Positive Life Magazine Summer 2017

JOE DISPENZAÂ

Change Your Brain, Change Your Life KRYON

We talk to Lee Carroll DEVA PREMAL AND MITEN

Ashrams, Osho and Mantras

Eckhart Tolle

ON JESUS, PRESENCE AND DOGS

SUMMER 2017 PRICELESS

positivelife.ie

This is just the beginning...

Sometimes you just have to slow down, kick back and say thanks. In this issue I invited people to write a tribute to a person they loved, and I’ve just reread them and they are beautiful. I love this idea of writing a tribute now, to someone you love, and sending it to them. It can cover all the things you meant to say but never got a chance to. Write it in a card and post it to them - go the old fashioned way - or an email will do the trick too, the important thing is to do it.

All of these pieces will impact the people they were written about and will be published here forever. It’s like capturing love in our pages. This issue I got to interview ET, well Eckhart Tolle, for the second time, as well as Deva Premal and Miten, and Lee Carroll aka KRYON. How cool is that? For this, my vocation, my magazine, my service, I give thanks, and for all the people who help me with it, both new and past, I give thanks. This is a tribute to all of you. paul congdon, Publisher

PHOTO: DAVID KENNA; COVER PHOTO: KAROLINA TUREK

Contentment 4

Summer Vibes Get the summer scoop

6

Positively Newsworthy Be uplifted by the everyday

10

Spirituality & The City Summer love letters in the air

12

Positive Parenting Relieve the load in your child’s emotional backpack

14

Dee Wallace Imagination is the tool of creation

16

Amanda Collins The inside track to manifesting your dreams

18

Meditation Satisfaction through service-orientated living & giving

20

Joe Dispenza Bathe your body in positive vibration

22

Positive Personality/Deva Premal Ancient wisdom via modern mantra

24

Positive Supplement Wild nature lends a helping hand

26

Tantra Re-attune to the melody of your own being

28

Eckhart Tolle Holding sway amid the dance of evolving consciousness

32 Breathwork The Bruce Lee of breathing 34

Davie Philip Stories to carry us on the sea of change

36

CNM Seasonally shift your diet the Ayurvedic way

38

Hans Wieland Health in the hands of gardeners and growers

40

Summer Recipes Tasty dishes for your pleasure

43

Short & Sweet Stories brimful of inspiration & information

56

Positively Physical Raising the Barre for fitness

59

Elva Carri Add a little abracadabra to your tidying-up

60

Kryon Humanity enfolded in a benevolent embrace

62

Astrology Ireland and her economic chart

Publisher PC Media paul@positivelife.ie Co-Editorial Alison McEvoy and Aisling Cronin editor@positivelife.ie Design Dawn Cole dcoledesign@yahoo.ie Ad Design Caroline Hanan caroline.hanan@gmail.com Advertising Paul Congdon paul@positivelife.ie 0861579518 Social media Yahaira L. Reyes Yahaira@positivelife.ie Thanks to our advertisers, we can give Positive Life magazine to you for FREE. If you’re talking to them, let them know we sent you their way.

Please use the information provided in this publication as a recommendation only to better mental and physical health. We strongly advise you to consult your doctor regarding health concerns that you may have. The views expressed by contributors and advisors do not necessarily represent the views of the publication’s staff.

Printed, published, packaged and distributed in Ireland. positivelife.ie

summer vibes “TELL ME, WHAT IS IT YOU PLAN TO DO WITH YOUR ONE WILD AND PRECIOUS LIFE?” MARY OLIVER

DZOGCHEN BEARA

self-care support Help on the Healing Journey Aisling Fitzgibbon wants to empower you to become the best version of yourself.

Reach out to receive support, advice and clarity on how to reach your full potential with Aisling as your nutritional and holistic guide. She knows her stuff, she’s walked the road herself and knows the signposts to take. aislingfitzgibbon.com

Natural Body Care Natural Rebel Body Care is made by April Danann in the wilds of West Cork. We tried her hair pomade and loved it. It contains all the good stuff, clean well water and all natural, organic ingredients.

It leaves your hair feeling soft, shiny and super healthy. To top it off, April is also a medical intuitive and will give you a full check-up with all natural solutions offered.

Summer Chillin’

Actively Whitening Toothpaste

A quick low-down on the ABC of feeling suitably chilled this summer. Try Feldenkrais, for dislodging stiffness and feeling the freedom of movement.

Craniosacral therapy, to gently release and loosen up any tight spots. Ever hear of ‘the Mozart effect’? Great for getting emotion in motion and activating your creativity.

Joe Dispenza’s Blessing the Energy Centres meditation, for inside-out transformation and healing. We hear they’re the bee’s knees!

It’s all about teeth with the Georganics natural, organic and fluoride-free range of mineral-rich toothpastes. We especially like the Activated Whitening charcoal toothpaste which acts as a mild abrasive, cleansing and whitening the enamel of your teeth and restoring their natural white. Leave it on for longer and you actually remineralise your teeth.

Toothpaste doesn’t get much more holistic than this. georganics.co.uk

Essential Minerals for a Summer Glow To help make sure we’re getting all the minerals we need, Diatomaceous Earth are mining and grinding mineral rich compounds into a fortified powder. It’s also a powerful cleanser, so go easy initially.

With summer on the horizon, this powder’s naturally occurring minerals help keep our hair and nails shiny, and skin blushing with health. diatomaceousearthireland.ie

aprildanann.com

AISLING FITZGIBBON

VEGINITY

Healing for Humans and Animals So many ailments come under the healing radar of CBD oil - from your pet’s joint pain, to your own digestive problems. RecoveryCBD, with the promise of “No pesticides or herbicides, non GMO, no growth enhancers,” offers topical creams, juices and oils, all infused with the positive benefits of the cannabis plant. Why not try a cup of their CBD tea, helpful for pain relief, mood regulation and encouraging natural sleep. Ah go on, go on, gowan…sure you’ll have a cuppa tea, just a little drop! recoverycbd.ie

summer treats Delicious Health Bars Try Near to Nature’s new, sugar-free Turmeric Bar. We’ve tried it, and we love it. It’s so satisfying to know that you’re getting a dose of super-foods in just a few tasty bites. Near to Nature specialises in infusing their bars with anti-oxidants like spirulina, hemp and our fave, turmeric. Go on, give it a bite… neartonature.ie

Vegan Barbecue Time What better way to watch the dusk simmer down on a hot day than with a barbie. Fry’s vegan burgers are tasty, protein rich, and give you that fix when you just want to munch into something substantial like a burger bite, alongside your salad and roast veggies. Their range includes traditional style, chicken style and Asian spiced burgers. fryfamilyfood.com

Strengthening Salads Chopped is bringing salads to a whole new level with their Training menu. Check out the Vegan Body Builder Salad. Added to a choice of greens are muscle promoting foods like brown rice, tofu and broccoli.

Perfect to cool you down after a workout, while keeping the bulk in those freshly pumped muscles. chopped.ie

Gorgeous Raw Honey Leinster Honey is home to real deal, raw, untreated, unheated (and unsurprisingly, award winning) local Irish honey. Buying Irish is a way to love our native bees. The fruits of their industrious springtime labours is now available. It’s tricky to

find but we hear it’s at The Hopsack in Rathmines, and of course, online at Leinster Honey. leinsterhoney.ie

Vegan Food with a Twist You’ll find creative and scrumptious vegan dishes well worth the wander down to the Veginity truck....and restaurant.

With sassy recipes like plantain with avocado salsa, peanut caramel nougat cake, and watermelon & lime green tea kombucha, just reading the menu is a fun experience. Going vegan is getting easier and more exciting with places like Veginity popping up around the city.

Celebrate Body & Soul

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Summer Solstice weekend 2017, Co. Westmeath Wandering through the magical woodlands of Ballinlough Castle at Body & Soul Festival, you never know what will appear around the next tree trunk.

At this enchanted gathering of all things artistic, musical and soulful, anticipate hot tubs, bonfires, disco yurts, pop-up performances and much more! bodyandsoul.ie

facebook.com/VeginityDublin

enlightening

leisuretime

Retreat to Recharge Friday 30 June, 6pm – Sunday 9 July 4pm Weekend Option Friday 30 June, 6pm – Sunday 2 July 4pm, Co. Cork Join world renowned Buddhist teacher, and author of the classic Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, Sogyal Rinpoche, for Dzogchen Beara’s main event of the year - the summer retreat. Soak in teachings, guided meditations and contemplations in an atmosphere of calm, majestic beauty by the cliffs of the Beara Peninsula.

Diploma in Ayurvedic Studie Begins September 20th, Co. Clare Join Doug Hyde at Satmya to become an Ayurvedic Practitioner and lifestyle consultant over the course of this two year practical and experiential training.

We think this is a fabulous course, expect an emphasis on personal transformation as well as on learning a wealth of Ayurvedic treatments and practical theory to help others “find natural solutions to everyday problems.” satmya.ie

dzogchenbeara.org

Positive Nights Come along to one of our series of ongoing talks arranged by us, for you, set to motivate and stimulate your positive vibes. Topics vary from Astrology and Enlightenment, to discussions on Tantra and Breathanarism. Always upbeat, ever optimistic, we sit together with whatever arises, knowing it’s all ok, all welcome.

Expect to meet some seriously cool and like-minded people. positivelife.ie/positivenights

POSITIVE NIGHTS TALKS

positively newsworthy GOOD NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE. POSITIVELIFE.IE

“HostNation is a true example of empathy in action.”

6 1 Connecting Through Friendship BEFRIENDING SCHEME UNITES LONG-TERM LONDONERS AND NEW REFUGEES.

by Aisling Cronin Moving to a new country can be an isolating experience, particularly for those who have been forced to leave their homeland after facing conflict or persecution. The obstacles that asylum seekers can face in their adopted countries include language barriers, lack of mental stimulation, and difficulty with meeting new friends, to name a few.

Luckily, a group of kind Londoners are determined to make a difference through a new befriending scheme called HostNation, which matches refugees and asylum seekers with “befrienders” – native residents of East London who want to help them adjust to their new communities.

HostNation founder Anneke Elwes came up with the scheme after working closely with asylum seekers in Britain for over five years.

“...a group of kind Londoners are determined to make a difference” She quickly became “acutely aware of how desperately lonely and bored so many of them are,” and decided to reach out to compassionate people in London who wanted to help.

More than one hundred volunteers are now registered with HostNation as befrienders, who schedule weekly phone calls, arrange sightseeing tours of the city, or simply engage in conversation with the asylum seeker they have befriended in order to help them practise their English.

A number of befrienders have already established close bonds with the people and families they have met through HostNation, with one volunteer

saying that their new friendship will “go on for as long as we live.” One refugee believes that their befriender has helped them to experience “the best time of my life in England,” while another refugee says that when they are with their new friend, “I feel a deep peace and happiness without negative thoughts or anxiety.”

HostNation is a true example of empathy in action, inspiring everyone who takes part to see beyond cultural differences and engage with their new friends on a human level. www.hostnation.org.uk

2 The House of our Dreams HOW UNEXPECTED GENEROSITY HELPED US FIND OUR IDEAL HOME.

by Michael Meyer

Seven years ago we had to leave our rented house, as it was being sold. I called a friend who owned a rental property that was located in a beautiful estate with sea and mountain views. Thanks to his kindness, we spent six and a half years there at a very affordable rate.

The sad passing of my wife’s mum left us with some capital to put down on a house. My wife searched for months and finally found our paradise: an old cottage with some land, extensions, and outbuildings. It had been vacant for seven years and needed work. We had an 85% down payment, but the banks wouldn’t loan us the rest, as I’m self-employed as a family spinologist and my wife was a full time student. We believed that we couldn’t afford the necessary repairs without a bank mortgage.

I happened to know the seller through mutual friends in the village, so we formalised an agreement to pay them off directly over four years. We still needed money to cover the cost of the repairs, but luckily, a couple I knew through my

practice gave us a personal loan. The credit union loaned us enough to get the supplies, but not the labour.

Re-enter our ex-landlord. He is a builder, and he brought his crew in for three days to totally blitz the place. I used his tools to do all the sanding of the wood floors. My wife did most of the painting with her sister. Even the seller, by now a good friend, took the time to fit a spare kitchen set.

It all came together perfectly for us to move in just a couple of weeks before Christmas 2016. Looking back it seems like a dream. People’s kindness and generosity was unbelievable.

“People’s kindness and generosity was unbelievable.”

www.thespinecentre.ie

3 The Kindness of Kids YOUNG BOY DONATES HIS HAIR TO A CHILD SUFFERING FROM CANCER. Ten-year-old Thomas Moore from Maryland was moved to do this after he watched a video of the five-yearold girl, Kyssi Andrews, whose hair had fallen out after she received chemotherapy.

The easy, spontaneous acts of kindness that children so often display are beautiful to witness, as they come from a place of open-hearted joy that we all possess before the everyday weariness and anxiety of adult life has had a chance to kick in. One young boy in the U.S. decided to demonstrate his compassion by growing his hair out for two years, then cutting it off to be made into a wig for a little girl who had lost all of her hair through cancer treatment.

“He wanted his hair to be long enough to make the girl feel happy.”

His proud aunt, Amber Lynne, explained, “He didn’t set a timeline for how long he would grow his hair for, he just wanted it to be long enough to make the girl feel happy.” As Thomas’s hair became more and more voluminous, he needed to start wearing it in cornrows to keep it neat. Eventually, he knew that the

time was right to cut it all off … and when he did, the outpouring of support and encouragement he received on social media warmed his heart. Amber received comments such as, “Tell your nephew he is a wonderful young man,” and “He’s so damn cute! What a kind, considerate kid!” He even received an Act of Kindness award from retired National Basketball Association (NBA) player Derek Anderson!

