Positive Life Winter 2017 by Positive Life

NEALE DONALD WALSCH Time To Get Woke

DAVIDJI On Deepak And Meditation

POSITIVE RETREAT

Go Within

Doreen

Virtue On Meeting Jesus

WINTER 2017/18 PRICELESS

positivelife.ie

This is just the beginning... “ If you find me not within you, you will never find me. For I have been with you, from the beginning of me.” ~ Rumi It’s an honour to have a piece from Neale Donald Walsch. The Conversations with God series of books awakened me big time, or as they say now, I got seriously WOKE. In Conversations with God, Book 3, there are a few gems. One that springs to mind is, if you desire something in your life, cause another to have it; if you desire love, give it to another; money, give it to another. This is an interesting way of working with energy, you are the cause not the effect. If you give love, then you realise you don’t need love, you are love, and love expands as you give it. Try it this season, each day tell one person you love them, and see what rolls. Meanwhile, from all of us at POSITIVE headquarters as we sign off for another year, WE LOVE YOU, pass it on with knobs on. paul congdon, Publisher

Contentment 4

Winter Vibes Winter’s best events, getaway destinations and pick-me-ups

6 Positively Newsworthy Embrace the season’s cheer with good news 10 Spirituality & The City Six readers share cherished Christmas memories 12

Positive Parenting Navigating those tricky preteen years

Dee Wallace You hold the key to conquering fear

Amanda Collins Happiness is your birthright – so claim it now

PHOTO: DAVID KENNA

18 Meditation How restful meditation can improve your sleep 20

Positive Personality We interview renowned meditation master Davidji

Jai Kartar Live for the everyday moments – not just the big occasions

Positive Retreat Reclaiming sovereignty in Wicklow

Tantra It’s time to bring back the sacred rituals of dating

Doreen Virtue The angel expert shares her powerful Jesus experience

Conversations with God Experience an invitation to awakening

Davie Philip Build a sense of belonging through storytelling

CNM Brew your own broth for a winter boost

Hans Wieland A guide to foraging from trees and hedgerows

Winter Recipes Warm up cold nights with comforting jackfruit chowder

Short & Sweet Positive news and happenings from the holistic world

Positively Metaphysical Be cocooned in bliss with Hot Pod Yoga

Elva Carri Conscious allyship in action

Positive Self Discovery Coping with challenges in Thailand

Astrology How the planets influence pregnancy

Publisher PC Media paul@positivelife.ie Co-Editorial Alison McEvoy and Aisling Cronin editor@positivelife.ie Design Dawn Cole designpositivelife@yahoo.com 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

winter vibes “AH, WORLD, WHAT LESSONS YOU PREPARE FOR US, EVEN IN THE LEAFLESS WINTER, EVEN IN THE ASHY CITY.” MARY OLIVER

Find Meaning Activate your grey matter through some meaningful inquiry this winter as nationwide Schools of Practical Philosophy offer introductory courses; exploring the meaning of wisdom, truth and consciousness – the most essential elements of our human being-ness. Drawing from the teachings of East and West, they offer innovative inquiry into age-old questions. practicalphilosophy.ie

Holistic Business

THE JUNGLE OASIS

soul tonics Be the Super You

individuals from all over the world this March 2018 to build sustainability skills and learn to design according to Nature’s own principles. thejungleoasispermacultureproject.org

Dr Joe Dispenza’s new, spellbinding book is just the read to transport you away from the winter gloom and into the sublime, inner realms, where anything is possible. Becoming Supernatural guides us towards the realisation that we are naturally supernatural beings and, through wisdom ancient and cutting edge, enhances the creative and mystical capacities that make us so. becomingsupernatural.com

Ecological Education Eager to heed the call towards a more sustainable life? The Jungle Oasis of Goa awaits you; home to hands-on, internationally renowned, certificate courses in Permaculture Design. Join

MATTERS OF NOURISHMENT

If you are a fledgling holistic business, take this winter to nest on ways to build solid foundations and sky-high visions for the business you love. Christine Judd is here to help with her new book Clarity; Create a Holistic Business You Love providing step by step, practical guidance and the necessary skills to establish a prosperous holistic business. christinejudd.com

Plot your Purpose

Essential Pick-me-up

Brainchild of lead-coach James Parnell, the Well Being Gym is a virtual gym for mind, body and soul; delivering top-class navigational tools to guide you towards optimum, personal well-being and professional performance. Online and offline, you’ll find coaching, training programmes and workshops on topics such as mastering your workload, managing your energy and activating a personal sense of happiness and meaning.

Smell, inhale or diffuse them - each aroma of essential oil is a mini-messenger of uplift or unwind. Karl Murray, founder of Kotanical, is Ireland’s first hand-distiller of home-grown Irish essential oils. Check out his range online, from laid-back Lavender to festive Frankincense.

thewellbeinggym.com

kotanical.ie

Plant Power Sun Chlorella has just unveiled a new supplement starlet - Sun Eleuthro. Traditionally acclaimed by its use in Chinese Medicine, this East Asian plant is now also scientifically acclaimed to be anti-aging, aphrodisiac and a strong support for the liver. Check out more of its plethora of healing powers online.

sunchlorella.co.uk

Winter Glow Gain and maintain a glowing complexion this winter with Wild Power Wheatgrass. This cold-pressed, organic, liquid life-force is brimming with vitality, anti-oxidants and alkaline power to keep you shining all winter long. Available in stores in Ireland and online. squeezewheatgrass.co.uk JAMES PARNELL

Seasonal Support Muscle Methods Become adept at the art of muscle testing and develop the ability to decipher vital information on the needs of the body, mind and spirit. The Academy of Systematic Kinesiology offers training courses around the country for both beginner and advanced practitioners of this wholistic healing art. Check out their website for more.

kinesiologyzone.com

winter uplifts

CHRISTINE JUDD

This turn of season, why not invest in lifestyle guidance to come out the other side of winter a healthier and happier you. For motivational insights on small changes of diet and daily ritual that yield big rewards, talk to Chiara on all Matters of Nourishment. amatterofnourishment.com

Future of Vitamin C Promising ‘site-specific delivery’, ultramodern Lipsomal Vitamin C is packaged and protected to bypass the digestive process and get straight to the heart of immune system cells. Give it a try and ensure your efforts to keep yourself primed against pesky winter bugs hits the high-tech mark. altrient.com/liposomal-vitamin-c

bits n’ bobs

Vegans Galore As foodie fate would have it, Dublin is now home to the Serendipity Vegan Café. Sit down to breakfast, brunch and lunch vegan on raw salads, nori wraps, vegan treats and what is hailed as the ‘best vegan burger ever’! instagram.com/serendipity_vegan_cafe

Sustainability is a Virtue Time to rethink your toothbrush? Small steps pave the way to sustainability where “everything counts in large amounts.” Think VirtueBrush; a plastic-free, bamboo-handled, charcoal-bristled toothbrush with a conscience - this Dublin-based company plants one tree for every VirtueBrush sold. virtuebrush.com

Super Immune Boost Boasting unparalleled ‘Bioavailability’, award-winning Better You™ Turmeric oral spray is designed to deliver. Research has revealed that where digestion is impaired, spray is superior when it comes to transporting the immune-supporting superpowers of Turmeric to your body. betteryou.com

Yoga round the clock YogaHub has recently sprouted a new bud, this time in Castleknock at Junction 6. From high-flying Acro to low-lying Yin yoga, there is something to suit all yogi tastes – every day of the week! theyogahub.ie/castleknock

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

1 West is Best

NEW LIFE IN RURAL IRELAND. by Alison McEvoy

“He wanted to find a way of life… which would protect and sustain the natural world he loved and felt so deeply connected with.” Heading west is back. Fergal Smith’s father did it; moving from London to Dublin, then to Mayo, swapping city living for tending to his organic vegetable farm. The family would head further west, to Achill, at the weekends in their camper van and it was here, riding the Atlantic waves, that little Fergal dreamed of becoming a professional surfer. A few years on, Fergal’s pro-surfing career had him jet-setting to tropics like Fiji and Tahiti. However, seeing the pristine beaches and landscapes around him decline from year to year, he realised he wanted to find a way of life, and to set an example, which would protect and sustain the natural world he loved and felt so deeply connected with. It was time to return west. Today, thanks to Fergal, Lahinch, Co. Clare is home to Ireland’s first Community Supported Agricultural (CSA) farm; a co-operative model whereby community families contribute to the farmer, who in turn commits to member families; providing them with a year’s healthy, organic food supply, along with the precious opportunity to visit the farm and lend a hand in the happenings of the day. Close by is Smith’s organic community garden, a thriving centre for community gatherings. The star of the week is the cook-up with garden veggies, where old and young gather to cook, play and learn about food amidst natural surrounds. Fergal sees his land as a “tip of the iceberg” in what is possible for the future of Irish food production and for the return of community culture in Ireland, one that he hopes many will visit, learn from and replicate around the country.

2A Warm Embrace MESSAGE ON A BLANKET. by Alison McEvoy

“The intention was to bring warmth not only to their bodies but also to their minds and hearts and to raise their spirits.” Hello Beautiful, you are doing a wonderful job…stay strong, stay true to yourself and remember, you are capable of fulfilling your deepest dreams and you are loved all the while. We easily experience the power of words. They are highly emotive sounds, with the potential to instantaneously alter our emotional state with the meaning and message they carry. Imagine a beloved someone speaking these opening lines to you in soothing tones… How does it make you feel? As part of her New Year’s resolution for 2017, Australian born Maribelle Pokonia had the idea to put her

needlework skills to a new task and send messages, not in a bottle, but sewed onto blankets, out to the homeless of Sydney. The intention was to bring warmth not only to their bodies but also to their minds and hearts, and to raise their spirits through the power of supportive and strengthening words. Once Maribelle had put out the call, within six weeks she had been sent 150 blankets from around the country.

She then asked friends to send her words and phrases which would be sewed into the blankets. The result was an outpouring of messages of love, hope and empowerment - and help stitching them into the fabrics. These blankets-made-messengers of support and encouragement numbered 200 in total at the end of the project, when Maribelle and friends handed them out from the Town Hall in Sydney and into the embrace of people in much need of heartening words and home comforts.

3 Tales of the Formerly Impossible SOLAR POWERED LIVING. by Alison McEvoy

“We are holders of the most renewable energy…our own potential and passion.”

Inspioneer, Bertrand Piccard, spoke to the 29 member countries of the International Energy Agency (IEA) this September. Piccard jokes that he’s always had a lot to say about energy, however it took some extreme measures and grand adventures before he was invited to talk about it. In 1999 Piccard made the first non-stop air balloon circumnavigation of the globe without fuel, and in 2015 he showed that the future of airplane travel is ready for an upgrade, when he flew across Asia, the Pacific, the United States and on to Spain, in a plane run entirely by solar energy. Day and night, night and day, he flew, fuelling up his solar powered batteries during the day in order to make it through the night to the next sunrise. That we could live a life independent of fossil fuels, is something impossible in the minds of so many, says

Bertrand. Now, however, he’s happy knowing that “nobody can ever say in the future that it is impossible to do it for cars, heating systems, for computers… if it’s possible in the air, of course it’s possible on the ground.” While the ‘pioneering spirit’ is no longer busy conquering ‘new’ worlds, Piccard feels it’s best put to use improving the quality of our lives and making the planet sustainable for many more generations to come and live contentedly here. His airplane is ‘a symbol’ - a symbol of what can be achieved when we believe in the impossible, when we have a team, when we have pioneering spirit and when we recognise that we are holders of “the most renewable energy…our own potential and passion.”

positively newsworthy the little things

“Their appearances are so different, but the love they share is plain to be seen.”

1T he Wings (and Trotters and Paws) of Love APPRECIATING THE WONDER OF ANIMALS. by Aisling Cronin I find it difficult to describe exactly what animals mean to me. I truly believe that we humans have so much to learn from them. Our assumption of superiority over all other species on this planet needs to be challenged if we are ever to grow into the compassionate, loving beings that we aspire to be. My days have been brightened by many a doggo meme, and I follow all kinds of animal-related pages on Facebook. One of my favourites is a page called Esther the Wonder Pig, based on a Canadian pig named Esther whose hilarious antics have garnered over a million followers. She lives on a farm sanctuary that bears her name (Happily Ever Esther Farm Sanctuary), surrounded by many other animals who were rescued from abusive or neglectful situations. Recently, her pictures and videos have been marked by the continual appearance of a hilarious, fun-filled, attentionseeking turkey called Cornelius.

