Positive Life Spring 2025

ROBIN LANDSONG A Stunning Near Death Experience

SPRING CLEAN IN PORTUGAL

Juice Cleanse

THE PENDULUM SUMMIT Good

Raising Consciousness

Discernment

The Power of Intention

Lynne McTaggart

welcome to Spring 2025

When we judge, we disconnect from who we truly are and our true power, limiting someone else and, in turn, limiting ourselves.

It’s happening all the time, and it depletes our life force. Let it go and move into discernment—moving from one thing to the next without any judgment, focusing on what you prefer energetically, with no need for a story. Freedom.Try it. It will liberate you and give you more energy to create more of what you want. Use your discernment to see what resonates in this, our Spring issue. Check out Lynne McTaggart, our main feature on the power of intention, the theme of which is that altruism heals all and leads to oneness. We also have a lovely piece on a juice cleanse in Portugal, which is such a treat for your body. Aistėè, one of our editors, chatted with Robin Landsong about a truly amazing NDE.

There are loads of therapies to check out—Functional Medicine, Reflexology, Lomi Lomi, and many more. Move into a place of service and do what you do from love.

Now, that’s discernment.

paul congdon, Publisher

Contentment

Publisher PC Media paul@positivelife.ie

Co-Editorial Alison McEvoy and Aistė S. Gram editor@positivelife.ie

Design Conor O’Brien info@conorobrien.ie

Ad Design Caroline Hanan caroline.hanan@gmail.com

Advertising Paul Congdon paul@positivelife.ie 0861579518

Social media Taylor Grimes editor@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.

and

Dedication:

Margaret O Connor , our salesperson , and my close colleague,has left this realm and is now in another. Margaret you are a true lady, gentle spirit and kind soul. Thank you for all you did for us at Positive Life.Lots of love to you and your family at this time. Until we see you again, Love Paul.

springvibes

“THE CREATION OF A THOUSAND FORESTS IS IN ONE ACORN.” RALPH WALDO EMERSON

transformative experiences

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND

Back2Eden is bringing back its highly successful Anti-Inflammatory & Auto-Immune Recovery Health Retreat Programme to The Wicklow Escape. This transformative retreat features whole food plant-based meals, food demos, vital sign recognition, nature walks, and expert lectures. Speakers include Mercy Ballard, Dr. Franklin Cobos II, and Dr. Joyce Choe, whom we interviewed last year (she knows her stuff!). The retreat offers 4-7 night stays, with an optional day tripper.

back2eden.info

FAITH & WELLNESS

Balm of Gilead is hosting an exciting seminar, Unlocking the Secrets of Prophecy & Health, this July. Join Dr. Walter Veith, renowned zoologist and biblical prophecy expert, alongside Dr. Tim Reisenberger MD, a preventive medicine specialist, for an enlightening exploration of the profound connections between

prophecy, holistic health, and wellness. Don’t miss this unique opportunity!

balmofgilead.ie

POSITIVE NIGHTS 2025!

What an inspiring start to 2025! At Positive Nights, we’re all about community, connection, and raising consciousness. This spring, we’re thrilled to welcome Lorie Ladd and Snatam Kaur to Dublin, offering wisdom and soul-stirring music. Teal Swan joins us in the autumn for a profound workshop, and we have even more exciting events lined up at our beloved Arts Club, a space filled with history and magic. Also, don’t miss Lynne McTaggart and her workshop, The Power of Intention, which we are co-hosting with Seminars.ie. Stay tuned for an incredible season of talks, workshops, and concerts designed to uplift and inspire! positivelife.ie/events

MIND BODY EXPERIENCE IS BACK!

The Mind Body Experience is returning to Dublin this May, offering an exciting weekend filled with free talks, workshops, and classes from May 2nd-4th at the RDS. This event is Ireland’s largest holistic gathering, featuring 260 exhibitors and 200 complimentary activities. Dublin will host four unique elements: the Mind Body Soul Expo, the Yoga and Meditation

Festival, the Dublin Wellness Expo, and the Dublin Psychic Fair. Don’t miss this transformative experience! The event will also take place in Cork and Galway later in the year.

dublinmindbodyexperience.ie

LONGEVITY SUMMIT

The Longevity Summit Dublin is coming this July (2nd-4th) and is looking amazing! This cutting-edge summit brings together scientists, entrepreneurs, investors, and health enthusiasts to explore the future of longevity. With Dublin as the vibrant backdrop, it’s the perfect place to connect with the world’s top innovators and discover actionable solutions to optimize your health now and in the future. longevitysummitdublin.com

soulful getaways

RECHARGE IN THE AUSTRIAN ALPS

Escape to the breathtaking Austrian Alps for four days of pure relaxation and self-discovery. From July 3rd–7th, 2025, immerse yourself in nature with guided hikes, Chi Yoga, Qi Gong, meditation, and health coaching. Swim in crystal-clear lakes, walk through serene forests, and

Teal Swan - Positive Nights 2025

Austria retreat

enjoy nourishing, homemade meals. Hosted by Vital Water Vibes, this retreat is the perfect reset for body and mind. See you there? For more information, contact: office@vitalwatervibes.com

CLOONA ESCAPE

Cloona Health Retreats offers a peaceful escape for mind, body, and spirit rejuvenation in the heart of Mayo. We love the laid-back Dhara Kelly, the host, and this wellness centre provides detox programs, yoga, guided walks, sauna, and holistic treatments. With its rich history, stunning views, and a calm environment, Cloona is the perfect place to recharge, reconnect with nature, and rejuvenate your body and soul. cloona.ie

health in bloom

SPRING GUT RESET

Spring is the perfect time for a fresh start—cleanse your gut and let your microbiome flourish! Optimal Wellness in Dublin offers colon hydrotherapy, a gentle and effective way to flush out waste and support digestion. This natural treatment can help boost energy, improve nutrient absorption, and reduce bloating. Pairing colonics with good nutrition enhances overall well-being, leaving you feeling lighter, healthier, and revitalized. optimalwellness.ie

BOOST YOUR GUT BARRIER

Akkermansia: This probiotic doesn’t mess around! When Akkermansia muciniphila MucT™ enters your system, it goes straight to work. Backed by groundbreaking research, it helps strengthen your gut barrier, supports weight management, and promotes longevity. With just one tablet a day, this revolutionary postbiotic helps maintain your gut health, blood glucose levels, and digestion. The Akkermansia Company™ is the only provider of pasteurized Akkermansia MucT™, the most bio-efficacious form, clinically tested and EFSA-approved. theakkermansiacompany.com

HEALTHY

INGREDIENTS, READY TO GO!

Busy moms and dads, this one is for you! Simply Add makes healthy living easy with pre-measured, plant-based baking pouches. Each recipe is packed with wholefood goodness and nature’s finest superfoods, so you can create nutritious meals without the stress. No more wasted ingredients or processed foods—just

pure, simple ingredients for wholesome, homemade goodness. Rediscover the joy of baking and create delicious moments for your family with Simply Add. Let’s get back to basics and simply bake! simplyadd.ie

THE POWER OF GRANDER® WATER

GRANDER® Water Revitalization enhances water’s structure, improving taste, freshness, and well-being. 100% family-owned, GRANDER® offers natural, energy-free solutions for homes and businesses. Enjoy smoother, healthier water that supports hydration, plant growth, and even reduces cleaning agents. Experience structured water with Vital Water Vibes—because better water means better health. vitalwatervibes.com

MICROGREEN MAGIC

The Gnomes are on a mission to revolutionize nutrition through microgreens and small-scale agriculture. These passionate innovators have spent nearly a decade championing healthy soil, healthy people, and healthy communities. Their microgreens are packed with nutrients, offering a simple yet powerful way to supercharge your health. Skip the soulless food system and nourish your body with the best nature has to offer! marketgnomes.com

empowered healing

EMBRACE YOUR BODY

Ready to come home to your body? Makia Mullen offers a transformative approach to bodywork and healing for those navigating chronic pain, pelvic discomfort, scar tissue, and trauma. With over 20 years of experience, her integrative, traumainformed sessions support healing, vitality, and pleasure through techniques like somatic therapy, scar tissue remediation, and sexual wellness coaching. Whether in Dublin or virtually worldwide, Makia’s work is dedicated to helping you reconnect with your body’s wisdom, alleviate discomfort, and reclaim joy.

makiamullen.com

OZONE FOR HEALTH

Ozone, ozone, ozone – a powerful healing force from nature, when used correctly. Two exceptional companies we like the look of are Creatrix Solutions (creatrixsolutions. com), whose products help people kickstart a new path to becoming a better version of themselves, and, of course, Puro3 (puro3.com), dedicated to improving your skincare, oral health, and beauty needs with only natural ingredients. Both companies offer outstanding ozone-based products that harness nature’s healing power for your health and well-being.

FEEL THE HEAT

Bringing Back Ireland’s Ancient Sauna Tradition! Tigh ‘N Alluis is more than just a sauna—it’s a journey into Ireland’s rich healing traditions. Rooted in brotherly love, this unique space blends ancient wisdom with modern wellness. Experience the sweat lodge vibe in the Mongolian yurt sauna, then take a full dip in the fresh lake—it’s pure magic. These guys really know their stuff, and for the full vibe, ask for Peter.

tighnalluis.ie

SCALAR HEALING

Enfield Healing Centre is a sanctuary for relaxation, rejuvenation, and holistic wellness. Home to the transformative Energy Enhancement System™ (EESystem™), this peaceful retreat harnesses the power of scalar energy to support deep healing. As a UNIFYDaffiliated centre, it offers a unique space to recharge—plus, with movie nights blending entertainment and restoration, it’s a one-of-a-kind experience. Join their community and explore the future of wellness today!

enfieldhealingcentre.com

Makia Mullen

positively newsworthy

GOOD NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE.

1 Grief into Hope

HEALING YOUNG HEARTS IN IRELAND.

by Aistė S. Gram

For children and young people, the experience of loss can feel like an insurmountable mountain. Grief often manifests in ways that are difficult to process, particularly for those still navigating childhood or adolescence. HopeSpace, a free one-to-one listening service in Galway, provides vital support to children aged 4 to 17 who are grappling with the complex emotions of bereavement.

With a mission to ensure that no child or young person faces grief alone, HopeSpace creates a safe, understanding, and creative environment where children can process their emotions and find a path forward after loss.

