show me how I can love and approve of myself unconditionally.”

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• Look for beauty in your surroundings • Each day do at least one thing that makes you feel good (guiltless pampering) • Be gentle on yourself and others • Smile at strangers, or just smile.

See how it changes your energy and how people change towards you If happiness is your goal, start to consider your actions in the following context: are you getting closer to your goal or further away?

Take a photo of your feet today, and then take a photo after two weeks of completing the above rituals. You will physically see your body respond to a little nurturing of the soul through your feet.

There are no good feet or bad feet (to me they are all beautiful). Some, however, are more interesting than others.

Let me leave you with these thoughts: “The soles of the feet reflect the physical and emotional state of the body. To touch a foot is to touch a soul.”

Lyn Fava is the Founder/Managing Director of Perfect Harmony Group, Principal – Australian School of Reflexology & Relaxation www.asrr.com.au

WINTER 2015

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CONSCIOUS LIVING MAGAZINE ISSUE 93 27

Ecoliving

Australia’s Vegan Kindness Warrior Philip Wollen is a philanthropist and advocate for social justice. He is a former Vice-President of Citibank. At age 34, Australian Business Magazine named him in the “Top 40 Brightest and Best” headhunted executives in Australia.

Today, he supports about 500 humanitarian projects for children, animals and the environment in more than 40 countries. He describes himself as a Venture Capitalist for Good Causes.

ENSHRINING KINDNESS The mission statement of his Winsome Constance Kindness initiative is "to promote kindness towards all other living beings and enshrine it as a recognisable trait in the Australian character and culture".

He provides funds for schools, hospitals, shelters, clinics, ambulances, bore-wells, sanctuaries, medical, vet ambulances, feeding programs and disaster relief. He speaks to audiences around the world on diverse subjects such as

28 CONSCIOUS LIVING MAGAZINE ISSUE 93

ethics, business, the environment, and peace.

In a recent speech in the US he said: “In human history, only 100 billion people have ever lived. Seven billion are alive today. And we humans torture and kill two billion land animals every week. And stab and suffocate one billion ocean animals every three hours. Trillions of fish are ground up into pellets to feed livestock. Vegetarian cows are now the world’s largest ocean predator. The oceans are dying in our time.

By 2048 all our fisheries will be dead, the lungs and the arteries of the Earth. Oceans sequester more CO2 than all the forests of the world combined. Ten thousand entire species are wiped out every year because of the actions of one species. We are now facing the sixth mass extinction in cosmological history. If any other organism did this a biologist would call it a virus. It is a crime against humanity of unimaginable proportions.”

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AHIMSA – NON-VIOLENCE Speaking to 2000 entrepreneurs in New Delhi he said: “The most beautiful word ever written in any country, in any language, at any time in human history came from India, in the Upanishads 3000 years ago. It is “Ahimsa”: meaning non-violence to any living being in everything we do, say and think.

“So I describe myself as ‘Ahimsan’…

And therefore by definition, I must be vegan. Not because veganism describes our nationality, our politics, our religion, our diet or our lifestyle, but because it describes our character. It says we oppose violence wherever it occurs.”

He asked: “So what made me decide to leave the world of lobsters and Lear jets – in exchange for shelters and slaughterhouses?” His answer was: “To take nothing but pictures. Own nothing but memories. Leave nothing but footprints. Kill nothing but time.

‘I heard the screams…’

“Something happened to me. I had been to Dante’s Inferno, but unlike Dante Alighieri, I did not have Beatrice for my love, nor Vergil for my guide. I heard the screams of my dying father as his body was ravaged by the cancers that killed him. And I realised I had

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heard those screams before, in the slaughterhouse, on the cattle ships to the Middle East and the dying mother whale as a harpoon explodes in her brain as she calls out to her calf.

“Their cries were the cries of my father. They were identical.

“I discovered that when we suffer, we suffer as equals. And in their capacity to suffer, a dog is a pig is a bear, is a boy.”

Philip believes that we all know The Golden Rule “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” and asserts that it actually predates the New Testament of Jesus. It goes back to the Babylonian Jew, Hillel in 70 BC. In fact it goes back even longer to the Analects of Confucius in 500 BC. He believes it was inscribed on the human heart long before it was ever committed to print.

His most unusual projects are Kindness Farms, Kindness Mobile Restaurants, Kindness Kids and Kindness House. The latter is an incubator which houses 300 highly qualified NGOs including Sea Shepherd, Greenpeace, UNHCR, 350.org, National Multicultural Broadcasting, Wilderness Society, Lawyers for Animals, Wildlife Victoria, Beyond Zero Emissions, to name but a few.

In addition to supporting the NGO’s

around the world he also awards the Kindness Gold Medal and $25,000 Cash Prize to “an individual who has devoted his or her life to the protection of other living beings”. Previous recipients include Sir David Attenborough, Dr Professor T. Colin Campbell, Dr Ian Gawler OAM, Dr Jane Goodall DBE, Smt Maneka Gandhi MP, Captain Paul Watson, Dr Jill Robinson MBE, Ms Christine Townend, Sri Pradeep Kumar Nath.

Philip likes to be invisible. Rupert Murdoch’s press described him as “reclusive”.

The National Australia Day Council wrote: “Essentially a private man, Philip seeks no personal publicity. But he is not afraid to step into the limelight for a just cause.”

In 2005 he received the Medal of the Order of Australia In 2007 he received the Australian of the Year Victoria.

In 2012 he was made an Honorary Fellow of the Oxford Centre of Animal Ethics, UK. In 2014 he received The Distinguished Alumni Award from The University of Adelaide.

Watch the interview that Mark Doneddu recorded with Philip Wollen at https://youtu.be/uSoabkQEtMM

CONSCIOUS LIVING MAGAZINE ISSUE 93 29

Ecoliving

Take Action against Greenhouse Gases

By Martin Oliver

‘Since 2012 the Kyoto Protocol has been in limbo while a new framework is negotiated’…

Despite grim new warnings on climate change from the United Nations, Australia is resisting making the necessary deep cuts in emissions.

However, growing numbers of ordinary Aussies are not content to adopt the spectator role. Martin Oliver reports.

At an individual level, informed use of our purchasing power is one way of showing politicians we are committed to a greener world.

With media attention focused mainly on carbon dioxide, it is easy to forget that CO2 is just one among a list of greenhouse gases that are collectively pushing up temperatures.

While carbon is deservedly the number one priority for global action, we can’t afford to lose sight of the big picture.

International agreement on climate change has previously centred on the Kyoto Protocol, under which every

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country aims for agreed greenhouse reductions. This gave birth to the term ‘CO2-equivalent’ that allows different gases, each with different CO2equivalents, to be factored into the same calculation. Since 2012 the Kyoto Protocol has been in limbo while a new framework is negotiated.

These CO2-equivalent’ gases are rated by their global warming potential (GWP), usually over a 100-year time

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horizon, with carbon dioxide having a GWP figure of 1. Below are the most important of these gases, and some tips on how their emissions can be curbed.

SOOT (GWP N/A) Usually missing from lists of greenhouse gases, this important emission comes from sources such as burning wood, industrial emissions, and olderstyle dirty diesel engines. Removing an older-style wood burning stove for a modern efficient replacement can cut down on particulates by 70 per cent.

Wood can also be burned at a lower temperature in a special oven, producing biochar that is carbon-negative and can be used to fertilise the soil with impressive results.

METHANE (GWP 25) Sources include melting permafrost, food waste or paper in landfill sites, livestock, fossil fuels, irrigated rice, and deforestation. Top priority is to compost organic waste and leftover food, while asking your local council to introduce a green waste bin. Another important step is to recycle paper and cardboard.

Going solar and switching to GreenPower are good ways to pull the plug on coal and gas. Buying grassfed beef pushes up methane levels, but these are probably offset by the carbon-sequestering powers of grazed pastures. Carbon molecules from captured methane are being used in the production of a US-made carbon-negative plastic named AirCarbon™ (from Newlight Technologies), which doesn’t appear to be available in Australia yet.

NITROUS OXIDE (GWP 298) Major sources of this chemical are vehicles, synthetic fertilisers, industrial emissions, and deforestation. To reduce soil emissions associated with synthetic fertilisers, don’t waste food, go easy on grains, and try to buy organic.

METHANE & NITROUS OXIDE Global deforestation linked to both methane and nitrous oxide emissions is largely tied to agriculture, and Australian consumers can make a difference by avoiding palm oil or asking companies to use Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO).

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GROUND-LEVEL OZONE (GWP N/A) This is a byproduct caused by the reaction between nitrous oxides and volatile organic compounds, and is a major component of smog. Unlike the ozone layer in the stratosphere, its presence at ground level has a negative effect on human health. Contributing sources include vehicles, power stations, industrial emissions and chemical solvents. Its lifespan is fortunately very short.

HYDROFLUOROCARBONS (HFCs, GWP 12-14,800) Following the worldwide phase-out of ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) starting in the 1990s, a substitute was needed, and hydrofluorocarbons came to prominence.

These are the most commonly-used refrigerants in Australia despite some having a huge GWP, and although global trends are pointed upwards they are subject to a phase-out push. Other uses include as an aerosol spay and for blowing foam.

HYDROCHLOROFLUOROCARBONS (HCFCs, GWP 77-2310) These chemicals arrived on the scene as an interim CFC substitute, but are still ozone-depleting to a lesser degree. Subject to a staged phaseout in developed countries, they are sometimes used in Australia. Again, uses include refrigeration, aerosol sprays, and blowing foam.

HOW TO BUY FRIDGES AND FREEZERS Better substitute refrigerants from an environmental standpoint include carbon dioxide, hydrofluoroolefins (GWP around 4-6), and hydrocarbons (GWP around 3-11) such as ethane, propane, pentane, and butane. Like carbon dioxide, hydrocarbon refrigerants have the added benefit of being more energy efficient than fluorocarbons. For Australian consumers, they are widely used in Electrolux, Miele, Vestfrost, and Liebherr fridges and freezers. When hunting down hydrocarbon air conditioners, the brand name to look for is Pioneer.

‘An important step is to recycle paper and cardboard; you can also go solar and switch to GreenPower to help pull the plug on coal and gas’ Inevitably a portion of the refrigerant in car air conditioning systems is lost to the atmosphere every year, giving most of these units elephantsized ecological footprints; as a rule of thumb, the release of 1kg of fluorocarbon has the same greenhouse impact as two tonnes of carbon dioxide. Re-gas with a facility that uses hydrocarbons, and if cost is not a consideration then swap the existing refrigerant (most likely a fluorocarbon) with a hydrocarbon. Also ask for tiny leak holes to be identified and sealed directly after the refill.

Where a fridge or freezer is

CONSCIOUS LIVING MAGAZINE ISSUE 93 31

Ecoliving being disposed of, leakage into the atmosphere can have a similar environmental impact. Where such an item is dropped off at a waste facility, the local council is responsible, and often charges a fee for gas recovery unless the owner can provide a degas certificate. Similar gas recovery rules apply to unwanted domestic air conditioning units and for vehicle air con systems.