Kyssi Andrews has sadly passed away from her illness, but her mother Marla has praised Thomas’s “brave” and “selfless” decision. “To know that my sweet angel Kyssi is still an inspiration, even in her absence from the earth, makes me one proud mom,” she said.

Thomas’s gesture of love is a shining example to us all.

positively newsworthy the little things Brought to you by Aisling Cronin

1 Comfort Through Cuddly Creatures HOW A HEARTWARMING SERIES OF ANIMAL PICTURES RELIEVED THE ANXIETY OF A FRIEND. There is something about animals that make many people go weak at the knees.

Even glancing at a photo of a small, wideeyed puppy or kitten can momentarily take our stress away. The rapid growth of online ‘doggo memes’ devoted to recording the bizarre, adorable things that dogs do – often with a witty caption attached – attest to the enduring love that countless humans have for their canine friends.

I recently had the great fortune of witnessing just how therapeutic our connection to animals can be after a friend created a post on Facebook, stating that they were feeling anxious and asking for pictures of cute animals to be left in the comments section. Within minutes, a string of cheerful photographs, videos,

and doggo memes began to appear.

The result was a heartwarming display of sassiness, hilarity, and good oldfashioned cuteness.

A horse stared directly into the camera – his long nose pressed right up against the lens – with a rather quizzical look in his eye. A huge Newfoundland sat on the pavement outside a cosy café, with his chest puffed out in a regal manner ... but his enormous tongue lolled out from between his jaws, ruining the otherwise imposing effect! A small grey cat purred loudly as her human got to work, massaging her gently between the ears.

A group of goats jumped on and off a pile of logs, kicking their legs into the air with wild abandon – and spinning like a top in mid-air just before they landed!

“There is nothing quite like the pure, all-encompassing love that animals can provide.”

It wasn’t long before my friend replied, saying that they were overwhelmed by the compassion that had been shown to them, and adding that the pictures and videos had immediately prompted them to cuddle their own ‘doggo soulmate’. There is nothing quite like the pure, all-encompassing love that animals provide!

2 A Reminder of Beauty FINDING HOPE THROUGH A STRANGER.

“You are beautiful!

And you should always be proud!”

His words were simple, but their effect was profound. I will always remember them as the words that prompted me to love myself again.

In winter 2009, I was walking down a quiet suburban street with my mind clouded by self-criticism. At that time, I was caught in a cycle of disordered eating and obsessive thoughts about my weight and height. Just then, I spotted a man coming towards me: a short, unassuming, middle-aged man wrapped in a thick black coat and layers of multi-coloured scarves.

“You are wonderful!”

His eyes were fixed directly on my face, filled with a childlike innocence

and wonder. “Look at you,” he gushed.

“You are so tall! You are beautiful!

And you should always be proud!”

I was stunned by the fact that this stranger had – for some reason – taken it upon himself to tell me that I was beautiful, just as I had been thinking of myself as anything but. Before I could think of a response, the man had hurried on, smiling to himself.

I remained rooted to the spot for a moment, and was surprised to find a smile slowly spread across my own face.

Somehow, his words had cut straight through my internal tirade of selfcriticism, and now, I was at peace.

I turned around to thank him … but he was nowhere to be seen. That night, my journey of returning to health and wholeness began.

“That night, my journey of returning to health and wholeness began.”

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spirituality & the city TRIBUTES.

Bebe Gardner Beloved, Utterly vulnerable and knowing that everything I think I know, continues to be transformed in the light of your love, I offer you my deepest gratitude.

The expansion and contraction, the fear and elation, the surrender of it all, the grief in feeling it all, Being it All, passing through the eye of the needle with You into VibrantBlossoming-Beauty…is Life’s greatest gift.

I’m so grateful for your commitment - not to ‘us’, but to Love.

For your dedication to Truth and Intimacy. For calling me to Deeper Woman as I call you to Deeper Man. Your constant ability to show up just kills me… in the most painfully beautiful way. I love your reflection and the mirror you are.

I love how what moves through you, moves through me, and vice versa. I love being able to drink you in, in all weathers…. You move me so, my love.

Enya De Burca There are moments in life, when you become acutely aware that you’ve come across someone you were meant to meet. Your soul recognises theirs and you know you have met a twin flame, a kindred spirit. I feel very fortunate to have experienced this with many varied and wonderful friends. I’m grateful for each one and for the unique value they bring to my life. They connect me to different parts of myself, allowing me to explore all the aspects of my personality that make me who I am. So, to this very special bunch:

Thank you for your support, wit and generosity. Thank you for sharing in my happiest moments, for celebrating with me and for being there through harder times. Thank you for sharing your imperfections and vulnerabilities and allowing me to do the same; for laughing at me when I deserve it and loving me when I don’t. Thank you for every giggle and every belly laugh, every cry and everything in between. To all the friends I’ve met, whose paths have become inextricably intertwined with mine, and who I can’t imagine living without, thank you!

Conor Clear I’m not sure what the collective noun for grandchildren is…a whirlwind of grandchildren? A pandemonium of grandchildren? Well, whatever the word is, there’s only one person who keeps the show on the road when the whole family comes together and that’s the kids’ granny, my mother, Anne.

Anne is the one who is always planning the next family get-together.

She keeps my two adult brothers and I in check (not that she needs to, of course), while finding time to maintain a busy social life and get a crossword done, every day. She even puts up with me when I pop in for her famous lasagne or chicken pie!

While Mam can hilariously be my harshest critic when I’m on TV (she turns the volume down when my voiceovers come on the telly!!), she’s also the one who encourages me to spoil myself; we share a love for afternoon tea and for trips to London to see a West End show every so often. So, to the woman who keeps it all together, thanks Mam and let’s see a show in London soon xxx

Andrea Hayes There are many people who have had a tremendous influence in my life, and both my parents are at the top of that list.

The person who I admire most in the world has to be my mum, Marie. I am so grateful to her, not only because she gave me life, but also because, without her, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.

She was my first teacher and continues to teach me valuable life-lessons every day. When I was in junior school, I always remember believing my mum knew everything.

Then, not surprisingly, when I went into secondary school, I thought I knew everything and she knew nothing!

How wrong I was. By the time I left school, she had become so much more than my mum…she was my best friend and confidant.

Every day she inspires me to be a better person and a better mum to my own daughter. Thank you Mum for giving me your unconditional love. You will forever be the light of my life.

11

Emil Ivanov Dear Mum, My love for you is so much more than the simple words which follow. Yet words are all I have now.

Thank you for meeting my father. He is generous, loving, and gentle. I love him as much as I love you. Thank you for giving birth to me. You gave me the most precious gift of all – my life. Thank you for giving me my brother. He has taught me a lesson in courage which I thought I was incapable of. Thank you for allowing me to be. From when I was a little boy, I’ve always known that I could be anything I chose to be. This is real freedom and I’ve always had access to it.

Thank you for loving me without conditions. Whatever I did and wherever I was, I knew that you loved me. This gave me power on my journey. Thank you for letting me move to a different city when I went to university. I know you suffered but you said nothing. If you did, I wouldn’t have left. Thank you for being so open to life. You read thousands of books and so did I. I learnt to be a student of life from you.

I know that you are watching me from above.

See you in heaven. I love you.

Jonathan Keenan The gratitude I feel for the person who has led me from darkness to light is overwhelming.

My spiritual teacher, Derek O’Neill, has done just that since I met him in 2005.

Following the death of my five-day-old son, my whole life turned upside down. I had been hastily married and was working extremely long hours, without appreciation, at Pfizer in New York. Derek helped me to understand the idea of karma (that ‘bad’ things can happen to ’good’ people), taught me techniques of meditation and Tibetan yoga that helped to manage my stress levels, relax my mind and open my heart to the abundance of the Universe which was waiting for me to manifest it.

Since then, I’ve divorced, left my job and country to come live in Ireland and, as luck would have it, I now manage Derek’s Creacon Wellness Retreat centre in New Ross, Wexford.

I can say that, as a modern man, I love Derek O’Neill in that he has saved my life, probably more times than I know. He is the type of man that prefers me not to refer to him as my ‘boss’ but rather, as my ‘friend’. Derek has not only helped me, but also thousands of souls out there, through his psychotherapy sessions and his humanitarian foundation which provides support to impoverished people in thirteen countries around the world.

I love that I am part of something bigger than a company, not simply making money for the sake of having more. I love that Derek earns money for the purpose of giving it away to helping those in need.

POSITIVE PARENTING

why can’t my kids

get along?

SUPPORTING SIBLING (AND FRIENDSHIP) RELATIONSHIPS.

by Anna Cole

Here’s a proactive connection tool you can use that we call ‘Special Time.’

TO DO SPECIAL TIME YOU NEED TO DO THREE KEY THINGS:

1 Name it.

It doesn’t matter what you call it: ‘Mummy and me time’, ‘Daddy and me time’. or any other name that appeals to you and your child. You give it a name so that your child knows how to ask for it. It gives them an alternative to pulling out their brother’s hair to get your attention.

It’s another summer edition of ‘Positive Life’, and for those of us who are parents, the summer will bring long school holidays and a break from the busy school routine. Ahh, peace at last … until suddenly, out of nowhere, your children are fighting over a cheap bucket and spade, your younger child has just hit your older one, and you are tearing your hair out!

Sound familiar? What’s happening for children emotionally when they can’t get along with each other?

“When all is well, kids play well together.”

At Hand in Hand Parenting, we have observed that when all is well, kids play well together. They can co-operate, empathise, and be spontaneous and creative about how to include others in their play. A couple of days ago, I watched my young son spontaneously include his tired and grumpy pre-teen sister in a family activity by playfully approaching her like a baby cat, eventually curling up on her lap, which helped her to loosen up, get a bit silly, and get involved. I’ve seen him find ways to include his tired Mum in play too. Yesterday he invented the ‘Max sneaks up without being seen’ game, so

I could lean tiredly against the kitchen counter and he could turn out some lights and sneak up on me. It loosened me up, we both had some fun, and he headed to bed connected and co-operative.

But throughout the day – and throughout their lives – upsetting things happen to kids, from big upsets like death and divorce, to the seemingly ‘irrelevant’ or smaller things. These things can include feeling rushed that morning and not getting enough snuggle time, getting teased that day at school or excluded by friends, watching Mum and Dad have an argument, having an ill parent who is not able to offer their child enough attention, or stressful financial times at home. All of these big and little hurts go into their emotional ‘backpack’, and if they aren’t able to release some of that tension, the stress leaves a great burden on their nervous system. As they become overloaded, they are less and less able to access the prefrontal cortex of their brain, the seat of verbal reasoning and impulse control. And that’s when you start to see hitting and other impulsive behaviours emerge, seemingly out of nowhere.

We know that for a child to play well, they need to feel connected. We as parents can increase a child’s internal sense of connection with some helpful tools.

2 Time it.

It’s important to time it – anything from a minimum of three minutes to a maximum of one hour. This sounds strange to many parents, but we pay less and less attention to our kids as they grow. We multitask: we’re folding the washing while calling up the stairs to help them find a lost item of clothing, we’re washing up while explaining where they left their Lego, we’re feeding the baby, helping a child with homework and cooking all at the same time. We put a specific time limit on our Special Time so that our child can ‘own’ that time. They know that during that time, you won’t be multitasking, and this gives their body and mind a chance to fully relax. Special Time is a healing process. It’s healing for both parent and child. When you offer Special Time, you can be sure that for fifteen minutes – or however long that time lasts – you have really been present with your child that day. Children get used to having three quarters of you most of the time. During Special Time, they get 100% of you.

13 3 The key ingredient is: delight in them.

End Special Time with a warm “thank you sweetheart, I loved our time together” or equivalent. Here’s an important health warning. In the beginning, when you first start to offer Special Time (for example, the first two or three months), try and give yourself ten or fifteen minutes to spare before you have to engage in the next thing. During Special Time, you’ve made it safe for your child to notice how they feel, so they can release some of the stress driving their off-track behaviour.

In the beginning, as Special Time ends, feelings of disappointment will bubble up very quickly. There might be tears from your child, or protests such as, “can’t we just finish this game”? Lean into these feelings, allow them to exist, and listen.

One of the main reasons chronic tensions interrupt sibling (and friendship)

relationships is because your child feels disappointed that they are not getting enough of your attention. Children often feel that their sibling is getting more of your full attention than they are, so if you make time for their feelings and disappointment when they have your full attention, you drain the frustration that leads to them hitting out.

“Lean into these feelings, allow them to exist, and listen.”

Here’s how it worked recently in my house. I noticed over a couple of days that my pre-teen daughter was starting to use little put-downs with her younger brother: nothing physical, but a little bit of persistent verbal teasing. I decided to offer her some spontaneous Special Time. I set aside five minutes to delight

in her, so she could bask in receiving my 110% warm attention. Towards the end of the five minutes, she told me that a classmate was teasing her about liking a boy at school, and how angry and humiliated she was feeling about this. We had some fun at the end of our Special Time, imagining her as Conan the Barbarian wielding a heavy instrument and telling the other girl where to get off.

Her laughter and our short, impromptu Special Time meant that she no longer had to pick on her younger brother to let out her hard feelings. Try it yourself, and may your summer be peaceful.

Anna Cole, PhD, is a parent educator, writer, and certified instructor with Hand in Hand Parenting. You can find her on Facebook (Hand in Hand Parenting with Anna Cole) to learn more about her in-person and online classes. Her parenting book ‘Listen’ is available now through her website. www.handinhandparenting.org

POSITI V E AT TR ACTION

let’s talk about

God

OPENING OUR MINDS TO THE ‘UNTHINKABLE’ IS VITAL TO EXPERIENCING GOD.

by Dee Wallace

14 only manifest in form those unlimited That’s right. Let’s talk about God today. thoughts and possibilities and unknowns God is good. God is love. God is You. God that we open ourselves to. And that means is Me. God is Everything and Everyone. being willing to...not know how to think.