At its core, HopeSpace focuses on listening, understanding, and empowering children to process their grief in a healthy way. The service meets children wherever they are on their journey, offering sessions with trained volunteers who guide them in exploring their emotions. These sessions are tailored to each child’s developmental stage and include activities such as creative play, storytelling, crafts, and age-appropriate games. The emphasis is on creating a supportive, non-judgmental space where children feel comfortable expressing themselves, whether through words, art, or play.

HopeSpace’s philosophy is deeply rooted in evidence-based models, offering a balanced and compassionate framework for processing grief. Guided by coordinator Áine Deely, a seasoned community and youth worker, HopeSpace is dedicated to its vision: “No child or young person who has been bereaved goes unsupported.” This mission drives the organization to ease the pain of loss while empowering children to build meaningful lives.

As a free service, HopeSpace relies on the generosity of the community to sustain its operations. Donations, which can be made online or in person at the center, play a pivotal role in ensuring that no child faces grief without support. These contributions enable the organization to train volunteers, develop creative resources, and provide followup services that significantly impact the lives of bereaved families.

Now that’s what we call the true power of community.

hopespace.ie

“Sessions include creative play, storytelling, and games tailored to each child’s needs.”

2 Powerhouse of Motivation

SHE TURNED HER STRUGGLES INTO STRENGTH.

by Aistė S. Gram

Life has not always been easy for Ro, founder of The SHE Collective. From half a decade as a single mother to caring for a child with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, to the challenges of lockdown nearly destroying her business, Ro has faced her share of hardships. But through it all, she found her light—and now helps others do the same through the power of movement and connection.

It all began with a fitness class. During a very dark period in her life, struggling to cope with anxiety and overwhelm, Ro reluctantly attended a local bootcamp. What started as an attempt to shed a few pounds turned into something much deeper. The act of moving her body became a release for years of pent-up pain and stress. Over time, the sense of heaviness she carried began to lift, and for the first time in years, she felt like herself again.

This transformative experience sparked a shift. Exercise, once seen as a chore, became a source of strength and healing, and Ro developed a dream to help others experience this transformation too. She went on to train as a personal trainer, and through her journey, she realized that focusing on overall wellbeing—not just weight loss—was the key.

After some initial trials and tribulations, the SHE Collective was born. Rooted in the idea of community and empowerment, it is now a space where women come together to embrace health and wellbeing in a way that fits their lives. Those who attend Ro’s classes love them for the surge of energy and joy she brings. For many, this space is not just about fitness but about finding a supportive community that lifts them up.

Ro’s journey shows how challenges can lead to transformation. Her story is a powerful reminder to us all that even in the darkest times, there is strength to be found.

3 He Turned Waste Into Shelter

SEAWEED HOMES.

by Aistė S. Gram

Omar Vázquez Sánchez, a Mexican entrepreneur with roots in Puerto Morelos, is proving that innovation can tackle even the toughest challenges. Where others saw a nuisance in the sargassum seaweed that clogs Caribbean beaches, Omar saw an opportunity to create lasting change.

Nearly a decade ago, sargassum began flooding the shores of Omar’s homeland, posing a serious threat to the tourism industry and devastating local ecosystems. Refusing to despair and inspired by memories of his family’s humble adobe home, he devised a groundbreaking solution: construction

“ Where others saw a nuisance, Omar saw an opportunity to create lasting change.”

bricks made from sargassum. These bricks, known as Sargablocks, are composed of 40% seaweed and 60% organic materials. They are durable, affordable, and eco-friendly.

For Omar, this journey began with a single brick, inspired by a late-night vision. Now, his business produces 1,000 blocks a day, enough to build homes that can withstand hurricanes and tropical storms. Each house built uses up to 20 tonnes of seaweed, effectively turning waste into a resource.

But Omar’s mission goes beyond environmental impact. By employing

locals to clean beaches and make the blocks, he’s providing jobs while addressing the housing crisis in his community. To date, many homes have been donated to low-income families, offering shelter and dignity to those in need.

Omar’s vision is clear: to build a sustainable future where local innovation empowers communities. He stands as a true inspiration to us all.

Insta: sr.sargazo

Insta: ro_feilden_cook

positively newsworthy the little things

1 Energy in Everyday Interactions

A SMILE, A SHIFT.

by Aistė S. Gram

In our last issue, Lee Harris shared his thoughts on the power of a smile. He explained that one simple way to shift our energy is through smiling itself. The act can open our hearts, and when we encourage ourselves to smile, it not only lifts others but also uplifts us. For Lee, smiling is a simple yet profound way to invite more light into our lives.

He also highlighted the impact of everyday interactions: “Let’s say we’re not having the best day. You’re at the checkout, and the person serving you is unexpectedly kind. Suddenly, everything shifts. The energy around you changes, and it can even affect the person standing behind you.”

This got me thinking about the people in

our lives who uplift us, often without realizing it. There’s a waitress at Café Jacques in Skerries who brightens my day every time I see her. She has a quiet, almost shy presence, but she interacts with others with such warmth and kindness that it lifts everyone around her. This spring, I encourage you to notice the people you interact with on a daily or weekly basis—the ones you might brush past if you’re not paying attention. Take a moment to acknowledge them. Reflect on why they’re lovely, and send them gratitude in your mind. Even better, buy them a small treat—a chocolate bar, perhaps—and say thank you, just because. Imagine how it might feel to them to know they are being seen and cherished.

“The energy around you changes, and it can even affect the person standing behind you.”

2 Work your light into 2025

VISIONING WITH REBECCA CAMPBELL.

by Alison McEvoy

As the new year dawns and the light returns, it’s a time when many of us start to search our hearts and minds for desires, wishes, aims and goals. It’s a powerful moment to take. This is time when, if we feel called, we are invited to consider which seeds we wish to plant and nourish throughout the year in our lives.

I’ve been doing Rebecca Campbell’s ‘Work your Light’ visioning process for the last three years. It is the most in-depth, affordable and nurturing way I have found of really digging deep and finding that soul thread, or soul voice - the one we really need to follow in life.

This year, Rebecca has also done an online workshop (which you can access as a replay) to take you through the entire process which is laid out in a beautiful, downloadable workbook. It takes about two hours in total.

During the opening session, where Rebecca opens space and guides the group to feel their way, through music, movement

and dance, into the year that has been I felt myself really seeing myself. I was not simply remembering a list of things that happened; highs and lows, achievements and re-routes, but really acknowledging how it all felt in a way that I couldn’t really register while living those moments. That is part of the immense beauty of this process; it takes time to look back, to honour endings and to embody a sense of completion of the year that has passed.

The two hours wind gently through meditations, time for writing, card pulling and group sharing before space is once again closed. Once you have it, you can do this process at any time – on your birthday, at Imbolc or at any time you feel the need to reset your path.

Rebeccacampbell.me

“The two hours wind gently through meditations, time for writing, card pulling and group sharing...”

FIGHTING FIT

To help stay boosted to fight against colds and flus, Dr. Wolz has formulated a range of award winning immune complexes proven in trials to help boost the immune system.

Zell Oxygen Immunkomplex heals and strengthens your body at a cellular level with over 70% of cellular requirements such as vitamins, minerals, enzymes, co-enzymes, amino acids, proteins and much more. It helps to support healthy cells, boost immunity and also overcome the symptoms of exhaustion and chronic fatigue.

Immun Select is a formulation in capsule form containing Zinc, vitamin C, Quercetin, beneficial bacteria and immune stimulating beta-glucanns.

Kinderimmun is full of essential ingredients and immune boosting properties for children from 4 upwards. It contains colostrum, inulin, Vitamins C, D3, B complex, Zinc, probiotics and beta-glucanes, and in an easy flavourless powder your kids will love. Also suitable for adults and during pregnancy.

Available from select Pharmacies, Health stores or www. rossmorehealth.com

Askin storetoday

• Are you ready to have a brand new positive life?

• Do you feel that there are blocks to you achieving everything that you want?

• Do you nd change di cult?

• Do you want to heal the past & dissolve barriers to release your full potential?

Join Loretta for this life changing weekend in The Calm Rooms, Monkstown, Co. Dublin. A94 E3F9

You will be helped to identify negative beliefs that are limiting you. Every area of your life can be improved with this workshop, self esteem, relationships, career, health, prosperity, success, your mindset.

“I am safe, it’s only change” - Louise L. Hay

To Book call Loretta on 087 1267427 or 15th & 16th March 2025 or 26th & 27th April 2025

info@nurturetherapies.ie www.nurturetherapies.ie

You Can Heal your Life Louise Hay Coach, Reiki & Sekheim Master, Holistic Re exologist

spirituality & the city

TRUE DISCERNMENT

Marius Pranskunas

Karen Whelan

“There are moments in life when logic fails, yet a deeper knowing takes over. In 2020, I was invited to a major event with a contract fee that seemed impossible for me to afford. Having grown up in financial hardship, I had an unhealthy relationship with money—earning and spending in a cycle of deprivation. My mind told me it was out of reach, but my soul knew otherwise.

Without hesitation, I told my now-husband, “It is already done. I don’t need to know how.” There was a deep, undeniable knowing—an inner certainty beyond fear or doubt. Within a week, the money arrived in an unexpected way. I couldn’t have predicted it, but I had trusted.

This moment changed me. It wasn’t about financial success; it was about surrendering to a higher intelligence—God’s hand moving where my human limitations could not. Through trust and self-permission, I stepped beyond my conditioned fears and into co-creation with the Divine. Now, I no longer try to control every detail. Instead, I listen, trust, and allow grace to unfold. My soul recognises this sacred intelligence, and together, we move through life in a dance of love.”

“I realised early that life is full of opportunities—all you have to do is make a call. Thanks to experience, a little bit of wisdom, and a little bit of luck, some of those decisions became pivotal. It’s hard to explain, but sometimes it just feels like the right thing to do. I joined the rugby team, started university, and chose my profession, relying on my intuition. At the time, none of it made sense, but it turned out to be life-changing.

Flow state is something I now foster. When your mind is free of noise, you don’t have to run—you have time for self-reflection and being present. Selfreflection is what builds clarity. Personal growth helps you read the room, and openness is a great asset when you can rely on your judgment.

Being present, especially during trade shows, guides your actions. Both paired together, if you let them, will flow like a river stream.”