One photograph that recently appeared on my Facebook feed caused my heart to swell with joy. It featured Esther, Cornelius and their canine friend, Shelby, trotting off together on some great adventure, with Cornelius enthusiastically leading the way. Their external appearances are so different, but the love they share is plain to be seen. If humans lived together with such harmony and peace, our world would be transformed in an instant.

vegetables and some amazing herbs and spices – and the staff are well aware of this! One night, I decided to clear out my cupboard. I always wash and reuse takeaway containers if they are strong and durable, instead of simply throwing them away. I like to be eco-friendly in that regard! However, I knew that I had stockpiled too many Ruposhe containers by then, so I decided to brave the rain outside and run down to the restaurant.

“We are neighbours. Neighbours look after each other.”

2G enerosity from the Heart A GIFT FROM NEIGHBOUR TO NEIGHBOUR. by Aisling Cronin The staff of Ruposhe Indian Restaurant in Drumcondra, Dublin, did an incredibly kind deed for me recently. I have been a loyal customer since early 2017, when I moved into the area. My favourite Ruposhe meal is a wonderful dish called chana bonanza – a blend of chickpeas,

I did not have any money that I could easily access that night, so I had planned to cook dinner myself when I arrived back home, though I was a little tired and didn’t relish the thought of doing so. I intended to simply say hello to the staff and leave the containers with them, but the two waiters on duty insisted on bringing me a free meal! I was embarrassed at first, but one of them waved away my protests with the simple statement: “We are neighbours. Neighbours look after each other.” I cannot recommend Ruposhe or its wonderful staff highly enough. My advice? Order the chana bonanza.

spirituality & the city CHRISTMAS STORIES - FROM YOU, FOR YOU Joe McKinney I really enjoy Christmas. I love the energy, the childlike wonder and the magic that surrounds it. The colours. The lights. For me, my best Christmas was when I sat beside Ma for dinner on her last one, before she ascended. There was great excitement that day, as we were preparing to visit her in hospital, though our thoughts were tuned to the fact that for the first time we would have to visit her in hospital on Christmas Day. As we were readying ourselves for that, we got a phone call. She was coming Home. WOW! Suddenly the energy was amplified a thousand-fold. Perhaps a million-fold. Ma came home to joyous celebration. I had the privilege of sitting beside her on the couch for our last Christmas dinner together. That was my Best Christmas. Thanks Ma. Love You. Miss You. Always want to Kiss You. Joe X

Lisa Galloway My most memorable Christmas happened when I was seven years old. My brother Dave and I, to our delight, got trendy ‘shell suits’ from Father Christmas. They were very flammable and would be illegal these days. I remember us both keeping a eye on each other by the fire, in case we caught fire. Somehow, it felt so exciting that we could go up in flames any minute! We spent hours on end outdoors in our shell suits that day, winding up our grandma by throwing snowballs at the windows, then hiding over and over again. She was so cross. We were in our own little world of marvellous mischief. We never felt the cold, though our hands and noses were bright pink from the chilly air. I remember that day so well: it was full of inseparable sibling love and mischievous innocent fun, in our own little winter wonderland world of magic.

Peter Ennis As the summer holidays slipped away and entered the tunnel of ever darkening school days, Christmas was the light that kept me going as a child. These were long months of anticipation, punctuated by significant milestones along the way: ads for toys on the telly; long letters to Santa; Advent calendars; the RTE Christmas guide; trips to the city to peer into an enchanted world through Switzers’ windows on Grafton Street; queues to countless Santa’s grottos; plaice and chips with Gran at the Royal Hibernian Hotel; Christmas tree shopping; the chores made tolerable by being Christmas chores; and the persistent hum of excitement – a sense that magic was about to visit our lives. And finally, Christmas day would arrive with its bag of delights. Although my childhood materialism would be at its zenith at this stage, it was tempered by a sense of awe and a blanket of love.

Janice Ziegler I always look forward to the hustle and bustle of Christmas in town. I enjoy a walk around Grafton Street at this time of the year, especially at dawn, when the Christmas lights are lit and there is just enough daylight for a gorgeous silhouette against the evening sky. My favourite Christmas memory goes back to when I was four. I decided to decorate my room. I was fond of snowflakes and decided the most realistic look would be cotton wool, in little balls, spread across the window, to create the desired effect of snow falling. The best suitable adhesive, I decided, was glue. I checked the bare essentials with my mum, omitting only minor details. Upon finishing I was delighted to show off my creative work. It went very well, until it transpired that I had used actual glue on glass. Well, the design lasted a bit longer than Christmas.

Josh Scannell Last year, I had just returned from the States where I’d spent time in huge cities like LA and Detroit. I remember walking the streets here and feeling this overwhelming sense of home, like I was being hugged by the city. When you can call Dublin home, it’s like being a member of the royal family. Anyone can wear a crown here. I was mistaken for Hozier on a famed 12 pubs night out with the lads. I was King for a moment, before remembering we’re all Kings and fame is a drag anyway. I guess it’s different if you’re actually Hozier and not a cheap stunt double, fooling drunks into taking bad photos and giving you free Guinness! I’ve left it all behind now. There’s no more free Guinness and nobody asks for my photo. People in Dublin get it like nowhere else on Earth and we should never forget that.

Kamilla Harra When I think of Christmas, I remember the warmth and unity that permeate the streets around this time of year: the twinkling lights reflected in people’s eyes, the smiles and laughter, the ‘Merry Christmases’ and ‘Happy New Years’ from complete strangers – said with genuine warmth and almost familial care – the local choir carolling on a crisp Saturday morning with such enthusiasm and cheer. The curious thing is that I grew up in a country where Christmas was replaced by celebrating New Year’s Eve. What amazes me as I ponder this is that my memories from two different countries, although somewhat different, capture the same Spirit: the Joy of being Alive, of being Together, of Loving and Celebrating one another – beyond any other reason or religious purpose. To me, it is a beautiful time to focus on expressing our generosity, connectedness, and the magic of being alive! soulradiance.org

POSITIVE PARENTING

parenting

preteens GUIDE YOUR CHILD THROUGH PREADOLESCENT GROWING PAINS. by Anna Cole

As the trees lose their leaves once again and the ‘dark half of the year’, as the ancient Celts called it, begins again, I’m reflecting on the long road of parenting. From the moment of conception to that busy, grumpy preteen standing in front of you looking for their school shoes, it can seem like a long, long road. “Parenting ends with the death of the parent,” my mother used to say. This saying communicates something of the commitment, protectiveness, attention and ongoing love a parent feels for their infant, then toddler, child, preteen, teen,

and finally young adult to full adult. After ten years or so of walking this road, those of you who are parents of preteens may turn the corner from the early years of parenting and find that you no longer have a warm bundle of enthusiastic hugs and giggles flinging herself at you as you return home from work. You are no longer in such high demand to give piggyback and horsey rides, and you are no longer hearing the squeals of delight evoked in children by such simple pleasures. This comes with a mix of relief and regret.

“Preteens need our love just as much now as they did when they clung to us, sobbing, on their first day at school.” Our children – as they grow into preteens – don’t need us so much any more, right? Wrong! They need our love and they need to feel our good attention just as much now as they did when they clung to us, sobbing, on their first day at school. They need to feel our confidence in them, and our conviction that they can find their place in this perplexing and sometimes hostile world. So how do we, who have been on the parenting road now for a decade or more – unpaid, unacknowledged, often unsupported and likely quite exhausted – keep shining our light of love on our preteen? Don’t be deceived: the newfound independence you see in your preteen isn’t a sign that your ‘use by’ date as a parent will soon be up. The single strongest indicator that an adolescent will reach adulthood without experiencing pregnancy or violence, becoming addicted to drugs or tobacco, or dropping out of school is parent-child connectedness. Together or apart, parents of preteens and teens play a vital role in anchoring their growing child in emotional soil that will help them thrive. Here’s something you can try in your homes with children of any age to stay connected amidst the rush of the everyday.

SPECIAL TIME Set aside time, each day if possible, and weekly at the absolute minimum, to clear your mind, turn off your phone, and stop working, checking emails or clearing up the house. Be fully, warmly delighted in your preteen. Use a timer and give the space you are creating a name: ‘Mum and Me Time’ or simply ‘Special Time’. Follow your child’s lead with an open heart and an ‘anything goes’ attitude. You are still the adult and you still get to say a warm but clear ‘no’ if risks are introduced that would impact safety. For that fifteen minutes, or half an hour or so, your preteen gets to feel you, fully there, warmly present with them and for them. You put your adult concerns to one side, and don’t bring any of your stuff about chores not yet done to your preteen. During ‘Special Time’, gently and warmly offer eye contact or a hand on the back and be there fully for your child. Your warm attention is a healing balm for your preteen’s nervous system, often ragged from a long day of peer group interactions and inevitable jostlings for position at school. If you’ve never tried this before and your preteen resists your warm attention or pooh-poohs your ‘Special Time’, try doing it unannounced. Imagine they’ve just got home from school, you are working from home, and you hear them come in. Get up from your laptop and put your phone down. Go and warmly greet them. Shine delighted-in-them attention their way. You can glance at a watch or a clock as you begin and silently commit to keeping your attention with your preteen for the next five to fifteen minutes. You’ll be surprised at the results. At first you may get a teasing and an incredulous ‘what’s wrong with you?’ from your preteen. This is a measure of the distance between this warm, uncomplicated attention from you, and the other times when you were distracted or demanding something from them. Roll with it, respond playfully, and contact in your own body the ache of the preteen longing for the same kind of affectionate attention they received when they were a sweetly exuberant four-year-old. Anna Cole, PhD, is a parent educator, researcher, writer, and a certified instructor with Hand in Hand Parenting. She can be found on Facebook at: Hand in Hand Parenting with Anna Cole. handinhandparenting.org

set yourself

POSITI V E AT TR ACTION

free

from fear TRUSTING IN YOUR OWN POWER IS THE KEY.

by Dee Wallace

My beautiful daughter – my best friend and fellow healer – is in Europe travelling by herself right now. She has wanted to take this trip since high school. I must admit, I was energetically torn in two. Part of me went into an immediate fear reaction: terrorists, the unknown, not being there to help and guide… The other half of me was, literally, in awe. So brave, I thought. I could never do that: go into the unknown by myself. I have to laugh, because that is exactly what I did when I left Kansas and moved to New York! When I queried if this was the right thing to do, she paused, and in a very calm and knowing voice, stated: “Mom, my greatest fear is being alone. So I might as well go conquer it.” I cannot tell you the pride and awe that swelled up within my heart. Wow, I thought, she is about to live what I teach. It made me realise, also, that I had not given myself credit for all the brave moments in my own life that most certainly put my own mother in a state of panic. And that brought me to perusing this subject of fear. Why do we fear? What do we fear? Obviously, we fear what we do not know. If we know what to expect, and know we have some control over it, we do not fear, or, at least, we handle the fear enough that

“When we find out what we can create (and that we are creating it) this is powerful beyond measure.” we can forge onward. Much of our fear is about “doing something wrong that we will never be forgiven for.” What if I go to Europe by myself and I can’t handle it? What do I do then about Who I Am? Of course, the empowerment that happens to us when we DO find out what we can create (and that we are creating it) is powerful beyond measure. And if we can’t handle something, we have the choice to know it’s all a part of our learning process and that there is nothing we need to forgive ourselves for. Knowing we are the power that chooses the love and joy of our own creation/choice/action to move through fear is what we are here to learn through the experiences we choose. And sometimes, it can be a great challenge. I admit, there were moments I automatically reacted out of fear for Gabrielle’s safety (like the London terrorist attack that happened when she was in Europe). The channel lovingly reminded me that she is powerful beyond

words, and to state: I release you to your own Divine I Am Presence. And that gave me peace. So I am looking at all the energy of You, and stating, “I release you to your own Divine I Am Presence.” I believe in you. I believe in your power. I believe in your choice to empower yourself. You are loved in this world. 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

time to claim

what is yours CHOOSE YOUR BIRTHRIGHT OF HAPPINESS. by Amanda Collins

You are love, pure and simple. Happiness is your birthright. All you have to do is choose it and claim it. “How?” you may wonder. You can choose and claim happiness by living, breathing, and doing everything every day, from a place of self-love. If that sounds impossible to you, it’s time to begin listening to your selftalk, to look for signs and symptoms of denying the love and self-love that resides at the core of your being.