God Is. Imagine, yes. But not reason. Our minds

I guess I could end here. The above scream out to us, “This doesn’t make says it all. But let’s explore a little further. sense!” But as Mark Twain said, “You Everything is Energy. And energy is can’t depend on your eyes when your everything and everywhere also. Ergo, imagination is out of focus.” Einstein energy is God and God is energy. Energy brought in his greatest achievements cannot be deleted, but it can be redirected “from his imagination.” into a different intention.

God cannot be deleted, but can be directed personally by how we choose and focus that choice. From that understanding, the light of a prism is the same energy as God presenting Itself to us.

All matter is focused light. We are light. God is the Light of the World.

Therefore, we focus the God of Us through

And yet our world today pushes choice and attention to that choice, which us to keep a pace where imagination is manifests as substance in the world as threatened with electronics and lack of focused light. In this way, we truly create time and consumed energy and beliefs ourselves through, with, and by the light, in limited possibilities. Our children be it the light of a prism or a rainbow or a don’t look for cloud animals. They push vision of the Virgin Mary. buttons. They have to LEARN before

Science and religion are so very they have a chance to imagine. So if our close. But where do they both drop out? world is manifested through the art of Neither can fully be recognised as matter imagining the impossible so that God if our minds are closed to the possibilities and Light can create new and fabulous of Everything and the All. The light can

“Only through imagination can we put the impossible out to the Universe.”

and unheard of creations, where are we headed? Imagining takes time, in a quiet space within. Imagining occurs during those moments when we get out of the way and allow “the still small voice” to be heard, so that we can focus our imagination on the … unthinkable.

Only through imagination can we put the impossible out to the Universe and have it sent back to us.

That is the true knowing of the statement, “Be still and know that I Am (you are) God.” That I Am the power, love, joy and choice. And then God and The Light will follow in friendship and partnership for all our creations. Walk back into your imaginations, my friends.

Play and revel there. Imagine all you could receive to make you joyous and happy.

Imagine to create!

Blessings, Dee Dee Wallace has worked as an author, teacher, dancer and actress in film, television and the stage for over 30 years (E.T., Cujo. The Howling). Her book, Bright Light, tells that tale and shares the spiritual lessons she has learned from a life of acting. iamdeewallace.com

POSITIVE HOME

live a life filled with

magic & miracles LEARNING HOW TO MANIFEST MIRACLES.

by Amanda Collins

When you align with the miracle you desire, it becomes available to you.

Of course you can also do amazing external things like create a vision board or a personal ritual, but manifestation really is an internal process of tapping into your higher self and your heart. Meditation, affirmations and visualistions can take you to that place of alignment. Ground your energy, come into your heart, and connect with Source.

The magic of the universe is just waiting to support you.

Being clear is really important.

If you want to open to something new in your life – some kind of magic or miracle – be clear about it. You may really have to work on affirming “I am good enough” or “I do deserve this because I am no longer that old story.” When you leave an old belief system and create a new paradigm for yourself, then the universe goes, “Check!” and miracles happen.

You need to clear your energy of old beliefs and find the best tools for your new belief system, whether that is from journaling, getting out in nature, or just saying “I am done with the old and stepping into the new.” Be clear on what you want to bring in.

Next, think and feel your intention.

Whatever you want to open up to, you have to tap into that feeling. If you want to bring in abundance but you’re always saying, “I can’t afford this, I can’t afford that” and you’re always feeling a lack, it will be very hard for you to align with the vibration of abundance. You have to feel abundant to bring more in. Be aware that there is an abundance of beauty around you, or state, “I have an abundance of love to give.”

“I send love to all those whom I know and I don’t know, and then I go into my dream time, saying ‘OK, Universe, this is the miracle I’m ready for.’ ” Detach and release old patterns and obstacles.

For example, to bring in your soulmate or vibrant health, be clear what you’re going to accept and not accept. Instead of thinking “When am I going to meet my soulmate?” or “When am I going to get healthy?” you have to really trust that all happens in divine timing and it’s all perfectly aligned.

Use the power of gratitude.

Be grateful for all that you have, even simple things like running water, food, being able to cook, having shelter, amazing friends, family, pets, or whatever it may be.

It may serve a purpose for a while to access lower vibrations such as guilt, shame, and anger, but when you can bring yourself into a higher vibration such as, “I am grateful,” things will shift. The minute you’re in an energy of gratitude, you’re going to keep attracting more to be grateful for.

I suggest having some kind of gratitude journal or a chalkboard. Every day, write down what you’re grateful for, or the intentions that you want to bring in. It’s not about controlling, but about understanding how the universe works, being clear in thought, in energy, and in the directions you give to the universe.

Detach, be in your joy, have fun!

If you’re sitting around asking yourself, “Has it happened yet?” or “Why hasn’t it happened yet?” you are not being detached.

You are not trusting. You are holding on and trying to control the universe. If you just go off and have a good time, it will happen. I used all my Feng Shui principles to meet a husband, and then I just took a trip to Miami, and there he was. I trusted it would happen when it was meant to, and it did.

Use the power of forgiveness.

If you want to create a lot of magic and miracles in your life, let go of old patterns and beliefs to free your energy. Forgive anybody you need to forgive. If you’re holding resentment, anger, or feelings of abandonment, it’s time to let those go and forgive yourself and others you need to forgive.

Work with miracles in your dream time.

When I get into bed, I always give thanks and gratitude, send the angels out, and set an intention for world peace. I send love to all those whom I know and I don’t know, and then I go into my dream time, saying “OK, Universe, this is the miracle I’m ready for.” Then my higher self works subconsciously.

“If you want to open to something new in your life, be clear about it.�

Use affirmations and visualisations.

Write your own affirmations, stating them in the present tense, as if whatever you wish to manifest has already happened. Repeat the affirmation, write it on a piece of paper, place it on your altar, or meditate with it. Successful athletes close their eyes and win the race in their minds. Visualising can bring you to your full potential.

Miracles and magic are happening all around. Look up at the sky occasionally.

Look up at the birds. See what animals are appearing. Listen to what you hear from people. Listen to messages. Listen and follow the guidance you receive. The more that you tap into Source, connect with the earth, and connect with your heart, the more likely it is that you will manifest everything that you want in your life.

InternationalFengShuiSchool.com AmandaCollins.com

17

POSITI V E MEDITATION

summer of service HOW A SERVICE-ORIENTED APPROACH TO LIFE CAN BRING YOU DEEP SATISFACTION.

by Sandy C. Newbigging getting what you think you need to be Have you ever noticed how good it feels happy. However, if you engage life with a to know that you’ve made a positive “How can I serve?” attitude, then it becomes difference to someone’s life? Even the much more likely that you will live with smallest act of service can bring a great an abundance of peace, purpose and sense of satisfaction and fulfilment. positivity.

However, have you also noticed how,

Giving to get back is not really anytime you have a problem, it usually giving, and doesn’t create the same results involves a lot of ‘me-type’ thinking? or rewards. Similarly, waiting to give after How is this going to affect me? How can I you’ve received is a back-to-front way of make sure they do what I want or give me what operating, which rarely leads to lasting I need? satisfaction or success. On the contrary, by

One of the main reasons why service recognising that you are happiest when feels so good is because the mind-made in service to others, and looking for ways ego-fueled ‘me’ – consisting of all of its to give, give and give some more, you will needs, expectations, judgements and find yourself rewarded with much more conflicts – is put on the back burner for a joy and connection. while and is not your primary focus. When When engaging my work, I focus first on in service, you are fully focused on where how to serve others better than ever before. you can give and how you can contribute.

By doing so, I automatically gain great In short, you move from selfish to selfless. pleasure, and have noticed that the better

There is a direct relationship I serve, the more profitable the business between personal satisfaction and remains too. engaging life with a service-oriented

Now, sometimes when suggesting attitude. If you engage your day with an this, I hear the response: “Nice idea Sandy, attitude of “What’s in it for me?” or “What but I’ve given too much in the past and ended can I get?”, rather than “How can I give up exhausted.” However, upon deeper and be of service?” then you’re more likely enquiry, in such cases, we have usually going to end up internally conflicted, found that they have been giving in a feeling frustrated and experiencing an undercurrent of angst and discontentment. conflicted way, which has been the real reason for their burnout. Working in the You will push away what doesn’t meet background there has been a conflict your expectations and be attached to

18

associated with what they’ve been doing, and these chronic resistances and unsatisfied attachments have negatively impacted their health.

“If you engage life with a ‘How can I serve?’ attitude, you will live with an abundance of peace, purpose and positivity..”

With a service-oriented attitude, you give without attachment to receiving anything in return. You know from your first-hand experience that through service, you are always rewarded by how good it feels. The invitation is therefore to check in with yourself anytime you’ve got lots of ‘me-type’ thoughts going on that are causing restriction, resistance, and dissatisfaction in whatever you are doing. Instead, set the intention of being of service in any which way you can. You will find it’s less “service with a smile” and more “service is the source of smiles”. Join me in making this the summer of service.

Sandy C. Newbigging is a modern-day monk, meditation teacher and multi-bestselling author. His new book, Calm Cure, is out now. www.sandynewbigging.com

love your way to

well-being

POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT + POSITIVE MIND + POSITIVE EMOTIONS = POSITIVE HEALTH = POSITIVE LIFE = POSITIVE WORLD

by Kevin Curtis

Joe Dispenza joins us to talk about upskilling ourselves, so that we can understand and utilise, towards greater collective health and happiness, the powerful interface that is our mind, brain, nervous system and body.

Over the past four years, Joe and his team have conducted close to 9,000 brain scans and 5,000 heart scans. These scans have measured brain wave activity and heart rate variability, and have monitored the epigenetic changes (changes in gene expression) and immune system responses of people meditating during

20

his workshops.

The results are fascinating: “People are healing spontaneously. People with lupus, coeliac disease, anxiety, depression and tumours are experiencing significant positive change, and, in many cases, complete remission (measured and validated through medical scans and blood tests).”

Random real-time brain scans taken during Joe’s workshops show activity in that organ unlike anything documented before. Generally, when neurons (brain cells) fire, the amount of energy released from the cell is about 40 microvolts (between 10 and 60 is considered normal).

Joe’s meditation, and how it works: • Meditation on the space in and around the body is practiced for a few weeks, to generate a calm, alpha state in the brain, promoting wellness.

This prepares the mind for stage two.

• In stage two you advance to “Blessing the energy centres,” focusing on the chakras, in order to enhance your new, healthy state of being.

In these workshops Joe and his team are seeing anywhere from three thousand to four million microvolts in a participant’s brain. This level of activity, occurring globally in the brain, is associated with deep states of expanded consciousness.

The heart is regulated by the deep brain structures which makes it sensitive and responsive to changes in our mental and emotional states. The results of these tests show that during the deep states of consciousness achieved by the meditators, the heart acquires a near perfect rhythm, signifying that the person is in a deep state of love, gratitude and bliss. When these kinds of mental and emotional states are experienced, we see dramatic positive changes taking place on a genetic and cellular level, which, in many cases, leads to spontaneous physical healing.

When we asked Joe how all of this works, he gave us the following lesson on neuroscience, epigenetics and spontaneous healing.

Spontaneous healing 101 In order for healing to take place, your genes have to be signalled in a specific way. Science used to say that genes create disease. We now know that only between one and five percent of people on the planet are born with a genetic condition.

The other 95-99% of disease is created by lifestyle and the choices we make.

Your body is a protein-producing machine. Proteins are responsible for the structure and function of your body. Your cells, by making proteins, sustain your body’s health.

“We can change the world by changing ourselves.”

In order for a cell to make a healthy protein, the gene controlling its functioning has to be specifically regulated. Genes are like Christmas tree lights. They turn on and off. When a gene is turned on, it up-regulates and expresses a healthy protein. When it down-regulates it stops making protein and does something else.

“A deeply positive inner experience can overwrite any previous traumatic experience that has been imprinted on our brain, our memory, our nervous system and our life.”