Annemarie Gleeson

“My breakup wasn’t just an ending—it was an awakening. A raw, untamed unraveling of everything I thought I knew about myself. It forced me into the depths of my own being, where I had no choice but to face the truths I had long avoided. Unfucking myself became an act of liberation—a beautiful, ongoing process of reclaiming my truth and stepping boldly into a life that celebrated vulnerability, resilience, and unapologetic authenticity.

I sat in the shit. I danced in the darkness. I stripped away the layers of conditioning that told me who I was supposed to be, and I listened. Really listened—with true discernment. The kind that isn’t clouded by fear, expectation, or illusion. I learned to distinguish between what was mine to carry and what I needed to release. I allowed myself to feel it all—every ounce of grief and every spark of rebirth. And in doing so, I found something beautiful: myself—raw, real, and with an open heart.”

Amanda Sophia

Jeff Imrie

“Today I can attest that “we are born to be creators and manifesting into our world is a natural vibration for our soul’s expression here on earth”. I was blocked in embracing my true nature as I struggled to find my voice because in childhood I stammered a lot especially around authority.

As I embarked on my career in higher education, my Head of School presented an exciting opportunity: to establish an educational partnership with three colleges in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Energized by this prospect, I embraced the idea wholeheartedly, allowing it to inspire alluring, mystical dreams of expanding beyond the world I knew. However, my aspirations came to a sudden halt when the Principal and Head of School decided to reject the proposal. This setback awoke the old familiar feelings of a repression of my voice leaving me feeling wounded but parallel to this wound was a burning sensation that this opportunity was my soul’s mission.

Two weeks later, still haunted by a deep inner knowing that this opportunity was meant for me. Divine intervention occurred and in a beautiful twist of fate, we crossed paths early in the college corridor. He spoke and I shared my soul’s mission. Synchronicity, truth and passion formed a perfect trinity. In that moment by embracing my voice, standing in my souls quest this allowed me to penetrate my limited self opening to the Divine plan; teaching throughout the world.”

“I’ve learned that living a heart-centered life isn’t about blindly following your heart—it’s about finding balance. It’s not a cop-out; it’s a practice I engage in every single day.

There was a time when I thought following my heart was enough. But life has taught me that it’s not always ideal to rely solely on the heart. Through countless experiences—moving across the world, traveling, raising two children, going through a divorce, and navigating the complexities and magic of life—I’ve realized that decisions can’t just come from the heart alone.

For me, it’s about grounding down first. I connect deeply with the earth, anchoring my energy and aligning with my source of origin. From that grounded place, I make decisions using not just my heart, but also my mind, my soul, my body, and my connection to the land. It’s a holistic approach, weaving together logic, intuition, and emotion.

I believe this balance is something we all do, whether we’re aware of it or not. Think about a business person working in the stock market— they’re constantly weaving analytical thinking with gut instincts. It’s the same for all of us. We’re always blending thought and intuition, even if we don’t always recognize it.

I’ve always been a positive person, someone who sees the good in everyone and everything. It’s a beautiful gift, like seeing the world through rose-colored glasses. But over time, I’ve realized that while this perspective is a strength, it also requires discernment. Someone once told me, “The problem with rose-colored glasses is that you might miss the red flags.” And they were right.

So now, I move through life with an open heart and my rose-colored glasses, but I also practice discernment. It’s about finding that fine line— staying open and loving while also being aware and grounded.

I hope this resonates with you. Life is a dance, and we’re all learning how to move with grace, balance, and love.”

knowing your

limit

“Remember what they say on aeroplanes:

‘Make sure you put your own oxygen mask on before helping your child!”

by Anna Cole PhD

PARENTING TOOLS

If you’ve been following my articles for a while, you’ll know I teach five simple—but not always easy—‘listening tools’ based on the Parenting by Connection approach, developed by Hand in Hand Parenting. These tools may sound deceptively simple, and that’s one of the things I love about them! Overworked, time-poor, and often exhausted parents need practical tools that can truly make a difference. So, here’s a quick recap of the five tools:

1. Listening Partnerships

An adult-to-adult peer support tool where you divide the time equally, set a timer, and take turns sharing about your parenting— or life—load. It’s a free exchange; it doesn’t replace the need or value for therapeutic work if you hit on very hard places in your parenting, but it acts as a much-needed safety valve or ‘oxygen mask.’ Remember what they say on aeroplanes: ‘Make sure you put your own oxygen mask on before helping your child!’

2. Special Time

A one-to-one time for parent and child where you name it: ‘Let’s have some Special Time,’ follow their lead, bring the special ingredient of delight, and adopt a ‘whatever you want to play’ attitude. Again, set a timer so you both know when it will finish. Setting a timer is great for the parent (it can be hard for many of us to offer this kind of ‘Special Time’ for any extended period), as we know how long we need to be fully present for (not always easy in the midst of a full day). The timer also means the child knows this time is protected. No looking at phones, no grabbing a cuppa halfway through play, no getting distracted with adult conversations. Special Time can be as long as a whole hour, or as short as 3 minutes!

3. Staylistening

This is an ‘emergency’ listening tool. When your child is having a meltdown or crying hard, rather than try to fix, distract, scold, or ignore, try moving in close, get centred inside, and—listen. Truly listen with your whole heart. If you are upset at their upset, and it’s hard for you to really listen in the moment, just try noticing how you are on the inside and stay close and quiet

with your upset child. It may be that they just need a chance to let the storm blow through while you anchor them in choppy waters before the sunshine emerges once again.

4. Playlistening

Simply follow the laughs, taking a less powerful role (but no tickling, as this overpowers your child’s natural reflexes). For example, during a pillow fight, play-act some really good falls, as if they really got you hard when you’re hit. Ham it up a little, without teasing them, and only match the child’s capacity in terms of strength.

5. Setting Limits

This tool requires quite a bit of discernment. Many caring parents aren’t sure when to set a limit, and certainly how to do so without being harsh or shaming. Setting limits means moving in and gently but firmly stopping off-track behaviour without relying on verbal commands. For example, moving close and holding the hand that’s about to pull their sister’s hair.

Five words or less

A simple rule of thumb with Setting Limits is five words or less: “I won’t let you hit your sister.” An off-track child isn’t using their pre-frontal cortex; they are acting from ‘fight, flight, or freeze’ mode. Move in as you would toward a frightened animal, then gently stop them from escalating—stopping them from attacking a sibling, for example. Be prepared to staylisten. That upset can help reset them, allowing them to return to a calmer state.

Of course, it’s not always that simple in real life. It can be loud, messy, and confusing. The noise and chaos don’t mean it’s not ‘working,’ but it might be hard to set and hold a limit when we’re riled up inside ourselves.

This is when you need to remember to circle back regularly to Listening Partnerships. It’s unlikely you’ll be able to reach out to someone in the thick of things, but definitely try to schedule weekly—if not more frequent—time to let off some steam with a caring, nonjudgmental adult listener. This will help you keep your head the next time you need

to set a limit.

A good rule of thumb with limits is early and often. You’re aiming to move in from a calm and connected place to stop off-track behavior with warmth and firmness.

It requires discernment

For all parents, me included, limits require discernment. For some of us who grew up with permissive or authoritarian parents, or a confusing combination of both, it’s not always obvious when to set a limit. I’ve found this especially true as my children have grown. When they were younger, it was easier to recognize when a limit was needed—like when one sibling was being aggressive toward another. But as children grow and their behaviors become more self-regulated, it can be harder to gauge exactly when a limit is necessary. More on this next time.

Try This at Home

Reflect on these questions with a Listening Partner:

• What would have happened to me as a child if I had behaved like my child is behaving now? How does this influence my responses today?

• When I think about the age my child/ tween/teen is now, what do I remember about my life at that age? (Stay curious about this—it may offer clues about your own triggers or confusion around setting limits.)

As you reflect on these questions, let the feelings emerge and roll. This process will help you gain more clarity and discernment in your own journey with limit setting. Go forth, brave parents, as my favorite parenting mentor Patty Wipfler from Hand in Hand Parenting might say. I look forward to connecting with you in the next issue.

Dr Anna Cole is a parenting educator, writer and researcher. She worked for a decade as the Regional and Research Lead in the UK for Hand in Hand Parenting (Palo Alto, California). annac@handinhandparenting.org handinhandparenting.org

masteringinner speech

A JOURNEY FROM FEAR TO LOVE.

by Judith McAdam

During my recent travels to the beautiful counties of Limerick, Kerry, Mayo, and Tipperary, I had the opportunity to deliver Manifestation Talks alongside a group of therapists I had personally trained. These individuals, now running their own holistic businesses across Ireland, joined me in addressing an audience of people at various stages of their own journeys into consciously creating their reality.

As I reflected on each therapist’s journey, along with my own, I realised our manifestations would not have been possible without first stepping into our personal paths of healing and growth. At each Manifestation Talk, I shared insights on opening our chakras, those powerful energy centres within us, with special emphasis on the solar plexus for confidence and the throat chakra for selfexpression. I also stressed the importance of changing our inner dialogue, emphasising that the transformation of our inner chatter is a crucial first step before any other change can occur.

The audiences, each at different stages of their personal journeys, resonated with the message that the path to consciously creating your own reality is an inside job!

Neville Goddard, a profound thinker and spiritual teacher, says, “It’s the inner speech that is frozen in the world round about us. This whole vast world is but ‘frozen’ inner speech.” This quote encapsulates the power of our inner dialogue. Our vibration, thoughts, and feelings—expressed through our inner speech—shape our reality. They are the creators of our own personal world and the world around us.

Both the therapists I have trained and I understand this concept. We realise that our inner chatter, often negative and self-defeating, blocks our progress. It prevents us from fully opening our chakras and stepping into our power. No real progress externally can be made unless this progress happens internally first.

The Inner Fearful Child and Negative Chatter

Often, our negative inner chatter is the voice of our inner fearful child—the part of us that has been hurt, rejected, or scared in the past. This inner child expresses itself through fear, anger, or resentment, and it’s this voice that often dominates our inner dialogue.

However, it’s important to note that if we allow this negative chatter to continue for over 17 seconds, it begins to feed and create negative habits. This is because our thoughts and feelings create a momentum that emanates from us and into our life.