Do you say things to yourself such as “I’ll be happy when…” and then add an event in the future? When I lose more weight, when I find a boyfriend, when I make more money, when I quit my job: all of these thoughts deny you the happiness you might be feeling in the here and now. You are postponing your happiness when you could be inhaling joy and self-love with every breath instead.

Do you say other things to yourself such as “I wish I were as successful in my love life as I am at my job,” or “If only I were as good a parent as I am a friend”? Such thoughts again deny your ability to bring happiness into every area of your life. Instead of wishing, reframe your thoughts with the belief that you can bring the same ease, flow and energy to your “weak” areas as to your “strong” ones.

Do you say things to yourself such as “Oh, it’s just my usual bad luck!” or “This kind of thing always happens to me”? Such statements deny your freedom of choice. They make you subject to some

past negative idea of fate or destiny controlling your life. Be aware of the ways you criticise yourself or expect the worst. These are strong signs that you do not love yourself unconditionally. At some level you may feel (or have been told) that you do not deserve happiness. If so, you can begin the process of rooting out such self-denying attitudes. Once you have developed the capacity to hear the negative messages in your self-talk, begin affirming the positive in yourself. Meditate to quiet the chatter so you can hear the deeper voice that knows you are love and that feeling self-love is the first step on the path to feeling deserving of happiness. Then you may choose to be happy. NOW.

Affirmations are a key method of reprogramming your mind – which has the quality of neuroplasticity – by replacing negative thoughts, doubts, fears and expectations with positive ones. State positively, as if it has already happened, your intentions and gratitude for whatever will bring greater positive energy and happiness into your life. Repeat each with full conviction five times in the morning and five in the evening. Here are a few examples to help you create your own: • I give thanks for my lovely children who bring joy and pleasure to my life. • I deserve to be respected, valued, loved and honoured. • I give thanks for my busy career and the clarity to use my time wisely.

“ Happiness is your birthright. All you have to do is choose it and claim it.”

• R adiant, vibrant good health is mine in every cell and atom of my being. • I love myself unconditionally and shine that love into the world.

Examine your morning ritual. When you wake up in the morning, do you immediately reach for your phone or computer? Do you look for distraction or affirmation in the outside world? Change that habit. Tap in first. Tap into your heart and higher self. Ask yourself what you are grateful for. Breathe in and fill yourself with gratitude and the possibilities of abundance that each new day brings. From that place of strength, listen to the gremlins of negative self-talk and banish them. Go for a run in nature. Stand in the sun or let the rain bathe you so you can connect yourself with the earth.

Find practices that are really nurturing and nourishing to you: whether it’s reading inspiring books, joining webinars and classes, or perhaps getting the therapy you may need for greater support and healing. If you notice you are depressed or low on energy a lot of the time, that’s a good sign you may need some expert help to heal and grow. I believe that getting expert help is a way of loving ourselves. Know that you deserve that time and that support. Give yourself permission to do what is self-loving by practicing self care each and every day. Listening to yourself, affirming your strengths, examining your habits, practicing self care: these observances will help you cultivate self-love. Stop looking for happiness outside of yourself. Happiness is an inside job. Self-love is an inside job. Choose happiness, claim it as your birthright. Now! AmandaCollins.com InternationalFengShuiSchool.com

17 â&#x20AC;&#x153; Tap into your heart and higher self. Ask yourself what you are grateful for.â&#x20AC;?

wake up to

POSITIVE PE ACE

the best

night’s sleep 18

HOW TO MEDITATE YOURSELF TO SLEEP AND WAKE UP WELL. by Sandy Newbigging

“If you quickly get to sleep - then great! If you are awake for a while and get some restful meditation done during the night - then great!” The average person sleeps for twenty five years of their life. Sleep plays a massive role in our quality of life. A lack of sleep has been linked with weight gain, heart disease and strokes, depression, reduced concentration, productivity and other mental, emotional and physical issues. Good sleep improves the immune system, reduces inflammation, makes us inclined to eat better, encourages a positive mindset and allows us to perform at our best during work and play. It’s therefore vitally important if you are experiencing insomnia or waking up tired, that you are proactive in having the best rest and sleep patterns possible.

STRUGGLING TO SLEEP In the past if I wasn’t tired or couldn’t get to sleep, I would be worrying about how tired I would be the next day. Lying in the darkness of the bedroom I would be left alone with my thoughts and emotions, which always seemed louder, scarier and more intense at night. I would often need to distract myself from my meandering mind by having the television or radio on. Do you do this? All of this never made for a peaceful entry into the realm of sleep. On the contrary: the stressful thinking,

emotional struggle and visual/auditory stimulation was counterproductive to my desired goal - a peaceful entry into the realm of sleep.

GETTING TO SLEEP These days, knowing that my body and mind gain rest from meditation, I get into bed, turn the light off and start meditating. Sometimes I fall fast asleep, sometimes if my mind happens to be busier then I meditate to be at peace with any thoughts/emotions happening, and some nights I have an amazingly clear and calm meditation. Irrespective of what happens, knowing meditation gives my mind and body amazing rest has liberated me from worrying about how fast I’m getting to sleep or if I’m having enough hours. In short, instead of counting sheep, worrying or needing to rely on external distractions, I invite you to meditate your way into the best night’s rest.

SIMPLE SLEEP MEDITATION To meditate your way to sleep, get into bed, put the lights off and with your eyes closed engage balanced breathing – by inhaling and exhaling for the same amounts of time. Breathe into your belly

for a count of approximately five seconds (or whatever is most comfortable for you). Then, every couple minutes or so, gently think: “I am at peace with being peaceful.” This is the recommended Calm Thought from my Calm Cure book that helps to heal the most common mind-based causes of insomnia. Just think the phrase and let it go by continuing your balanced breathing. For the best results, resist the temptation to ‘check in’ if you are not asleep yet but keep focusing on the meditation practice. With this sleep meditation you can ease yourself into a restful sleep and find that you don’t need as many hours as you used to in order to feel full of energy the next day. It can provide your mind and body with the quality rest it needs to function and be well, and has the added benefit of improving your relationship with sleep. If you quickly get to sleep then great! If you are awake for a while and get some restful meditation done during the night - then great! For a more advanced meditation technique for sleep and awakening, join my Calm Community (calmcommunity. com) members-only website and look in the articles area. Sandy C. Newbigging is a multi-bestselling author and a meditation and mind-body connection expert. His new book, Calm Cure, is out now. sandynewbigging.com

meditation

mastery WE INTERVIEW THE AMAZING DAVIDJI. by Aisling Cronin

Davidji is a world-renowned expert in meditation, stress management and mindfulness. Ahead of a seminar he gave in Dublin, we heard his advice on establishing a meditation practice, his experience of working with Deepak Chopra, and his thoughts on the late, great Louise Hay. What do you feel are the secrets of meditation? The most important secret to meditation is to just surrender. We always try to control situations in our lives, and meditation requires us to fully surrender and just allow. The only ‘bad’ meditation is the one we don’t show up for. I think if we realise that meditation will help make us more patient, better listeners and better choice makers, we would be more inclined to take aside five minutes here, ten minutes there, just to take a step back and do it.

Can you tell us about how this journey began for you?

20 “The most important secret to meditation is to just surrender.”

I started meditating when I was in college, but as I got more involved in my corporate job, my meditation practice slipped away, and so did my sense of balance. I didn’t realise at the time that there were tools you could use to have a job out there in the ‘real world’ and also maintain a sense of balance through meditation. So my journey went through a lot of different phases. I travelled through India seeking Gurus, I studied under some amazing masters, and I was also the dean of Deepak Chopra’s university for a decade.

How did you find your experience of working with Deepak Chopra for so many years? It was really one of the highlights of my

life. I first met Deepak at a retreat he was running in England, and he soon became a great friend and teacher. After I returned from my travels in India, I said to him, “let me share my business skills with you and maybe you can share some of your brilliance with me” ... and it was a beautiful exchange.

Your books are published by Hay House, and we were sad to hear about the passing of Louise Hay recently. What was your experience of working with her? Thank you for acknowledging Louise Hay and remembering her. She was a powerful mentor, who invited me to start hosting a show on Hay House Radio, and was always very kind to me. What is amazing about her is that she wrote her first book, You Can Heal Your Body, in a very maledominated publishing world, and said, “I will not be denied – if you don’t want to publish my book, I will do it myself ... and even set up my own publishing house!” Louise Hay really shook things up and raised the vibration of the world.

What are your plans for the future? I’ve just submitted my third manuscript to Hay House. The book will be called Sacred Powers, and it’s about how to access your innate sacred powers when you find your life is at a crossroads, to help you awaken and move into the next phase of your life.

You can watch our full, unedited interview with Davidji on our YouTube channel – just search ‘Positive Life Magazine’ on YouTube to find us. For more information on Davidji and his work, visit his website davidji.com.

Hawaiian Lomi Lomi Massage brings an ancient and profound wisdom to bodywork offering more than techniques they reach down into your soul with the Aloha Spirit.

TRAINING RETREATS AT 1-3 June - Fundamentals with Native Hawaiian Jeana Naluai 4-6 June - Advanced with Jeana Naluai 2-6 August - Level 4 Advanced Practitioner 6-12 November - Lomi Lomi Practitioner Training Retreat

WWW.LOUISEKLEU.COM

P: 086 7316499 E: louise@louisekleu.com FB: Lomi Lomi Ireland

the gift of

presence BE STILL IN THE MIDST OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON. by Jai Kartar Kaur Mohan The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is mounting. When the festivities are done, we may find ourselves gazing into the mid-distance, trying to see what the coming year will bring. On the precipice of the New Year we often reflect, resolve and start afresh. We begin again to sculpt our lives and identities, carving away the unnecessary and, in the process of doing so, define who, where, and how we are.

“On the precipice of the New Year we begin again to sculpt our lives and identities.” How many of us live for the next big event that is looming on our calendar? Our attachment to something off in the future, just out of grasp, can be a benefit or detriment, depending on how consciously we approach it. Sometimes we attach to the future to be distracted from our current circumstances. In doing so, we may render ourselves useless in the present moment. Conversely, we may obsess over the future in order to drive the

present moment toward that destination. If we are too driven, we may miss the subtle opportunity that could organically unfold and present itself in the now. Either approach can encourage us to live for tomorrow rather than truly embracing today. Momentous occasions that we plan and wait for, like time off from work, holiday time or special moments with family and friends, can be great teachers. Our appreciation of those moments allows us to step into them with great presence and awareness. What would life feel like if we took such an approach every day? On an internal level, we either accept or deny our present circumstances. The more we deny the circumstances, the more we cut ourselves off from the opportunity to learn something. Often our attachment (to a particular outcome, person or event) can indicate that we are not willing to engage with the present moment. When you find yourself gazing into the mid-distance and imagining what the coming year may bring, remember to pause. Inhale the moment. In fact, schedule ‘pause’ into your calendar frequently and look forward to those momentous occasions of being here now. Jai Kartar Kaur Mohan is a Kundalini Yoga Teacher & Teacher Trainer. wellwithin.ie

MEDITATION TO TRANQUILISE THE MIND Posture: Sit in Easy Pose with a straight spine and chest lifted. Tuck your chin back slightly without dipping your head down. MUDRA: With the elbows bent, bring the hands up to meet in front of the body at the level of the heart. The elbows are held up almost to the level of the hands. Bend the index fingers of each hand in toward the palms, and press them together along the second joint. The middle fingers are extended and meet at the fingertips. The other fingers are curled into the hand. The thumb tips are joined and pointing toward the body. Hold the mudra about 4 inches from the body with the extended fingers pointing away from the body. EYE FOCUS: Focus on the tip of your nose. BREATH & MANTRA: Inhale completely and hold the breath while repeating the mantra of your choice 11-21 times. “Sat Nam,” meaning “truth is my name,” works well. Exhale, hold the breath out, and repeat the mantra an equal number of times. TIME: Continue for 3 minutes.