DISPOSAL OF OLD FRIDGES In some areas of New South Wales, the government-run Fridge Buyback scheme allows some types of second fridges or upright freezers to be collected and responsibly recycled, usually cost-free to the householder, with a small incentive payment made in most cases. A similar program is being run by the electricity provider ActewAGL. However, two knowledgeable industry insiders claim that for both cars and fridges there is widespread flouting of the law due to a combination of economic disincentives and insufficient policing. If they are correct, the only way to be sure that these highly damaging gases are recovered is to either use a fridge buyback scheme or to pay an accredited refrigeration technician, identifiable through a green and blue tick symbol.

Greenhouse gases found in insulation foam are always released when a fridge or freezer is recycled in Australia.

Although recovery is technically feasible, the equipment needed for this is expensive and is yet to be introduced

here. An obligation for these gases to be collected could be mandated at a federal level, and this is worth lobbying for.

PERFLUOROCARBONS (PFCs, GWP 7,390-12,200) Perfluorocarbons such as hexafluoroethane and tetrafluoromethane are used as solvents for the electronics industry, for etching solar panels, and are released in aluminium production.

As aluminium also has a very high embodied energy, there is an argument for minimising its use in the construction sector.

NITROGEN TRIFLUORIDE (GWP 17,200) Another chemical widely used by the electronics industry, nitrogen trifluoride is commonly utilised in the manufacture of computer chips, and flat-panel displays including TVs, monitors, tablets and smartphones. As with perfluorocarbons, it is also used to etch solar panels. Worldwide consumption has gone through the roof, increasing forty-fold between 1992 and 2007.

Originally omitted from the scope of the Kyoto Protocol, nitrogen trifluoride was belatedly added in 2013.

In addition to being difficult to determine which chemical was used in the production of an electronic gadget, environmentally sound alternatives are thin on the ground. Elemental fluorine is sometimes used as a non-greenhousegas alternative, but it is expensive and its toxicity risks need to be managed.

Probably the best strategy is to rein in your technology budget, and consider buying secondhand.

SULFUR HEXAFLUORIDE (GWP 22,800) Infamous for being the most greenhouse-polluting gas ever measured, sulphur hexafluoride is linked to a wide range of end uses. These include as an insulator in electrical equipment, in magnesium production (for magnesium alloy wheels), and for cleaning silicon production reactors (solar panels.) More oddball destinations can

32 CONSCIOUS LIVING MAGAZINE ISSUE 93

include as a filling for double-glazed windows, trainer soles, tennis balls, and high-performance vehicle tyres.

Despite the potential for toxic contaminants, sometimes it is inhaled to lower the pitch of the voice. Ask for sulphur hexafluoride-free double glazing, tyres, trainers and tennis balls.

AUSTRALIA ‘GOING BACKWARDS’ According to consensus opinion, the impact of high-GWP greenhouse gases used in solar panel manufacture is outweighed by the energy-saving benefits, with one 2010 study indicating that these impacts were offset within only a few months. We can hope that the industry will phase out the use of these environmentally damaging gases in favour of more benign substitutes, and in the meantime can express our views to the manufacturers.

While it was in effect, the carbon tax created a financial disincentive, proportional to their GWP, against the use of greenhouse gases. With its removal, Australia has gone backwards on meaningful action to tackle climate change, and with such an economic signal missing, informed and proactive consumers have a greater role to play in order to fill the gap.

RESOURCES GreenPower www.greenpower.gov.au AirCarbon www.newlight.com Fridge Buyback www.fridgebuyback.com.au ActewAGL Fridge Buyback http://www.actewagl.com.au/Save-energy/ Free-energy-services/Fridge-buyback.aspx Look for the Tick (refrigerant handling licenses) www.lookforthetick.com.au Department of the Environment ozone site www.environment.gov.au/protection/ozone

Martin Oliver is a writer and researcher based in Lismore (Northern NSW.)

WINTER 2015

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WINTER 2015

Broadcast Tuesdays 7pm - 9pm Soul Traveller Radio Be our guest Call Patricia 0418 955 396 Email patricia@consciousliving.net.au 33 CONSCIOUS LIVING MAGAZINE ISSUE 93

Ecoliving

Air Carbon – New Oil-Free Plastic

By Martin Oliver

‘A list of other carbon-negative climate solutions collectively capable of reversing climate change includes: biochar, hemp building materials, bamboo construction, and soil carbon sequestration’ Petroleum-based plastic is responsible for about Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) it land use is concerned. four per cent of global is 86 times as powerful over a more • Much bioplastic is made from oil consumption, and is critical 20-year timespan. Newlight GM corn that has been developed for causing various types of captures methane from farms, landfills, industrial rather than food uses, and which could cross-contaminate the environmental damage in the anaerobic digesters, and energy facilities, some of which would otherwise be regular corn supply. oceans. vented into the atmosphere.

Recently however, a Californian company has developed a paradigmshifting plastic that is remarkable both for substituting non-renewable fossil fuel feedstocks, and being carbon-negative.

The idea behind AirCarbon™ goes back to 2003, when the company’s CEO, Mark Herrema, started operations in a garage, and developed the concept until it reached commercialisation 10 years later, under the name Newlight Technologies.

While industrial processes typically involve the emission of CO2 and other greenhouse gases, AirCarbon sequesters more CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas than is emitted via its production.

When measured on a lifecycle basis, it is carbon-negative, a claim that has been independently verified via the environmental auditor Trucost. It joins a list of other carbon-negative climate solutions that collectively are capable of reversing climate change. These include biochar, hemp building materials, bamboo construction, and soil carbon sequestration.

The process begins with methane.

While this greenhouse gas is commonly described as being 21 times as potent as CO2 (when measured over a 100year timeframe), according to the latest estimate from the Intergovernmental

ENZYMES USED FOR CONVERSION This is combined with air in a special reactor where the carbon molecules are stripped away, and the mixture is turned into a liquid. From here, it is converted via enzymes into long-chain polymer plastic pellets that can be remoulded. The exact process is a closely-guarded secret.

Products made from AirCarbon are quickly multiplying. They include chairs (KI), mobile phone cases (Sprint and Virgin), beverage packaging, films, and materials for the automotive sector.

Computer maker Dell has started sending out some of its laptops in AirCarbon bags. At present, it appears not to be in use, or available to purchase, in Australia, but there is no harm in making suggestions.

Newlight’s aim is to match oil-based plastics on technical properties, while out-competing on price. Part of this price advantage could come from using a waste product in place of expensive fossil fuels.

AirCarbon is not really a bioplastic.

Despite appearing a good idea initially, these plant-sourced plastics are unpopular among the environmentally aware for several reasons: • Unlike AirCarbon, and plastics from oil, they get bogged down in the food-versus-fuel controversy where

34 CONSCIOUS LIVING MAGAZINE ISSUE 93

• Some bioplastics do not biodegrade under normal conditions. When landfilled, they can release methane.

• Where bioplastic bags are fully compostable, their embodied energy is not recovered. No bioplastic recycling currently exists.

• Distinguishing bioplastic from regular plastic is close to impossible without a special recycling code on each item. Where they enter the recycling stream, bioplastics can weaken the structural properties of new products that are made with a recycled component.

AirCarbon can be recycled at plastic recycling centres in the US, and in the company’s own facilities, but not apparently via kerbside collections.

If AirCarbon technology is sufficiently scaled up due to price advantages, one possible risk is that methane from natural gas could be used as an alternative feedstock, pushing Newlight back onto the fossil fuel treadmill. In the meantime, it represents a very good environmental choice when compared to other plastics.

RESOURCE: Newlight Technologies, www.newlight.com Martin Oliver is a writer and researcher based in Lismore (Northern NSW.)

WINTER 2015

Business and Career

Money Joins The ‘Slow’ Movement

By Martin Oliver

It all began following protests against the opening of a McDonald’s branch in Rome. The Slow Movement started life in 1989, encouraging people in its first manifesto to embrace regional cooking while rejecting homogeneity.

Growing steadily, it has branched off in several directions, including Slow Cities, Slow Parenting, Slow Travel, Slow Living, and Slow Schools. The unifying set of values that weave these together include mindfulness, enjoyment, community, quality of life, and a healthy work-life balance.

In 2009, in the aftermath of the global financial crisis, an American former venture capitalist named Woody Tasch put out a book titled Inquiries into the Nature of Slow Money.

Travelling around the country on a promotional tour, he made contact with numerous people who shared his ideas, and the Slow Money movement was born.

Slow Money’s view is that as finance travels around the world looking for short-term returns, it has become disconnected from people and places. The group believes in removing capital from the ‘craziness’ of the share market, and from complex derivatives that nobody can understand, and instead literally rooting it in the ground.

In America, where Slow Money has focused most of its activities, there is a deep-seated lack of ties to family and community, because people are frequently moved around the country for work-related reasons.

Links to the land have largely disappeared, with the share of total employment occurring within the agricultural sector shrinking from 41 per cent in 1900 to 2 per cent in 2000.

There is an urgent need to connect with a locality, put down roots, and regain a connection with the soil American small farmers find it hard to obtain bank loans, which represents

WINTER 2015

a further uneven playing field between small players and the giants who are already benefitting from easy credit, economies of scale and lax government regulation.

In states such as Kentucky, demand for local food is outstripping supply, and small food businesses have a lot to gain from scaling up their operations.

IMPACT ON COMMUNITY The 13 Slow Money investment clubs operate like brokers between small food businesses on the one side, and investors on the other who are willing to lend a few thousand dollars upwards. Such loans are typically made at low-interest rates, with lending being less about getting rich, and far more about making a positive impact while building trust and community. So far, US $38 million (AUD $44 million) has been loaned to 350 different businesses since mid-2010.

Slow Money’s goals align well with those of the fossil fuel divestment campaign. In a broader context, its embrace of microfinance, crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lending feeds into today’s historic shift from hierarchical structures towards ‘horizontal’ ones.

While the old paradigm was largely about extracting short-term profit, Slow Money is looking at long-term social and environmental benefits, and likens finance to water that erodes when it travels too fast, but nurtures when it is slowed.

Primary goals include: •Saving farmland, and protecting and enhancing soil fertility; •Supporting small to mid-sized organic farmers, and slow food

restaurants.

•Improving nutrition; •Rectifying the imbalances connected to an industrial food system, and rebuilding local food systems; and •Encouraging businesses to donate a chunk of their profits for altruistic purposes.

FOOD CONNECT FOUNDATION Outside the US, chapters have been set up in France and Switzerland, while in Australia the Food Connect Foundation has plans to get actively involved with the network.

In the US, through the online crowdfunding platform, Credibles, supporters can make a pre-payment to small American local food businesses that are exchanged for future discounts ranging between 5 and 20 per cent.

Another initiative involves Beetcoin, a system where tax-deductible contributions of US $25 (AUD $29) upwards are pooled and then offered as zero-interest three-year loans to a couple of selected food businesses, chosen through a vote by donors. When these loans have been repaid, the plan is for them to be redeployed on the same zero-interest basis.