Cultivating Discernment and Positive Inner Chatter

Discernment is a crucial element in this process. It’s about being able to distinguish between thoughts that serve us and those that don’t. It’s about recognising when our inner speech is rooted in fear, anger, or resentment, and choosing to shift towards love, compassion, and positivity for ourselves first. It’s about choice—opening our throat chakra with love instead of closing it with anger.

Here are some tips to help you be discerning with your thoughts and transform your inner dialogue:

1. Practice Observing Yourself: Observing yourself means being present and aware of your thoughts and feelings without judgment. By practicing selfobservation, you can look at your inner child with compassion and identify patterns of negative or self-defeating talk and thoughts.

2. Cultivate Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself. Understand that everyone has negative thoughts and feelings, and that’s okay. What’s important is how you respond to these thoughts and feelings. Instead of criticising yourself, respond with kindness and understanding. Remember, to love your inner child.

3. Decipher Negative Thoughts with Your Inner Child: When you notice a negative thought, decipher it. Ask your inner

child, “Is this thought true, or is it a trigger from something in my past? Is it going to create negative or positive momentum? Is this conditioning or learned behaviour?” Consciously choose to let these thoughts go, help your inner child, and replace them with a positive thought.

Remember, observing yourself is a skill that takes time to develop. Be patient with yourself and celebrate small victories along the way. As you cultivate discernment and transform your inner dialogue, you’ll find yourself moving forward, unblocked, empowered, and manifesting the life you desire.

The journey to personal empowerment, growth, and manifestation starts from within. It’s about tapping into your inner child—that part of you that is open, curious, and ready for change.

To help you on this journey, I’ve created a series of powerful visualisations available on my website. These tools are designed to guide you in exploring your inner world, helping you reconnect with your inner child and start making positive changes.

Take the first step towards transforming your inner world today. You’ll be amazed at how it can truly affect your outer world.

With love, Judith

judithmcadam.com

“The journey to personal empowerment starts from within—tapping into your inner child is key. ”

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are you being gaslit?

SPOT THE SIGNS. by Sandy C. Newbigging

Gaslighting is a term that’s getting more exposure recently, but what is it, and how can you tell if you are ever being gaslit?

Gaslighting is a form of mental and emotional manipulation that undermines the validity of a person’s thoughts, feelings, and perceptions of reality. It usually causes confusion and uncertainty, loss of confidence and autonomy, and often leads to inner angst and anxiety. In a vicious cycle, it can also create more dependency on the perpetrator – as it impairs our ability to trust our own judgment and thus discern well.

The term ‘Gaslighting’ is derived from a 1944 psychological thriller called Gaslight. In the movie, a husband uses mind games and manipulations to convince his wife that she is insane, so he can gain power of attorney and steal from her. During the film, the husband dims and brightens a gaslight, and when his wife notices, he says it is only her imagination. Hence, the term gaslighting is used when a person becomes disorientated or distressed because they are being made to doubt themselves - usually for the gaslighter’s own benefit.

How do you know if you are being gaslit?

You may suffer from self-doubt, chronic confusion and anxiety. The confusion comes from constantly being told that your thoughts, feelings, intuitions, senses, or perceptions are in some way ‘wrong’ or ‘inaccurate’. Whereas the anxiety usually arises from a history of having your version of reality invalidated; making it hard to trust yourself and feel safe.

Gaslighting makes us feel psychologically impaired or misguided, and incapable of knowing what we are truly thinking, feeling or seeing. It is disempowering, weakens our sense-ofself and our capacity to know our needs, maintain healthy boundaries, make

decisions that are right for us, and function optimally as a self-sufficient and sovereign human being.

Common gaslighting phrases include: I never said that, I didn’t do that, don’t be so dramatic, you always take things the wrong way, you’re too sensitive or too emotional, you’re overreacting, you’re imagining things, or you’re remembering it wrong.

Always being told that you are ‘too emotional’, for example, can make you believe that you are somehow wrong to be feeling what you’re feeling. Being unable to trust our feelings impairs our discernment i.e. our ability to ‘judge well’, as we use our emotions to guide us.

Or let’s say you’ve been hurt by something someone said or did. When trying to talk to the person about it, instead of your feelings and version of reality being acknowledged, respected and responded to, you are shut down and accused of ‘overreacting’, ‘being too sensitive’ or ‘making a mountain out of a molehill’. This kind of deflection, which is designed to make you doubt yourself and release the ‘gaslighter’ of any and all wrong-doing or responsibility, is the opposite of what you need. Rather, a healthier response would be for the person to seek to understand how they hurt you, and ideally, apologise.

Gaslighting is harmful because we all need to be seen, heard and understood, in order to feel safe and trust ourselves and others. Gaslighting, on the other hand, corrodes our inner safety and trust, which is why it causes trauma, stress, confusion and limits our ability to ‘judge well’ and live secure, sovereign and successful lives.

Although there may be times when you are in fact remembering something wrong, when being gaslit, you will also be accused of ‘always’ remembering things wrongly, being forgetful, or having a terrible memory. Or some other kind of undermining comment that makes you

chronically doubt your thoughts, feelings or memories in a more general way.

Get the difference? Gaslighting isn’t just someone disagreeing with you, or if someone ever uses any of the above phrases when talking to you. Sometimes, we are taking things way too personally, and it’s helpful for a friend to tell us! However, gaslighting is when the other person disagrees, deflects and follows-up with some kind of demeaning comment that causes us to doubt ourselves on a regular basis.

“Healthy relationships consist of honesty, safety, trust, respect, and the ability to speak freely.”

What can you do if you are being gaslit?

Know that you have the right for your thoughts, feelings and perceptions to be respected and responded to. Know that your viewpoint and opinions are valid, even if someone else thinks they aren’t, or even if on occasion you end up being ‘wrong’. Be vigilant for any undermining comments that could cause you to chronically doubt yourself. Healthy relationships consist of honesty, safety, trust, respect, and the ability to speak freely. By guarding yourself against gaslighting, you can illuminate more calm, clarity, confidence within yourself.

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“Everything is made of energy—this includes both our homes and ourselves”

space clearing

UNLOCK YOUR INTUITION THROUGH ENERGETIC DISCERNMENT.

by Amanda Sophia

Space Clearing is more than just decluttering; it is an inner journey. It is scientifically proven that everything is made of energy. Space clearing involves clearing away not only physical clutter but also the energetic debris that accumulates within your home, such as stagnant energy, past events and lingering emotions. In Feng Shui, tools like sage are valuable, but the true power lies in developing your energetic discernment – cultivating an awareness of the subtle energies within your environment and yourself.

Imagine your home as an energetic vessel. Just as you would cleanse your body with water, nourishing foods and so forth, you can cleanse your home’s energy to support overall wellbeing.

How to Space Clear:

• Begin by setting a clear intention for your Space Clearing. What kind of energy do you wish to cultivate?

• Open Sacred Space, ground your energy and send your roots deep into the earth. Call in all the directions, and the spirits of the land, call upon your guides, angels, spiritual team, and ancestors to assist in the clearing process.

• Cleanse the Space: Use tools like sage, palo santo, or essential oils, or whatever herbs are native and local to you, to purify the air and clear away stagnant energy.

• During the clearing, fill the space with positive energy by visualizing white light or inviting in loving and supportive energies.

• Move through the space clockwise, starting from the front door and moving throughout the space. If you feel the need, repeat this as many times as necessary.

• Once the space clearing is complete, then follow it up by closing the Sacred Space and thanking your guides, ancestors, Spirits of the Land and the entire spiritual team that has helped you cleanse the energetic environment.

Space Clearing, when combined with the cultivation of energetic discernment, becomes a truly transformative practice. It is not just about following a checklist of techniques; it’s about tuning into the subtle energies of the space and allowing your intuition to guide the process. This requires a deep level of trust in your inner wisdom and the ability to feel the flow of energy within the environment.

How to Develop Your Energetic Discernment:

• During a Space Clearing, stay present and mindful. Observe the energy of the space. Notice where you feel heavy, stagnant, or uncomfortable.

• Pay attention to your inner guidance. How does the space feel? What emotions arise within you?

• Observe, listen, and feel. Notice subtle shifts in temperature, sounds, and the flow of energy.

• Regular mindfulness practices like meditation and deep breathing can enhance your sensitivity to subtle energies.

Through attentive observation and an openness to listen to the energy of the home, the spirits and your guides, you can discern the specific needs of the space and determine when the clearing is complete. This intuitive approach allows for a more personalized and effective Space Clearing experience.

Tools for Energetic Discernment:

• A pendulum can be used to receive guidance on the energy of a space, identify areas of stagnation, and determine the best course of action for clearing.

• Trust your intuition. If a space feels off, it likely is, and this means you might need to stay in this area for longer during your clearing.

By developing your energetic discernment, you can more effectively clear your space and create a truly harmonious and supportive environment.

Ready to deepen your understanding of Space Clearing and Energetic Discernment? Enroll in our Feng Shui Master Certification program in person or online and learn how to cultivate a deeper connection to your intuition and create truly transformative spaces. Amanda

compass your inner BELIEVE.

by Margot Tubbiolo

This issue’s theme really resonated with me, as I recently had the chance to explore it when a friend told me I should pray for discernment. I believe she meant seeking guidance, and I feel that discernment and guidance are deeply intertwined. My friend explained that it involves letting go of the negative events in our lives and understanding why they happen. It’s about finding the guidance that leads us towards a greater journey—a path that will gradually be revealed.

Through my research, I’ve come to see two perspectives on this topic. One is the religious perspective, which emphasises receiving divine guidance for our paths. The other is a more practical approach, focusing on the ability to make sound judgements. What I believe both perspectives share is the importance of intuition and the need to develop it in order to live life in the best way possible. Connecting with yourself is essential. When we trust in ourselves and our decision-making, we can let go and allow life to guide us. Learning to trust your gut is a skill many of us need to develop. Often, we make excuses to stay in situations that aren’t right for us simply because we don’t trust our own instincts.

It’s only when we become truly confident in who we are, deep at our core, that we can cultivate the skill of discernment. Once we reach this place, we can move forward with clarity.

However, without this connection to ourselves, life can feel overwhelming. We might begin to believe that everything that goes wrong is our fault, allowing it to ruin our day. But when we trust in who we are, life shifts to a focus on the good. Though it’s a constant challenge for many, it’s important to remember that we are not defined by the events that happen to us. Nothing is truly your fault—it’s simply a lesson meant for growth.