easy

escape

A RETREAT FOR ALL SEASONS. by Alison McEvoy I mounted the bus on a hectic Friday evening in Dublin. Just over an hour later, with not far to flee, I stepped out into a silent wilderness. We wound our way deeper into the untamed Glen of Imaal, a valley pleated in amongst the Wicklow mountains, and soon arrived at the Elbowroom Escape. The face of the Elbowroom Escape is a one-storeyed, whitewashed Irish cottage, framed three-dimensionally by a patchwork of forest, fields, mountains and cushy, moss-covered boulders. On the grounds of the cottage was our dining cabin, the path to which led up through a fern and veggie garden. Inside, around its cosy, wooden benches, gazing out at the autumn-scape, we relished our three delicious vegetarian meals per day. Back down the path led to a room within the cottage which had been turned into our yoga-cum-discovery-space for the weekend. In this space, on its beautiful oak floors, warmed by its hearth, we explored the appearances and realities of our Power as Women, under the guidance of yoga teacher and change-maker, Mari Kennedy. Mari, as equally a force of nature as the trees, mountains and boulders which stood around us firmly holding the ‘space’, had chosen the Elbowroom Escape as the location for her Sovereign Woman, Samhain retreat. Just on the heels of Halloween, the onset of winter

“This retreat offered a secure space, a fascinating Celtic framework, and a much-needed invitation to drop inwards” had turned this place into something of a Cailleach (hag or witch as Gaeilge) I thought, as I watched the spindly fingers of the near-naked trees raking the sky all above and around me. This retreat offered a secure space, a fascinating Celtic framework, and a much-needed invitation to drop inwards; conceding that we are part of nature and to mirror the inward movement of life during winter. Without this cycle of descent, allowing change to come and the willingness to feel deeply, there can be no renewal – no inner spring or summer-time of blossoming forth into the next, new phases of our power. Over the retreat, the hall transformed from meditation to yoga class to workshop space, and its oceanic beanbags provided a snug lounging area during our free time, to read, rest and relax. Outdoors, we practised walking meditation, roamed and hiked the forest walks during our free time, and sang and shared stories around the outdoor fire at night, before taking a starlit dip in the hot tub. At the end of the day there was the welcome comfort of our cabins to make a little home away from home in, and the utterly luxurious beds, duvets and duck-feather pillows to sigh out and sink

in to a sound night’s sleep. On the last day we met Lisa Wilkinson, founder and owner of the Elbowroom Escape, who had come to see us off. Lisa offers the Escape as host to all kinds of gatherings; from family birthday parties, to holistic training courses and retreats, to groups of friends wanting a place where they can be catered for, enjoy some downtime together, mingle with nature and have fun. Lisa, a mum herself, has also created quarterly Family Holiday Escapes, inviting the overburdened shoulders of parents to let down and shake out. Children are taken on bug hikes and forest adventures, while parents can enjoy mountain walks, the hot tub, yoga, massage or just some good old time to themselves. You will also find regular Escapes for adults and Lisa will be hosting a 3 day detox retreat in January 2018. Indeed, anything can be created and facilitated within this versatile, beautifully situated and tended space. For more information on events, bookings and hiring the space see: the-elbowroomescape.com

POSITIVE TANTR A

bringing

dating back THE TRANSCENDENT QUALITY OF INTENTIONAL INTIMACY. by Dawn Cartwright

Where and when did the ritual of dating begin? Is it time to bring dating back? Each morning, just before dawn, Tantric adepts in every Tantra temple in the world present five specific offerings to the deity. First, sandalwood powder is smoothed on the deity’s forehead and feet. Then, a mantra is sung while flowers, gathered from the temple gardens, are offered. Fragrant incense is lit, oil lamps illuminate the deity’s face, and sweets, dripping with honey and ghee, touch the deity’s lips. Sandalwood, mantra, incense, lamps and sweets: the Pancha Upac ras, a Sanskrit phrase that means, ‘five moments of access’. Five offerings purposefully chosen to awaken the five senses, allowing the devotee ‘five moments of access’ to an elevated experience of the world. Simple rituals such as this compose a twilight language rich in meaning and significance. Esoteric practices are known to reveal the extraordinary within the

ordinary through simple means. While it may seem as if the Pancha Upac ras are offered to awaken the deity from her slumber, it is the adept whose senses are awakened, triggering a heightened state of consciousness – revealing the sublime within the mundane. Much the way one would greet an honoured guest in their home, the deity is welcomed into the temple each morning, and the devotee catches a glimpse of the divine within. Perhaps owing to the romantic nature of the human heart, or the longing each of us has to touch the ineffable quality of love, the Pancha Upac ras, a ritual enacted since the beginning of time, eventually found its way into every corner of the world. These five offerings are the roots of hospitality and compose the traditional elements of successful dating. In the chilly pre-dawn mist, the Tantric deity becomes more beautiful with each

flower-laden moment. Beauty that exists because it is seen. Beauty seen because it is invited and welcomed, because it has already been awakened within the one who extends the invitation. Just as a tree that falls without a witness cannot make a sound, beauty, though it is certainly there, cannot be experienced without the observer. We create the beauty we see in the world and each other through our endeavour: in this case by awakening the five senses to see it. Dating and hospitality were originally meant to deepen our connection with those we revere, without expectation or goal. Not so very long ago dating meant affection, flowers and chocolates. Candlelight, serenades and perfume. The very same offerings that compose the Pancha Upac ras. Today, dating has been reduced to ‘hanging out’ and online chat rooms. Devotion seems to have gone by the wayside and the transcendent quality we all long for in dating has all but disappeared.

“These five steps, created from the origins of love, bring the magic back.”

27 Is it time to bring dating back? If so, what would that look like? It is time to bring dating back and here’s how. The Pancha Upac ras uplift the senses, open the heart and create loving connection. These five steps, created thousands and thousands of years ago from the origins of love, bring the magic back.

1st - Sandalwood. Gandha. Touch The ancient Tantra practitioners knew the importance of focused attention as a catalyst for transcendent experiences of all kinds. Once you’ve established you’re attracted, the next step is to turn your attention toward the one you’re attracted to. That might be the person you see every morning at the coffee shop, or the person sitting right across from you at breakfast if you’re married. Look up. Take in this glorious human. Touch with your attention.

2nd - Flowers & Mantras. Pushpa. Hearing Do you have time for dating? Very few people do. Whether you’re single, in a relationship, or married for years, relationships, even budding ones, need time. Set aside time. Make a point to say the name of your date now and then when you’re speaking to them. Everyone’s name is their personal mantra, music to their ears. Bring flowers.

3rd - Incense & Perfume. Dhoopa. Smell Does your date love coffee? Flowers? Spices? Create a date that’s a mystical journey of the senses, focusing on the sense of smell. Visit a coffee importer, a flower market, an exotic spice shop. Fragrance is the most powerful bonding memory of all.

candlelight. The soft glow of candlelight brings out the beauty in everyone, and has the power to open the heart.

5th - Sweets & Chocolates. Naivedya. Taste Hand-selected chocolates or macaroons entice the senses and ignite feelings of attraction and desire, whether your date is a woman or man. Sweets nourish the spirit and elevate the experience of love. Dawn Cartwright is a Tantric visionary, sacred writer, world traveler, and innovator in bio-energetic Tantra fusion. Dawn will offer: A Tantric Expedition to India in late December 2017, Fragrance of the Lotus Tantra Teacher Training from 20th - 29th April 2018 in Wicklow, and Weaving the Beloveds for Couples during the 2018 May Bank Holiday Weekend on the Wild Atlantic Way. To book your place, go to dawncartwright.com.

4th - Oil Lamps & Candle Light. Deepa. Sight The easiest step of all – make sure there’s

Lotus Tantra Teacher Training, 20th - 29th April 2018, Wicklow | Tantric Expedition to India, see: dawncartwright.com

interview with

Doreen Virtue THE FAMOUS ANGEL AUTHOR SHARES HER TRANSFORMATIONAL EXPERIENCE WITH JESUS. by Aisling Cronin

Doreen Virtue is a well-known author within the spiritual and self-help world. She has written a wide array of books and oracle card decks on topics such as angels, ascended masters and assertiveness. She recently made a big announcement about her spiritual path, revealing that she had had a powerful experience with Jesus at the beginning of 2017, and was formally baptised as a Christian shortly afterwards. She now wishes to reorient her future work to reflect this shift in her perspective. We spoke to Doreen about her animal rescue work, her spiritual journey and Jesus’ message to the world. Firstly Doreen, thank you very much for agreeing to do this interview! I hear that you have some Irish heritage in your family. My mom did our family ancestry a while back, and she found that we come from the Lyon family in County Cork. I’ve been to Ireland a few times, and I never got to go to Cork, for some reason, but my son and daughter-in-law lived on the west coast of Ireland for a while. Ireland is amazing – I have so many good memories of being there.

I have heard that you’re in the process of moving house right now. That must be a challenge, given the amount of animals you have! I’ve seen videos of your ranch in Hawaii, and all of the different animals you keep there: goats, sheep, cats, dogs… It has been interesting! Our ranch had one house for my husband and I, one house for my parents, and a nice big barn, with fifty acres of land. My husband and I are both vegans, so we started rescuing animals who were going to slaughter, and we loved it, but we ended up with over three hundred animals. At one point, our food bill was $10,000 a month. In retrospect, we should have found loving homes for many of the animals right away. This would have made our rescue work more sustainable. So, lesson learned, for anyone else who might be interested in

“As soon as I saw Jesus, I knew that he was so different to who I had previously thought he was. I felt that he really was the Son of God. Jesus’ message is: ‘don’t worry’. Worrying is a decision to control things that we can’t control.” doing this: you don’t have to keep every single animal you take in. There is a big vegan community in Hawaii, so our friends were willing to offer good homes to most of our animals – the rest of them are joining us on the U.S. mainland – but it has been difficult. You fall in love with every animal and saying goodbye is really hard.

Moving on to your experience with Jesus, can you tell us about that? I have always loved Jesus and considered myself a Christian. I was actually in a Christian church when I met him. I wasn’t praying to meet Jesus – meeting him wasn’t even on my mind – but all of a sudden, during the announcements part of the church service, it was as though everything and everyone disappeared and all I could see was him. An amazing light came from his heart, but this light was not for me specifically. It was for everyone, and I just happened to be there.As soon as I saw him, I knew that he was so different to who I had previously thought he

was. I had always thought of him as an ascended master like Buddha or Krishna. I honour every spiritual teacher, and I have reverence for every person’s path, but in that moment, I felt that Jesus really was the Son of God, and that he was sent to Earth to absorb the energy that is created by us getting off our true path. Some would call that energy sin, but I don’t like the word sin. I would prefer to say transgressions. After I met Jesus, I dove into the Bible and read it cover to cover, from Genesis onwards. From there, I learned that God really wants us to go directly to Him for guidance. Before that, whenever things would come up for me, I would go straight to my cards for guidance instead of talking to God, but now I go directly to Him. This is the path that God put me on. It was like Jesus scooped me up.

What is your understanding of the term ‘the Son of God’? What I understood in that moment – and this was a very visceral understanding,

30 as if my whole body and my whole being understood it – is that God is three parts: the Holy Spirit, the Son and God. I knew that Jesus was absolutely one with God. It took my understanding of that to a level of knowingness, rather an intellectual curiosity, if that makes sense. Now, I have such reverence for the power of God. I think before my meeting with Jesus, I would say those words – ‘the power of God’ – but I wouldn’t actually feel the power of God. Now I do feel it, and it’s so beyond my comprehension, I can’t even describe it in words.

“My connection to angels is so much deeper now than it was before I met Jesus.” What is your advice to people who have books and cards that you previously wrote, and may be unsure of what to do with them now? I get asked that question a lot, and honestly, I don’t know. There are a lot of things I used to do that I don’t have an answer for right now, so what I’ve done is put everything on hold, and I am waiting for God to guide me. People often ask me about things like reincarnation, astrology, oracle cards ... and I know it’s frustrating

to hear, but I don’t know. One thing I have been told by God is that when it comes to crystals, what matters is how you use them. If you want to celebrate the beauty of the crystals and enjoy them in your home or office, great! But if you are using them as idols or as a substitute for God, then that would not be a good thing to do.