Another way to show your support is to sign the Slow Money Principles, which have so far attracted more than 25,000 signatories.

RESOURCES Slow Money, www.slowmoney.org Martin Oliver is a writer and researcher based in Lismore (Northern NSW.)

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Business and Career

Money Make Over

By David Rankin

Are you stuck in a frustrating financial situation?

Do your personal finances seem like an insurmountable obstacle that is always holding you back from living your life? In this excerpt from his book, David Rankin provides a roadmap on your journey to financial wellbeing.

When I was a boy, my father had a book about microchips. The front cover featured silicon chip superimposed on a fingernail. At the time, he told me that these tiny electronic circuits (which are now on course to become invisible to the human eye) were set to change the world. Occasionally, I think back to his prophetic words. When a satellitepowered app shows me the way to a new destination. When I track down a long-lost friend on social media within seconds. When I tune in to breaking news from half way around the planet on my smart phone. Microchip technology has transformed our existence, created new life choices and empowered us in ways we could not have foreseen and so it is with our money.

When we actively gain control of it and harness its enormous potential, the transformative and empowering effect on our lives is beyond anything we could have imagined. Finances that start to obey our wishes are nothing short of a revelation; one which inspires ever more ambitions that would have been unthinkable before our money makeover.

It was only when I moved on from a career in banking to become a financial coach that I began to witness

this turn-around in my customers’ lives. A change that comes about when they are given the skills they need to take complete charge of their money and to channel its power. After which, they never look back. In nearly every case, and utterly regardless of rich or poor, there is an aha-moment. An eye-opening realisation that not only does this path of total financial control actually exist, but that it is fulfilling and enriching beyond anything they have ever experienced. Hence my decision to write a book in which I have broken down this roadmap to financial success into 12 simple steps. My way of making this ‘road less travelled’ accessible to all who wish to venture there.

CHOOSING THE DESTINATION: SETTING GOALS

Life is a journey. It is an idea most of us subscribe to in theory, but few of us live out in practice. When we

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set off on a holiday, we know where we are going and where the next destination is—be it the airport or the hotel—because the trip is planned in advance and executed according to that plan. It happens because it’s planned. Yet, for many of us, this proactive journey does not really happen.

Rather, we end up drifting on the ocean of life. We find ourselves in unexpected places which, more often than not, we do not really like, but we end up staying there anyway. Obviously, any journey requires some degree of flexibility, but a journey without a plan is a permanent magical mystery tour, with the novelty being very short lived. Our finances are the engine of this journey. If we neglect them, they break down, splutter along or never fire on all cylinders, thereby constraining the breadth and quality of our life experience. The optimisation and ongoing maintenance of our financial engine, will then reward us by

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Business and Career

taking us on an amazing journey of life that we had never thought possible.

FRESH START If your finances are taking you nowhere and your life is stuck in a rut, this is your second chance; your opportunity to press reset. Just as a travel story is not about the engine that enables the trip, so this information is not primarily about money. If money plays the lead part in your own life story, and if all of your spare energy is spent in maintaining it, this information will help you bring about the change of roles that you require. By systemising our finances, we transform the relationship we have with them. We go from being at the mercy of our money to becoming the master of our money.

We transition from order taker to order giver. Money, that we used to perceive

as a tyrant,now becomes our liberator.

On the basis that a journey has many destinations—each one propelling us to the next—we start small, but we are encouraged to dream big.

Today is the day we begin our financial journey afresh. Anything is possible if we set out with a plan, a map of our life journey, and stick to the route we have chosen. It is astonishing where weeks, months and years of purposeful progress will to- nowhere existence every time.

SPACE INSPIRATION What better inspiration for our new journey than an expedition into space.

In the summer of 1977, NASA launched Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral in Florida on what, because of US Federal spending cuts at the

time, was originally billed as a relatively modest two-planet mission featuring spacecraft that were designed to last five years. Rather than rely on just the finite supply of nuclear power on board these twin probes, NASA decided to use the gravity of the moons and planets on the spacecraft’s journey as a ‘gravitational slingshot’ to propel and redirect them around our solar system.

As a result, this dual mission, which is still underway, is now expected to last well into the 2020s, with Voyager 1 having already entered interstellar space and Voyager 2 heading for the same destination. All of this from an expedition that should, in theory, have ended back in the 1980s.

Just as those apparently expendable probes, built on a budget, have rewritten the history of modern space exploration, we too are free to reach

Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral in Florida

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Business and Career for the stars and have the courage to dream. The real inspiration of Voyagers 1 and 2 is the power they have received during and from their journey. Their expedition made them, and is still making them, more than anything they ever were at the start.

Each planet and moon they have visited has given them more energy and renewed direction. In the same way, every destination on our financial journey will give us a sense of reward, momentum and energy that we had never previously thought possible—one that will, in turn, point us to our next goal.

DESTINATIONS Before any worthwhile journey, comes a plan—our chance to pick our destinations; the goals we will achieve on the way. These are more than just stopping-off points—they are milestones, each one providing us with a source of reward and inspiration that will lead us to even greater achievements. And while our journey has to start in the present, it does not need to be defined by the present.

Although we need to accept where we are now, we are encouraged to indulge our passions and to envisage the future that we will be creating. So what would we like our first, and subsequent, destinations to be? What places are we going to actively visit on our financial journey? Now is the time to decide.

Now is the time to take the first of our 12 steps on the roadmap to financial success.

Paying our bills on time for the next three months?

Paying off our credit card, which has started to take on a life of its own? Buying a home? nvesting in, and starting, our own business?

Having enough money to travel the world and experience different languages and cultures?

Being able to afford to spend more time with our children before their 936 weeks of childhood are snatched away from us?

Maybe it is none of these, maybe one, and maybe several—one goal at a

time, with each goal opening the door to the next. Picking our destinations is at once exciting and intimidating.

Breaking away from our familiar, predictable existence and choosing the exit road straight out of our comfort zone is never something that comes naturally.

But we can take strength from the knowledge that the directions given point to a tried, tested and proven path.

TIPS TO CONTROL YOUR FINANCES

STAGING POSTS When we open our mind to a journey, we tend to undertake a mental leap straight to the final destination, but the staging posts that lead up to this point are just as important.

Nowhere is this disconnect in our society, between starting point and journey’s end, more evident than in the world of personal finance. We are encouraged to plan for our retirement and make provision for our death, irrespective of our ability to manage our everyday life in the form of our day-today finances.

It is the equivalent of trying to handle a powerful motorcycle, without ever having learned to ride a bike.

In the same way that a person’s first step is a rite of passage that defines the end of babyhood, the first achievement on our financial journey is what I term unspectacularly spectacular’. Just like the foundations of a tall building, which can be months in the making.

At a superficial level, nothing seems to be happening when, in fact, nothing could be further from the truth. A basis is being put in place that, although unassuming, will support the massive structure that is to follow. Similarly, those seemingly unremarkable three months of punctual repayments have the power to set the scene for a new financial future; an odyssey that is a departure from all we have ever known.

Let the journey begin!

3.Park the plastic - both credit and debit cards, so that you don’t lose track of what you’re spending. With this set amount to live off, you’ll think harder about how much of your cash you spend and what you spend it on.

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1. Work out how much you need for your living expenses (groceries, petrol, coffees, take-away food and meals out) each week.

2.Withdraw this amount from the ATM on the same day every week and use this cash to make all of your living expenses purchases.

4.Treat your financial journey as you would treat any other trip or journey.

5.Start by choosing your destination. This very act is a key step in the process of taking control. Your money then starts to assume its rightful place in your life – becoming the financial engine that will power your life’s progress.

With this newfound momentum, you are able to decide on the path you will take. A path that is chosen consciously, as opposed to happening by default. A path that empowers as it progresses. A path that, once embarked upon, you will never turn back from

David Rankin is an award-winning bank manager and small business specialist.

Author of the personal budgeting service and book, Sort My Money www.sortmymoney.com.au

WINTER 2015

Growth & Transformation

Be the Change Discover the Secret Ingredient By author and Doctor of Chiropractic (DC), Ari Diskin

Do you desire change? Is it because you want to move away from something undesirable or even painful that is not serving you, or towards something more enticing that is pleasurable?

You know if you want something different out of life, you have to change what you are putting in. This is true for in all domains of life. If you want to change the flavour of your food, you need to change the ingredients you put in. If you want to change your computer’s capacity or output, you need to change programs or software. The same applies to your body and your life. In order to improve your health outcomes, you need to make changes to your life.

In my experience, easeful, transformative and sustainable change occurs when you actively utilise a Reorganisational paradigm. This approach involves an emphasis on selfawareness, contextualising the meaning of symptoms (the body’s signals), stressors or problems you may perceive as negative, and considering their significance as gifts, using them as fuel for change with reorganisation for change, growth and evolution.

RESTORATIVE OR REORGANISATIONAL Currently, Western healthcare operates primarily in the ‘Restorative Therapeutics’ model that largely focuses on reacting to obvious disease or illness. Western healthcare considers your presenting symptoms, conditions and problems, often in isolation separate from you as a dynamic whole being. This approach makes treatment recommendations in isolation to address the ‘it’, as a separate part, condition or event that you present with.

In the main, the objective of the Restorative approach is to eradicate, reduce or manage the ‘it’ to enable you to go back to living the life you were living before experiencing the disrupting symptoms, conditions or problems. It is an approach where you as the patient are being treated as a passive recipient, while an external resource such as a therapy is done to you, or drugs are introduced into your system. This is helpful and essential for broken bones, certain accidents, and life threatening illness, or when acute and immediate repair treatment is required, but it is not focused on personal awareness, empowerment or evolution.

Consider whether the life you were living from the choices you were making prior to ‘it’ presenting had a relationship to, interfered with or were causational factors of the symptoms, condition or problems being experienced, and

WINTER 2015

then ask yourself if you could glean wisdom from them.?

If the choices you make, consciously or unconsciously, affect you and your life’s outcomes, why then are you, this intelligent whole being, mostly focused on treating your symptoms? Does it make sense for you to control, suppress, or eradicate your feedback signals, and return to living the same ‘prior’ life, expecting (or hoping for) a different outcome without making changes?

EMBRACING NECESSARY CHANGE Briefly, Reorganisational Healing seeks to care for and sees each individual as a whole, bringing personal awareness to the fore, and is more process than event oriented.

It considers symptoms contextually as potentially helpful, and a precious resource to be understood. The person is engaged in his or her own healing, is self-responsible and embraces necessary change.

One goal is to identify and liberate your own resourcefulness, and track and utilise self-reported wellness outcomes.

The practitioner is a facilitator, your partner and coach in the process.

For me, the practical application of this Reorganisational approach is the utilisation and integration of Network Care (also known as Network Spinal Analysis NSA) integrated with a comprehensive Wellness Education program. My focus is to interpret each person’s health and life status, objectives and needs through the lens of their spine and nerve system’s function and integrity.

Guiding parameters include people’s history, recurring cycles, contributing stresses, tension patterns, pain, and posture. The nerve system is revered as the human master control system, ideally facilitating optimal function, influencing human potential for life expression.