One of the qualities I deeply value in life is intuition. I believe this ability can make you a better person. Being able to assess a situation and understand what others need in the moment allows you to become the kind of person others want in their lives. It’s not about meeting superficial needs; it’s about connecting to your true self and recognising the role you can play—whether that’s offering kindness, wisdom, or protection.

For me, discernment is the inner knowing of what is true versus what is false, what is genuine versus

what is merely surface-level. It’s about understanding both your own desires and the needs of others, and acting with authenticity.

One example of how I practice discernment daily is by approaching difficult situations with patience. I currently work in a restaurant, where it’s common for people to approach me with anger. In these moments, I trust myself to make decisions on the spot and lead with kindness. Instead of reacting to their anger, I try to see beyond it and recognise that they may be hurting—perhaps feeling disconnected from themselves or lost.

I recall one instance where a woman was upset about having to wait for a table. I approached her with kindness, and as she faced me, her anger seemed to soften. I could sense that she was likely tired, perhaps feeling lonely or sad. When I responded with love and empathy, she was able to return that energy, offering me the compassion I needed. In that moment, I saw a beautiful reminder of how we can all benefit from showing more affection and understanding for one another’s struggles.

“Instead of reacting to their anger, I try to see beyond it and recognise that they may be hurting”

Dr. Joyce Choe

Dr Franklin Cobos II

Mercy Ballard RN

imagination fuel your

MORNING PAGES & ARTIST DATES.

by Aistė S. Gram

Julia Cameron needs no introduction to those who love the arts. If her name doesn’t ring a bell, she’s a celebrated—and I’d argue, legendary—writer, thought leader, and teacher of creativity. Though she might not agree with that label. After all, how can you teach something that’s been inside us all along? Julia herself often says that creativity is inherent in all of us, and her role is more about guiding us to reconnect with it. She is, in essence, an inspirer, a rekindler of the spark that we all carry within.

I discovered Julia Cameron at a time when I truly needed her. Following the exercises in her transformative book The Artist’s Way, I began writing—and soon after, I made my first film, setting me on a path of filmmaking that I continue to follow today. If you’re unfamiliar with her work, I wholeheartedly recommend all of her books. They are full of love, light, and boundless inspiration.

Two practices I learned from Julia Cameron have become essential parts of my daily and weekly routine. One helps me stay grounded, while the other brings immense joy. Both are simple, yet incredibly enriching.

Morning Pages

Julia recommends starting every morning with Morning Pages, a free-flowing stream of consciousness on paper. Many creators use journaling for various purposes, but for me, Morning Pages are a way to stay—for lack of a better word—sane. It’s all too easy to get lost in our busy minds and chaotic lives. Spending just ten minutes each morning writing without any rules—no concern for grammar, punctuation, or even logic—refreshes my mind, clears the mental clutter, quiets the inner critic, and grounds me in the present. After this mental reset, starting my day feels lighter and easier. Here’s how I approach it:

• Before bed, I set out an empty notepad and pen on my desk.

• In the morning, first thing—or just after a cup of coffee—I sit down and quickly fill three pages with whatever comes to mind.

• If creative ideas pop up, I jot them down. Otherwise, I use the time simply to clear my head.

• Afterward, I meditate, which enhances the practice for me.

Artist Dates

While Morning Pages ground me, Artist Dates nurture my joy and creativity. Julia Cameron likens Artist Dates to quality one-on-one time between a child and a divorced parent they don’t live with, where the focus is on fun, and the child often gets a little spoiled.

In the same way, an Artist Date is about prioritizing and indulging your creative self with undivided attention. It’s time just for you two—no partners, friends, or pets allowed! For me, as a creative professional, this quality time is nonnegotiable. It allows me to reconnect with my playful side and temporarily set aside the seriousness of my work. Here’s how I make it happen:

• I start by taking out my notepad—just like I do for Morning Pages—and making a list.

• First, I ask myself, “What would my creative self love to do?” Then, I jot down as many ideas as I can, giving myself permission to be playful. The more ideas, the better. Interestingly, some of the best ones come when I think I’ve run out.

• Once my list is complete, I pick one activity and block out dedicated, non-negotiable time for it.

Not Just for Artists

Morning Pages and Artist Dates aren’t just for artists—they’re tools anyone can use to clear their mind and spark a bit of creativity. As for Artist Dates, the key is to do something simply for the joy of it—no justification needed. Whether it’s exploring a new hobby, visiting a museum, or trying something “silly” (the sillier, the better, I’d say)—the creativity you nurture can filter into every part of your life.

So, what about you? What would you like to playfully explore this week? Remember: we are all creative. We always have been.

Aistė S. Gram is a writer, actress, filmmaker, and intuitive coach. Subscribe to her creative newsletter, Heron of Bath, here: heronofbath.substack.com

“Giving yourself permission to be playful is where the magic happens.”

“Learning to listen to this inner guidance could be one of the most powerful skills we develop in life and love.”

the art of knowing yourself

by Dawn Cartwright DISCERNMENT.

Have you ever noticed the most important experiences in your life often begin as a feeling? Like the subtle release in your belly when you’re met with an unexpected kindness, the feeling of warmth and acceptance that turns into a lifelong friendship. Or, the surge of clarity that rises in your chest when you choose a career path that matches your interests, rather than the degree you studied at college, even if others disagree with your choice.

These signals are especially profound in the realm of intimacy. Whether you’re navigating the early excitement of dating, deepening into partnership, or finally coming to terms with your own authentic self, your body always knows what’s true.

We all have an inner compass that recognizes the difference between genuine desire and social pressure, between true connection and patterns imposed upon us from external influences. Learning to listen to this inner guidance - the art of discernment - might be one of the most powerful skills we can develop in life and love.

The Early Excitement Of Dating

• A balanced life with many positives

• Clarity even during excitement

• Authenticity and kindness rather than performance

The Chemistry of Attraction

• Dopamine and norepinephrine create a feeling of being “high”

• Oxytocin makes us feel bonded and trusting - almost immediately

• Testosterone and estrogen amplify sexual desire

• Serotonin levels drop, which may lead to obsessively wanting the “next fix”

• Adrenaline causes the butterflies in our stomachs

Learning to distinguish between these powerful biochemical responses and the subtle signals of connection is one of the most valuable skills we can develop in dating. It allows us to enjoy the excitement while staying grounded in our authentic knowing - and deepen the connections that are aligned with who we truly are.

Signs of Healthy Compromise

• A gentle stretching sensation, like a muscle expanding

• Hearts are open even during discomfort

•Ability to maintain healthy boundaries

• Genuine curiosity about new possibilities

• Joy and playfulness remain accessible

Signs of Self-Abandonment

• Collapsing or shrinking sensation in your core

• Chronic tension in jaw or shoulders

• Body literally making itself smaller

• Feeling scattered or disconnected

• Building resentment that doesn’t resolve

As anyone who has ever dated can tell you, the experience can be very much like a rollercoaster. One minute, you’re rising to the heights of anticipation, the next minute, you’re losing your lunch. Our bodies are biologically designed to respond to attraction with everything they’ve got - it’s in our DNA. From arousing hormones that keep us up at night, to neurotransmitters that would launch even the most reclusive hermit out of his or her cave, we often find ourselves overcome with the urge to merge whenever that possibility arises.

With all this intensity, it can be challenging to hear the more subtle messages of our inner compass beneath the biological whirlwind. Yet these quieter signals are often the ones that matter most. How do we distinguish between attraction and compatibility? In the early stages of connection, our bodies send us constant messages, steady, stable and stronger than our hormones - if we know how to listen.

Signs of Connection

• Breathing is relaxed and steady

• Gradual build toward intimacy both emotionally and physically

Deepening Into Partnership

When we are attuned to the messages of the body, discernment becomes an important ally as dating transitions into relationship. What few couples realize is that the magic of dating is just the beginning. It’s a level of connection that can actually continue to grow when we learn to listen to our bodies. The challenge now isn’t the rush of new attraction, but discerning the subtle currents that flow beneath the surface of our established connection.

In order for attraction to grow and increase over time, it is important to maintain our sense of self even as we form a union with the one we love. Many couples become mirror images of one another, each partner slowly losing themselves as time goes on. A valuable skill in partnership is to learn to distinguish between healthy compromise and self-abandonment. The two may feel deceptively similar at first, but our bodies tell a very different story. The key difference? Healthy compromise creates space for both people to grow, while self-abandonment means that at least one person has become smaller. Your body knows the difference.

Learning to recognize these subtle differences between growth and selfabandonment is a profound act of love for your partner as well as yourself. It’s often through navigating these challenges in partnership that we develop our deepest skill of all - discernment of the Self.

Discernment Of The Self

Each stage of relationship offers unique opportunities to discover who we truly are.

The Self appears in that first flush of attraction, beneath the rush of hormones. It’s a moment of recognition, revealing the infinite potential of our true nature.

The Self appears in dating when we express our truth and the Self’s determination to be known emerges.

The Self appears in relationship as we expand to consider thoughts, ideas, emotions and expressions that are new to us, and discover the truth of our Being is expansive and accepting.

The Self is all of these things, and more. The art of discernment makes this clear, revealing who we truly are in the midst of love’s whirlwind.

Dawn Cartwright is a NeoTantra visionary, sacred writer, world traveler, and innovator in SelfActualization-NeoTantra fusion.

Subscribe to Dawn’s “Be Fully Alive” podcast here: www.patreon.com

ascension path discernment on the

FINDING CLARITY.

by Grace-Anne Kelly

In the world of metaphysics, a fundamental principle suggests that the frequency we tune into determines the reality we experience. This concept, bridging quantum physics, spirituality, and ancient wisdom, proposes that everything in the universe—including our thoughts, emotions, and even physical matter—vibrates at a unique frequency. By aligning with specific energies, we influence the events, relationships, and circumstances that unfold in our lives.

To put it simply, frequencies are patterns of energy. Just as radio waves operate on different frequencies, our thoughts and emotions emit their own energetic vibrations. Positive feelings like love, gratitude, and joy resonate at higher frequencies, while states like fear, anger, and resentment vibrate at lower frequencies. According to this principle, the vibrational state we hold most often acts as the lens through which we perceive and interact with the world.