Can you tell us about your latest book, Mornings with the Lord? Mornings with the Lord was inspired by my habit of reading the Bible every single morning, before I go on social media or watch the news. What you do first thing in the morning sets the tone for the whole day. I am grateful that Hay House allowed me to create this morning book, for people to read just one little page a day and get on a positive path for that day, where they’re praying and surrendering and not worrying about it. I am so grateful to Hay House for how understanding they’ve been about my conversion. Reid Tracy, my publisher, is an amazing man and I am so blessed to work with him.

What do you feel is Jesus’ most important message to humanity at this time? There are so many, but the one that comes to mind right now is ‘don’t worry’.

Worrying is a decision to control things that we can’t control. Instead of worrying about everything, just pray. Before my encounter with Jesus, I was trying to create my own little universe that I ran. It is such a relief to say to God, “I can’t do this alone. Please help me.”

For many years, your work was based on raising awareness of angels. What is your perspective on angels now? My connection to angels is so much deeper now than it was before I met Jesus. I get what I like to call ‘angel bumps’ just talking about them, because they are so holy and so sacred. The angels that God sends us are so loving and pure. They are messengers and comforters. That is what I’ve always taught, so nothing has changed in that sense. The only difference is that I used to try working with angels to predict the future, but now I don’t worry about the future. I don’t try to predict it. You can listen to our full, unedited interview on SoundCloud – simply search for Positive Life Magazine to find us. For more information about Doreen, visit her website angeltherapy.com

Hawaiian Lomi Lomi Massage brings an ancient and profound wisdom to bodywork offering more than techniques they reach down into your soul with the Aloha Spirit.

WWW.LOUISEKLEU.COM

P: 086 7316499 E: louise@louisekleu.com FB: Lomi Lomi Ireland

another conversation

with God

REALISE YOUR OWN AWAKENING. by Neale Donald Walsch

In the early 1990s Neale Donald Walsch had a conversation with God. Recently, they picked up where they left off. It’s now time for an invitation FROM GOD TO YOU…. NEALE: I didn’t think I’d ever be doing this again. I thought this process was complete. GOD:

There is more to do. One more invitation, Dear One.

NEALE: I ’ve already accepted two: Change the world’s mind about God, and give people back to themselves. I thought that was it. GOD:

I know. It wasn’t time yet for the third. And these invitations are, by the way, not just for you. They’re for everyone – although not everyone will accept them. Those who will accept them will self-identify.

NEALE: I’ve always understood that the messages were not just for me. GOD:

So now comes the third and final invitation.

NEALE: O kay, I’m ready. We’re all ready. What is it? What’s the Third Invitation? GOD:

Awaken the species.

NEALE: But how can I be the cause of someone else awakening if I’m not awake? GOD:

he truth is that you are awake, you just don’t know T that you are. So in that sense, you’re not. You’re not awake to the fact that you’re awake. So it feels as if you’re not awake.

NEALE: I felt like we just went around in circles there. GOD:

ave you ever heard a noise in the middle of the H night and thought it was part of a dream, only to be surprised to find that you’re actually awake?

32 something you can do about what you see happening all around you. This is not about saving the world. This is about your personal spiritual journey; it is about your individual evolution. It can be the most exciting, enthralling time you’ve experienced since your birth. And the world may indeed change, may indeed be ‘saved’, by your decision to begin acting as Who You Really Are – but that will not have been the point of it. It is your personal evolution that will be the point and the purpose of every and any change you make in how you move through, and experience, the world. The Third Invitation is to awaken, as part of your process of personal evolution, the many members of your species who are already awake, to the fact that they are, and then to inspire them to begin acting like it also, so to model and inspire an awakened behaviour for those others who are still asleep – and to do this all because this is what your personal evolution calls you to.

“You simply need to awaken to the fact that you’re already awake, and that there’s something you can do about what you see happening all around you.”

NEALE: Sure. That’s happened to all of us. GOD:

There you are.

NEALE: O kay, so let’s agree that I’m awake, but just don’t know it yet. What could make me realise that I’m awake? GOD: You’re being scared awake right now, by some of the conditions on your planet, some of which have become nightmarish. You’re becoming more and more conscious every day of what’s going on, and that’s going to help you remember Who You Are – and motivate you to begin acting like it. That’s all that has to happen here. You simply need to awaken to the fact that you’re already awake, and that there’s

This is an excerpt taken from ‘Awaken the Species’, available to buy at the link below. Neale Donald Walsch is a long-time spiritual seeker. However, during a particularly low period in his life, his conversation with God began and has remained strong in his consciousness ever since. He has written twenty-nine books, created numerous public outreach programmes and travels the world extensively to speak with audiences - all part of his mission to share the spiritual message of his ‘Conversations With God’. nealedonaldwalsch.com

restoring

GOOD LIFE 2.0

community OUR LONGING FOR BELONGING. by Davie Philip

“ The hunger to belong is at the heart of our nature. Cut off from others, we atrophy and turn in on ourselves.” John O’Donohue

“A good life is built through good relationships.”

Last September, I travelled around the country hosting an event called ‘Stories and Conversations for a Healthy, Happy and Sustainable Ireland’ as part of Convergence, the annual festival that we have coordinated since 2000. This participative session was held in Dublin, Carlow, Cloughjordan, Galway, Cork and Limerick, and offered a platform for local projects and social enterprises to tell their stories. We wanted to celebrate people-powered responses to challenges like housing, inequality, energy, food, waste and climate change. Following these short presentations, I facilitated a conversation where participants explored questions designed to bring a deeper understanding of common ground, and to discover what would help these community-led endeavours to flourish. The process was fascinating. We heard stories about happy regions, smart neighbourhoods and sustainable energy communities; we listened to people working on biodiversity, permaculture, health and inclusion projects; we heard

about new co-operatives and social enterprises that are strengthening local economies and offering meaningful livelihoods; and we were introduced to fresh ideas from social innovators helping to make their communities healthier and more resilient. There is a wide variety of innovative community-led activity going on in Ireland; we need to hear more of these stories to inspire transformational change. In the conversations that followed, it became clear that the passion and enthusiasm of a small number of people drive these initiatives, and they tend to be poorly resourced. However, these citizen-driven projects provide an opportunity to connect and cultivate a deeper sense of belonging. One of the biggest barriers identified was the dominant culture of individualism and consumerism, which makes it very difficult for local projects or enterprises to attract and maintain engagement with their activities, or for people to value what they offer.

This story of separation is making us lonelier, tearing our communities apart, and now threatening the living systems on which our lives depend. We navigate the world together, through stories, and the one that currently influences our behaviour needs to change. This narrative completely misrepresents our altruistic nature and dulls our human values. A newly emerging story, rooted in community and belonging, offers us a path to a healthier and more convivial future that fits our current reality, socially and ecologically. In his latest book, Out of the Wreckage, George Monbiot suggests that “through restoring community, renewing civic life and claiming our place in the world, we build a society in which our extraordinary nature – our altruism, empathy and deep connection – is released.” A good life is built through good relationships. When we come together we overcome alienation and social fragmentation. This makes us happier and healthier, and strengthens our ability to adapt to change. During the last two weeks of May, at Convergence 18, we will be facilitating conversations around the country that explore the restoration of our communities and celebrate the people who are nurturing a deeper sense of place and belonging. Join us! Davie Philip is a facilitator and trainer at Cultivate and is based in Cloughjordan Ecovillage. If you have a story of a community initiative that could be highlighted at Convergence 18, email him at davie@cultivate.ie or convergence@cultivate.ie thevillage.ie.

winter

NATUR AL MEDICINE

warmer BONE BROTH AND STEW. By Nutritionist Jacqueline Ryan

Our immune systems can be supported in many ways throughout the cold winter months, such as with supplementation, exercise, ensuring adequate sleep, proper hydration, managing our stress levels and avoiding alcohol and smoking. The food we feed our bodies daily is the most important way to keep the immune system functioning to its optimum. Choosing the right foods isn’t that difficult. Basically, stick to the essentials by avoiding all processed and sugarladen foods. Instead, eat a wide range of vegetables, fruits, wholegrains, nuts, seeds, fish and meat. Introduce fermented foods such as kefir, kombucha or sauerkraut which maintain a healthy gut, to ensure your immune system runs well. Increase immune boosting foods and herbs such as garlic, mushrooms (shiitake/ maitake/ reishi), vitamin C and zinc-rich foods, ginger, turmeric, elderberry and echinacea. As the cold, dark days of winter appear, our cravings often turn to comfort foods – so a hearty stew may be the ultimate meal to warm you inside and out. Stews are an ideal winter dinner as they are a comforting, soothing meal, which is easy to digest and packed full of nutrition to help support the immune system. Beef stew is an excellent source

“Bone broth…is one of the most traditional, nourishing and nutrient-dense foods available.” of protein, iron, fibre, antioxidants, B vitamins, zinc, selenium, phosphorus, vitamins A and K. One of the main ways to really boost the immune properties of your stew is by making it with a homemade bone both. Regular bone broth consumption helps supply your body with a high concentration of nutrients and minerals. It is one of the most traditional, nourishing and nutrientdense foods available. Its endless list of health benefits include: – supporting our digestive system by strengthening gut integrity and the assimilation of nutrients, reducing inflammation in the body and supporting detoxification, boosting our immune system, mood

and energy, promoting sleep and healthy skin, hair and nails, and protecting our bones and joints. Conveniently, it can be made in advance and stored in the fridge or frozen. Making a large batch is a great way to have it on hand to boost the nutritional value of your stews. You can add bone broth to any other recipe or simply sip it on its own to gain its benefits.

Beef Bone Broth: Put beef bones (organic or grass fed) in a pot with 4 litres of water. Add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, 1 whole head of garlic peeled and smashed. Add vegetables of your choice such as celery, carrots, onion and leek.

Bring to a boil. Reduce to a low heat, simmer, cover and cook for 6 to 24 hours. The longer you leave it to slow-cook, the more nutritious it becomes. Once cooked for the desired time, strain the vegetables and bones from the broth. Add mineralrich sea salt and black pepper to taste, drink as a hot beverage or use in stews and soups. Store in the fridge for 5-7 days or freeze for up to 6 months. BONE BROTH STEW

600g of cubed stewing meat (organic or grass fed) 1 onion, chopped 3 carrots, chopped 1 parsnip, chopped 1 celery stalk, chopped

50g mushrooms 1 cup of frozen peas 3 cloves of garlic, crushed 2 tsp. fresh rosemary, finely chopped 1 bay leaf 1 tbsp. of tomato puree 700ml of beef bone broth Salt and black pepper 1 In a large saucepan heat

coconut or olive oil, add the onion and garlic. Add the stewing beef and fry quickly until browned all over. Add the vegetables (except the frozen peas) with the sealed beef and mix them well. Cook for 3-4 minutes until all the vegetables are coloured and glazed, as well as the beef. 2 Next, add the tomato puree and fully cover the meat and vegetables with the beef bone broth. Add the bay leaf and rosemary. Allow to come to the boil, then reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and cook for 2 hours. Cook until the meat and vegetables are tender and the broth has reduced to a nice consistency. Add the frozen peas 5 minutes before serving. 3 Season to taste. Ladle into bowls and serve with a little mashed potato and some chopped parsley or mixed herbs.

Tips for additional winter stew immune boosters: • M ore vegetables means more nutrition.

• H ave with mashed cauliflower or sweet potato instead of white potatoes.

• Add beans and lentils for extra protein and nutrients. This will also keep you fuller for longer.

• For convenience without losing nutrients, cook your stew in a slow cooker.

• There is no need for heavy cream, flour or sauces – the meat and a bone broth will add flavour. Longer cooking time and using less water will help thicken up the liquid. By Nutritionist Jacqueline Ryan for the College of Naturopathic Medicine. Train at CNM for an exciting career in Naturopathic Nutrition, Herbal Medicine, Homeopathy or Acupuncture. naturopathy.ie 01 672 5036

POSIT VIE FOOD

how to

eat a tree CULINARY CONNECTIONS 5: FORAGING FOR FOOD FROM FORESTS AND HEDGEROWS. by Hans Wieland Dedicated to the late Dick Warner

One of my all-time favourite memories is of walking along one of the hedgerows at The Organic Centre in September 2004 with the late Dick Warner, eating Hawthorn berries. Dick was then our ‘Environmentalist in Residence’ during the third Green Festival North West. With around 25 children from the local National School in tow, he was in his element, explaining the importance

of our native hedges, pointing out the various species of trees and plants, telling the children stories about the wildlife that benefits from hedgerows and - probably most exciting for his young audience - encouraging them to nibble leaves, taste fruits; the odd wild raspberry or strawberry besides the many blackberries.