CHANGE FROM DIFFERENT POSTURES I invite you to reflect on and take note of the changes you want, firstly while your body is in a ‘defence posture’ and then again with your body in an open ‘undefended posture’.

For the purposes of this exercise, exaggerate both of these postures to more easily notice the contrasting outcomes.

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Growth & Transformation

Figure A

Figure B

‘Defence Posture’ (Figure A) is the hunched, depressed, contracted and armoured position your body creates, to adapt to stress or the threat of stress as a protective response. Think of a boxer’s stance when they are fighting, and notice the similarity with their spine being compressed and bent forward to protect the face and body’s organs. In contrast, the open ‘Undefended Posture’ (Figure B) with your shoulders back and your chest raised; is erect, light, connected and at ease, with the broader appeal of a more well being.

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF While in each posture ask yourself “What changes do I want?” and answer the question: “Am I wanting to get rid of something?” Examples may be ‘getting rid of’ pain, debt or an unhealthy relationship. Or perhaps ask: “Am I wanting to move towards something?”

Your answer could be optimal health, abundance or greater connection.

I suggest you do not over think or plan this process, simply decide to undertake it and do it. Put pen to paper and write while in each posture. Make an exhaustive list, being as specific as you can be. There is no right or wrong.

Now consider how different your responses are from each ‘posture’. Which set of responses is more reflective of

your authentic self and what you really want at your core?

I find that people with more flexibility in their spine and nerve system, and a less defensive and more open ‘posture’, enjoy greater adaptability to making changes, with more resiliency to life’s challenges. Such a posture and resilience is a worthy goal because adaptability is currently considered one of the most profound longevity and wellness influencers.

PAIN AS A MESSENGER If in this exercise, if you sought to get rid of something, was it to return to something familiar or did you consider that “it” was a messenger to guide and aid your awareness and growth? An example could be if you had a headache. Did you seek to get rid of it because it was unpleasant and interfering with your life, and you wanted to return to and feel like you’re familiar self? Alternatively, did the headache bring awareness as to why you might be experiencing it? Did you seek to utilise the pain as a messenger or lesson you could benefit from to change your behaviour and outcomes?

Perhaps you realised that you were not hydrating sufficiently and when you drank more water, you did not experience these headaches. You then made a Note to Self: “Remember to hydrate more, resulting in no headache or associated discomfort and more pleasurable pain free times.”

UNCOVERING YOUR GOAL Another view could be that the headache was a symptom of some deeper need. If you decided to take a pain killer and block the pain, restoring you to your ‘prior’ state (pre headache), your covering of the symptom could have robbed you of the opportunity to dig a little deeper and discover more diverse contributing factors. For instance, if in your digging you uncovered that your goal was to move

towards something, were you seeking to return to familiar patterns, or to add a heightened level of awareness with new potential to reorganise?

An example could be a goal to improve your relationship with your mother-in-law. Did you decide you were going to try harder using the current known and familiar strategies in your communication toolbox? Did you consider that if you saw your motherin-law in a different light, with a new perspective or ‘posture’ your communication would be different? Think about observing your mother-in-law first from the ‘defence posture’ and then from the ‘open posture’. You might find that the same person looks like two different people!Engaging in reorganisational approaches brings with it welcome and often surprising change.

THE PROCESS REQUIRES ACTIVE PARTICIPATION Go back to your list: for each change item, identify whether you are seeking to move towards or away from ‘it’ and why. Look at the possible outcomes, employing the Restorative and Reorganisational approach. Be kind to yourself, keeping in mind that our culture supports a Restorative approach, while a Reorganisational one requires development and nurturing of a new kind of ‘posture’.

Self-awareness, growth and evolution is a process, not just a destination. involve processes; they are not a destination. Similar to building fitness, one workout or visit to the gym cannot suffice. Likewise, a Reorganisational approach requires active participation in your own process. Henry David Thoreau said, “Things do not change: we change”. I encourage you to use the Reorganisational model and discover how you ‘do you’ (how you operate in your personal world) and how you can ‘Be the Change’.

Dr Ari Diskin is a dynamic, passionate and innovative second generation US-trained Healthy Life™ Doctor of Chiropractic with 30 years professional experience. Ari is a Fellow of the Australasian College of Chiropractors and he has been recognised with multiple distinctions and awards in Australia and internationally, including Chiropractor of the Year three times (for service to the profession and community). He supports his clients to live an authentic life without limits, and to realise their optimal potential – naturally. Ari is a speaker, author, coach and educator based at Diskin Life in Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia and has delivered in excess of 1000 presentations.

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WINTER 2015

Growth & Transformation Author Kye Crow is a sacred seamstress (Wunjo Crow Clothing), visionary and artist living in western New South Wales with her partner Gill.

In chapter one of her autobiographical book, Ghosts And Ghoumas, Kye throws open the doors to fate following a theft that has left her penniless on the streets of Goa, India

Ghosts and Ghoumas

One of the best lessons I ever learnt was at the top of a 44 metre bungee tower, stomach churning as I waited for the person in front of me to jump.

She had already been counted down from five to one and hadn’t moved, and after a second countdown was still standing quaking at the top. I felt wrung out with anxiety watching every tortured countdown, and I swore then that I would jump first time. There was no way I would need a second go, or a third, which is what she’d needed before she finally jumped. If you’ve got something shitty to do, whatever it is, do not falter; get it over and done with. There is far less stress in life when you do!

And that’s why I was walking boldly toward the market, even though I felt anxious and totally uncool, clutching my almost-new Dr Marten boots that I didn’t wear because they pinched my toes. I was a woman on a mission!

This is a journey that began more than 20 years ago in 1991, when my life – a big old mess until then – cracked open.

It began in Goa, India, on the shores of the Arabian sea in the already sweaty hours of the early morning as the sun turned everything amber. It began in the colourful cacophony of early dawn, as I walked up the beach, passing the men folk taking their early morning shits; bums hanging over the ocean as they clung to the rocks that buttressed the shallow waters of the sea, whilst cows that looked to be cut from card, sat chewing their cardboard cud.

Even though it was early, the beach was already throbbing with life. The beach sellers were busy, poking and

AUTUMN 2015

prodding sleeping party goers who had crashed on the beach somewhere during the night and looked up, dazed, when a man with yellowed teeth and an apricot turban tried to sell them a piece of juicy watermelon. There were women wearing brightly coloured saris with huge baskets of mirrored sarongs balanced on their heads, and those dodgy men I’d already been warned about – the ear cleaners who often dropped a tiny stone into someone’s ear to entice them to pay to remove it – they wouldn’t get anywhere near me!

A couple of bony-yet-holy cows sat chewing their cud, blocking the flow as people waited to reverently walk around them’ A FEAST OF AROMAS AND COLOUR There was no doubt I felt nervous as I entered the Anjuna market, with its smells of cumin and spice and the sizzle of samosas and bhajis cooking in oil; the smell of cow shit and pigs and sweet chai bubbling endlessly and everywhere on single gas burners and mud earth stoves. The market was a feast of colour: lurid green saris next to shocking pinks, piles of embroidered and mirrored blankets, the apricot robes of a sadhu who had a long grey beard that trailed to his knees.

As I walked up the aisle, a couple of bony-yet-holy cows sat chewing their cud, blocking the flow as people waited to reverently walk around them, whilst a gypsy seller, wanting

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me to buy some beads, jabbed me so aggressively in my arm with her finger, she left a small pea-sized bruise.

I was looking for somewhere I could sit and finally found a tiny patch of free ground between two stalls. On one side, three younger women with huge, elaborate nose rings, wearing ornately mirrored and embroidered choli tops looked down at the ground giggling shyly whenever I looked their way. They sat, bums in the dirt with their tribal wares spread out on sarongs in front of them.

I felt so foolish as I placed my Dr Marten boots on the sand in front of me, arranging my hand-drawn ‘for sale’ sign at their toes. I only had one thing to sell and all the other stalls were laden with goods. To make matters worse, I had become the centre of attention.

Nothing happens in India without an audience, and more often than not, it’s men.

A group had gathered around me.

They stared at my boots and then at me, almost as if they were waiting for my show to begin, only I didn’t have one. This is it folks, one pair of boots! I felt ridiculous for even thinking I could sell them for a decent price in India, but I had to trust; the feeling to sell them had been so strong.

‘I was sitting on the pulse of an experience too big to run from… everything in my life was whispering softly, Just let go, just let go, Kye’ This was not how I’d imagined my first week in India would be, yet if I wanted to stay I had to sell something and the only thing I had left of value besides my boots was my camera, and I was not parting with that.

Even though I felt vulnerable and unsure of what was going to happen next; even though I felt way out of my depth and very much alone, I could feel I was sitting on the pulse of an experience that was too big to ignore or run away from, and everything in my life was whispering softly, Just let go, just let go, Kye, and as I surrendered to the moment I had never felt so free.

I was so absorbed by the scenes around me it was hard to focus on what I needed to do – and that was sell my boots! There was a tiny pig rolling in the dirt, playing with a scruffy puppy. A holy man walked past wearing bright saffron robes, his long, grey dreadlocks trailing below his bum, his body lithe and muscled. He was carrying a threepronged trident and a bright red shiny bucket, which made him look as if he was on his way to fight a fire.

HOPING TO MAKE A FAST SALE As the sun rose higher, the tourists began to leak in, some looking as if they’d come straight from one of the dance parties that Goa was famous for, with their faces painted, trailing glitter and wearing psychedelic body suits.

A couple of gruff-looking men, blackleathered and testy with grey pouchy faces, were parking their hired Enfield motorbikes at the back of someone’s stall whilst some other tourists haggled over the price of a sarong. My audience had soon dispersed and apart from the odd glance, most people walked past as if I wasn’t there, which didn’t exactly reassure me, as I was hoping to make a fast sale.

The wafts of curries and other Goan cuisine being cooked in all the ramshackle huts that edged the market was making me ravenous, but I couldn’t eat

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until I’d sold my boots, and no one had shown the slightest interest yet.

When I had originally booked my ticket to Delhi, an older man in the travel agency had asked me if I’d ever been to India before. When I replied no, he offered the best advice anyone could have ever given me: “It’s like a river,” he said. “You just have to throw yourself in and let the current take you.” And that’s what I was doing, sitting on the sand hoping to sell my lonesome pair of Dr Marten boots. I had thrown myself into the river but I hadn’t expected the current would be so strong.

I had been in India less than a week when my bag was stolen. It contained my travellers’ cheques, a large amount of cash, the opals I’d brought to trade and every single rupee I had. I was left with nothing, except my camera. I had been washing at a well, with my bag right beside me, and as I lifted up the bucket to rinse my hair, someone must have slithered in and snatched it.

The moment I realised my bag had gone I went into a panic. I raced around hysterically for half an hour, searching everywhere I’d been, asking everyone I knew if they’d seen it – even people I didn’t know – and the whole time I had this knowing ache in my gut that told me it had gone! As I collapsed onto the sand, I had no idea what I would do, and for a while I sat there feeling

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absolutely stunned.