At the heart of this idea is the concept of “like attracts like,” commonly known as the Law of Attraction. This means that by aligning with a particular frequency, we attract experiences and

“At the heart of the ascension journey is the need to trust your inner guidance over external noise.”

circumstances that match it. If a person consistently dwells in a state of gratitude and abundance, they are said to attract more situations that reinforce those feelings. Conversely, those who habitually focus on scarcity, anger, or fear might find themselves encountering more experiences that mirror these lower vibrational states.

This vibrational dynamic can also be observed in human relationships. We are naturally drawn to people whose energy matches or complements our own. For example, a person with a positive outlook on life will tend to attract similarly optimistic and supportive individuals, while those harboring negativity may find themselves surrounded by others who reflect that same frequency. Our energy not only influences who we interact with but also how those interactions unfold.

Another dimension of how frequency shapes our reality lies in our perception. Two individuals can experience the same event yet interpret it in completely different ways, depending on the frequency to which they are attuned. A person vibrating at a higher frequency may perceive challenges as opportunities for growth, while someone in a lower

vibrational state might view the same situation as a setback or threat. Our frequency influences the way we perceive the world and shapes the narrative we create around our experiences.

To consciously shape our reality, we can work on raising our vibration through mindfulness, meditation, positive thinking, and emotional self-regulation. By becoming aware of our emotional and mental patterns, we can shift our internal state and begin to attract experiences that align with higher frequencies. Cultivating gratitude, love, and compassion, for instance, can help elevate our vibrational frequency and lead to a more fulfilling and harmonious reality.

In essence, the frequency we attune to acts as a filter through which we engage with the world. By consciously raising our vibration, we can influence not only our inner state but also the external reality we experience, manifesting a life that is aligned with our values and higher aspirations.

Instagram: @graceannekelly

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the power of discernment

Discernment is a skill that we often overlook in our fast-paced, informationheavy world. It requires a shift in state, slowing down and turning our attention inwards. We are constantly bombarded with messages about what we should do, who we should be, and how we should live. But what if the most powerful guidance isn’t external at all? What if, instead, the most important wisdom comes from within?

Discernment is the ability to distinguish what aligns with our truth from what does not. It’s the deep knowing that allows us to make decisions rooted in integrity, clarity, and inner peace. It is not judgment—it does not come from fear or separation. Rather, discernment is an act of self-honouring, an invitation to move through life with awareness and conscious choice.

How many times have you been in a situation, relationship, or business deal you knew was either not for you or well past its sell-by date? Listening to those inner impulses—the feelings of anxiety, the somatic winces of pain—and understanding that they are merely messages helping to guide you on your path.

Tuning into Your Inner Compass

So many of us have been conditioned to outsource our power, seeking answers outside of ourselves. But true discernment asks us to pause, to listen, and to feel into what resonates on a soul level. It is not about overthinking or forcing an answer. Instead, it is about cultivating a relationship with your intuition—the quiet yet powerful voice within that always knows the way.

LEARNING TO TRUST.

by Alison Canavan

One of the greatest tools for discernment is stillness. In a world that glorifies speed and productivity, making space for silence is revolutionary. Whether through meditation, journaling, or simply stepping outside and connecting with nature, stillness allows us to return to ourselves. It is in these moments that we can hear the whispers of our soul, guiding us towards what is truly meant for us.

Discernment in Relationships and Energy

Discernment is especially important in the relationships we nurture and the energy we allow into our lives. Not everyone is meant to walk the journey with us forever, and that’s okay. Some people come into our lives as lessons, others as blessings, and sometimes they are both. The key is learning to recognise when something or someone no longer aligns with our highest good.

One of the most powerful questions you can ask yourself is: “Does this expand me or contract me?” Your body, your emotions, and your energy field are always speaking to you. When something is in alignment, you will feel a sense of expansion, lightness, or ease. When something is not right, you will feel resistance, heaviness, or tension. Trust those feelings—they are your inner wisdom speaking.

The Courage to Choose Wisely Discernment also requires courage. It means being willing to say no, even when it’s uncomfortable. It means honouring your truth, even when it goes against the expectations of others. It means understanding that not every opportunity, relationship, or path is meant for you— and that is a beautiful thing.

When you cultivate discernment, you step into a life of greater authenticity and alignment. You no longer waste energy on what drains you and instead channel it into what nourishes you. You begin to trust yourself deeply, knowing that the choices you make are rooted in wisdom rather than fear.

So today, I invite you to slow down, to listen, and to trust. Your inner compass is always guiding you—if only you allow yourself the space to hear it.

www.alisoncanavan.com

“Making space for silence is revolutionary.”

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permission to rest

As we get sucked into the action side of the dichotomy of rest and act, we can lose sight of the opposite we are not honouring. We can forget that the option even exists to rest, that we have a choice and indeed that we have a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual need for balance. As we get swept up in the tide of busyness the need to rest fades beyond the horizon of our sight.

For those of us who manage to step out of the raging river of things to do and places to go, still, we often end up not really resting. True rest is the stillness not only of our bodies, but also a slowing and stilling of the mind and emotions.

Watching TV, listening to a podcast or scrolling through our phone is not true rest, as our mind and emotions are being vigorously activated. Scrolling, I see a video of children playing out in the open in a gorgeous location, their feet in tide pools, eyes aglow with wonder. Simultaneously my mind goes wild with lamenting, wishing and wanting my son to have that and wondering how can I make a version of

by Alison McEvoy

it happen. Everything we see, hear and even glimpse sets our mind ablaze with thought and it’s ever present companion – emotion.

True rest is allowing the body, mind and emotions to enter into relative stillness. Entering true rest isn’t easy. To move from the fast lane of life into a complete slow down requires a compassionate process of unwinding aka Yoga Nidra.

With the right guide, yoga nidra is a fantastic way to bring you from the fast lane into a space of deep stillness and rest. Rest is required for us to build muscle, repair our organs and tissues, archive our experiences into the correct place in our brain and to access our intuition, our inner guidance, which knows who we are and what we truly want and need.

The free yoga nidra network library is a great place to start searching for your perfect yoga nidra. There are recordings available in over twenty different languages so please do listen in your mother tongue as there should be no effort required in

understanding. From night time nidras to nidras for midwives and shift workers, to nidras for new beginnings, I hope you will find a nidra to nourish you and give you rest.

For those of you who would like to join a more formal group dedicated to rest, try exploring the Daring to rest tribe, a group of people who truly understand the challenge that some of us carry when it comes to gifting ourselves with rest. For some, it has been generations since the women of their line have truly rested, as they mothered and martyred their way through life. Now can be the time to lay down those inherited beliefs and fears, and truly rest.

yoganidranetwork.org daretorest.com

“With the right guide, yoga nidra is a fantastic way to bring you from the fast lane into a space of deep stillness and rest.”

YOGA NIDRA YOUR WAY INTO THE SLOW LANE.

the power of

intention

WHERE OTHER-HELP = SELF-HELP.

Lynne McTaggart in conversation with Paul Congdon

Text: Alison McEvoy

“We can heal ourselves. We can heal each other. We can heal our world.” (Lynne McTaggart)

The above is something we may have heard, hoped for or glimpsed throughout our lives. The work of Lynne McTaggart however, pins down how this healing can come about and that’s what makes her work, and her words, so compelling.

Lynne has investigated, written and taught about the “miraculous power of intention” for the past number of decades. Her book ‘The Field: The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe’ is a seminal book in the field of New Science and Spirituality and has been translated into thirty languages.

She is true pioneer in the field of spirituality and science and her unswerving determination has acted as magnet for scientists all over the world who have worked with her in creating a host of “intention experiments”. To date, Lynne has run forty-two intention experiments, the outcomes of which have proven to herself, the scientists and participants involved that “it works”intention works.

Groups of people, sharing and sending an intention, have worked to affect the growth of seeds, to lower crime and violence rates and to heal individuals of painful illness and circumstance. All these experiments are documented and many are showcased in ‘The Power of Intention’ documentary which Lynne created in tandem with the global conscious community ‘Gaia’.

THE ‘POWERING UP’ PROGRAM

Lynne started by studying Intention masters such as Buddhist monks and Qi Gong masters. She drew from these intention masters in order to create a fast-track for people to harness the power of intention;

“I saw they had different modalities in some ways but also a lot of commonalities. So I distilled the commonalities into a specific practice. I also added on to that things that had been discovered about the use of intention during scientific studies. So I put together the science and the ancient wisdom into a program I called ‘Powering Up’.”

The practice of intention Lynne drew together consists of a number of elements. Some of the core elements are: the group effect, concentrated focus, love & altruism and oneness & connection.

#1 THE GROUP EFFECT

After having seen the outcomes of fortytwo intention experiments, around 2008 Lynne decided to distil all she had learned into a workshop setting and bring this information into the lives of ordinary people in need of healing.

“I was kicking ideas around with my husband and I said, ‘maybe I’ll just put people in groups of 8 or so and have them send healing to a member of the group with a health challenge...and my husband said, ‘I love it, the power of 8.’”

In that moment Lynne’s next big project was born. Later, in her book entitled ‘The Power of 8’, Lynne shares her findings having worked with Power of 8 intention groups large and small over the course of decades.

Ultimately, the size of the group is not important however Lynne found that 8 is the “goldilocks number. It’s not too big, it’s not too small, it’s just right...but if you’ve got 6, if you’ve got 12 there, it’ll work.”

When people are grouped together, there is a “supersizing” effect on the intention, Lynne notes;

“Psychologists call it collective effervescence. We are ramped up when in a group.”

#2 CONCENTRATED FOCUS

When we use our mind’s energy and focus to intend, it is not the same as using the mind’s energy to meditate Lynne has found;

“Meditation is like a letting go. This [intention] is a very, very concentrated type of focus. This is what I teach people.”

In meditation we go inwards and slow down the thoughts in order to enter the space between them. With intention, we are utilizing a specific capacity of our thoughts to go out into the world and affect people and situations. We often don’t realize we have this capacity, that we are, as Lynne says “leaky buckets. Our thoughts are trespassers and they can go out and affect other people and things.”

“We have 70,000 to 80,000 thoughts per day. Most of which are pretty negative... we are broadcasting negativity most of our day and all of those thoughts we have... that is also an intention and it becomes our life’s intention. So one of the things I like to help people with is becoming much more conscious of what we’re broadcasting to the world.”

#3 LOVE & ALTRUISM

The basis of all type of healing work, including Lynne’s work, is love. It is love for ourselves, life and others that allows us to entertain thoughts of helping and healing the world around us. Love is the fuel;

“What I teach is other-help. Love is the foundation of all of this.”