There is more to trees than fruit Most of us know of, and greatly appreciate, the many wild and cultivated fruit, nuts and berries which come from trees. However, there are more edibles from trees than just fruit and few are aware of the incredible variety of other edible parts: – bark, leaves, twigs, seeds, pollen, roots, new growth, flowers and, of course, sap. If you are new to ‘eating trees’ here are a few guidelines: Firstly, get to know your tree. Secondly, harvest in season i.e. young leaves and flowers in the spring, nuts and berries in the autumn. Thirdly, harvest only what you need. Probably the easiest way to start eating trees, is to make them into salads; the young, tender leaves of beech, birch, hawthorn and linden can be tossed into a salad, though some are better tasting than others. We make a stunning hawthorn beetroot salad at home.

Five trees to begin your journey with along the hedgerows and into the woods. The Hawthorn trees which Dick Warner so loved, are found throughout the Irish countryside. I remember vividly the conversation Gaby and myself had in the end with the trees, so we could feel at ease cutting down a few in order to make way for our extension to the cottage. It wasn’t just that fairies live in hawthorn trees, it was the variety of food they can provide. Gaby makes a tincture from the flowering tops in spring, which is good for blood circulation. The young leaves can be eaten in salads. They are known as ‘bread and butter’ and were traditionally eaten by children on their way to school. Berries in the autumn make a great tea, can be eaten raw as a source of Vitamin C or even turned into hawthorn flour muffins which is not that simple, I can assure you.

“There are more edibles from trees than just fruits… bark, leaves, twigs, seeds, pollen, roots, new growth, flowers and, of course, sap.” The Spruce, which got a bad name because of its sole use in many forestries, provides wonderful tips with a strong taste of pine and citrus, as does the Fir tree. An easy way to distinguish the two: –needles from the Spruce sting whereas the ones from the Fir don’t! Tips are easy to gather as the trees are growing their new needles for the year. Those small, young, soft bits at the end of branches are fully edible and tender enough to just eat them on the spot. They are easily spotted with a lighter colour than the older, mature needles. The Elder is another iconic tree in the Irish countryside. The immune enhancing properties of elderberries are renowned in Europe and the tree is a common feature around farmhouses. Herbal remedies can be derived from

all parts of the plant: stem, flower, root and seed. We collect the flowers in spring for making elderflower lemonade and, come October, spend hours in the evening around the kitchen table to clear the berries from the stems for making Elderberry rob - the ultimate Vitamin C remedy for the winter months against coughs and colds. The Birch, easily spotted because of the white bark, is one of the first trees in spring to produce new leaves and thereby marks the ‘new beginning’. In my native Germany it’s the tree for people in love and widely used for all sorts of shenanigans on the first of May. We harvest the sap from the tree in March with a special Birch tree tapping kit so as not to harm the tree. Young leaves are great in smoothies. The bark is used in

oils helping with eczema and dandruff. So finally to the Ash tree, the source of hurling sticks and freshly cut firewood. I publicly confess that until recently my connection to this great tree was through the above mentioned; supporting the Kilkenny hurlers and coppicing Ash for firewood. Inspired by a book on the culinary uses of trees I came upon a recipe for Ash liqueur as an aphrodisiac and life-prolonging elixir. Quite simply, ferment one to two handfuls of the pristine young Ash leaves in one litre of good semi-dry white wine for a week, strain and store cool. Drink as an aperitif or mix with sparkling water. For recipes e-mail: hans@theorganiccentre.ie theorganiccentre.ie

supper HEARTY AND WARMING MEALTIMES. by Tony Keogh

“There is nothing better on a cold evening than to tuck into a large steaming bowl of something rich and satisfying…”

PHOTO: CHIARA GIANELLI

POSITIVE FOOD

winter

JACKFRUIT CHOWDER WITH WAKAME, KELP AND CORN Ingredients 1 onion finely diced 2 leeks finely diced 2 yellow peppers diced 800g peeled rooster potatoes cut into bite-sized pieces 150g corn 2 tins jackfruit Cashew cream [130g cashew + 400ml water] 1L of stock 200ml white wine 10g wakame 3 minced cloves garlic Teaspoon each of smoked paprika, kelp and togarashi seasoning Dessertspoon of Dijon mustard Good pinch of pimento berry [allspice] Salt to taste

Method

1 Heat a little oil in a large

sauce pan. When it comes to a simmer, add the onion, pepper and leek. Leave to sautee for a minute before adding the garlic and white wine. Cover the pot while you prepare the potatoes. When they are peeled and cubed add them to the pot along with the stock. Replace the lid and prepare the jackfruit. 2 Rinse the jackfruit. You will notice there is a triangular tip on each wedge - remove this and set it aside. Using your fingers to break up the remaining flesh. You can discard or keep any seeds, they are edible. Heat some oil in a large Teflon pan and add the threshed jackfruit. Finely chop the remaining triangular tips and add these to the pan along with

the paprika, pimento, kelp and togarashi seasoning. You can add about 50 to 100 mls water at this point, to help the jackfruit on its way. As it softens, break it up a little more with the back of a spoon. Cook it until dry [about 5-10 minutes] and then remove it from the heat. 3 Using a high speed blender, Vitamix or Nutribullet, puree the cashews with the water until velvet smooth. Remove the lid from the chowder and check the progress on the vegetables, they should be done, Add the cashew cream, sweetcorn, mustard and wakame. Bring to a simmer and season to taste.

CHILLI AND CORN PANCAKES Ingredients 250g flour 70g polenta 2 heaped teaspoons of baking powder 1 level teaspoon of soda 350ml soya milk [at room temperature] Juice of a lemon 2 heaped teaspoons of ground flax 40ml of melted refined coconut oil or vegan spread 100g of corn Dessertspoon sugar Salt Pinch of chili flakes Tip the soya milk into a jug along with the lemon juice and powdered flax. Give it a good whisk and set it aside to culture for a few minutes while you prepare everything else.

Method 1 Sift the flour, polenta, baking powder, soda and sugar into a bowl. Pour the cultured soya milk along with the coconut oil and chili flakes into the mixture and fold it through until well incorporated. Add the corn and season to taste. 2 Heat a little oil on a pan, when hot add a dollop of the mixture. Leave it to cook for about a minute, until it begins to raise and bubbles appear on the top, before flipping it over. You should be able to cook about 4 or 5 at a time depending on the size of your pan - the mixture will make 8 or 9. Cook the cakes for a minute or so on the other side before sliding them off the pan onto a plate lined with kitchen paper. 3 Serve hot with relish, soy yogurt and a large bowl of chowder.

cornucopia.ie

short & sweet 43 Centre of Loving Kindness A LOVING EMBRACE AT DZOGCHEN BEARA. by Grainne O’ Kane I relaxed into the drive, admiring the world around me, as I journeyed South. I felt a lot of issues bubbling up from within. I understood the remedy was to accept this gift and opportunity to be me with stuff bubbling up and to simply allow the Care Centre of Dzogchen Beara to embrace me. On arriving, I allowed myself to take my time. I made myself a bite to eat and drank tea, sipping it moment by moment, savouring each moment. I slept peacefully and awoke, greeted by a new day. I ’d had eight hours sleep, soaking in the loving kindness energy of the centre as I slumbered. I walked through the tranquillity of the

gardens, to the meditation centre for the 10am session. Afterwards, still feeling the bubbling up, I followed a pathway through rugged fields, talked to a horse and gazed at donkeys - gazing back. Later, I enjoyed a scrumptious array of soulful, mouth-watering vegetarian fare for lunch and attended the 3pm Loving Kindness meditation - this time in a different room, with a different view. Again that night, I slept serenely. After the 10am meditation the following morning, I made myself lunch, went for a drive and a swim. Back to the centre and the 3pm Loving Kindness meditation. A different facilitation and a completely

different experience than the day before. Similar faces to yesterday and many new faces also. I had received the time to retreat that I had so deeply needed; 48 hours of Loving Kindness, peace and calm, in a place which accepted me as I was and which allowed me to do the same for myself. The bubbling up had settled and I was truly relaxed and bathed in Loving Kindness. ‘Dazzled by Daylight’, by Peter Cornish, founder of Dzogchen Beara, recounts the personal story which led to the creation of this haven of Loving Kindness. dzogchenbeara.org dazzledbydaylight.com

SHORT AND SWEE T

‘Own your Period’ THE MOONCUP WAY. by Alison McEvoy

Everyday Organics NEW RANGE BENEFITS SENSITIVE SKIN. by Rebecca Muir ORGANii has just announced the arrival of its new Intensive range, which consists of an Intensive Organic Soothing Cream and an Intensive Organic Face & Body Oil. The two new products are COSMOS Organic, certified by The Vegan Society, and have been created especially for dry and ultrasensitive skin. Formulated for ORGANii by Hannah Pearson – a previous sufferer of severe eczema with years of knowledge and experience – the products contain a unique blend of cold pressed seed oils, herbs and carefully selected essential oils which soothe, heal and rebalance the skin. This announcement is also great news for eczema and psoriasis sufferers, as ORGANii’s innovative formulas may improve your condition greatly, as well as being suitable for sensitive and allergy-prone skin. The plant ingredients in both products can ease itching, irritation and inflammation and may also aid with soothing stings and burns. The Intensive Soothing Cream and Intensive Face & Body Oil both apply smoothly and absorb easily, providing your skin with an instant dose of nourishment and nutrients, vital for the skin’s regeneration and optimum health. The range is suitable for everyday use by the whole family on both the face and body, and may help to reduce signs of ageing by improving skin elasticity and condition. The use of only certified organic and natural ingredients make this a winner in our books! organii.co.uk

An auspicious meeting in 2000, between Su and Eileen, now founder and International Trade manager of Mooncup Ltd respectively, led to what has become a flourishing business, exporting the worlds’ first medical-grade silicone menstrual cups to women in fifty countries. When Eileen spoke of the notion of a menstrual cup, it made perfect sense to environmentally-minded Su. While Su had taken choice into her hands in many other areas of her life, she had never heard of the menstrual cup, or thought of menstruation as an environmental issue. Seventeen years on from that first conversation, hundreds of thousands of menstrual cups later and with an ethical business model in place, Mooncup Ltd was awarded the ‘Green Business’ and ‘The Best Place to Work’ awards this September in Brighton. They have kept that conversation alive, bringing information, empowerment and choice into the equation for menstruating women. It’s easy to see why the Mooncup menstrual cup is a perfect choice for the environment; just one of these Vegan Society approved cups can last your entire menstrual lifetime and will result in 11,000 less sanitary items (per woman) ending up in landfills or on our beaches. It also eliminates the use of the many bleaches, perfumes and other toxic substances commonly employed in sanitary towel production methods. Many women have chosen the Mooncup as their perfect, personal choice for another myriad of reasons; it’s more cost-effective than disposable items, it’s healthier as there is no toxic absorption and it’s comfortable, once you get used to it, as it doesn’t dry you out or leave fibres behind. For the hesitant and uncertain among you, the journey can be a supported one. You can get in touch with Mooncup advisors - dedicated midwives and sexual health nurses who have held the hand of women along the way, with advice, guidance and encouragement. Mooncup is here to embolden you to ‘Own your Period’, whatever your choice will be. Find out more at mooncup.co.uk