Then I became aware of someone standing near me. I have no idea who; I was totally submerged within myself.

As they spoke, I listened: “You must feel terrible, losing everything” – and something within me began to change.

I thought about their words for a while, really letting them sink in. I knew how I was supposed to feel. Most of us divide experiences into ‘good’ or ‘bad’ – a common language we all understand.

But what I discovered once I got past how I was programmed to react was that I didn’t feel terrible at all. In fact, I felt absolutely amazing! I was astonished to discover this.

Getting in touch with how I felt, instead of how I was expected to feel, opened a doorway to one of the most treasured experiences of my life – one that I would not have given up for anything. Yes, adversity can be transformed. What I was to discover was that having all your money stolen in India can be a wonderful experience if you are open to letting go of programmed responses that simply block the flow of abundance in your life.

UTTERLY, DELIRIOUSLY FREE One thing was certain: I didn’t have to worry about my bag anymore. The stories I had been told about how some Indians parted travellers from their cash included sending monkeys in to steal while you slept, drugging food to knock you out then taking everything as you lay unconscious, and putting bamboo poles with pads soaked in ether through your window as you slept to etherise you, then breaking in and taking everything.

Stealing in India was a fine art and I had begun to feel so paranoid, as if I was dealing with a corrupt Spiderman who had all these magical abilities he could use to relieve me of my cash. I would not have been at all surprised to be told they could slither through bars on a window and manifest like a freaky apparition inside. Every moment, every second of every day, so far, had been heavily laced with the fear of being parted from my bag. Well, it was over; the deed had been done, and I felt utterly and deliriously free!

I could have travelled by bus or bike the 40 kilometres to the nearest phone

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and put one of my loved ones into a panic as they tried to stretch funds I knew they didn’t have to help me. Or I could have spent two days travelling to Bombay [Mumbai] to get my travellers’ cheques replaced. But I didn’t feel I wanted to do that. I only had a couple of hundred dollars in cheques anyway; the rest was in cash. For sure that money would have helped, but I found myself feeling so deeply immersed in the moment, nothing existed outside the reality I was in. And in that space, for the first time in my life there was absolutely no fear.

I sat on the warm sand at the market trying to ignore the endless stream of nomads all touting their wares, trying to separate me from cash I no longer had. I could feel the innocence of the sun on my face, the smell of chai and spice and sweaty bodies basking on the beach, and I felt infused with a knowing that I was looked after.

In the next moment, holding up my boots was a smartly dressed Indian woman calling excitedly to her husband and kids.

For many Indian people West was always best. I had experienced this several times already in only a week.

The first time was when I’d gone to buy some Ayurvedic soap and toothpaste.

The shopkeeper had been mortified that I didn’t want Lux or Colgate. He had tried, rather emphatically, to dissuade me from my choice, and much to his distress, without success. As I’d paid for my purchases he had looked at me with such pity, completely unable to equate my choice with that of a rational human being. It was the same

with my Dr Marten boots. They were from the West and therefore revered like the Holy Grail. Hubby eagerly pulled out his wallet and with barely a haggle freed me of my market stall.

EVERYTHING FELT PERFECT I was elated as I headed off to find myself something delicious to eat. I had done it, I’d braved my insecurities, sat feeling foolish and trite and lonely for hours on end, but I had damn well done it! I’d sold my boots! Nothing about my trip was turning out like I’d hoped. I had expected to be immersing myself in the sacred chants and sanctuary of an ashram and instead I had landed right in the midst of the Goan party scene.

And even though I didn’t like parties and always tried to avoid crowds, everything in my life felt perfect – even losing all my money. I was exactly where I was meant to be, and I knew that because I felt full of love.

Selling my boots had been my initiation on the miraculous path of living a life of trust. I thought it was all about love; all innocent and balmy like a meadow of flowers swaying in the breeze and I had no idea then that my journey ahead would take me straight into the depths of darkness from which I would return with jewels so bright they would be a guiding light in all my years to come.

Ghosts And Ghoumas, Animal Dreaming Publishing, copyright 2015 Kye Crow, www.ghostsandghoumas.com

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Growth & Transformation

Divine Union –The Ultimate Flame At the levels of heart, body, soul and mind, our consciousness is preparing us to meet the Ultimate Twin Flame to experience Divine Union. Are you ready?

What is Divine Union? Forget Mr 50 Shades of Grey and instead be open to the dance of love with Mr 50 Shades of Right. Here is why.

Divine Union is the Ultimate Twin Flame relationship.

It connects at the levels of the heart, body, soul and mind.

These four connections activate the sacred inner sanctum of the heart, touching the soul of each couple, exploring the depth of pure being.

MASCULINE AND FEMININE ENERGY Couples connected at this depth glow with love and contentment. Their eyes twinkle like diamonds, their bodies are energetic and vital. The spirit, both masculine and feminine energy, is encased in beauty that only a Divine Union radiates. The dance of love within contains euphoria, bubbles of bliss that float and touch everyone. Work productivity increases ten-fold and life is glorious.

Divine Union creates the sensation of wholeness that is almost impossible to describe. It occurs in the serenity and simplicity of ‘living now’ in each glorious moment. The doorway to a life of rare beauty opens and can be seen on many levels.

Love is not experienced in a body conscious way. You do not ‘feel’ love, nor are you ‘in’ love. You are love, subtly expressing the grace and reality of this sublime existence, sharing the truth of this wonder with another human being.

Your higher self is located and utilised, which opens life to a profound depth of pureness and grace. This is the Divine Union relationship.

For those seeking love, as well as those in established relationships, Divine Union can be accessed. In my first book, Heaven on Earth, you will find more information about Divine Union – The Ultimate Flame. A preview of Heaven on Earth can be found by accessing the following link on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Heaven-Earth-Tala-Scott/ dp/1452524157/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=142897 0715&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=heaven+on+earth+tala THE POLARITY OF FEAR Why is love so important? If we love and give love in its purest form, we are using energy on all levels of the heart, body, soul and mind. When love is absent in our

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relationships, karmic contracts are created and the polarity of fear arises as we bury insecurities and pain within.

We are now able to access sacred truths as they encompass us with honesty. To begin the process of love we must first truly love ourselves. For in truth, we can only give what we have.

A LIFE OF LOVE AND BEAUTY To ‘know (and love) thy self’ opens the sacred heart that leads us to a way of life beyond our limited understanding, to a life of love and beauty that is difficult to fully comprehend.

It is necessary to clear away blocked patterns and old karmic contracts before we can access the purity and full potential of the Ultimate Flame – Divine Union relationship.

My second book, Heaven on Earth Begins, is a continuation of the journey to the Ultimate Flame, describing more detailed information regarding the seven stages of relationships.

In my daily life, I provide relationship guidance and direction. Working with me is Olya Bojczuk, who also has many years of experience, and offers a natural way to remove inner blockages as well as old patterns that are affecting relationships.

‘It is necessary to clear away blocked patterns and old karmic contracts’

Author of two books, Heaven on Earth and Heaven on Earth Begins, Tala Scott brings a decade of experience pioneering a new level of consciousness and teachings regarding Twin Flame Relationships.

Further information: Tala Scott, 0439 724 678; E: truelovesolutions@gmail.com Olya Bojczuk, 0400 025 522; E: olya@holistiquehypnotherapy.com

WINTER 2015

Psychic and Spiritual

Crystals For Each Season

By ADAM BARRALET

While Autumn turns to Winter, nights become longer and temperatures drop. You may notice it’s harder to get out of bed and you have less enthusiasm for socialising or exercising. This is your inner guidance system talking to you.

In Winter plants go dormant and animals slow down or even hibernate, but what do humans do? We endeavour to carry on as normal, dismissing the seasonal changes and effects.

With this seasonal change Mother Nature is not encouraging us to lie in bed all day and procrastinate. Rather, she is guiding us to shift our focus. The cooler months are a time for meditation and introspection. This is an opportunity for contemplation and making plans for the next 12 months. We then start ‘planting seeds’ for the future. We make plans that will sprout in Spring, come to fruition in Summer and we reap the benefits in Autumn, which will again carry us through the leaner months of Winter. This is the cycle of the seasons and can be seen in Nature all around you.

Several different crystals are particularly great to work with at this time.

Brown Tourmaline

‘Brown Tourmaline…us feel helps us feel settled and snug in our place in the world’ BROWN TOURMALINE Because of its calming energy, Brown Tourmaline is a great crystal to work with during Autumn. It helps us feel helps us feel settled and snug in our place in the world. It is sometimes called Autumn Tourmaline, especially if it is banded, for this resembles fallen Autumnal leaves. A legend about Brown Tourmaline claims it came from leaves that fell from the fairy and elf kingdoms, therefore this crystal can induce visions of fey when used in meditation.

To enhance your grounded connection to the Earth at this time of year use Brown Tourmaline to balance your feet chakras. When these chakras are balanced you easily receive grounding energy from the Earth and release excess, unwanted energy back into the Earth, where it is transmuted.

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These two feet chakras help balance your body’s life force and natural body rhythms in line with the planet. Place your bare feet on the Earth and put a Brown Tourmaline under each foot. Move your feet back and forwards rolling the crystals under your feet. Feel the energy rise and balance the chakras. Dancing on the Earth while holding or wearing Brown Tourmaline is another great activity to try.

SNOWFLAKE OBSIDIAN Snowflake Obsidian is natural black volcanic glass containing the mineral Cristobalite in the shape of snowflake patterns. It is an excellent stone for meditation stone, ideal for times of introspection. It will allow you to centre yourself and surrender to meditation while combating negative feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Snowflake Obsidian allows you to find balance between spending time with others and allocating alone time.

With this greater balance in your life, you establish a better understanding of your own personal needs while enjoying more fulfilling interactions with others.

Use Snowflake Obsidian to assist you to go inward and get to know yourself better. Sit alone with a black candle lit near you, and holding your crystal ask yourself simple questions.

For instance, which foods does your body desire? Does your body need more water, or more sleep? Are you happy? What makes you truly happy?

What is your life’s purpose? The answers to all these questions are inside you, and all you must do is give yourself the quiet time and space to hear them. If you cannot find the answers within, you will not find them without.

‘Snowflake Obsidian… summons knowledge from deep within, revealing what you need to change in order to advance in your life’

in your life. Snowflake Obsidian will also allow you to recognise unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns, allowing you to rid yourself of those that hinder your path of service.

MOONSTONE Throughout history, civilisations have looked to the moon as a symbol of the Great Mother, or Goddess.

The soft light of the moon spreads a nurturing and magical energy across the Earth each night. It is only fitting that the crystal that shares the beauty of the moon, also shares its similar energy and attributes. Thus, Moonstone is a crystal of calmness, relaxation, contentment and inspiration making it a fine crystal to call upon in these months.