In the group structure which Lynne teaches, people are not only receiving healing but giving it much of the time, and this experience and energy of giving generates an internal healing experience for the giver;

“I see this over and over again, people intending for other people and getting physically healed, getting parts of their lives healed...Altruism is like a bullet-proof vest; when people do things for other people, no matter how small, they live longer, healthier lives – the science is there… ‘I want for you’ is the key to a long and healthy life. The group experience enables you to live altruism in action.”

This “mirror effect” of what we send out also reflecting back on ourselves

is something we intuitively know about. I became aware many decades ago, and have since heard it said many times, that where others have trespassed on our lives in seemingly unforgivable ways we must find a way to let the anger and resentment go and to forgive - and we do so for ourselves. We are the ones generating the anger and resentment. Our bodies and minds become factories for it unless we decide we are going to generate/be a factory for something else and thus experience something more healing and helpful inside of us. The Power of 8 groups guide participants into the experience of generating love, healing and unity which is both sent outwards and reflected inwards.

Lynne thus believes that “the act of selfless intending for someone else... doesn’t just heal the target but clearly gets mirrored in the intender.”

When, in the initial workshops Lynne ran, where people were put into groups of 8 to send healing to a member of the group in need, it was reported that he givers were also receiving miraculous results, Lynne decided to put this phenomenon under the microscope. In doing so, Lynne uncovered another aspect to how the Power of 8 groups were working...Oneness.

#4 ONENESS & CONNECTION

Lynne set to work, alongside scientists at Life University, Georgia, US, to study what was happening in the intender’s brain during the Power of 8 sessions. They found that the participants were experiencing brain-wave activity which were almost identical to that of Sufi Masters and Buddhist monks during ecstatic prayer. They were having “a mystical experience...a state of ecstatic oneness.”

These people were not meditators and did not have the benefit of years of practice. They were in fact “total novices”. For this reason Lynne describes the Power of 8 groups as “ a fast-track to the miraculous.”

“We experience life in separation, like lonely people on a lonely planet in a lonely universe, but suddenly we come together in groups and we are not alone and we are in a brain state where we experience ‘the field’ – we experience

a mystical state of oneness and that, I believe, is where the real miracles start.”

REMEMBERING OUR POWER

Humans have been coming together in groups for eons, and for good reason. For a society where so much has changed in the last 100 years, for better and for worse, we need reminding of the power within and the power we can generate when we gather together.

As a mother, I see daily the effect of my gaze, my thoughts and my intentions on my son. Children blossom or wither under the gaze of either a loving or an overly-critical parent. We hold the power of life, death and everything in between in our minds and our intentions.

Where people have grown up without the group intention of a loving family to hold them through their life challenges, these groups are life changing and a life blood towards health and healing. Strangers coming together to ignite and unite the creative powers of their mind is leading to miraculous results and we are all worthy of miracles, great and small.

Participants in Lynne’s groups have been healed of sight-loss, liver disease, career failure and chronic pain and, as Lynne notes, while “it doesn’t happen every time, it happens enough to say that something extra-ordinary is happening.”

DUBLIN POWER GROUP

If you wish to learn more, Lynne’s books and the free online documentary are a great place to start. We will be hosting Lynne in October 2025 for a ‘Power of Intention’ full day workshop – see you there!

Lynnemctaggart.com

Tickets for the Power of intention workshop with Lynne, co-hosted with seminars.ie Now available at seminars.ie

Sunday October 19th

Talbot Hotel, Stillorgan

“the act of selfless intending for someone else...doesn’t just heal the target but clearly gets mirrored in the intender.”

awakening through medicine songs

by Aistė S. Gram

ROBIN LANDSONG’S JOURNEY.

I had such a wonderful experience sitting down for a chat with Robin Landsong, the medicine singer, visionary artist, and medical intuitive. I got to hear her incredible story and experience her magic as she shared her gift of singing with me.

Robin Landsong is a transformational speaker, and medicine singer whose journey began with two near-death experiences during the Rhodesian War in 1977 when she was just eight years old. Called back to life by the medicine song of a Zimbabwean woman, this awakened her own gift of singing medicine and she has since shared it with over 17,000 people.

Also, as a craniosacral therapist, she specializes in trauma resolution and neurobiology of connection. Using all of her skills and intuitive gifts, she merges science and spirituality to help people reconnect with their natural rhythms, intuition, and creativity—guiding them towards deeper healing and embodiment.

The Singing Medicine: A NearDeath Awakening

Robin’s journey into the Singing Medicine began with a profound near-death experience. Shot across her head, she remembers rising up, watching from above as her adopted mother, Mama Eaton, found her lifeless body. At first, Mama Eaton wailed, but then, she shifted to singing—a calling song that summoned the ancestors and the land to bring Robin back.

Just as Robin was merging with the Great Heart, the ancestral song reached her, stopped her, and Robin chose to turn around. She remembered—she was a medicine singer. She hadn’t completed her purpose. So she returned to life, not as herself, but as a part of something greater: the choir of those who sing at birth, at death, and at moments of healing.

When she sings today, she says, “It’s not about me. It’s about Divine Source, the Great Heart, singing to people. What is the medicine this person needs today?”

Healing Through Song and Presence

Robin’s healing work spans over 17,000 sessions across 25 years. Beyond singing, one of her biggest missions is helping people shift from self-beratement to selfcompassion. She believes that shame keeps trauma alive in the body, while a kinder inner voice helps release it.

She recently sang for a grandmother in Costa Rica who was dying, working with the family—singing to the mother, the children, and especially one young boy who she recognized as a healer. “I was able to make eye contact with him, let him know, I see you.”

Whether in person or over Zoom, the medicine comes through. “Even yesterday, with a language barrier, the little boy dropped into trance within five minutes of the singing. The song speaks a universal language. It says, “I see you. You are real. You matter.”

“Called back to life by a Zimbabwean woman’s song, she discovered her own gift of healing music.”

From Trauma to Purpose

Robin’s path wasn’t easy. In her early 20s, she began working through deep trauma— dissociation, numbness, the compression of survival.

“At first, my intuition was only a tool to scan for danger. But by my 30s, I started to ask: how can I use it for healing?”

She trained in craniosacral therapy, nervous system health, and trauma resolution, refining her gift—seeing inside the body down to the cellular level.

Now, she helps others trust their intuition with discernment. Not as a survival tool, but as a choice. “Your intuition doesn’t have to be hypervigilance. It can be agency, clarity, and precision.”

In her workshops, she teaches an exercise called “Mind Your Own Business,” which she also uses herself—especially in crowded places like airports. “Only tune in if it’s necessary. Otherwise, let people be.”

The Next Chapter: Teaching and Sharing

With her best-selling book Loving Bravely: A Memoir Miraculous Near Death of a Girl, Abducted, Shot During War, and Sung Back to Life by an African Woman, finally complete after 16 years, Robin is embracing a new chapter—teaching others

around the world. When she teaches, her goal is to help students unlock and deepen their own unique gifts. She focuses on empowering others to trust their intuition with confidence and discernment.

Robin’s music album, Roots Drinking Rain, offers a way to receive Singing Medicine anytime. Professionally mastered in beautiful four-part harmony, this album has transformed listeners, with many parents even playing it for their newborns. It’s available on Spotify, iTunes, and her website, alongside her artwork—visions gifted to her during her near-death experience.

She also narrated the audiobook version of Loving Bravely, which includes her Singing Medicine woven throughout. While the physical book features her art, the audiobook offers a unique experience— complete with healing songs and recordings from the ceremony she conducted in Zimbabwe. It’s available on Audible and all major booksellers.

A Personal Touch

During the interview, Robin kindly offered to sing to me so I could experience her medicine firsthand—and what a gift it was. At a time of great turbulence and stress, within just a few minutes, listening to her brought me a sense of strength and grounding. The words ‘remember who you are’ came to my mind loud and clear—just what I needed at that moment. Robin says that when she sings, each experience is unique, and while some may feel sensations or even see colours, others will feel a deep calm. She explains that it can take time to fully connect with the healing power of the singing, and whatever happens is part of the journey.

I’m looking forward to experiencing more of Robin’s magic when our paths cross again soon. You can find all of her gifts and more about her on her website: robinlandsong.com

Tickets for Robin’s Workshop on May 3rd in Dublin available at positivelife/events

leadership and nature

HOMETREE.

by Matt Smith

Nature doesn’t overthink. A tree doesn’t hesitate before dropping its seeds. A river doesn’t second-guess its path. There’s a rhythm to how things move, grow, and adapt. That kind of natural discernment— trusting instincts, making decisions in the moment, and knowing when to pause—is something I’ve had to lean on while growing this organisation.

Taking something from humble beginnings to a reasonably sized NGO has required a ton of discernment. We’ve had to figure out when to move fast, trusting intuition (which is really just experience and internal data talking), and when to slow down, gather more information, and bring more people into the process. Anyone in a leadership position knows this feeling. You want to make quick decisions that serve the organisation’s purpose while ensuring they hold up under scrutiny.

For us, that purpose is crystal clear: scaling nature restoration. The only reason we exist is to help native woodlands expand in Ireland. That clarity should, in theory, make decision-making easier, but as the organisation grows, so do the complexities. Our board is skilled, experienced, and plays a huge role in shaping what we do. They trust me to know when to dig deeper into the details and when to move forward based on judgment alone. But when the stakes are high—when big funding, reporting standards, and

long-term accountability come into play— decision-making gets slower and more expensive. And time and money aren’t things we have in abundance.

So, what do we do? Do we trust our ability to make the right calls quickly? Or do we hedge, slow everything down, and go for maximum caution? The tension here is that, as a charity, we have to be absolutely airtight in how we operate. And I get it. But in this space, there are plenty of actors looking to both contribute and capitalize—especially now, with big corporations required to spend money on nature to meet their CSRD targets.

If we get bogged down because our level of discernment has to be near-perfect, while for-profit players can move fast and take risks, nature is the one that loses out. That’s the irony. The businesses restoring landscapes might be doing good work, but they don’t have to carry the same burden of accountability. For us, the biggest risk isn’t financial—it’s reputational. A bad decision can stick with us for years. And the reality is, charities don’t get criticized for being slow; they get praised for whatever work they do manage to get done.