What causes this turning on and off ill-health significantly: “When a person has of specific genes is the environment.... a profound inward experience, that’s greater It’s not only our external environment than the trauma or shock of a past external that causes gene regulation, it’s also experience, the inner experience seems to our inner, emotional environment. The rewire the brain and send an emotional signal environment signals our genes, in that to the body, the amplitude of which begins our experience of the environment to rewrite the biological program, and in produces emotions, and the amplitude a matter of seconds we begin to see people of our emotions, created through change.” environmental feedback, is what begins

A deeply positive inner experience to select and instruct our genes to make can overwrite any previous traumatic proteins. experience that has been imprinted on

Joe gives us an example of a medical our brain, our memory, our nervous doctor from England, who attended one system and our life. As a result, the whole of his workshops. The doctor had suffered body experiences a turn-around. This is from a severe case of eczema since the essence of spontaneous healing. early childhood. During the workshop,

Joe’s experiments, conclusions while having her brain monitored, she and teachings de-mystify the old saying experienced a profound meditative of ‘mind over matter’, showing us state, throughout which her brain waves step by step how we can use our mind, displayed a heightened state of gamma thoughts and emotions to help our wave activity. These are levels of brain bodies to heal and be healthier. Each activity that aren’t seen during normal person who embraces this has a ripple waking states. effect, impacting others, sharing positive

Less than a week after the workshop, emotions, and gives the others around Joe received an email with one photo of them permission to do the same. the doctor’s arm covered in eczema, and

Ultimately, we’re not just changing a second photo of the same arm, taken our own lives for the better, we’re just days after the workshop, in which helping others to change their lives too. her arm was, for the first time since early Joe encourages us to “Be the example of childhood, completely free of eczema. everything you want to see in the world. We

It’s a scientific fact that the can change the world by changing ourselves.” hormones of stress down-regulate genes Simply smiling at another person will and create disease. Joe has now made cause that person to spontaneously it a scientific fact that the opposite smile back. This act generates a cascade experiences of joy, gratitude, love and of measurable emotional, neurological compassion up-regulate genes and create changes to occur in their body and brain. healing and health. So how do we make We are constantly influencing people this turn-around? around us, so remember, we can change

Joe teaches people how to think the world by changing ourselves. differently, to make different choices, to act out alternate behaviours and Dr. Joe Dispenza is a neuroscientist, embrace new emotions. These are the researcher, teacher, author and global steps, carried out daily, that create a lecturer dedicated to sharing his research turn-around in gene expression, produce from the field of neuroscience and quantum new proteins in the body, and lead us to physics to empower minds, transform greater health. lives and heal bodies. He will be giving a

The challenge, Joe says, is to teach ‘Progressive workshop’ in Ireland this year people to stay in this positive mind-andfrom September 29th – October 1st at the emotion-set. When we can do this, we Royal Dublin Society (RDS) shift old patterns of trauma and www.drjoedispenza.com

IRELAND DATES 2017 29th Sept - 1st Oct, RDS, Dublin

See: www.drjoedispenza.com | www.tcche.org

chant your way to

oneness

22

HOW DEVA PREMAL AND MITEN JOINED FORCES TO BECOME THE SHINING LIGHTS OF MODERN CHANT.

by Alison McEvoy

Interviewer: Paul Congdon

BIOGRAPHIES German-born Deva Premal (a name given to her by Osho, meaning ‘Divine Loving’ in Sanskrit) is a classically trained musician. Her mother and father were both musically and spiritually minded. Her mother played European medieval music, while her father was an artist and drum maker who was also dedicated to the Eastern Spiritual traditions of yoga and Zen meditation.

In her teenage years, Deva moved away from her classical training and her life as she knew it, and entered Osho’s ashram to explore her spiritual destiny.

London-born Miten initially created a successful musical career for himself, touring with artists such as Fleetwood Mac and Lou Reed.

However, he was spiritually unfulfilled by the rock n’ roll life. He found guidance on his deeper spiritual questions in Osho’s discourse on Zen parables which led him to leave his old life behind and embark on a new life journey at Osho’s ashram in Pune, where Deva and he met.

Deva and Miten will be coming to Ireland this autumn as part of their 2017 tour. While Miten has visited and performed in Ireland before, this will be Deva’s first visit – so be sure to save the date and come out to welcome them. Both share strong blood links to Ireland. Miten’s father’s family moved from Ireland to London before his father was born, while a DNA test revealed Deva to be 44% Irish!

Chanting is an ancient tradition.

Millions of people throughout the ages have chanted the mantras Deva and Miten share with the world today. It’s been known for millennia – and was recently confirmed by science – that voicing these sacred sounds has a profound healing, uplifting effect on human beings, and on the rest of the natural world. When Deva speaks of mantra, in as rich and resounding a speaking voice as her singing one, you feel her deep reverence for these sonic messengers of ancient wisdom.

“In the end, the silence and the singing is the same. The essence is the same.

We always come to that same spot of Oneness… the mantras, they all have different meanings and focus and deities, but they all bring us back to the same space of Oneness.”

(Deva Premal)

“In the end, the silence and the singing is the same. The essence is the same...they all bring us back to the same space of Oneness.”

AT HOME ON PLANET EARTH

In India, ashrams have existed for thousands of years.

Places where teachings are shared to bring about healing, evolution and enlightenment. It was at Osho’s ashram in Pune, India, that Deva and Miten met. Miten had been entrusted with co-ordinating the music to be performed during Osho’s spiritual teachings. Deva had wanted to sing - and so she began. Miten’s music and Deva’s singing allowed their initial friendship to deepen and evolve into the remarkable, creative and loving partnership that it is today.

The time spent at Osho’s ashram has profoundly shaped their lives. It impassioned them to live a life oriented from the spiritual heart, where the desire to share with others that which opened up their own hearts, voices and lives fuels their lives. They continue to thrive to this day from a hand-made life borne of passion for the twin flames of music and mantra, and each other!

Deva recalls, “We met in the ashram, and the love we received there when we lived there…we wanted to share it in life outside the ashram walls as well. So that’s what we started doing. We started giving voice workshops and music Satsang meditations, and eventually concerts.”

The term ‘career’ doesn’t enter Deva’s vocabulary when it comes to talking about how she has spent her life for the past 26 years. Deva feels that they were always simply choosing to do what they loved, guided by their positive feelings.

“The first workshop [we did] just had one participant for a weekend workshop, but we just did it because we loved it, and it just always felt supported and always felt good, so we just kept going, and at some point we looked around and there was 500 for a concert, and now there are 6,000 in Moscow for a concert. It grew very organically and sweetly.”

Each concert feels like a homecoming for Deva, “like a reunion, like a circle, like we’ve just finally gotten together again and now we can just enjoy…and keep going where we left off, even if we’ve never seen each other…we are all ready to be One.”

The orientation towards life and living that they uncovered within themselves, embraced, and were immersed in at the ashram, continues to remain alive. It acts as a magnet to those still seeking a way of life that generates peace, contentment, and a feeling of intense aliveness, love and connectedness to the rest of human and natural life, sharing this earth.

Miten notes, “You take it with you.

Once you get it, it doesn’t leave you. The ashram just expands to become the planet.

It’s not a geographical point on the map anymore. It’s your whole life. That’s the key.

That’s what we tell people when they come to us with their problems – chant the mantras.

Give yourself the chance to adopt a mantra practice and you have a friend for life. You have remembrance in every breath.”

THE WORLD’S OLDEST PRAYER The Gayatri Mantra is closest to Deva’s heart and a precious jewel in the world of mantra. Being the oldest mantra known to mankind, it has been charged with the devotion, faith and feeling of the innumerable people who have chanted it throughout the ages. The Gayatri Mantra is a Mother-Mantra. It is the root from which all other mantras stem in their various directions; praising, calling upon and revering various deities, particular aspects of the One Divine.

It is an all-encompassing prayer to the Divine Everything, symbolised by the Light. Deva recounts the meaning of this mantra, conveying as she does a deep gratitude and love; “The meaning is beautiful, because it’s a prayer that is to the

IRELAND DATES 2017 22nd September, RDS, Dublin

light, to the sun…It focuses on everything, on the light that lights up everything. So it’s universal in a way that speaks to everyone since we’re all dependent on the light in our lives and we’re all ready to be lit up. And so the Gayatri Mantra lights us up within.”

The Gayatri Mantra accompanied Deva’s life from her earliest breaths in the womb, however it was only during a festival that she attended with Miten in England that she first heard it sung publicly. When she then began singing it to Miten’s music, their lives began soaring to new heights. Interestingly, mantras are often given to devotees by spiritual teachers, once they are deemed ready to fully commit to a spiritual life. These mantras can symbolise the individual’s spiritual mission in life. The devotee chants the mantra to charge him or herself to open up to the blessing, clarity and courage to follow that path through life’s ever winding ways. Deva’s parents endowed her with this mantra when she was not yet even part of life on earth.

“When my mother was pregnant with me, my parents prepared for the birth by chanting the Gayatri Mantra throughout the pregnancy. As I grew up we continued to chant it together regularly before sleep.

I didn’t really know what I was singing… or even why! I just did it because I was told to! It wasn’t until much later that I came to appreciate the great gift my parents had given me.

“For this cosmically blessed couple, the road is home, and the world is their ashram.”

For more information see: www.devapremalmiten.com

nutrition from the

wilds

NOURISHING YOUR BODY WITH NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS.

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by Orla Bass

Wild Nutrition is a 100% natural food grown supplement whose business success has superseded its own expectations. We talk to founder Henrietta Norton.

Food grown supplements are better Originally formulated by nutritional absorbed, better retained, and better therapist Henrietta Norton, to support metabolised than synthetic supplements, her own clients’ wellbeing, it has now with smaller doses required. She grown into an extensive bespoke range describes this as a gentle approach with available throughout the UK and Ireland. no chemicals.

Wild Nutrition was launched in 2013, but

Speaking with Henrietta, it became the seeds of it had been sown three to five apparent that she is an expert in her field: years previously, while Henrietta was a therapist specialising in pregnancy, researching and developing supplements fertility, and women’s and children’s for other companies and practising nutrition; a health writer; and an author. as a nutritional therapist in London Henrietta was exposed to wholesome during the weekends. Knowing of the living from an early age via her mother, synthetic fillers and binding ingredients “an ageing hippy.” To her embarrassment, in standard supplements, she felt it was she was never the kid with the Wagon counterintuitive to give such a processed Wheels in her lunchbox. Fruit and nuts product to someone in need of nutritional inhabited it instead. healing. She and her husband Charlie set

However, her “lightbulb moment” out on a mission to create a brand made arrived in her mid twenties, after purely from natural ingredients. “When we eat wholesome food, it’s deeply nourishing,” a change in diet and lifestyle had a profound effect on her health. Realising she says. “The same is true when you’re there were huge benefits to nutrition, she getting supplements in their natural form began to study, embrace, and channel the – it has a much deeper nourishing effect.” healing power of food.

Henrietta’s ethos is simple: “If you know how to take care of your body, it will take care of you.” She explained that given the right tools, the body is capable of redressing physiological imbalances that cause ill health, and plant based supplementation

“Wellbeing is about putting yourself at the front of the queue.”

is a great way to enhance your body’s own mechanism to find its correct balance.

Wild Nutrition’s philosophy is a 360 degree, whole body approach: looking at things from a nutritional point of view, but also incorporating the client’s mind and spirit. In a world that is dominated by synthetic stimuli and stress, Henrietta maintains that wellbeing is about putting yourself at the front of the queue and learning how to best take care of yourself.

“It is important that everyone finds a pocket in the day for mindfulness, whether that’s meditation or being very present on a walk, as relaxation is incredibly important for biochemistry and overall good health,” she says. For Henrietta, cooking is her meditation and her form of therapy.

Her daily routine is to get up at 5.45am, practice yoga and prepare the meals for the day before her children wake up.

Henrietta’s vision is for Wild Nutrition to be available worldwide, so people can have access to high quality products with the intention of healing.

For products and recipes, check out www.wildnutrition.com

what is

POSITIVE TANTR A

tantra?

CREATING A NEW WORLD OF INTIMACY THROUGH FOCUSED ATTENTION.

by Dawn Cartwright

“She’d never experienced the passion her friends described and she’d begun to wonder if there was something missing..”

Oonagh

Fionn

Dónal & Caitlín

Late into the night, Oonagh sat in her kitchen hand selecting kale leaves from the crate the organic farmer had just delivered. A brilliant chef for an organic café, she’d spent the evening out with a man she’d met a few weeks ago. Things had gone well, yet Oonagh knew she was keeping things lighter than she might have wanted because she felt uncertain about her ability to truly let go into intimacy. At 29, she’d never experienced the passion her friends described and she’d begun to wonder if there was something missing, something flawed or incomplete in her own experience of pleasure.

As she sat at the dimly lit table, Oonagh picked up one of the vibrant leaves and placed it in her mouth. She felt as much as tasted the sharp bitter green, and because the intensity demanded her full attention, it brought Oonagh back from her worries and fears and into her heart – instantly.

Fionn is an IT genius with a sharp wit and classic style. The star player on his team at work, Fionn has his eye on a promotion into management. Now 25, he’s had two years to hone his craft, show his strengths and build trust among his coworkers.

There’s epic competition as three senior IT specialists are also vying for the position.

Nevertheless, Fionn’s certain he’s the man for the job.

During his interview, Fionn found himself being asked the typical interview questions - yet because of his focus and determination, he seemed to hear them in a way he never had before. Fionn’s sense of hearing elevated to super human levels.

He was able to listen between the lines and got a clear sense of what was actually needed and expected of him in the new position. His replies were insightful and expansive. Fionn’s interview was stellar.

Dónal and Caitlín have been happily married 22 years. Their lives revolve around their six children, ages 12 to 21.

Family brings them joy. Even with all the love, Dónal and Caitlín have been growing apart in recent years. The demands and stresses of two careers, children and a home mean they rarely get time alone.

They’ve lost the spark.

One windy evening Dónal and Caitlín were sitting up watching The Late Late Show when suddenly, everything went dark. They sat there together in a bit of shock for a minute or two, power lines down, senses heightened, until finally Caitlín slowly reached across the sofa to find Dónal. In the darkness and disorientation, her fingers lightly caressed his shoulder and chest. It was as if she was meeting him for the first time all over again. In the spontaneity of the moment they felt a closeness they hadn’t experienced in a very long time. Their spark was reignited.

What is Tantra?

What do these four fictional characters have in common?

They’ve all experienced Tantra and they’ve done so without any formal training or instruction.

There are hundreds if not thousands of ways to define Tantra. One of these is . . . the realisation that each of us, through focused attention in simple, everyday experiences, has the power to create our world.

The formal Tantras have their roots in Hindu culture, governed by sacred texts known as The Vedas. The Vedas were transmitted thousands of years ago to sages who listened to the melodies of nature. These melodies still exist, of course, and are transmitted through sight, sound, taste, touch and smell, expanding our understanding of ourselves and life all around us. Anyone who has ever spent the day hillwalking or by the sea knows

that nature has special messages to convey. The ancient wisdom of the Vedas is earth-based and real, clearly revealing the true nature of creativity and the appearance of everything we experience in our lives.

Tantras are the methods, or techniques, for being in tune with this creativity; both in the world and within our bodies. In the Tantric view, our bodies themselves are microcosms of the universe and we ourselves are the creative force that births planets and stars. The creative force that creates our life.

“In the Tantric view, our bodies themselves are microcosms of the universe.”