Scrying with Snowflake Obsidian can help you find solutions by accessing your innate inner wisdom. Keep your mind clear except for any question you may have need of answering. This powerful crystal summons knowledge from deep within and brings it to the forefront of your mind, revealing what you need to change in order to advance

Snowflake Obsidian

Moonstone Winter is a good phase of the year to work on improving your psychic and intuitive skills and moonstone is particularly beneficial for helping you in these. Keep it with you, especially during the waxing and full moon and start to pay attention to your ‘gut’ feelings. Moonstone will also help you trust the intuitive guidance you receive.

Take a risk and allow yourself to be guided by your intuition and you’ll feel it strengthening each month.

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WINTER 2015

JET When you are able to still yourself, you allow circumstances to play out before you without your influence. This can be insightful in revealing the true nature of others. Something you can try when you suspect someone is lying to you is to pause, instead of replying immediately to what they have just said. Often guilty people will feel the need to fill the void of silence.

If you have a tendency to rush into situations without examining the big picture, Jet can help you master stillness. Wear Jet over your chest and hold it for a six breaths before acting.

Try working with Jet to get a clear indication of where you are on your spiritual path. Learn to occasionally become still in your life and observe what happens. Don’t contact anyone or book appointments, just take some time out. This opens you up to allowing the Universe to provide you with a clear reflection of your true internal state. The behaviour of energy is that vibrations of the same frequency resonate with and draw towards each other, commonly expressed as ‘like attracts like’ energy. In other words, you will draw towards you that which is a vibrational match to your current state of being.

This is a powerful indication on where you are on your path of spiritual growth. One simple example is the people who contact you first will be an indication of who is currently at a vibrational match to you. You will find they are the people who most value what you contribute to their life.

If you attract complaining, negative people this is a reflection of your own attitudes. And if this is what is happening to you, look at what you can do to change your way of being so that you attract optimistic, pleasant people into your life. Meditate with Jet, asking it to dispel your own negative attitudes and help you progress along your spiritual path.

AMETHYST For many people, Amethyst is one of the first crystals they add to their collection for it is perfect for those

WINTER 2015

commencing their spiritual journey.

It has a soothing and healing energy that encourages you to step away from the chaos of modern life and take a few minutes for yourself supporting blissful relaxation and restful sleep. Once you give way to the peace and harmony, Amethyst opens your connection to Great Spirit. This is when the path to true wisdom begins.

Amethyst’s soothing energies will calm any irritation and anxiety and quieten your mind from unnecessary chatter. Once you have found peace within the silence, it allows you to tune in to your psychic abilities so that information and answers will flow to you.

‘Amethyst opens your connection to Great Spirit.

This is when the path to true wisdom begins’ This lovely violet crystal is one of the stones connected with the violet flame, a healing light brought to us by the ascended master, St Germain.

Visualise yourself surrounded by a violet light descending from above as you relax with the crystal. You may also want to invite your Owl guide,

your spirit guides or Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, with some simple words to bless you with their guidance.

If you have a particular question you need answered, hold the Amethyst up to your mouth and whisper your query.

It will bring you the answer as soon as you are ready to hear it.

If you use a form of divination such as tarot cards, runes, I Ching coins or a pendulum, keep them with an a Amethyst. This will increase their effectiveness and enable you to interpret their messages with greater understanding and wisdom.

Adam Barralet, renowned crystal alchemist and educator, and author of the book, Crystal Connections – a Guide on Crystals and How to Use Them.

For more visit www.adambarralet.com / www. crystalconnectionsbook.com

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Psychic and Spiritual

Numerological Predictions For 2015

BY SANDRAH WILSON

Ballarat based Numerologist, Clairvoyant and Medium Sandrah Wilson reveals what is in store for us in the months ahead.

Looking back, we see that 2014 was a massive year for many people. It was about letting go and clearing aspects of our lives that no longer serve us, including old ideas and thoughts, feelings, situations, family, friends, relationships and career.

On the other hand, 2015 is destined to be more about bringing up deep core issues and allowing them to come to the surface, so that we may heal, transform and become our authentic selves, living with integrity. Anything that is not meant to be in our lives, or that may prove negative, will be exposed or revealed to us in 2015 so that we may access our gift of free will and make the best choices, set clear boundaries and move forward on all levels.

The first day of 2014 (1 + 1 + 2 + 0+ 1+ 4, which adds to a 9) proved to be a major chapter in everyone’s lives, bringing with it closure and completion.

The first day of 2015, bringing with it a new cycle (1+1+2+0+1+5 = 10, which in turn adds to a 1) heralded new energy and vibrations designed to create new ways of being, allowing powerful new opportunities to flow into our lives that we may only have ever dreamed about before.

This new energy brings with it a more abundant way of looking at life, and greater financial freedom, which in turn allows us to live life enthusiastically and to focus on what we are passionate about. Now is the moment of power that we have been waiting for,

to truly live what we are meant to be.

2015 DETOXIFY OUR LIVES This year, 2015, is all about putting our plans into action. But before we do anything we need to be sure our intentions and our path ahead are clear. We need to have cleansed and detoxified our lives and our bodies, internally and externally, of everything and anything that threatens to manifest dis-ease. We will need to have worked on ourselves so much so that our past now empowers us, gives our life purpose and allows the many opportunities that have been hidden from us to flow in.

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The Age of Aquarius is upon us, and set to shift our lives from ‘Ordinary’ to ‘Extraordinary’.

Welcoming the creative energy of the sacred feminine and connecting to the inherent power within will help create much needed change, allowing our gifts to reach their fullest potential.

In saying that, the new energy coming in has nothing to do with gender. It’s more about our connection to spirit and creating the life we truly want to live now. By searching and exploring and journeying within, we will naturally connect to our true potential with every breath we take, especially with the support of daily meditation and yoga,

WINTER 2015

‘Align with sustainable living by growing our own fruit and veggies, and being more responsible for our… wellbeing’ which will also help alleviate the stress and anxiety many will experience this year.

As a whole, we seem to be taking control of our lives, by exploring better and new ways of living, aligning with sustainable living, growing our own fruit and veggies, and being more responsible for our health and general wellbeing.

OLD PARADIGMS REMAIN Beyond our private lives, as 2015 unfolds, we will see great changes in the education, health and the judicial systems that are all based on old structures and paradigms that no longer work for the majority, and offer no room for improvement as they stand now. Relying on these old systems will see many people continue to fall between the cracks.

On a personal level, answers to some of questions will be found in the past, by tapping into the energy of the inner child or consciously reflecting on childhood. Some answers will come through accessing memories of Past Lives, or clearing karma and spiritual contracts bought into this lifetime on the back of energetic residual trauma or abuse trapped on a cellular level; held not in our mental memory, but harboured energetically in our cellular memory.

Making a gift of forgiveness, gratitude and true compassion to ourselves (before we offer it to others) is how we can expect to heal and move forward in 2015. By focusing healing on ourselves, we enable ourselves to grow and prosper, instead of continually handing our power willingly to others, as we may have done in the past. In taking back our power, the energies of 2015 almost guarantee that our past will literally empower us.

The lessons held in store by the energies of 2015 may seem confronting at first, and even extremely challenging for some be assured that with focus and determination, the outcome will be well worth it.

WINTER 2015

Some interesting information that was channelled through me included a date that holds auspicious and favourable energy: February 2, 2022 (2+2+2+0+2+2 - which adds up to 10, which in turn breaks down to a 1); a favourable date that is less than 7 years away. We must all live in readiness for this time by preparing ourselves in mind, body and spirit. It is a very lucky date, so prepare!

2015 – THE YEAR AHEAD January brought with it new beginnings, new friends, new discoveries, new places to visit, journeys taken within and travel. It was all about putting our plans into action, being challenged to stand on our own two feet, and knowing ‘I can do it’.

February brought with it the energy of a Master Number (11/2), which focused on relationships, partnerships, bringing balance back into our lives. The energy of February offered support, especially when coupled with the practise of meditation and yoga, focusing on our sacred breath and regular exercise; an essential combination designed to return life force to our inner being.

March was always destined to be big, with plenty of situations coming to a head between the Full Moon and the New (Solar Eclipse) Moon in Pisces, which will coincide with the Autumn Equinox and Saturn Retrograde.

Working with focus through this massive energy in a productive manner will depend on our level of personal commitment, and our willingness to revisit certain energies and experiences of 1997 and what we learned during this time. Set to be an empowerment month, March will be riddled with opportunities that promise growth. We may find our buttons are easily pushed in March, and we may be urged to heal deep core issues trapped on a soul or cellular level. March will force us to expand our mind, with many of the answers we seek to be found ‘outside the square’. The perfect month to create, explore and to see our potential

as limitless, March will be the time to push boundaries, ‘dare to be different’, and bring fun and humour back into our lives.

The energy of April will be focused more on the home, career, our sense of stability, finding a common ground and feeling grounded and supported in all areas of life. April will be the month to lay new foundations to create a life and plan a future that will support us in the long term. Thus, opportunity for change in both the home and-or workplace may present themselves to us in April, particularly if you are not happy or secure in the career path you are currently following.

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Psychic and Spiritual

May promises to be a month that offers change and freedom. May will see many changes in areas that may have been previously restricted or governed by influences outside our control.

This sense of ‘freeing up’ will provide the opportunity to travel (particularly around May 5, 2015), bringing with it the vibration of the Christ Energy Consciousness, a very significant energy that incites opportunity to move out of the all too familiar karmic ‘cause and effect’ and into a state of grace.

May could prove to be a little rocky at times, but by surrendering any need to control and allowing ourselves to ‘go with the flow’, things will ease up and settle down quicker. So, enjoy the ride!

After the roller coaster ride of May, June promises to settle down in and around the home, in relation to family, friends and relationships, a new career or home, or even major renovations within the home. June will be all about balancing finances and creating a better life through the birth of a new creative venture or the initialising of new ideas. It will also prove to be the month when that hankering to settle down will be placated, with the promise of engagements, marriages and-or pregnancies. June will also be a good month for the self-employed or those considering becoming selfemployed.

July is energetically primed to support positive shifts centred on love, money and health, so it would be wise to prepare for apparent challenges in relation to these arenas of life.

Returning to study, learning new things, or opening up to self-development via meditation will all prove helpful when it comes to integrating the higher spiritual frequencies evident in July, while supporting our existence on the third dimensional plane, or the levels at which we are manifesting our physical reality on this Earth plane. In short, July will be the month to rest and meditate, and to take the time to journey inward to listen to the wisdom and encouragement of Spirit, which will be nudging us and trying to get our attention.

USE THE INFINITY BREATH August will see us become the best that we can be. Referred to affectionately as the ‘CEO month’, August will be well suited to seizing opportunities and reclaiming abundance in many areas of life.

Considered to be the most abundant number in the numerical system, August 8, 2015 (an 888 month) will prove super auspicious for many. For others, it may prove less abundant because, being an eight, some may find themselves stuck in a loop with no apparent end. Alternatively, as the symbol of infinity, the number eight also embodies the energy of the unified spiral of the physical merging with

‘… the most abundant number in the numerical system, August 8, 2015 (an 888 month) will prove super auspicious for many’ the spiritual. As such, it would prove more productive for those who find themselves stuck in a loop to adopt the infinity breath technique that will see them access the infinity gateway to their full potential, thus bringing love and balance back into their life.