Discover Wild Clinics EXPERIENCE WHOLE-BODY WELLBEING. by Lorna Driver At Wild Clinics, Henrietta and her team of Nutritional Therapists combine the inherent wisdom and nurturing capabilities of food with the science of evidence-based nutritional medicine. The team apply the pioneering principles of Functional Medicine to their practice, enabling them to dig deeply into the root of symptoms. Diagnostic testing such as a hormone profile, comprehensive digestive analysis (using DNA analysis), food intolerance and adrenal stress index may be recommended. For all these, the following established clinical laboratories are used: Doctor’s Data, Genova Diagnostics and BioLab. The team work in close company with other health specialists, and where necessary, may recommend you for supportive treatment such as acupuncture or cranial osteopathy. Where

appropriate, the team will inform your GP or other medical consultants of the treatment plan, with your consent. Our Philosophy: Wild Clinics offer nutritional and lifestyle support that is tailored to the individual. Our therapists have extensive experience and can advise clients at any stage of life – from toddlers and children, through to teenagers, young adults and mature adults. Wild Clinic therapists unite a functional medicine approach (treating probable cause and symptom) with the

fundamental need to view health as a ‘whole-body’ experience, respecting the influence of the mind, body and spirit. Our 360° approach informs everything from practice consultation to product formulation and education. Appointments can be made to see one of our therapists in person or via Skype. Please use the Bookings section on our website to make an appointment. wildclinics.com

SHORT AND SWEE T

Embodying Spirit AWAKENING THROUGH ANCIENT LOMI LOMI. by Jody Mountain

46 Just One Drop NEW DOCUMENTARY EXPLORES HOMEOPATHY. By Annemarie Creighton On Monday 28th August 2017, the Institute of Homeopathic Practitioners Ireland (IHPI) arranged the inaugural Dublin viewing of the homeopathy documentary, ‘Just One Drop’, in University College Dublin (UCD). IHPI was established to assist its members in the development of homeopathic and homeotherapeutic skills, and to help provide a regulatory framework through which this branch of healthcare can be evolved for the benefit of the community. ‘Just One Drop’, directed by Laurel Chiten, premiered in London in April of this year and has been shown around the world. Chiten wanted this movie to open up a dialogue about homeopathy, encouraging people to ask questions and share information. Her vision is to see homeopathy as an easilyavailable and respected healthcare option for everyone ‘Just One Drop’ is based on extensive research, and aims to tell the story of homeopathy through the voices of the scientific and international homeopathic communities. This film takes us on a journey to understanding homeopathy as a healthcare practice: its history, its current research, its use as a treatment for modern day illnesses, and the heated on-going controversy around it. The documentary discusses various points of view on homeopathy, while focusing on the benefits of an integrated healthcare model, and the positive impacts this would have on our society, our health and public expenditure. ihpi.ie

It’s funny how life can lead us where we least expect. In the middle of my career as a dancer and choreographer during the early 1990s, I found myself in a tiny village on the island of Kaua’i in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. I was there to learn a traditional form of bodywork, but I had no idea that this lineage of Ancient Lomi Lomi would ignite a tsunami of transformation in my life! Guidance through simple, gentle movements, ancient dance and awareness exercises re-established a connection with the Life Force in my cells, mind and spirit. Working with embedded patterns in the body unlocked old habits, beliefs and mindsets that I had inhabited through cultural and familial conditioning. I felt simultaneously overwhelmed and lucky to find a teacher who recognised that coming into alignment with the resonance of Life inside of us, was the seed from which all health, vitality, healing and joy could spring. Kahu brought our attention back to Source, not as an external deity, but as the core of our cellular being. I felt as if I was waking up after a long sleep, and finding a new ground to my being. LineageofLight.com

SHORT AND SWEE T

Diary of a Medical Intuitive LET INTUITION BE YOUR GUIDE. by April Danann

Last time we talked, I mentioned I would introduce you to the concept of intuition – it’s such a broad area and yet also just a thread of our vast being which appears to be tapped into the Universal Whole. For me, intuition is my guide; it informs my mind, body and spirit of what to expect, where I am going and how I am doing. It arrives into my awareness in waves of knowing; through my dreams, triggers from events around me and rises up from my cells as I go about my day. If I am really listening to my inner senses, there is no need to feel worried, frustrated or uncertain about anything. If you are unsure of where you are going in life, or where you are on a certain path, finding a way to hear the whispers of your tissues and cells reassures and keeps you calm.

I know what you are thinking – how do I find, listen to, or even know I am hearing my own inner wisdom? The truth is, you don’t always know...but you will know when it is not your intuition. This is where trust comes in. To discover more about your body’s voice, incorporate some of the following into your life;

• Spend more time outside • Clean up your diet • Drink spring, well or filtered water • Exercise, breathe deeply • Use gentle herbs as medicine

Finding your intuition is the beginning of the path to re-establishing your ancient connection to nature. This is the doorway to health, healing and harmony. You got this. aprildanann.com

Hurrah for Irish Health Stores HUBS OF HEALTH, INNOVATION AND EDUCATION. Interview with Alan McGrath by Alison McEvoy Health Stores Ireland, a group which represents most of our independent health food stores, have recently launched a high-quality mark - ‘Health Stores Ireland Select’. Products which are found to reach certain stringent standards, for example in relation to the quality of ingredients and packaging, will be awarded both this stamp of excellence and pride of place on our health food store floors. One such product is Macánta - an Irish supplement range making its debut while bearing the seal of quality assurance which the ‘Health Stores Ireland Select’ mark promises. Curious to have fun finding out about the role of health food stores in

Ireland? Here are two dates to save for 2018! Health Stores Ireland Awareness Week ~ Set for early April 2018, this week celebrates the essential role which health food retailers play in promoting better nutrition, sourcing new products, offering a platform for local artisan food and crafts and creating community hubs for a whole range of complimentary health therapies. Vitality Expo 2018 ~ An annual gathering for everyone involved in the health food wholesale and retail trade, as well as a fun and colourful get-together for the health- and environmentconscious. Health Stores Ireland National

Vitality Expo 2018 | 8th -9th September 2018, RDS, Dublin

Organiser, Alan McGrath has said, “We are delighted that this event, which encourages the healthy living community in Ireland and a growing band of curious consumers to gather under one roof, is finally back on the calendar. There will be innovative brands, inspirational speakers and a mix of great food, family fun and entertainment. Consumers, educators, retailers, distributers, therapists, service providers and brand builders are welcome to come along to the RDS on 8th and 9th September 2018.” healthstores.ie

healthstores.ie

SHORT AND SWEE T

The Beauty Way THE PATH OF SHAMANISM. by Paul and Melanie O’Halloran–Gomes Someone asked us recently, “What is shamanism?” Aside from the technical definition of a shaman being “someone who travels to the realms of Spirit for information or medicine for their community,” to us, shamanism is everything. It’s a connection to the deepest Spirit all around you and within you – it is an opening of the heart to remember and heal what has been forgotten whilst finding our way back to Source. Shamanism is a visionary tradition: an ancient practice of contacting the Gods and spirits of the natural world when in an altered state of consciousness. It’s a person in trance who is able to undertake a quest of the soul: a journey to sacred places, other worlds or other realities to

Primordial Love

communicate with the spirits in order to bring about balance between the physical and the spiritual. Shamanism is one of the oldest forms of medicine known to man, common to all native traditions. Its origins can be traced back over 40,000 to 50,000 years, and is still practiced all over the world. Over the years we have seen the most beautiful things, and in deep humility and gratitude we know that we have been blessed by Great Spirit and the Beauty Way. To us, shamanism means empowering people to empower themselves so that they can walk the Beauty Way too. Blessings to you all. pathwayteaching.com

THE TRUTH IN ONE’S BONES. by Saralee Cassidy Life is neither a destination nor a journey. Life is, in my experience, an evolutionary engagement: a whole and total encounter with Oneself. Life, in its purest form, simply appreciates and loves itself. In 2002 I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, and was told that I would eventually die from this condition. I decided to start on a journey into myself. I went to many healers and did many courses in energy work. However, my true breakthrough came when I reconnected with nature: her beauty, her natural cycles, the power of her primordial energy. Nature opened up a gratitude and an awareness within me, that I too was part of this energy, this life force, this strength. When the body has experienced enough pain, it bursts open and an awareness from within makes contact with the life around you. It says: I am primordial, I am the observer within all life, I am the force and movement beyond your mind, and I am love. Today, I no longer have symptoms of MS in my body and I no longer need alcohol to numb down my pain. I still sometimes get lost in a mind pattern or old belief about myself, but I am alive to the primordial contact and knowing of life itself. Life force is love. Life force is the truth in one’s bones. There is nothing to fear, beloved.

For more information and workshops contact Andree O’Toole or Saralee Cassidy New Paradigm Holistic Centre 086 731 2044 and 087 757 4678

SHORT AND SWEE T

Life in Parts CARE FOR YOUR ‘ENERGY ELEMENTS’. by Paul Congdon In South County Dublin a new craze has kicked in. I popped in to Life Particle and found that this is an exercise regime that seriously promotes wellness. ‘Life Particles’ are the buildingblocks of the world and everything in it, including us humans. These tiny elements hold limitless possibilities which we can unleash with proper guidance. To this end, every week at Life Particle you will find a host of yoga, qigong, self-healing and energymeditation classes to revitalise, balance, stretch and relax the ‘tiny energy elements’ that make up your body and being. Life Particle is run by Samuel Jun and Ana Rute Paulo. They create a sweet and welcoming atmosphere and there’s always a cup of herbal tea on the go. I especially loved the people I met there. Everyone spoke highly of the place, of how they preferred it to joining a gym and had stories of how it had transformed their health, lives, posture

Healing Hemp CBD OIL TURNS A LIFE AROUND. by Alison McEvoy Having suffered a freak accident which left her neck broken, at just 26 years of age Judith May became addicted to painkillers - medications which, while they did numb her pain, left her feeling mentally dull and her body burdened with a host of side effects. Seven years of daily pain medications later, she returned from the US to Ireland to birth her son. Amid the cold and damp Irish climate her pain augmented to unbearable proportions, and a few years later Judith and family moved back to the United States - this time to the warm and dry climes of Colorado. In awe of the active lifestyle enjoyed by Colorado’s young and old, she learned of Cannabidiol (CBD) oil - an oil derived from the hemp plant,

but lacking the chemical compound THC which produces the ‘high’ generally attributed to cannabis. It is thought that the effect of CBD oil on the brain’s receptors, as well as its antiinflammatory properties, are what lend it the capacity to neutralise arthritic and muscle pain. Nowadays, back home in Ireland, Judith is “pain free when I use CBD oil! It is my miracle dietary supplement.” Her daily dosage of CBD oil is as natural and necessary an inclusion in her daily life as her vitamin and water intake. Judith is the director of the Irish hemp co-operative which encourages, facilitates and supports Irish farmers to grow hemp, thereby providing Irish people with homegrown CBD oil. This year she established the Alixer Gold CBD oil company. Having experienced first-hand the enormous benefits of CBD oil, it is now her goal to see CBD oil become a staple, natural medicine in the Irish diet. facebook.com/HempCooperativeIreland

and general outlook on life. Sam and Ana host the classes in a very jovial fashion, cracking lots of jokes along the way which really suits the Irish sensibility. Classes begin with a tapping exercise to wake up the body and they encourage you to do the Korean bow and greeting which lightens the mood as you bow to all your fellow classmates. It’s clear that these teachers know their stuff and the class, although sometimes tough, is tailored to what you can manage. You are pushed to do the best you can, yet always to remain observant of your body’s limits. Look these guys up and get along if you can – your body will thank you for it. lifeparticle.ie

SHORT AND SWEE T

Holotropic Breathwork NOT JUST A TRAUMA TECHNIQUE. by Geoff Fitzpatrick Why do Holotropic Breathwork? Have you ever felt there is more to reality than we confront with our five senses? If the answer is yes, then Holotropic Breathwork is for you. I have had the most rewarding journey with this technique since I embarked upon it over twelve years ago. I have gained access to deeper layers of my unconscious self and have cleared blocks previously unknown to me. This clearing is responsible for the most positive changes in my everyday life, my business, my family and my intimate relationships. There is often an understandable misconception that Holotropic Breathwork is primarily about releasing Trauma. This has not been my experience. Holotropic simply means ‘moving towards wholeness’. Its primary principle

is that the person who knows what is best for you is YOU. The technique gently facilitates your own opening to your inherent inner guidance. There is a nice Buddhist metaphor that helps explain the flow of our unconscious. Think of a garden hose that hasn’t been used in many years. When you turn on the tap, initially old leaves, mud and debris of various sorts flow out first. The hose spits out air bubbles and dirt until eventually the clear water begins to flow. Holotropic Breathwork is one of many techniques that can guide you into a harmonious flow with your world, both inner and outer.