Oonagh was so attentive to the bitter taste of the kale, it took her over.

She regained her connection to nature in this one simple act and returned to

her heart, the one place where she could actually begin to open to the intimacy she’d been missing. Fionn brought all his focus to the interview and heard aspects of the questions even his interviewers didn’t realise they were asking. Dónal and Caitlín met one another beyond all the barriers of daily stress and reconnected as if for the first time. Through focused attention in simple, everyday experiences, each of the four created, in some small way, a new world.

And so can you.

Dawn Cartwright is a Tantric visionary, sacred writer, world traveler, and innovator in bio-energetic Tantra fusion. Dawn will offer: Sacred Sexuality. How We Love.

6-Nights of Tantric Bliss, October 6th – 12th, and Fragrance of the Lotus Tantra Teacher Training 2018 in Wicklow. To book your place, go to: www.dawncartwright.com.

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interview with

Eckhart Tolle THE RENOWNED SPIRITUAL TEACHER AND AUTHOR OFFERS HIS ADVICE ON NAVIGATING TURBULENT TIMES.

by Aisling Cronin

Interviewer: Paul Congdon

“Accept each moment as if you had chosen it, and then you will already be liberated.

You will already be awakened.”

Eckhart Tolle is a well-known writer and spiritual teacher, whose books ‘The Power of Now’ and ‘A New Earth’ have become seminal works within the field of self-development.

Ahead of his planned appearance in Dublin in September, we heard about his thoughts on Jesus, his love of dogs, and his experiment with LSD.

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Last time we spoke, you mentioned that you were writing a book on Jesus. How has that evolved and what are you currently working on?

I can’t say exactly when my writings are going to evolve into a book. There are many aspects of Jesus that are very important to understand: the actual person, the mythological figure, and the spiritual teacher, for example. However, I can say that Jesus’ teachings have more depth than, perhaps, many regular churchgoers realise.

The essence of Jesus’ teachings is the transformation of human consciousness, and a recognition that there is a dysfunction within it. ‘Salvation’, in the terminology that he uses, is transcending the dysfunction that we inherit, which is sometimes referred to in Christianity as ‘Original Sin’. You can see that dysfunction clearly when you read history or watch the news tonight.

A lot has happened since we last spoke in 2015, and we have seen an increase in fear based politics in the USA and Britain. How can we navigate times like these?

The main thing is not to be drawn too much into reactivity, believing that the problem lies within individual people or groups. What we see on the news are movements of underlying unconsciousness that have to come to the surface to play themselves out.

Unconsciousness always has to come to the surface. If it is not recognised within oneself, it is experienced as an outer event.

The external world becomes a reflection of your inner world. This applies both to the individual and the collective. These events can definitely seem negative from one perspective, but seen from a higher spiritual perspective, they are necessary for the awakening of humanity.

Many people felt that the world was a kinder place at the time of Barack Obama’s inauguration, and that we have moved backwards since then.

During the 1960s, a similar feeling of positivity and upward movement existed: a sense that peace really was coming. What is your feeling on this?

The evolution of consciousness is not a straight upward movement. It is cyclical, and always involves a regressive period.

After a regressive period, you move forward again – further than you had done before. I believe that we are now experiencing a regressive movement, but not every individual alive now will be drawn into that movement. Those humans who are completely unconscious will have to go through that experience of suffering most strongly. Simply be as conscious as you can, and do not make any human being or group of human beings into ‘the enemy’. On social media, for example, you can see an enormous amount of reactivity and anger, so it is particularly important to bring the bright light of consciousness into all of your online interactions.

When you see someone close to you – perhaps a friend or family member – behave unconsciously, how best can you call that person out for their behaviour?

It is vital that when you do that, you yourself are free of reactivity or aggressiveness, and that you are not demonising the other person or making them ‘wrong’. You must communicate with the person while they are relatively conscious. All humans exhibit various degrees of unconsciousness at different times and in different ways, and it is a very delicate thing to point out to somebody that they have been behaving unconsciously.

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The most important thing is that you need to be totally present and conscious when you point it out … otherwise, you will be drawn into a fight.

When you had your spiritual awakening, you said that you had experienced an ’80% reduction’ in your thoughts. Has that level been maintained?

Oh yes. The most wonderful thing about that shift in consciousness – the transformation that I continue to experience every day – is that I am no longer tortured by my mind. For example, when I go to bed and I close my eyes, I can immediately dismiss all thought and simply be present in my body. There are also many times during the day when there is nothing much to think about, and I simply enjoy sensory experiences like looking out at the sky and the trees.

Do you spend a lot of time in nature?

Yes, I do. Here in Vancouver, I live in an apartment building right next to a nature spot. When I look out of the window right now, I see huge, wonderful trees, snowcapped mountains in the background, and a clear blue sky. It’s wonderful just to sit here and contemplate. I often go for walks in the forest or on the beach.

“The most wonderful thing about that shift in consciousness – the transformation that I continue to experience every day – is that I am no longer tortured by my mind..”

We’ve heard that you are a huge fan of dogs. Do you have a dog who accompanies you on those nature walks?

At the moment, I do not have a dog, but sometimes I look after other people’s dogs.

I do love their wonderful rootedness – how they are so firmly centred in the present moment – and the joy they exhibit. A dog does not constantly ask themselves, “Do I love myself? Do I hate myself? Do I have a complicated relationship with myself?”

A dog just is. Animals are conscious, but do not have a stream of conceptual thought running through their heads all the time.

They haven’t arrived at thinking yet, and they are still more rooted in being. Once humans transcend the level of thought, we return to that state, but with an added dimension of awareness that the dog does not have. However, it is true to say that for many people, their cat or dog keeps them sane, as they simply accept them the way they are, without interference from the conceptual, judgemental mind.

Recently in the spiritual community, there has been a lot of talk about plant medicine. Do you see it as a road to enlightenment?

I don’t see it as a road to true and lasting awakening, but it can give people a glimpse of freedom from the prison of

IRELAND DATES 2017 9th September, RDS, Dublin

their conceptual mind. Years ago, I was asked a lot of questions about LSD and acid, so I tried acid because I couldn’t really answer the questions if I didn’t!

I’ve never felt the desire to repeat that experience, but I could see that for some people, the enormous amplification of sensory experience – as if somebody had ‘turned up the volume’, not only on hearing but also on smell and colour – would give them very little room for compulsive thought. The use of plant medicine can be an opening for some people, but ultimately, from there, you have to go to ‘presence practice’ in your daily life, and not be dependent on any substance.

What is your advice for people who want to bring themselves into the present moment?

Don’t wait for some imagined future state of liberation or awakening that you want to achieve. Simply accept what is, in the present moment. Accept each moment as if you had chosen it, and then you will already be liberated. You will already be awakened. There is nothing to look for anymore.

What advice would you give to parents on how to help their children?

The most important thing is to give them attention. Much of the time, when parents think they are giving attention to their children, they are doing so through the medium of ‘do this’ or ‘don’t do that’.

Giving attention means to look at a child and to listen: to truly be present and communicate with that child. Give your child the gift of your presence. In that way, your essence will reach the child’s essence, and they will feel truly recognised.

Eckhart Tolle will be speaking in Dublin on September 9th in the RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin. For more information about the talk, go to: seminars.ie

eckharttolle.com | seminars.ie

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the power of

your breath DAN BRULÉ RECALLS HOW BREATH CHANGED HIS LIFE.

by Dan Brulé

32 In the fall of 1969, while training as an X-ray technician, I saw an invitation on the bulletin board to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

I signed up immediately. The desire to learn how to breathe life into another human being was instant, automatic, and irresistible.

A few weeks later, I was sent to the intensive care unit to take a routine chest X-ray. John, I learned later, was a baseball talent scout. As soon as I walked into the room, I felt something was not right. I leaned in to him as closely as I could, carefully looking, listening, and feeling. He was not breathing! Just then, the beep, beep, beep coming from his cardiac monitor turned into a long, steady beeeeeeeeep.

I jumped into action and did everything by the book, exactly as I was instructed and had practiced in class. I threw his pillow onto the floor behind me.

I tilted his head back, pinched his nose, covered his mouth with mine, and blew a big breath into him. I then yelled for help.

Nurses and doctors began arriving, and a couple of people on the team quickly slid a backboard underneath John. I blew two more big breaths into him and started a series of compressions. A nurse leaned in with an Ambu bag (a manual resuscitator) to take over the ventilations. One of the doctors was getting in position beside me, preparing to take over the manual

compressions, when suddenly John came alive with a jolt. His eyes shot open. He looked startled, afraid for a moment, but then extremely peaceful.

I wanted to jump up and down and shout. This was a freaking miracle!

A few minutes ago the man had been clinically dead, and now he was alive and breathing again.

The breath is in many ways our closest friend and helper in life; it is our constant companion from birth to rebirth.

It faithfully supports us in everything we do, whether or not we are aware of it, and whether or not we appreciate it.

“Dan Brulé is known as the ‘Bruce Lee of breathing’, because he has drawn the best from every style and school he has explored, and because of his skill, mastery, and dedication to the art and science of breathwork.”

Tony Robbins

IRELAND DATES 2017 29th June, Positive Nights

The Key to Ultimate Transformation It’s one thing to be in charge of our process. It’s one thing to use the breath to generate love, peace, and joy; to work with the healing, creative, and restorative powers of the breath. It’s quite another to be lifted up by the breath itself and taken on a magnificent journey.

The real miracle of the breath occurs only when we learn how to turn it on, fire it up, and set it free to do its work in us; when we can let it take over our very being, when we can surrender to it while it shakes all the fear and stress and tension from the cells of our body, like a dog shakes off water.

We attain the highest states when we can, as the Quakers say, open all the doors and windows of our being and let the power of the Holy Spirit blow through.

Excerpted from Dan’s new book, ‘Just Breathe’, out now.

Go to www.breathmastery.com for more information on trainings in Ireland.

Catch Dan at Positive nights on June 29th, positivelife.ie/positivenights

See: www.positivelife.ie/positivenights

GOOD LIFE 2.0

the good

life

WINNING HEARTS AND MINDS.

by Davie Philip

Humanity has entered a strange period: a time of immense opportunity, but also of great turbulence. Around the world, old institutions are breaking down, ecological limits are being exceeded, and we have an epidemic of loneliness. Its time to lead by example.

Many new institutions more fitting to the complexity of these times are rising up, but the pace of change is slow. The most difficult challenge facing us is not really about developing solutions to the challenges we face – it is about illuminating stories that empower us to look beyond a future of adversity and to see one of opportunity.

More of us are losing, or

“The key to winning hearts and minds is to lead by example.”

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struggling to gain, a sense of purpose or meaning in our lives. Culturally, we are between stories and there is a lack of guiding narratives. In this era of extreme individualism, it is vital that we come together and co-create stories of a thriving relationship with both the natural world and one another.

So how do we transcend age-old differences, win hearts and minds, and embark on a common goal of living on this planet in ways that are healthier and more collaborative?

For a long time I was part of a group screening scary films on climate change to communities around the country. We thought that when people ‘got it’, they would immediately begin to make the transition to a low carbon lifestyle. However, all we really did was frighten most people away. By challenging some deeply held assumptions without showing appropriate responses, we turned off our audiences. People tend to be very sceptical or dismissive of information that contradicts their worldview.

However, documentary film is a powerful tool for positive

transformation, and a wonderful medium for sharing stories of change.

Recently I was asked to take part in a panel discussion after a screening of Demain, an award winning French documentary. ‘Demain’ means ‘tomorrow’ in French, and without denying the scale of the challenge, the film focuses on very positive ways in which everyday citizens are making their communities and their local economies healthier, greener and more resilient today. In most cases, these were stories of citizens taking power back from governments and corporations, which – as author Jeremy Rifkin points out – may be the best way to undo the top-down policies that have set us on the fast track to destruction.

We’ve long bought into the myth that people are only motivated by their own self-interest, whereas the stories in Demain are about cooperation and people doing what they need to do together. This September, Cultivate will be coordinating the Convergence Festival, a fortnight of events around the country that will highlight stories of citizens engaging in the wellbeing of their communities. On the 23rd, the first European Day of Sustainable Communities will be held across Europe to showcase projects that are transforming local areas.

I think the key to winning hearts and minds is not to try convincing anyone of anything, but to lead by example, demonstrate that something is possible, and provide people with a larger purpose for changing their lifestyles. A compelling narrative really does inspire us to think and do things differently.

Davie Philip (davie@cultivate.ie) is a community catalyst at Cultivate and is based in Cloughjordan Ecovillage: thevillage.ie – He is also curating the Convergence Festival in September 2017 on the topic of Citizen Engaged, Community Led Transitions. If you have a story of a community led initiative email convergence@cultivate.ie

eating according to

NATUR AL MEDICINE

ayurveda SEASONALLY SHIFT YOUR DIET THE AYURVEDIC WAY.

by Pamela Ryan

Ayurveda, meaning ‘science of life’, is an ancient Indian system of healing which has guided people in their pursuit of health for thousands of years. According to Ayurveda, the energy of the world is in constant flux, shifting with the seasons. Similarly, our bodies are constantly changing in response to this flux, and have an innate orientation towards homeostasis (balance) and health. Imbalances can lead to illness, and the goal of Ayurveda is to prevent illness, looking to the root cause and providing the tools required to restore health.

Ayurveda identifies three elemental groups known as doshas; Vata, Pitta and Kapha. The doshas are three particular combinations of the natural elements which are the building blocks of our bodies and the world; ether, air, fire, water and earth. Together they are responsible for everything that happens inside our bodies. We each contain all three doshas, all elements, however in varying degrees of intensity. Your dominant dosha is your ‘Prakruti’ (original nature). Once you understand your prakruti you can recognise symptoms of imbalance and implement changes to your nutrition and lifestyle to restore balance and prevent illness. Take a minute to discover your dosha using the chart below.