TRIGGER OF THE TRINITY September will bring with it a sense of completion and closure, opening the doors to a new cycle or chapter. Letting go of things outdated, outmoded or that no longer serve us will prove hugely beneficial, and being the ninth month, September will see us awaken to the three levels of the trinity (3+3+3), which promises to trigger a turning point in conscious awareness while helping us find balance in body, mind and spirit.

October will see us beginning a brand new cycle, similar to the ‘number one’ we experienced in January. We will find ourselves looking at life through new eyes and embracing new opportunities and possibilities we previously thought impossible or out of reach. October will be the month to take action

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and to truly step into what could be considered a new life.

November invokes the energies of yet another Master Number. Although similar to February, it will deliver us into a deeper level of conscious awareness reminiscent of the process of resurrection and ascension process, only in a physical sense in the mundane world. November will be all about partnerships, relationships and the creation of a harmonious life. Be prepared for some highs and lows during this time, but in short – it will all be okay.

FEELINGS OF WORTH And finally, December will see a sense of fulfilment and empowerment flow into our consciousness, reigniting passion and feelings of worth at an intensity not experienced since January.

In December, we will have a clearer understanding of who we are and how we will view 2016 when it arrives.

September 9, 2016, for example (a 999 month), will be a month of further decision making, completion and a time of huge opportunity for closure of the past 9 years and lifetimes.

Depending on how we embrace the changes offered to us leading up to December 2015, September 2016 will see us either channelled into a phase of 999 completion and pure Christ love energy, reconnected to our soul and in a place of creativity, or thrown back into a negative 666 frequency, which will see us stuck in third dimensional paradigms we are so ready to move beyond.

For more information Contact Sandrah Wilson Ballarat www.foot-printz.com Mob: 0434531758

WINTER 2015

Psychic and Spiritual

Opening To Channel

By Sally Ananda Gadsden

U

ncovering my ability to channel has been a journey of learning how to listen. This is the most important aspect of ‘opening to Channel’.

This is the most important aspect of ‘opening to Channel’.

Listening to yourself, your core belief systems, your heart, intuition, gut feelings, spiritual guidance and core creator presence are essential in the art of channeling.

If you want to focus on your ability to channel, an important attribute is a deep desire to listen. Allow yourself time each day to create this opportunity for profound listening. As a channel, the more I can get myself out of the way the clearer and more precise is the delivery.

For me, the process begins with being more in tune with nature, listening to birdsong for instance, or the wind rustling in the trees. Choose a focus and set your intent to be in divine alignment, to be more open and receptive to other realms – including nature.

A simple entry point to channeling is to write down what you feel, hear or see while you’re tuning in, or meditating.

Try this without expectations, keeping in mind that practice is needed for mastery.

HOW TO LISTEN TO SPIRIT Clearing the mind, switching off constant mental chatter, is essential for clarity and listening to spirit and self. A clear space must exist for pure thought or Channel to enter.

Trust is a must for channeling; trust and the belief that you are connected in

WINTER 2015

‘Switching off mental chatter is essential for clarity and the art of listening to spirit’ every moment to the Universe, all of its wisdoms and all of its ‘knowings’; trust that you are worthy to receive your own divine wisdom and will honour it as it comes through.

HOW DID THIS ALL START FOR ME? After years of chronic fatigue and being shunted from one specialist to another, I was feeling powerless. I started looking into alternative ways to heal. During a Reiki weekend I experienced my first “Ah Ha” moment.

Suddenly an amazing energy flowed through me. I went into a sleep and came out ‘awake’. My perception of my life was blown apart. Gradually, as I allowed this energy to flow, I could feel the love, light and truth in it. This new way of living from the heart was the only choice, it was non negotiable!

I’d experienced the first of many ‘awakenings’.

Profound remembering and other gifts came with clearing old habits and beliefs. Potent energy flowed; it felt as if I was riding a wave. I continue to ride these waves, as they carry me ever forward on my spiritual journey.

CRYSTAL CLEAR MESSAGE It was then that I first began channelling. One day in meditation, a

beautiful, crystal-clear message flowed through and I knew I had to write this down: “Compassion in all that you do and to everyone that you meet.” I had been given my mission statement. My only responsibility was to learn how to live it in every moment. From that day on, more messages flowed through to help me in my every day life. These teachings gave me fresh perspectives of situations, showing me different ways to think about them. I realised that in order to be a clear channel, I had to be clean in my thoughts, actions, judgements, choices and myself. I had to be gentle on myself while growing myself up.

These major shifts have taken me home to my integral self, soul source self, my divine flow, a constant expansion of all faculties and beliefs. I am empowered to walk in my truth, my passion, and to be an authentic divine expression of soul source.

Stepping into your authentic self will lead you into a consciousness of kindness, love, compassion and peace: the true essence of what it is to be human. This new consciousness, new paradigm of existence, will bring the world into harmony.

Ananda, visionary healer and Channel of Pure Divine Light, gives guidance on the process of channeling. www.theblissfulheart.com.au

CONSCIOUS LIVING MAGAZINE ISSUE 93 51

Psychic and Spiritual

Stranger Than Fiction

C

hannel for Angelic Messengers Carolynn Milne reveals how she first began receiving Divine information

It was a cold wet day. I made my friends a hot cuppa and stoked up the open fire. We sat looking at the flames and talking.

My voice suddenly changed in midsentence. The words I was saying were beautiful and elegant, but they were not mine! I was startled and confused.

What was going on? What was that amazing energy flowing through me?

After the initial shock, I quietened my mind enough to hear Master Maitreya. It was his energy and his words. He was with me to teach me and to work through me.

Seven years later, I still experience these amazing energies, emotions and feelings.

Understanding that the messages I receive are not only for me and are for all humanity, I now channel Divine messages each week for my web site.

I think of my higher consciousness as a dome and I open its door with a filter, ensuring only the Divine can enter.

Lord Maitreya and many other powerful Messengers guide me day to day.

I make sure that their messages are uncontaminated by my thoughts, intentions, emotions or ego. Importantly, while receiving them I must be in a clear, pure and loving state.

I am not under the control of the Divine or the Messengers, and I retain free will, a vital aspect of being human.

Each Messenger communicates by voice or sometimes a ‘knowing’ of what to write in large blocks of information.

I prefer to write the messages down because this allows me to see the changes in my handwriting that occur if I contaminate them with my own ideas, or a different Angel or Master has come in to chat.

This amazing gift is not just for me, but also for you. Enjoy!

More information: www.angelicconnections.com.au; www. listentheangelsspeak.com.au T: 0422 864 727

By Carolynn Milne

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WINTER 2015

BOOK REVIEWS LOVE, LIVE, FORGIVE – INSIGHTS FROM ARTISTS Author: Justin St Vincent Publisher: Xtreme Music ISBN: 978-0-473-27941-7 www.LoveLiveForgive.org This is a unique and very powerful collection of 100 plus interviews from some of the world’s best known creators of music, art, poetry, film, words and dance, which share some of the ‘home truths’ we all have to face as we journey through life.

By their sharing they have reached out to all offering wisdom, compassion and love. Coming from the essence of who they are they have realized that to be creative, there is and has to be that something extra in life, that of love, compassion and forgiveness.

BUDDHISM FOR COUPLES Author: Sarah Napthali Publisher: Allan & Unwin ISBN: 978-1-74331-810-2 www.allenandunwin.com.au In her usual understated manner Sarah Napthali has brought us another gem of a book in this latest offering to couples. Her trademark sense of humour and innate sense of honesty shines through as she tackles the tricky subject of couples and in particular marriage, hers and yours, from a Buddhist perspective.

For all couples young and old, or contemplating sharing your life with another, this is one book you should read and take note of the many helpful suggestions available to broaden and enrich your relationship with the one you love.

THE POWER OF THE HEART Author: Baptist de Pape Publisher: Atria Books ISBN: 978-1-47677-162-5 www.simonandschuster.com.au Finding your true purpose in life is something we all seek .In this wonderful collection of inspiration from eighteen of the world’s most renown spiritual leaders, de Pape has co-created a wonderful journey of healing and understanding of the wisdom which is inside all of us, should we choose to listen and learn.

Each chapter is based on a specific topic, with an introduction followed by wonderful offerings from authors like Chopra, Tolle, Coehlo and so many more with the keys to unlock your heart and encourage you along your pathway to happiness, health, success and wealth

WINTER 2015

BY JANET MAWDESLEY

NAVIGATIO Author: Patrick Holland Publisher: Transit Lounge ISBN: 978-1-921924-77-4 www.transitlounge.com.au Disturbing and haunting, the tale of Saint Brendan of Clonfert, a sixth century monk and adventurer, as told by Patrick Holland, will stay with you for a very long time. As you read you realise it is more a puzzle of the mind; a view into the window of morals and ethics, which can be translated into the challenges that you face as you travel through life.

Beautifully Illustrated by JapaneseAustralian artist Junko Akaka, this is a work which should be treasured and used when troubled or in need of reassurance. Even in the darkest of hours, when all seems to be despair, with the coming of the dawn there is always a new beginning.

LIVE HAPPIER LIVE LONGER Author: Dr Timothy Sharpe Publisher: Allen & Unwin ISBN: 978-1-74331-918-5 www.allenandunwin.com.au It’s a fact: most of us will grow older and in doing so look back upon years and times spent, emotions discovered, felt and explored and wonder what the years to come will bring. How will we cope with growing older and how are we going to manage the days, months and years we have left to the best advantage? In simple form, how are we going to enjoy our life?

Not a book you can read comfortably from cover to cover as there is a huge amount of information in each chapter which needs to be read, reflected on and then utilised.

YOU WERE NOT BORN TO SUFFER Author: Blake D Bauer Publisher: Balboa Press ISBN: 978-1-4525-6259-9 www.balboapress.com Looking behind who you are or rather who you have become in order to allow yourself to become the person you were always meant to be, is the driving message offered as you read your way to happiness, joy and internal peace.

Presented as refreshing new look at the integration of timeless and traditional wisdom it can be considered as a course in re-discovery, your rediscovery of self. Each chapter concludes with healing questions followed by love affirmations, which when followed immediately gives a sense of peace and relaxation. Enjoy the journey! Also available as an audio book.

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MUSIC REVIEWS

BY JANET MAWDESLEY

SURYA - CHANTS OF LIGHT Artist: Nadaka and Gopika Ragamantra.com In their debut album, husband and wife, Nadaka and Gopika have combined a formidable talent to bring the unique Vedic mantras into the mainstream of music, making their beauty and vibration available to all. Whatever you decide to use the music for, relaxation or inspiration, or simply to have wafting through in the background to help focus and connect, you will find you are conscious of a deep relaxation and sense of peace, almost without knowing this is taking place. Inspirational!

AYAHAUSCA DREAMS Artist: Ciro Hurtado www.cirohurtado.com Commencing with his trademark Peruvian upbeat tempo, Hurtado moves across the pages of his life using a blend of electric guitar, lyrics, vocal harmonisation and a dash or two of violin. There is even a little side journey into India in ‘Dulce” and ‘Flor de Aleii’.