mandalanature.com

Wellness in the West A HEALTH STORE ON A MISSION. by Aisling Cronin Meanwell Wholefoods, located in Ennis, Co. Clare, was established in 2000, and has gone from strength to strength since then, attracting customers from all over Ireland. Eco-conscious living is a major part of the Meanwell ethos, according to proprietors Roy and Tina Power. ‘We’re encouraging more and more people to bring their own jars, bags, or containers,’ Roy says. “By doing that, you save on waste, and you also save on money.” Meanwell has three stores in Ennis, all located on Merchants Square: the first is a biomarket, containing a wide range of health food and supplements; the second is a vegan café called Peckish; and the third is a wholefoods shop selling loose, organic fruit and vegetables, which also boasts 150 refill stations for dry goods and household cleaning products, with further ideas in the pipeline. Peckish is dedicated to providing its customers with high-quality plant-based food. “A high priority for us is animal

welfare,” Roy explains, “and our need to regard animals as living beings as opposed to commodities, whether you eat meat or not. We make everything in our on-site kitchen with primarily organic ingredients. We want to show that you can eat well without relying solely or

predominantly on meat and dairy.” Meanwell is currently working on an online ordering facility, which they hope to have up and running in the New Year. meanwell.life

POSITIVELY ME TAPHYSICAL

cocoon

of comfort OPENING MY HEART WITH HOT POD YOGA.

by Alison Canavan

If you’ve been following my fitness adventures for the past few months, you will know I like to switch things up. As soon as yoga teacher Julie Burke told me about her new venture, Hot Pod Yoga, I knew it was for me. But just what is this inflatable yoga pod? According to their website, the pod is an inflatable, cocoon-like, 20-person yoga space, heated to 37 degrees, designed to transport Hot Pod Yoga-goers into an otherworldly setting. The pod’s purpose is to super-charge the yoga experience through its unique and perpetually perfect interior (dim, purple lighting, beautifully scented with urbanchill tunes), which heightens efficacy, mellows ambience and guarantees a consistently immersive environment. This description is spot on. As soon as you step into the pod, it’s like a little oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. Once we stepped inside, we were zipped in and ready to flow. It was airy, calming and comfortable. Throughout the class, there were beautiful essential oils being diffused, which helped to calm both my body and mind.

“Because of the energy in the pod, you feel a (sense of) inner comfort, privacy and calm.” Susie Murray taught the class I attended. She eased us through an intense (for me!) but beautifully paced flow that helped my heart and mind to open. Susie has a beautiful way of reminding you to connect with the breath during the class and reconnect with yourself, which was something I had been struggling to do of late. This was made easier because of the purple lighting and general ambience in the pod. I write weekly and monthly prescriptions for myself, to help me keep up with the demands of modern life. What I liked about the pod was that I really felt like I was in my own world. To be honest, because of the ambience in the pod, I didn’t even notice anyone else in the class. I realised a weekly pod visit was an essential new item on my personal wellbeing prescription. I’m not a huge fan of hot yoga and my

previous experiences with it have been quite difficult, but I kept an open mind and I’m glad I did, as this was different. Even though parts of the class were challenging for me, I was able to keep up. The heat in the pod was a perfect balance of support and work. Founders Julie Burke and Neil Millen are on to a real winner here, because not only does it have an edge of true escapism, but also true comfort. A lot of people I talk to can feel uncomfortable when they try yoga, as though they are always being watched, but because of the energy in the pod, you feel an inner comfort that brings a sense of privacy and therefore calm. You can credit this to the lighting, music, oils or indeed the great teachers, but I think it’s the perfect mix of everything. Like baking a cake, sometimes the recipe works and sometimes it doesn’t. For me this is certainly one yoga recipe where all the ingredients are perfectly balanced. To learn more about Hot Pod Yoga, go to: hotpodyoga.com/ie Alison’s website is: becomplete.ie

Presents

POSITIVE NIGHTS

Interviews, Talks, Mini Workshops & Movies Tantra, Astrology, Holistic Dating and much, much more. HOLISTIC EVENTS Most Thursday Nights - Powerscourt Theatre Powerscourt Centre, 59 South William Street, Dublin 2

For Schedule and to join our Mailing List see:

positivelife.ie/positivenights

ally

POSITI V E PERSPECTI V E

being an

NIPPING INJUSTICE AND INEQUALITY IN THE BUD. by Elva Carri

“Let’s be honest about the cold hard truth of saying it when you spot it” In the wave of recent trending MeToo stories, and with more and more women, and men, in Hollywood and the rest of the world starting to speak out about their experiences of sexual harassment and gender inequality, I thought I’d take a look at how we can all help see these issues, even when they appear in small or minor ways. In this way, together, we may be able to prevent some of these behaviours being accepted, or going unchallenged, and from becoming bigger problems in the long run – making bigger problems appear like they came out of nowhere. People mostly don’t go out of their way to harass someone, or to see someone of another gender or skin tone as less than them. Unconscious bias is really hard to spot – in ourselves mostly – but even when it’s happening around us, it can go unnoticed too.

Seeing It

should say it, and/or how you should say it. Global statistics for bias against women, sexual assault and career progression, tell a very bleak tale. So, as hard and unclear as it may be to personally speak up when you’re not sure, I would encourage, nay beg, you all to do so. I believe we are at a stage where it’s worse to say nothing, than to say it and have said it slightly wrong, or even to have been wrong. Please risk speaking up.

1. “ You interrupted her. She’s not finished talking.”

Domino Effect A huge reason it’s worth the risk of being wrong, or being judged, is that you immediately empower others to do the same. At the scenes of crimes and accidents, it takes one brave person to do something, before others help. The majority of the world wants to help, wants to get behind you. What’s the worst that can happen from calling it as you see it? And what is the worst that can happen if you don’t?

2. “That isn’t funny.” 3. “That isn’t appropriate.” 4. “That won’t be necessary.” 5. “Leave her alone.” 6. “ You’re making me/[her] uncomfortable.” 7. “Listen to what she’s saying.”

A recent tweet from Ashley Bischoff provided a great list of questions and sentences to keep in mind during conversations or situations where a woman might be being ignored, or mistreated. While they were written specifically to prevent women going unheard, they’re great questions to keep

“You interrupted her. She’s not finished talking.”

in mind in any situation where someone who may face unconscious bias is present, such as people of colour, people who have disabilities and many others. If we can’t see negative behaviour, or don’t recognise it for what it is, what can we do about it? This list might help you see it. If you can use one of these sentences at a meeting, or social event, then the problem is happening. If you don’t need to use any of them, that’s a great situation.

“That isn’t appropriate.”

Saying It Let’s be honest about the cold hard truth of saying it when you spot it, too. When it happens to you, or when you see it happen to someone else, you will most likely question whether you are correct, doubt yourself and question whether you

“ That isn’t funny.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

The world is moving in great leaps towards real equality, don’t be afraid to jump with us! Elva Carri is the founder of GirlCrew. GirlCrew.com. Twitter: @elvacarri

“ Leave her alone.”

“You’re making me/[her] uncomfortable.”

“Listen to what she’s saying.”

diary of

a voyager PART 2 - PEACE LIES WITHIN. THAILAND. by Sigita Paliukaitė

60 Myanmar was such an experience! Timeless beauty and unspeakable poverty, seeing human conditioning and at the same time the vastness of forgiveness and kindness. Myanmar was true and raw, and there, I was true and raw. Then I flew to Thailand, straight to the islands. This was to be my time of peace, laziness and enjoyment. But suddenly, my world had turned into something unexpected and entirely different; it felt as if it had shrunk from 3D to 2D. Here I was, in a supposed paradise, yet it was packed with tourists in their holiday bubbles, I was having a drink every evening and smoking again - I felt like I was just floating on the surface. I found myself miserable for petty reasons which were solely in my head. Once again, ego was the main participant in the play of life. Even though I hated it, I put on that heavily layered mask – again. One day I heard of another island. It was said to consist of just a few square kilometres, a handful of locals, with electricity after dusk just until midnight and only one place on the whole island with a few bungalows to rent. This

“...those who are present will never die, but those who live in past or future, are already like the dead.” was to be my ultimate island experience, the one I’d imagined all my life. I booked myself in for three nights, for my longawaited peace and quiet. And…I hated it! More failed expectations: the water was too shallow for a swim; there were odd creatures on the bottom of the sea; no breeze and the heat was just too much and my precious silence disappeared with long-tail boats and snorkelers coming close to the shore from late morning until sunset. As uncomfortable as I was, I realised something of great importance. I had come to know this truth from within my own experience now - There is no peace without, only within. I was looking in a totally wrong place! On my last morning in Myanmar, I was having breakfast in a guest house when a Buddhist monk appeared from somewhere and gave me a little card which said, “those who are present will never die, but those who live in past or future, are already like the dead.” Life was now showing me that there’s only one ‘real’ reality, and that is the present moment. But still, knowing it, I didn’t live it.

I kept on island-hopping for three more weeks, stayed on seven mesmerising islands and visited many more. I saw the beauty of turquoise waters, countless sunrises and sunsets setting sky on fire. I swam in beautiful coral reefs, with little sharks and stingrays, and a huge, white sea turtle. But I remember it as the time when I felt most disconnected. That “ultimate island experience” shed light onto some of my questions which I hadn’t verbalised properly back then. However, the teachings and teachers are always provided, we just don’t recognise them, or get disappointed because they’re often not the ones we would like or expect to learn from. After days of denial, I finally saw the ‘island’ for what it was - a mistaken choice to look for peace in the outside world of expectations - and took a ferry to the mainland. To read a longer version of Sigita’s fascinating story, go to positivelife.ie

POSITI V E A STROLOGY

vedic astrology

& pregnancy 62

PLANETARY ROLES IN FOETAL DEVELOPMENT. by Calodagh McCumiskey

Nine months and nine days is the normal gestation period for human beings. Each month in the developmental stage of the foetus is governed and influenced by a planet. Venus rules the conception and first month. The element of Venus is water, and the joining of the male and female seminal fluids creates life by forming an egg which hardens over time. Mars has a fire element and rules the second month. It softens the egg and forms flesh. Mars increases the Pitta (mind-body type or humour in Ayurveda) of the mother. This gives rise to morning sickness and a restless feeling. The third month of pregnancy is ruled by Jupiter. Jupiter has a water element which balances the fire of Mars, eases the nausea, and fills the mother-to-be with happiness. The hidden reproductive organs form as the foetus further develops and takes shape. The Sun rules the fourth month of the pregnancy and develops the bones. The fifth month is ruled by the moon. With water as its element, the moon supports the expansion of the nerves, veins, arteries and blood flow. Saturn governs the sixth month and gives us our hair, beauty, complexion and body structure.

Mercury rules the seventh month and the development of our brain and intellect. Mercury gives us wisdom and awareness. In this month, the ancients recommended the parents practice abstinence. They also recommended that the mother actively surround herself with joyful thoughts and influences. The child in the mother’s womb now has the capacity to understand what is going on around it. Interestingly, Abhimanyu, a great warrior in the Mahabharata war – and Indian epic – and the son of Arjun, is said to have learnt about military formations of soldiers from a conversation between his parents when he was in the womb! Alas, his mother fell asleep during the talk and the story stopped in the middle, so he didn’t learn how to get out of the formation! That is another story. The Ascendant or ruling planet of the mother oversees the eighth month. In Vedic astrology, the rising sign changes every two hours so it can be any of the planets. If this planet is under stress in the sky, chances of stillbirth or other problems increase. This month is about the development of the ‘self’, thus the need for extra sensitivity. The moon rules the ninth month. Its influence on the water element

“We can improve any area of our life by working on the planet or planets related to that area.” in the body (as it influences the tides) helps the baby come into position for delivery. The final nine days of pregnancy are looked after by the sun, which generates heat in the body of the mother, slowly severing the connection between mother and baby. The position of the planets in the sky and in the mother’s birth chart influence all the developmental stages of the foetus. These influences are affirmed and built on in the birth chart when a baby is born. We can improve any area of our life by working on the planet or planets related to that area. Vedic Astrology is a vast and complex subject offering insights, wisdom and answers to almost everything! Calodagh McCumiskey is the director of Spiritual Earth in Rocklands, Co. Wexford. spiritualearth.ie calodaghmccumiskey@gmail.com