Vata Dosha Light and airy vatas tend to be flighty and restless. You graze during the day and tend not to sit down for scheduled meals. Imbalances manifest as anxiety, insomnia, dry skin and scalp. Rebalance vata with warm, cooked, nourishing foods rich in essential fatty acids, and sweet fruits or starchy carbohydrates like figs, melons, cooked grains and root vegetables.

Pitta Dosha Fiery in nature, you are competitive and goal-oriented. You have a strong metabolism and experience intense hunger. A pitta imbalance can manifest as inflammation, caused by excess heat in the body. A pitta-pacifying diet will cool and calm inflammation. Sweet and cooling foods are best, and try not to overdo the hot yoga!

Kapha Dosha Earthy in nature, you move slowly and steadily always remaining calm and grounded. Slow metabolism, and weight gain can be a symptom of kapha imbalance which is rectified by enjoying peppery, spicy, raw foods. You do well on a mostly plant-based diet, with small portions of white meat or fish and strong, energetic forms of exercise.

“...it is important to choose ingredients which nourish and balance your individual constitution.”

SUMMER: PITTA SEASON In Ayurveda, the summer months represent the pitta dosha, which is characterised by heat and fire. From a diet perspective, our bodies are naturally encouraged to replace heavy, large meals with smaller, light and cooling foods such as salads and smoothies. That being said, raw vegetables and ice cold drinks are not necessarily suitable for everyone. For example, iced water, cold smoothies and raw vegetables can increase vata (the lightest, coldest dosha) which in excess can manifest as digestive discomfort (gas, bloating, IBS), dryness (skin, hair, scalp) or joint pain. Conversely, salad greens and spending time in the sunshine are excellent for balancing kapha (the heaviest, densest dosha).

Summer is the ideal time to consume salads and lightly cooked meals. And while its cooling effects and summer heat might

seem the perfect marriage, it is important to choose ingredients which nourish and balance your individual constitution.

A SUMMER SALAD FOR YOUR DOSHA For each salad, combine the ingredients in a serving bowl and drizzle with the Tridoshic Salad Dressing.

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KAPHA-CALMING SALAD

PITTA-PACIFYING SALAD

NOURISHING VATA-SALAD

TRIDOSHIC SALAD DRESSING

3oz grilled free-range skinless chicken breast (chopped)

3oz grilled free-range skinless chicken breast (chopped)

A perfect balance for all 3 doshas!

2 big handfuls of watercress

2 celery stalks (finely sliced)

3oz grilled free-range skinless chicken breast (served warm and chopped)

1 pink radish (finely sliced)

½ fennel bulb (shredded finely)

1 cup green beans (lightly steamed)

½ medium green apple, (cored and finely sliced)

1 handful flat-leaf parsley (finely chopped)

1 tbsp. pumpkin seeds

1/2 tbsp. Tridoshic Salad Dressing

1 tbsp. Tridoshic Salad Dressing

1 handful green beans (lightly steamed) 1 handful rocket leaves 1 fresh fig (quartered) 1oz. whole almonds or walnuts (soaked in water overnight & drained) ½ tbsp. Tridoshic Salad Dressing

½ cup light tahini ½ cup filtered water Juice of ½ lemon 1 clove garlic (very finely chopped) ¼ tsp. sea salt ½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper Method: Whisk all ingredients until well-combined, smooth and creamy. Store in an airtight jar and refrigerate for up to 7 days.

gut health begins

in the garden CULINARY CONNECTIONS 3: WHY PROBIOTICS LOVE PREBIOTICS.

by Hans Wieland

I can’t really remember what came first: buying and cooking with whole foods, or consciously introducing more fermented foods in our diet and thus revisiting the food tradition our parents grew up with.

Having bought a small farm in rural Ireland in 1985 and starting out to grow and produce most of our own food, it all fell into place naturally. We started growing vegetables and fermenting them for use in the winter, milking cows and goats and making cheeses, buying local grain in Enniscrone and baking with sourdough.

I strongly believe that the ultimate culinary connections are between the soil and the gut, and between growing and cooking. Today I will make the connection with the visible prebiotic vegetables and the hidden or not visible probiotic bacteria, because eating organic whole foods rich in fibre (carbohydrates) is as important for your gut health as consuming fermented foods. But first things first!

“Grow” prebiotics to “feed” probiotics! Probiotics and prebiotics both serve important health functions for our digestive system in the human gut.

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Probiotics are live microorganisms that live inside your gastrointestinal tract. They aid in digestion by essentially cleaning out the gut so that things keep flowing. Like all living things, probiotics need to be fed in order to remain active and healthy and to benefit us as much as possible.

Prebiotics are types of dietary fibre that feed the friendly bacteria in our gut.

Prebiotics act as food for probiotics. In other words, probiotics eat prebiotics.

This helps the gut bacteria produce nutrients for our colon cells and leads to a healthier digestive system.

“The ultimate culinary connections are between the soil and the gut, and between growing and cooking.”

POSITIVE FOOD

In a nutshell, prebiotics are a type of undigestible plant fibre that can only be eaten by nice bacteria. The more food or prebiotics that probiotics have to eat, the more efficiently these live bacteria work and the healthier our gut will be.

Much has been said about the health benefits of prebiotic food and higher intakes of prebiotics are linked to many health benefits like lower risk for cardiovascular disease, healthier cholesterol levels, improved digestion, and higher immune function.

Grow for your gut: Classic Prebiotic Vegetables Since fibre is the source for prebiotics, foods that are high in fibre are also typically high in prebiotics.

My top contenders on the prebiotic foods list are:

1. Chicory Root, popular for its coffeelike flavour and a replacement for coffee, is a great source of prebiotics.

2. Dandelion Greens are a great fibrerich substitute for greens in your salad or a spicy addition.

3. Jerusalem Artichokes have been shown to increase the friendly bacteria in the colon even better than chicory root.

4. Garlic and Onions not only give great flavour to our foods but provide us with prebiotics.

5. Asparagus is another great source of prebiotics and also protein.

Probiotics love Prebiotics and Prebiotics love Gardeners As gardeners and growers we are in a very powerful position when it comes to gut health. We can grow the best prebiotic foods ourselves, but not all vegetables are the same and probiotics are choosy!

They especially love vegetables from the onion family and the daisy family and many are very easy to grow. In the onion family we have garlic, onion,

leeks, chives and scallions. Maybe not so well known are the members of the daisy family: Jerusalem artichoke, globe artichoke, chicory, endive, lettuce and scorzonera. Give Jerusalem and globe artichokes a permanent bed in your garden and you will be richly rewarded.

Endive and chicory are fantastic salad plants throughout the winter months and deserve to be grown more. And then there is one of my favourite ‘unusual’ vegetables, yacon. I grow it in the polytunnel with great success and good yield. It tastes best raw, grated in a salad with carrots.

Probiotics also love potato skins and cold potatoes. No wonder then that they love my favourite prebiotic dish: potato salad. theorganiccentre.ie

roll on,

POSITIVE FOOD

summer EMBRACE THOSE LAZY PICNIC DAYS.

by Tony Keogh

Summer time is upon us. The warm evenings and glorious endless days are here again. Vitamin D and energy levels have been restored, and we are all pining to be outdoors. It’s that time of year to break out the sun cream, the chequered blanket, and a bottle of vino, and head down to your favourite spot in the park for some impromptu alfresco dining.

Stepping out for a nibble is something people have relished since time immemorial. It’s one of life’s many mysteries, but for some reason, food always tastes better in a friend’s house or outdoors. Breaking bread in the sunshine is also a great way to catch up

“It’s that time of year to head down to your favourite spot in the park for some impromptu alfresco dining.” with old friends. At Cornucopia, we have you covered for all your alfresco needs.

Whether it’s a summer picnic, a potluck barbecue, or an office lunch, we have your back with a wide selection of salads, cold pressed juices, raw chilled soups or sweet summer nibbles.

We have also have just introduced a second summer sandwich

to rival and complement our famous daikon smoked tofu wrap. It consists of fresh herby falafels, sundried tomatoes, sumac, and fresh shredded vegetables with creamy tahini mayonnaise and hummus, all enrobed in a soft tortilla shell. It’s portable and it’s healthy, and is available at the restaurant today.

FALAFEL WRAP WITH RED CABBAGE, CHARD, SUNDRIED TOMATOES AND TAHINI MAYONNAISE

250g chickpeas, soaked overnight 50g fresh parsley 30g fresh mint, dill or coriander Zest and juice of ½ lemon Heaped teaspoon of ground cumin Heaped teaspoon of ground coriander 2 cloves garlic 35g scallion Heaped teaspoon of salt

1 To make the falafels, puree all of the ingredients except the chickpeas in a food processor until they are very smooth. Add the chickpeas and blend the mixture very well. You may need to intermittently scrape down the edges of the bowl. Blend until well combined and creamy.

2 Heat about two centimetres of a neutral oil – such as sunflower or rapeseed – in a large, deep frying pan until it comes to a simmer. Using two dessert spoons, make round balls with the mixture and drop them into the oil.

3 After about two minutes, you will see them beginning to brown on the underside. At this point, flip them and fry them on the opposite side for a minute or so. Fry them in batches of about seven or

1/2 teaspoon bread soda 50ml water 25ml olive oil Accompaniments

¼ red cabbage finely shredded 1 large grated carrot 1 cucumber sliced into discs 100g minced semi-dried tomatoes 50g red chard

eight at a time.

You do not want to overcrowd the pan as the temperature of the oil will drop, leading to soggy falafels. Transfer the cooked falafels onto some kitchen paper to cool down while you prepare the accompaniments.

4 To make the accompaniments, you will need four bowls. In the first bowl, massage the sumac and the pomegranate molasses into the red cabbage along with a pinch of salt. In the second bowl, massage the cumin, juice of half a lemon, and a pinch of salt into the grated carrot.

In the third bowl, combine the cucumber discs and the sundried tomatoes. In the fourth bowl, combine the mayonnaise, yogurt and tahini with the remaining lemon juice.

100g vegan mayonnaise 200g of hummus 200g vegan yogurt Dessertspoon of tahini 50mls pomegranate molasses Teaspoon of ground cumin Teaspoon of ground sumac Juice of 1 lemon

5 To assemble the wraps, lay six wraps in a line on your work space.

Down the centre of each wrap, dollop and spread 1/6 of the mayonnaise tahini mixture. Using a teaspoon, smear 1/6 of the hummus mixture along the mayo mix.

Top this with 1/6 of the chard, followed by 1/6 of the cabbage mix, the carrot mix, and the cucumber mix. Finally, lay three falafels along the length of the wrap and roll it up tightly.

6 There should be about twenty falafels, so you should have a couple left over that you can nibble on as you roll.

The wraps can be served immediately or stored in the fridge for up to one day. cornucopia.ie

PHOTO: MARTA WATUS

Falafels

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short & sweet 43

Animal Healing TRUST IS THE BRIDGE TO HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR ANIMALS.

by Orla Bass James French is the founder of the Trust Technique, a simple technique derived from the understandings of Animal Communication and Reiki healing, that he and his partner Shelley teach to animal owners and rescue centres around the world. James’ dream is that all humans learn to treat animals with mindful regard, using trust rather than fear as their point of connection. The Trust Technique recognises that animals and humans share feelings, and is based on the belief that through mindful interaction, anyone can learn the simple skill set to communicate with their animal and create a peaceful,

confident and trustful relationship.

James’ connection with animals began at an early age. He admits he was incredibly fortunate to have had a challenging childhood. His family experienced a lot of pain and upset.

However, for James, this meant that he discovered a healing connection with the animals that surrounded him on the family farm. These animals were his lifeline, supporting him during those turbulent times. He now believes that the Trust Technique was first shown to him by the compassionate support of the animals through these childhood connections.

Our emotions impact theirs, and their behavioural issues can result from a lack of understanding of their needs. The Trust Technique is about teaching people to help their animal. For James, “you can’t just go and mend an animal. If you don’t change the environment, the animal will revert to its old behaviour.” They have a saying that “sensitivities never leave but they can be transformed.” Through mindful regard and unconditional love even the most troubled soul – animal or human – can find solace.

Trust-technique.com

SHORT AND SWEE T

Keeping it Real with Natural Skincare 30 YEARS OF LAVERA

by Alison McEvoy

Food for the Soul IRISH FOOD FROM NATIONWIDE TO YOUR DOOR.

by Orla Bass SoulBia is an online food store and wholesale distributor which specialises in the best of Irish Artisan, Organic and Free-From foods. Twelve months in, the business is moving from strength to strength, according to founder Kathryn Magennis, with a long list of “Ireland’s most exciting, innovative, upcoming producers” eager to avail of their services. Their products range from baking mixes, kimchi and bone-broth, right through to natural yogurts.

For Kathryn, it all came about by chance. She spent years attending food and farmers markets, sampling the best of what Ireland had to offer and satisfying her own keen interest in, and taste for, artisan foods. With a background in wholesale, she also listened intently to the personal journeys of each passionate producer. She quickly learnt of their difficulties in reaching the broader mainstream market. In response, she set about bringing the finest collection of Irish foods together, so that “it doesn’t matter whether you live in Dingle or Donegal, you can still access all these great brands in one place.”

SoulBia is “full cycle positive”; it backs smaller producers, which supports local communities and in turn benefits the overall, wider economy. Moreover, customers are given wider access to healthy, hand-made, Irish foods which support their well-being. The business is also conscious of those living below the country’s poverty line. In their own way they offer support to these people by distributing excess SoulBia products to local Newry Food Banks. Customers can also do their bit by purchasing additional products which will be delivered on their behalf to help feed the homeless. soulbia.com

Born of the combined passion of its co-founders for genuine, natural skincare and fair principles, Lavera celebrates its thirtieth birthday this year.