This is a slightly different mix for him as he seamlessly combines emotion, poetry, varying influences of music and reflections on his life to deliver a journey for all while relaxing into a musical re-creation of the “ayahuasca ceremony’, Hurtado style.

Lovely, relaxing and totally enjoyable, you will emerge refreshed and revitalised.

WEIGHTLESS (AMBIENT TRANSMISSIONS VOL. 2) Artist: Marconi Union Marconiunion.com Endlessly timeless, drifting slowly and gently through space. Weightless in extreme; Delicate feelings of utter peace within as you drift through the void that is time, place, rebirth.

Absolute, complete, at peace with choice you sink ever deeper into your inner being.

Classed as music? No, definitely not. Reclassification as a soundscape into which you can sink, cloud soft, spending time in mindlessness. This is something rare in a hustle bustle world where, to be endlessly busy is a sign of success, of who you are as a person.

Minimalistic, creative, inspired, touched by the divine, this is ‘music’ that touches the soul.

GYMNOSHERE: SONG OF THE ROSE

Artist: Jordan de la Sierra The music encapsulated on ‘Song of the Rose’ is an absolute treasure, experimental, exploratory and inspirational.

It touches the soul and relates to deep meditation and introspection. Some may say ‘spacey’, but there is far more to it than that. Both primal and futuristic, otherworldly and deeply spiritual it almost could be considered a form of musical poetry, as the intent when creating the music was to ‘share the offering of pure sound with shape to all beings who live and breathe, expressing love through the grace of music’.

VOICES FROM HEAVEN Artist: Runar Halonen &Tron Syversen www.tronmusic.no New Age music per se has just shifted into another dimension with this wonderful, healing soundscape created through the talents and inspiration of Halonen and Syvesen. With Syvesen’s undoubted talent for new age music and Halonen’s dusky but almost husky tones adding another level to this delicate recording.

Sit with eyes closed and allow yourself to drift into the world of the cloisters: if you will allow you can see the spirits drifting throughout the pillars, bringing with them peace and relaxation from stress and cares. Look again and allow them to come to you thought this medium of sound healing.

AQUARIAN DREAM Artist: Carmen Rubino www.carmenrubino.com All encompassing, sensual and intriguing. All the many unexpected pleasures of life have been woven into the rich composition titled Aquarian Dreaming, which is so very much more than just a nice piece of music by a talented pianist and composer.

The tapestry created in this composition offers something to everyone as it moves from mellow and gentle, the delicate sounds of nature being interwoven throughout the piece to a rich full bodied sound changing tempo, often weaving a cloak to surround you which will take you to places in the mind that resonate.As a debut album, Rubino has delivered a virtuoso performance.

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Artist Spotlight

How ‘surrender’ led to new art form

By Christine McArdle

Healing energy in interactive vibrational paintings For Christine McArdle the call from her higher self came loud and clear: leave your freelance graphic design business; embrace another way of being.

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Christine left Melbourne and traveled north to Belongil beach on the coastline of New South Wales. There her future unfolded.

Release, surrender and allowance came into play, all of which ushered in a ‘state of grace’. At Belongil, on the beach, Christine tuned in to nature.

A switch from working with her left brain to working with her right brain took place.

A JOURNEY OF LOVE The result is an exciting new form of interactive vibrational art that buyers

report uplifts, inspires, heals and brings about transformation.

As an artist and visionary, Christine has always acknowledged her own spirit, which continues to take her on a journey of love, peace and wholeness.

Her spiritual connectivity enables her to express her art through various mediums including painting, drawing, 3-D and mixed media.

Followers of Christine’s work have noticed helpful shifts in their lives, sometimes subtle, sometimes major, after commissioning a painting, or simply buying an image that has attracted them.

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“When I’m asked to produce a vibrational painting, the process begins with the person’s signature as it enables me to connect in an unbiased manner,” Christine said.

“I use this as a focal point in order to attune and connect myself to their essence. I combine the artistic with the spiritual connectivity to create interactive pieces of art that assist in bringing about vibrational shifts using colour and geometry, which is frequency.

Vibrational matching “My purpose for these images is transformation, growth and healing.

When you come in contact with

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these drawings vibrational matching occurs, which is our consciousness working towards integrating these new vibrations.

“Our energy fields will seek to release what is no longer matching these new vibrations and will therefore catalyse the release of what is no longer needed. This is where the healing processes begin, and how change and growth occur.”

‘DIVINITY OF THE MOMENT’ From the grandest sizes to the tiny palm sized images, each painting engages great skill and effort. As Christine said: “If you were to ‘unpack’ one of the small paintings, a panorama of colour and form would unfurl to reveal a universe of detail.”

Christine commented that “artists work in the Divinity of the moment”, and described the colour and geometry

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of her images as relaying “the language of the cosmos”.

She is grateful for her training and experience in the field of graphic design, and pleased she did not do a fine arts degree, which she believes would have confined her to a stiflingly conventional path.

Christine noted that her style of art has emerged during a time of cosmic changes.

As well as in Australia, her work has been exhibited in Canada, where she lived for a time after her life-changing days of discovery at Belongil. She now has a studio in Melbourne. The Conscious Living Expo and New Earth Festival 2015 will be the first time her work has been exposed to a mass audience. http://www.christinemcardle.com

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Short Story

The Ice Dragon

by CLAUDIO SILVANO

In ancient days, long before the Devastation left its mark upon the world, there lived in the land of Altra a young woman by the name of Furl.

Furl lived with her parents and her brothers and sisters in a small village near the Impassable Mountains. Furl’s family was renowned far and wide as the most gifted weavers in the region and all the people who lived within a few days’ ride depended on them for their craft.

Furl imagined that she had a gift and her gift was this: that she could weave anything that she desired onto a blanket and then, when the blanket was done, if she would sleep beneath it, the desired thing would come to her. In her fancy. In her dreams.

Furl’s imagined gift had come to her as a little girl, but as she grew up, instead of discarding it with the rest of her playthings, she held fast to it in her heart, for it brought her comfort.

One day, when Furl was 13 summers, a terrible storm blew in from the west.

The storm darkened the sky and for days no one left their home fearing the terrible powers that were being unleashed outside.

A Folk Tale from Theregon

When the storm finally abated and the villagers ventured from their shelters they found a curious and unsettling thing in the village square: an iron statue of a sinister looking creature had appeared quite magically next to the well. None could fetch water without passing beneath its evil gaze.

Unsettling as it was, no one tried to remove it for fear of the unsavoury magic that such a deed might attract.

So for a little time no one wanted to fetch any water and there were even squabbles amongst Furl’s siblings as to whose chore it was. In the end it fell upon Furl to do so.The girl carried the pail to the square and looked at the ominous thing.

It was huge and black and its eyes gleamed with malice. Furl forced herself past it and lowered the pail into the well.

But as she drew the pail back up, a dread hand of iron descended upon her shoulder and a cavernous voice spoke to her.

“My slave has died and I choose you to replace her. Forever more shall you serve me and never again shall you see this village or your kin.”

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The monster’s iron face had holes for eyes and mouth and nostrils and through these Furl saw tongues of fire curl and burn.

Furl felt faint and would have cried out for help, but not a word came from her lips. It was as if in her fear she had forgotten the gift of speech.

The fell creature transformed then into a winged beast and bore Furl away, far from the village and deep into the mountains to a castle that soared at the very top of the highest mountain.

In this place Furl began her new life serving the monster that had taken her.

Many moons passed and eventually Furl took to walking among the battlements early each morning and she would look out over the spread of peaks awaiting the dawn of the sun, but each and every morning the monster would bellow to her to come and serve him before the sun could rise.

One day he instructed her to weave him a blanket for his old ones were worn and falling apart. Furl did as he asked. She wove a fine blanket and upon it she placed a design of the giant sleeping under his blanket and through

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the window of his castle the sun could be seen dawning through the peaks.

The creature grunted at the image but passed no comment.

From that day on Furl had the dawn to herself.

Furl realized what she had done. She had almost forgotten her imagined gift and yet, here it was: no longer imagined but made true by the power of her desire.

So one day she approached her master and said to him: “Lord, I see that your blanket looks drab and worn. Let me weave you another, a finer one that will serve you better.”

The iron creature grunted that the first blanket was good enough, but Furl felt that, deep inside, he had been pleased by her suggestion.

Sometime later, Furl again commented that the blanket was looking bedraggled indeed and again suggested that she should weave him a new one.

Again the monster declined, but there was a softening to his grunt.

Eventually Furl told her master that the blanket was moth eaten and flea-ridden and no longer appropriate for one such as he. This time he agreed that she should weave him another, and so she did.

She wove a design of her master sleeping under the blanket in his room.

She made it much more intricate and beautiful; and through the window in the sky just above the rising sun she wove the image of a dragon, white as snow flying off into the distance. And if one looked very, very carefully, one might see a little figure riding astride the dragon: a tiny figure of a young woman.

On the thirteenth day of the thirteenth moon she presented it to her master.

He took the blanket and looked at it carefully.

“Why have you put that bird in the window?”

“It is not a bird,” answered Furl. “It is an ice dragon flying past.”

Her master grunted.

“And why is there a rider on the bird?”

“It is not a rider,” answered Furl. “It is someone quite inexperienced at riding who is looking for something she has lost.”

Again the giant grunted but took the blanket and said no more.

The next morning before the sun rose, a white dragon flew out of the north and alighted on the battlements next to Furl. She climbed on to his back and rode away into the sunrise in the east.

The Ice Dragon bore Furl back to her village where there was much rejoicing

at her return.

Furl wasted no time. She went straight to her loom and furiously began to weave yet another blanket.

On it she wove the image of a mountain keep in flames and of a monster of iron melting into a puddle.

But then at the last minute she added something that surprised even her: out of the melting iron she wove the image of a beautiful winged boy taking flight and escaping from the burning ruins.

For a whole moon she slept underneath the blanket.Then, one morning, before the dawn could wash the sky with golden light, Furl left the house and was never seen again.

No one seemed particularly surprised or concerned that she had vanished a second time. There was more surprise and concern when it was discovered that the loom had vanished with her.

They searched for her then, and cursed her as they searched, for they all knew that there was power within the loom. But Furl knew better. She knew that the power had never been in the loom, but within herself.

So she wove exotic dreams for herself and for her winged husband, and they lived elegant and exquisite lives for the whole of their allotted time within the world.

The Author of Vanquished, Claudio Silvano, is a shamanic practitioner based at Bedfordale, a suburb in the hills near Perth Western Australia. His writing focuses on spirituality and entertainment, meaning that his intention is always to nourish the soul while distracting the mind. He is the author of the fantasy novel Illiom, Daughter of Prophecy and is currently finalising its sequel, Keys of Awakening.. For more information on Claudio’s written works and also to download free stories please visit www.claudiosilvano.net Contact: 0403 699 479, awake@ sacredradiance.net

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