Co-founder Thomas Haas had suffered from the itchy skin condition, neurodermatitis, since he was a child.

He began his skincare journey by cultivating plants and developing formulae for natural products that might help his skin. After ten years of research he launched the original company, Laverna. At around the same time, in Germany, Klara Ahlers had set up a natural cosmetics speciality retail business named Cremetopf (‘Cream Jar’). It wasn’t long before these two joined forces and in 1997 they set forth together as Lavera - ‘the real thing’ in Latin.

Lavera now produces a massive range of skincare products, from deodorants and make-up, to skin care for babies and children, which it ships to over forty countries worldwide. This global distribution thread remains rooted in the Hanover region in Germany, meaning that production can stay thoroughly regulated to ensure organic, cruelty-free and eco-friendly manufacturing standards are kept. Ingredients are also locally harvested in that region; “Some 300 organic extracts are obtained from natural sources such as flowers, freeze-dried fruits and herbs, hence a high level of quality control is possible, which has been confirmed many times by top ratings from independent testing bodies.”

Given their history of pioneering work in Germany, having been involved in the creation of the first certifying body for natural cosmetics, NATRUE, and being the first world-wide producer of 100% mineral-based sun protection, Lavera will no doubt continue to grow and innovate over the decades to come. lavera.co.uk

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Dr Maher’s Takes Beauty World by Storm NATURAL BEAUTY FROM NORTH KERRY.

by Aisling Cronin

“Everything that goes into our products is there for a reason.

We prepare them in a way that preserves the ingredients.”

Neil Maher’s parents returned from London to their ancestral home of Ballybunion, north Kerry, when Neil was thirteen years old. It wasn’t long before he fell in love with his new home and started selling periwinkles and dried dulse during his free time.

This teenage entrepreneurial venture was a forerunner of his awardwinning natural beauty range, Doctor Maher’s, which is today making its mark in the cosmetics world after winning the Best Beauty and Skincare Product award at last year’s Natural Health Expo

in Dublin. Neil’s work as a biochemist led him to develop the unique Eco-C Method™ (a revolutionary cold process), involving the harvesting of nutrients from marine plants. All Doctor Maher’s products are hypoallergenic and suitable for those with sensitive skin, psoriasis, or eczema. They are also used by the dermatology department in a number of hospitals around Ireland.

“It is very important to us that our products are safe,” explains Seamus Lynch, co-founder of the company.

“We prepare our products in a way

that preserves the ingredients’ vital antioxidants, nutrients, and essential fatty acids. All of our products have been rigorously tested to confirm that they contain high amounts of these nutrients.”

The Doctor Maher’s range currently includes a cleansing bar, body wash and two skin serums. In future, the company is hoping to add baby wash, moisturisers and body lotions to their range. www.doctormahers.com

SHORT AND SWEE T

A Celtic Heart KEEP YOUR HEART TICKING TO THE BEAT OF LIFE.

by Orla Bass

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CBD Oil in Ireland THE BENEFITS OF CBD OIL.

by Glenn Sullivan My journey with Cannabidiol hemp oil (CBD oil) started about eight months ago. I had been suffering from IBS for more than 20 years, and from arthritis in my hands for the last five years after martial arts training. I’d long been aware of the healing benefits of cannabis, though I hadn’t yet explored the molecular structure of the plant. I wasn’t really interested in its psychoactive component (THC) which gets in the way of deep meditative states. However, when I came across CBD, the nonpsychoactive sister molecule of THC in cannabis/hemp, and its multitude of healing properties, I was delighted.

CBD is extracted from Industrial Hemp which, unlike cannabis, has very low levels of THC. At just 0.2%, you don’t get the ‘high’ but you do get lots of other benefits. CBD has incredible anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and analgesic (pain relieving) properties, and from the very beginning the bloating in my belly, and pain in my hands, subsided. I was so impressed by CBD that I began to do loads of research on it.

I wanted to bring it into my holistic practice, so I started to offer consultations where people come and talk to me about their issues, and we find out if CBD oil can help. This fusion of my experience as a holistic practitioner, along with my new found love of CBD, has led to the birth of our new company Full Circle Hemp. We sell certified organic, non GMO, vegan friendly CBD oil in the form of capsules, crystals, pastes and drops. This amazing plant has so much to offer and I’m passionate about helping as many people as possible who can benefit from its array of healing properties.

For more information contact info@fullcirclehemp.com or go to www.fullcirclehemp.com

Inspired by the balance of nature, Celtic Nutrition’s aim is to develop natural food supplements to help fight health conditions and ailments in an organic way.

David Burke, founder of Celtic Nutrition, has spent the last sixteen years combining the knowledge received from his scientific, nutritional, and herbal qualifications and experience, into researching and finally formulating his first product - the Healthy Heart supplement.

After years of treating patients at his highly successful clinic, David came to the realisation that with the proper nutrients, the body can, in many cases, repair and renew itself. He believes that 60% of heart conditions are due to poor diet, in the form of deficiency and intolerances, along with other contributing factors such as infections, toxins and stresses. His philosophy is based on “a weed plan” which is designed to get to the root of the problem – in this case, of cardiovascular disease – by giving the body what it needs to do its own internal repair work. This is often preferable to dealing with the superficial symptoms only, using drugs or surgery.

One patient of David’s says, “You couldn’t meet a more courteous man.” Before starting the Healthy Heart supplements, he had been experiencing muscle tiredness and joint stiffness, along with an arm tremor, after receiving a heart stent. One year on, the symptoms have almost gone, his energy levels have improved, he feels as though his whole system has changed, and he is delighted to be enjoying his leisurely walks again. Targeting heart disease is David’s way of helping “the most amount of people, in the least amount of time.” celticnutrition.ie

SHORT AND SWEE T

Hidden Mind EXCITING NEW THERAPY TRANSFORMS LIVES.

by Aisling Cronin Kevin Griffin’s therapeutic journey began under the guidance of his brother Tom, and explores the unconscious mind’s role in creating blockages within our lives and our bodies. Now, both brothers practice bio-energy and a special healing technique called Hidden Mind: Tom in Mayo, and Kevin in Dublin.

Kevin explains that a new client will typically attend four sessions with him, to address imbalances within four different areas of their life: physical, emotional, nutritional, and energetic. He says, “The energy field holds a picture of our optimal state of health. For example, your subconscious mind knows what your liver’s 100% functional state should be, or whether you are impacted by trauma, and the Hidden Mind technique involves using a dowser to access the client’s

49 subconscious.” The therapy incorporates both touch and non-touch hand techniques (to manipulate blockages in a client’s energy field). After the sessions, clients are provided with corrective sounds and affirmations to help them maintain equilibrium.

One client says that the Hidden Mind therapy completely changed her life and the lives of her family members.

“One of my sons, aged four, has always been

prone to aggression, and we tried everything to help him,” she explains. “When we took him to Kevin, he discovered that a bone in his head was out of place, and fixed it without even needing to touch him. After that, my son became very calm. His teacher remarked that he was a completely changed child!” www.healingtherapist.ie

The Monroe Institute and The OBE A CHAT WITH ITS DIRECTOR.

by Alison McEvoy

Interview: by Aron O’Dowd

Listening to Nancy McMoneagle, director of The Monroe Institute, which advances the exploration of human consciousness, a deep chord struck within me; how true it is that we have an inner tool for receiving meaningful information about our deepest questions: ones which we might not have heard ourselves ask for years but which nonetheless remain, waiting for us to tap into our own consciousness.

Robert Monroe, author of the acclaimed book Journeys out of the Body, was Nancy’s mentor from the age of fourteen years. He guided her into her first out-of-body experience at age fifteen. The Monroe Institute offers programs specifically aimed at helping people to get to know themselves better, to find a deeper life’s meaning, and to comprehend the more non-typical aspects of reality, through exploration of their own consciousness. Their method transcends religious and spiritual trappings as they simply name the various states accessed with a neutral word and number; the fully conscious state is called Consciousness 1.

Each individual’s own belief systems and spiritual orientations ultimately shapes their experience during these

expanded states of awareness, and in this way, it works for anyone. Each person’s gifts too are heightened and supported by these experiences. Nancy finds that after their programs, artists discover new ways of approaching their art, while business people find new ways of decision-making and problem solving.

Excited to begin? Start by getting away from the business of your regular life, even if only for ten minutes, and consider the possibilities, the big moments, and allow yourself to explore those opportunities.

Full interview: sancit.com monroeinstitute.org

SHORT AND SWEE T

Always There is Life ETERNITY IS YOUR HOME.

by Alison McEvoy

Interview: by Aron O’Dowd

Phyllis Marie Atwater is the author of eleven books, based on her own experience of, and extensive research into, near-death experiences. Atwater spent her early years with a foster family in the Idaho deserts. During those early uninhibited years, she enjoyed being herself, her connection with nature spirits, and her ability to see other-worldly beings. When she was taken back by her birth mother at the age of seven, she entered the education system, where she was forced to keep her experiences to herself.

Those nightmarish years had a lasting effect. However, she managed to normalise her life, going on to become an analyst in the banking sector.

At age forty, Atwater had three dramatic near-death experiences, all within the space of three months. During the third experience, Atwater heard a voice “like the Universe itself was speaking to me,” which gave her a specific mission for her return – to research and write a book for each near-death experience she’d had. After a ‘chance’ encounter in an airport with near-death studies pioneer, Elizabeth Kubler Ross, Atwater felt validated and was ready to begin her mission.

Since then she has received the recognition her work deserves, and has just released the third book inspired by her third near-death experience, entitled A Manual For Developing Humans: Align yourself with the directive of your Soul.

Atwater believes that there is much to be learned about living, and the nature of existence, from near-death experiences, “You exist now and you always will exist because eternity is your home.” pmhatwater.com. Listen to Atwater’s full interview at Aron O’Dowd’s holistic podcast station sancit.com

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Learning to Fly HOW I CONQUERED MY FEARS.

by Paul Congdon I used to find plane rides very relaxing, as I could read a book, meditate, snack, or watch movies, if it was a long haul flight. Then on a holiday to Russia four years ago, I suddenly became afraid on a flight. I had been up a very high building a few days before and it had left a fearful vibe in my body.

This irrational fear got into my mind and stayed. From 2014 on, I avoided flying.

However, this March, I drove to Dublin Airport’s logistics park to take part in a Fly Fearless course. It’s conducted by ex-pilot Michael Comyn, who explained to participants, in a very patient and understanding way, the actual truth behind our fears. He talked about many different techniques we can use to overcome our fear,

including mindfulness. After a lovely lunch and a chance to bond with fellow fearless flyers, we boarded a simulator and sat in the cockpit with the pilot. As we rose above the clouds, the pilot said, “it’s actually one of the most peaceful places you can be.”

Since the course, I have flown twice: once to visit my brother in France, and the second time for a lovely holiday in Portugal and a visit to Mooji’s ashram. The limitations are off, my horizons have broadened, and I’m free as a bird.

Where to next? www.flyfearless.ie

SHORT SHORT AND AND SWEE SWEETT

Holistic Dental Care THE WISDOM OF YOUR TEETH.

by Orla Bass

Kim’s Cure

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A MOTHER’S HEALING QUEST.

by Orla Bass Kim Lee’s holistic journey began in the 1990s with the birth of her youngest son. He spent the first few years of his life constantly ill, depleted, and on antibiotics. Deciding there must be a better way to help him, Kim began researching alternatives. Her wake up call came when she stumbled across a book by Harvey Diamond, which explained how certain foods create an inflammatory response in the body. Through trial and error, she discovered that her baby suffered from dairy intolerance. Her son’s dramatic transformation from ill health to vitality was enough evidence for Kim to begin her studies in the field of nutrition and health.

Currently a master medical herbalist with a background in nutrition and living foods, Kim practices from her own health food store, Nature’s Cure, in Skerries.

She believes that setting up in Skerries was so easy, it was meant to be, and is grateful for the incredible loyalty of her customers. Her core philosophy is simple: “Let your body do the talking, as no one knows how you feel better than you.”

Kim has noticed that in the last five years, Irish people have become more and more conscious of their health, and are beginning to embrace healthy choices that work for them. She maintains that good health is about listening to your body and taking control of how you feel by putting balance back into your life, through a holistic approach. naturescures.ie

Very few of us would make the association between illness and our teeth, but one man who does is holistic dentist David Hefferon. Based in Dundrum Dental Surgery, David has been practicing holistic dentistry for nearly thirty years. He believes there is a direct correlation between illnesses such as M.E., fibromyalgia and migraines, and our mouths. He explains that our overall health and wellbeing can be linked to our bite, posture, breathing, gum disease, or toxic exposure due to leaky mercury filings.

David emphasises that individual patients’ results can vary, and there are no guarantees of improvement.

However, several patients have reported dramatic improvements. This includes one woman who can now climb stairs unaided after years of reduced mobility. On her last visit, she reported, “I just feel amazing.”

David’s journey began via the conventional route of dental training. After initially working in Northern Ireland, he moved on to private practices in Germany, London, and Sydney, where he nurtured his interest in a more holistic way of dental care. He travelled around the world educating himself about the human body and learning more about the connection between oral health and general health.

He now works alongside other holistic practitioners such as acupuncturists, chiropractors, osteopaths and nutritionists, in order to help his clients maintain optimal health. He is the only dentist in Ireland to be a Fellow of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology. dundrumdentalsurgery.ie

The Future of Natural Health Care GAME-CHANGING HEALTH TECHNIQUES.

by Simon Cullen I first saw Dr. Darrell Wolfe on the Truth About Cancer’s ‘Quest for the Cures’ in 2014. His message was so powerful that I knew I had to take his life-changing trainings.

Since being trained, I now teach globally as a certified Whole Life Coach and Wolfe Deep Tissue trainer. I have come to realise that these techniques and therapies could revolutionise the way we look at and treat patients now and in the future.

I am writing this article from beautiful Kelowna, BC, Canada, where I have come to co-host a training with Dr. Wolfe with 30 health professionals and future practitioners from around the globe. These two courses are a complete game-changer, emotionally, physically and nutritionally. I am hosting these courses in Wexford, October 16th 2017.

I can honestly say that as soon as I brought Dr. Wolfe’s techniques into my practice, I quickly discovered the success that I knew was possible. I now accomplish more in one treatment than I have in the last twelve years of my clinical practice.

Dr. Darrell Wolfe has given me proven strategies to treat and train my patients on an emotional and physical level. His philosophy is to train while treating, to empower the patient to master their own body and create the perfect day for the perfect life.

Simon Cullen can be found at: energymassage.ie.

For more information about Darrell Wolfe, go to: itioh.com and docofdetox.com.

55 Tuning in to our Menstrual Cycle NEW PRODUCT HELPS US RECONNECT.

by Katherine Clements Recently, the public conversation around periods has thankfully been changing, gaining new ground from tampon tax debates worldwide to Olympic medallist Fu Yuanhui’s comments about her period’s impact on her performance.

At the forefront of this growing willingness to attend to the realities of our cycles, psychotherapist Alexandra Pope has been calling us to listen to their intimate message for many years. “Our menstrual suffering – so often passed off as ‘normal’ – is neither normal, nor our lot,” she says. “The menstrual cycle is the stress sensitive system in women. When we experience distressing symptoms, it’s a signal to attend to our overall health and place in the world.”

The very act of observing the menstrual cycle, and how you feel throughout its different stages, can help you become more authentically embodied and present. As we grow to act in alignment with the inner promptings of this innate personal coach – urging us towards space, creativity, rest or productivity – we may also find greater empowerment and relief. Charting our cycle using a period tracking or Fertility Awareness Method can support us in tuning in to our rhythms.

The Mooncup® menstrual cup also aims to assist this process by respecting the vagina’s natural balance, in contrast with other products that can cause vaginal dryness or leave fibres behind. Mooncup® users worldwide praise it for helping them to tune in to their menstrual cycles and reconnect with their bodies. www.mooncup.ie

POSITIVELY PHYSICAL

raising the

barre CONNECT IN AND LENGTHEN OUT INTO LONG SUMMER DAYS WITH BARRE.

by Alison Canavan

“Because you’re so focused on isolating the different areas of your body, I felt very connected to each moment...”

I’ve been choosing a different exercise to practice each month and it’s proving to be a lot of fun. You don’t get bored, and each type of exercise challenges your body and mind in different ways. I’ve a bad back for years, so I need to be very careful and can only exercise under supervision, which can be frustrating. The temptation to leave exercise out is always there, but movement is a key part of real wellness and it’s essential for anyone with injuries to tend to. When you find something that is both exercise and fun, like Barre, then it’s something you can actually look forward to doing each week.

I’d heard Barre being mentioned around town. Having had a brief fling with ballet in my youth, I thought that I would give it a go. I also thought it would be quite easy and that I’d be great at it. Clearly my memories of my ballet abilities had been grossly exaggerated over time in my mind, as I soon realised I’m more of a Swan Fake than Swan Lake ballerina. The good news is that I grew to love it and although I might never be the ballerina I once dreamt of being, I can have a toned tush in time for summer.

It was interesting to read that ballerina, Lotte Berk, created Barre after injuring her back. She came up with the

idea to combine her dance conditioning routine with her rehabilitative therapy, and opened her first studio in 1959 in her London basement. Famous faces such as Joan Collins and Barbara Streisand would regularly arrive there to lift, tuck, and curl.

I started taking classes with the girls at Rebel Barre. Jade O’Connor was my first teacher and her energy was infectious. Barre really is a wonderful exercise class that mixes ballet inspired exercises, Pilates and HIIT training to sculpt and tone your muscles. It’s the perfect addition to your cardio routine and it covers legs, bums, arms and tums, all those harder to reach areas.

I developed shaky leg syndrome early on in the class as Barre is all about tiny isometric movements. ‘Isometric’ movements are less stressful on your joints and muscles than other forms of exercise. They are strengthening exercises where the joint angle and muscle length don’t change. In a nutshell you; hold, don’t move and feel the burn (or the shake in my case!). In Barre class you also use props like hand weights, balls and resistance bands. The exercises are easy to follow and the girls at Rebel Barre are really supportive and

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encouraging. I found it great for posture, as sitting all day at a desk can cause you to bend over and leave you stiff and strained. Barre lengthens you out, as you train yourself to stand tall during each exercise.

At Rebel Barre there are various different versions of Barre on offer, like cardio-dance and H.E.A.T. (High Energy Amplified Training). These are next level, more advanced Barre classes, for those who want to ramp up the cardio and work on the harder barre moves. The newest addition is ‘bounce’ which helps to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.

The mind-body connection in exercise is important for me as I try to bring an element of mindful living into my everyday life. I felt this connection during Barre. Because you’re so focused on isolating the different areas of your body, I felt very connected to each moment and, in turn, to my body.

It’s lovely to have those experiences in such a chaotic world.

Rebelbarre.rocks for more information.

For more about Alison: becomplete.ie follow Alison on Instagram @alisoncanavanwellness

fall in love

with folding

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“Kondo has special techniques for folding everything, from socks to sweaters. She promises you’ll end up finding it ‘fun’.”

THE KONMARI METHOD & ME.

by Elva Carri I have always been a somewhat chaotic, messy person. If I’m really honest, I enjoy a little bit of that. During the times in my life when I’ve been super organised and tidy and routine, I’m pretty sure I’ve self-sabotaged very quickly just for a little injection of excitement! Sadly, just a dash of chaos has always been hard for me to manage. It usually feels more like the lid fell off the hot sauce, and instead of a little bit of spice, the entire meal is ruined.

I’ve tried to change. I’ve tried Feng Shui, I’ve tried really detailed diaries, I’ve tried making lists, focusing on things that make me happy, focusing on urgent tasks, focusing on relaxation, and I’ve tried to balance all of the above. Nothing worked in the long term, and often left me feeling even worse.

A few months ago, while tidying my mess of a room, I listened to Marie Kondo’s book, ‘The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up’. I listened to it with zero expectations that I would enjoy it or stick to it. Months later, my socks are still neatly folded and put away within a day or two of doing laundry, and I have more time and focus for things I love.

What’s so different about this method? I’m honestly not sure, but I can

tell you some of the things that resonated with me.

Written with Love Some people will no doubt find the book a little cheesy or over the top in parts. I felt it was sweet and authentic and filled to the brim with love. It really does contain a little bit of magic if you’re open to it.

Letting Go of More When you begin to only keep items that ‘spark joy’, you really start to take that approach with everything around you.

I’m already an avid de-clutterer, but it gave me the boost I needed to bin things like notebooks from various projects that I’ve thought I would come back to, but never did. I only keep things that I truly want to focus on now. I feel like I have literally binned guilt!

Meditative Tidying Kondo has special techniques for folding everything, from socks to sweaters. She promises you’ll end up finding it ‘fun’.

I laughed at that. I don’t find it ‘fun’, but I was surprised to find pleasure in it. Thanking your clothes feels like a little exercise in gratitude. I find it to be

meditative, even though it is a task I need to do anyway! It’s the perfect meditation practice for the ever-distracted fidgeter.

“When you begin to only keep items that ‘spark joy’, you really start to take that approach with everything around you.”

Manageable Chaos Because I find Kondo’s approach so thorough and loving, I’ve also found it easy to sustain. It brings me joy to get dressed in the mornings because it’s so easy to see what I have, and what I love.

It’s easy to find documents I need because I’ve gotten rid of so many that really weren’t necessary.

And sometimes, what sparks joy is making a mess. But thanks to the KonMari method, I’ve found I can add that little injection of chaos, without it taking over anymore.

Elva Carri is the founder of GirlCrew.

GirlCrew.com. Twitter: @elvacarri

we talk to lee carroll

aka

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kryon

TIPS FOR NAVIGATING SHIFTS IN CONSCIOUSNESS.

by Alison McEvoy

May 1st saw the release of Kryon’s new book, entitled ‘The New Human’. We meet with Lee Carroll, channeller of Kryon, to find out more about how he and Kryon formed their partnership, and about the support they offer to human beings awakening to the unfolding shifts in consciousness.

How did channelling come into your experience?

As an engineer, I was married to a woman who was very esoteric. What happened gradually, is that she ended up taking me to a channeller, to a psychic. I said no, I did not want to go, but I did, for her.

They gave me some information which I didn’t believe, and I didn’t even keep track of. Except, there was one phrase that kept coming up - “There is a magnetic master named Kryon who tried to get hold of you.” A man in his sixties and a man in his twenties, three years apart, and who didn’t even know each other, gave me the same phrase. That engineering brain in me says - this is impossible. Finally, I had to acknowledge that there was something going on.

Who is Kryon?

Kryon is an angelic, celestial being who gives powerful, comfortable, benevolent, loving messages, about the times that are changing.

Why does Kyron say that he’s of ‘magnetic service’?

There is an alignment between the magnetic field of the planet and consciousness. We have to have the magnetic grid on the planet shift in order to allow for new consciousness.

And it did. That was something that Kryon said would happen. So he’s in service to humanity, that’s the first thing, for the shift.

What is Kyron’s most powerful teaching to share with our readers?

We’re born magnificent. Humans have a soul, and that soul belongs to God. Over and over, he says – you are a piece of God...

We have to then take our magnificence and believe it. That’s a tough one, because we are taught that we’re less than, so truly the teaching is for us to recognise that we can do things that we didn’t think we could do.

“You’ve got benevolence here, and I feel it.”

How do you feel about being in Ireland?

Kryon says there’s a natural alignment of numbers and grids on the planet, and there are specific places like the Bermuda triangle, and here, where those grids are abnormal. When you get those kinds of places…I feel Gaia, the earth, just pours out energy, and it’s benevolent. Of all the traditions in mythology of little people, fairies and all these things, you find them almost always cheerful, benevolent, mischievous, happy, wanting to show you things…You’ve got benevolence here, and I feel it.

What closing message do you have for our readers today?

Kryon says if you look at the prophecies of the shift and what’s going on from the ancients - we’re so new at it. We’re going to go through ‘a couple of steps forward, a couple of steps backward’. It’s not all going to be roses. There’s going to be lots of learning, and there’s lots of humanity that doesn’t want to change….I want people not to fear the future, no matter what happens. So, in other words, it’s common for us all to be afraid of what we don’t understand, especially if it is not in the program that we thought it would be. So what’s happening here, what’s happening in my country, there are so many people that are invested in stopping whatever is happening, or fearing whatever is happening and all that energy is pouring into soul anxiety. What Kryon has said is, let’s get used to change, and be wiser with understanding that it’s not all bad. It’s going to change institutions, everything. The way they think, what they do. www.kryon.com

new horizons

for our island MAJOR PLANETARY TRANSITS AND THE IRISH ECONOMY.

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by Calodagh McCumiskey Just as the moon affects the tides and our own mental and emotional wellbeing, planetary transits have a powerful effect on everything, including the weather, the global economy, countries’ economies, and our own individual lives. Every event and being has its own unique chart, and is continually affected by planetary transits as life unfolds and time passes. In this article, I am taking a look at Ireland’s chart to see what is coming up over the next few months.

It has always been hard for the Irish economy to find balance. The economy is either very strong or very weak – a feeling of feast or famine – because of the position of the Moon in the second house in Sagittarius’ sign of the country’s chart. We have difficulty in maintaining steady, balanced growth.

We also experience growth in different parts of the country at the same time. We are prone to economic extremes. For example, the economy around Dublin and other urban areas has been strengthening over the last few years, but many rural counties have a feeling that they are struggling.

The chart shows that more attention needs to be given to the youth, to solving their problems and developing them. Families need more support to stay together and maintain strong relationships. Ireland as a nation has wonderful strengths, and we will have

ample opportunity to develop them and achieve strong results over the next few years. We will also see more women come into positions of authority, which will inspire positive change for society.

From July 22, 2017 – when we enter the Jupiter Mercury period – the next two years will be very promising for the Irish economy. Transit-wise, most significantly, Jupiter is moving from Virgo to Libra on September 12, 2017. Industries in Ireland that will do particularly well are food, medicine, hospitality, consultancy, education and tourism. All of these industries are related to the moon. It is a great time to boost trade and exports, and develop our strengths on the global stage in these and related sectors.

As well as the sectors mentioned above, it is an excellent time for innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship. A new shape will come to the Irish economy. New energy harvesting techniques will be developed.

There is a lot of untapped potential and promise in Ireland related to developing teachers and education modules in the fields of construction, energy and other industries related to the planet Mars.

These areas will all grow significantly.

Rahu will move from Leo to Cancer, and Ketu from Aquarius to Capricorn, on September 9. This will further strengthen Ireland and attract

additional foreign direct investment.

Foreign banks will buy more assets from Irish banks. Overall property prices will further rise around the country.

“Ireland has wonderful strengths, and we will have ample opportunity to develop them.”

Jupiter’s transit is also going to play a very important role in strengthening and uniting the EU, which has been under more intense pressure as a unit since Saturn moved into Sagittarius in January 2017. This will benefit Ireland’s relative position in the EU and globally.

Jupiter’s move to Libra will significantly affect the relationship between three major players on the world stage; China, the US and Russia. There will be more discussion, aggression and competition between these countries as they all jostle for power and try to influence the global balance of power in their own favour.

Calodagh McCumiskey is the director of Spiritual Earth in Rocklands, Co. Wexford. spiritualearth.ie calodaghmccumiskey@gmail.com