That’s never been my mindset. From the start, I’ve wanted to bring a startup mentality to this work—get things done today, not tomorrow. In the corporate world, speed is everything. In the charity world, quality is king. And in the public

sector, process and bureaucracy tend to rule. The trick is finding a way to keep the best of all three without getting stuck in the worst parts.

Hometree is a nature restoration charity based in the west of Ireland. We work to establish and restore resilient habitats, focusing on native temperate rainforests. Our approach integrates community, culture, science, and natural systems. Through afforestation, conservation, restoration, and education, we aim to nourish the landscape and create new ways for communities to connect with nature.

Matt Smith is the CEO of Hometree Charity. In 2013, Matt also co-founded a regenerative agriculture farm. He is a published writer and owns an annual ocean-based publication. Matt has been a consultant and ambassador for Finisterre, a UK ethical clothing company, for a decade. Matt holds a foundation degree in Natural Science and recently completed a critical leadership course with Cumbria University under Prof. Jem Bendell. From 2008 to 2013, Matt sailed around the world, backwards.

“Taking something from humble beginnings to a reasonably sized NGO has required a ton of discernment.”

hometree.ie

the happy pear

SPRING RECIPES.

by The Happy Pear

SUPERGREENS PESTO PASTA

Feast your senses on this vibrant Kale Pesto Pasta recipe. As the number #1 most nutrient-dense food on the planet, kale infuses this dish with a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals. Although we’ve used kale for this recipe, it also works beautifully with other green leafy vegetables like york, savoy cabbage, or cavolo nero or even chard. This is always one of the favourite dinners in Steve’s home and they all think it’s still a simple basil pesto!!!.

Serves: 4

Prep Time: 10 minutes, Cook Time 10-12 mins, Total time: 20-25 mins

Ingredients:

• 300g dried pasta of choice

• 1 large or 2 small cloves of garlic

• 100g cashew nuts

• 75ml sunflower oil

• 150g kale or green leafy cabbage

• 75ml water or water from steaming kale

• Juice of 1 lime or 1 lemon

• ¾ tsp of salt

For Serving:

• Chilli flakes (optional)

• Nutritional yeast (optional)

Method;

1 Prepare the Kale/Cabbage: Remove the tough centre stalks of the kale or cabbage using a knife or your hands. Roughly chop the leaves.

2 Steam the Kale/Cabbage: Add approx 100ml of water and a pinch of salt to a large saucepan with a lid. Add the chopped kale or cabbage, cover, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and let the leaves steam until they are tender and slightly wilted (about 3-5 minutes).

3 Cook the Pasta: In a large pan, bring salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions. Before draining, reserve a cup of the starchy pasta water. Drain the pasta, but do not rinse. Return the pasta to the pan and set aside.

4 Toast the Cashews: Return the pan that was used to steam the kale or cabbage to medium heat (ensure there’s no water left in it). Add the cashew nuts and toast them for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they start to turn golden and smell fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside.

5 Make the Pesto: In a food processor, combine the peeled garlic, toasted cashew nuts, sunflower oil, 75ml of the water from steaming the kale, 3/4 tsp of salt, juice of one lime or lemon, and all of the steamed kale or cabbage. Blend until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or citrus juice if needed.

6 Combine the Pasta and Pesto: Add the pesto to the pan with the cooked pasta. Mix it through, adding a few tablespoons of the reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce. Heat over low heat until warmed through.

7 Serve: Top with chilli flakes and/or nutritional yeast, if desired. Enjoy your Kale Pesto Pasta!

5-INGREDIENT BANOFFEE PIE

This is such a winning dessert that is super easy and quick to make and doesn’t require any baking! We have made this dessert in 5 minutes countless times when doing cooking demos at festivals. This simplified version of the classic banoffee pie retains all the delicious flavours with just five ingredients. It’s a fibre-rich dessert that’s as good as the original, if not better!

Tip: leave the tins of coconut milk in the fridge beforehand to let the cream harden, particularly if you are in a warm climate!

Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Chilling Time: 1 hour

Serves: 12 slices

Ingredients:

For the Base:

250g cashew nuts

150g dates

For the Caramel:

300g dates

180g coconut oil

50ml water

For the Topping:

3 bananas

2 tins of coconut milk (solid cream part only)/ 300g vegan cream

Optional Garnish:

Dark chocolate

Method;

1 Prepare the Base:

• Place cashew nuts into a food processor and blend until they have a breadcrumb-like consistency.

• Add 150g of dates to the food processor and blend until the mixture begins to clump together.

2 Form the Pie Crust:

• Line a 24cm (9in) springform cake tin with baking parchment.

• Press the cashew-date mixture into the tin, creating an even base. Use the back of a spoon to firmly compress the mixture.

3 Create the Caramel Layer:

• Put 300g of dates, coconut oil, and water into the food processor. Blend until the caramel is very smooth, which might take several minutes.

4 Assemble the Caramel Layer:

• Evenly spread the caramel over the prepared base.

5 Prepare the Banana Layer:

• Peel the bananas and cut them into coin-shaped slices.

• Arrange the banana slices in a single layer on top of the caramel.

6 Add the Coconut Cream/ vegan cream:

• Open the tins of coconut milk and scoop out the solid cream, discarding the liquid.

• If Using vegan cream, whip until you reach stiff peaks and spread over the banana layer.

• Use a fork to mash the coconut cream until it’s smooth.

7 Layer the Coconut Cream:

• Spread the coconut cream over the banana layer, smoothing the top.

8 Chill the Pie:

• Place the pie in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to set.

9 Garnish and Serve:

• If using, grate dark chocolate over the pie for garnish.

• Slice and serve the chilled pie.

UNWIND & RECHARGE

BODY AND MIND IN THE AUSTRIAN ALPS

Enjoy 4 Days and Nights in Beautiful NATURE Switch o and reconnect with yourself.

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TRADITIONAL ACCOMMODATION, IN THE BEAUTIFUL AUSTRIAN ALPS IN KITZBÜHEL

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www.vitalwatervibes.com

short & sweet 43

“The refined, simple nature of his practices allowed me to be guided into the space between thoughts...”

Yoga Goals

RELAX & RECONNECT.

by Alison McEvoy

David Scullion is one of those healing pioneers who are using technology to feed the human spirit rather than the ego. This year, David designed, built and launched an online yoga and meditation teaching platform, to this end.

I’ve been practising classes from his lotus series, and a number of his meditations, over the past few weeks. I was struck by the bare elegance of his set-up and word use. The refined, simple nature of his practices allowed me to be guided into the space between thoughts which is such a relief and joy to enter after a busy day of work and motherhood.

David’s voice is rich, deep and calming. His pacing is perfection and when I spoke to him and learned that he had spent a significant amount of time on his own healing journey in the Peruvian Amazon, I recognized an earthiness in his way of teaching. Like a spiral, his classes wind through postures in a rhythmic, cyclical pattern of repeating and deepening the postures. In this way, David says that “some people have told me that even when they don’t have their phone or laptop, they know what to do. They are not reliant on a studio or a teacher anymore. After two or three times you won’t even have to look at

the screen, you can simply go on the mat and listen. There is no one to look at and this experience has the grounds for depth because you’re really feeling and noticing your breath without distraction.” If deepening your connection to your breath and body is important to you, then this is a place which will serve that soul goal. David has poured his heart, creativity and soul into this endeavour and has created something soul serving and beautiful.

Davidscullion.com

“The way she bonded with the horse was extraordinary”

Healing Through Horses

EQUINE-ASSISTED LEARNING.

by Aistė S. Gram

Tucked away in the peaceful countryside of Greystones, Co Wicklow, Stable Minds offers a unique approach to personal development through Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL). Terry, the heart behind this initiative, is a certified personal development coach with over 20 years of experience working with horses and a deep passion for helping others achieve emotional growth and confidence.

EAL is a hands-on method that leverages the intuitive nature of horses to help individuals improve self-awareness, communication, and resilience. “Horses are incredibly intuitive. They don’t judge—they respond to what’s happening inside us,” Terry explains. “Their reactions help us better regulate and understand ourselves.”

Terry’s work is deeply rooted in his personal journey. Having navigated past challenges with family relationships,

alcohol, and the general chaos of life, he understands the emotional hurdles many people face. His extensive experience working with horses, combined with his certification as a personal development coach, allows him to create a safe and transformative space for participants to grow.

At Stable Minds, sessions are tailored to individual needs, with no prior horse experience required. Participants work with the horses in a calm, supportive environment designed to foster trust and growth. Whether it’s helping a teenager build self-confidence, supporting someone in navigating emotional challenges, or guiding individuals through trauma or addiction recovery, Terry provides a unique and nurturing approach to personal transformation.

One remarkable success story involves a blind girl who formed a deep

connection with one of the horses. ‘The way she bonded with the horse was extraordinary,’ Terry recalls. Moments like these continue to inspire him in his work.

For those seeking an alternative to traditional therapy, Stable Minds offers coaching, learning, and workshops that harness the power of horses to create a refreshing and transformative journey of self-discovery. Horses help you see yourself more clearly—they can guide you to the answers within.

Terry Cullen holds an Advanced Diploma in Personal Development Coaching and is a Horsemanship Tutor, EAL facilitator, and addiction recovery coach with over 20 years of experience working with horses. stableminds.ie. Insta: @stablemindss

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Medical intuition for healing

UNLOCK THE TRUTH OF THE METAPHYSICAL BODY.

by Aine Hughes

I developed an interest in Complementary therapies after my dad had an accident which confined him to a wheelchair. This was just a few years after losing my Mum to cancer, and the combination of these events was really challenging for me, so I sought help to deal with the physical and emotional pain I was feeling. That was the start of my healing journey.

I would say that because of the healing work I did myself, this led me to work with people, wanting to make a difference in their lives. At first this was through Physiotherapy but in my search to go beyond the physical, I found Medical Intuition. This looks at the connection between body and soul, exploring how an individual’s emotional pain develops as physical pain or health issues.

Medical Intuition intuitively reads a client’s metaphysical and physical body to find the root cause and meaning behind their illness, pain or life challenge.

We believe that illness, injury and disease are not purely physical but that our beliefs, stories, fears and unhealed traumas sit in our energy field and can manifest physically.

By exploring how beliefs, emotions and thoughts all affect us, that individual can come to a place of understanding and transformation within their metaphysical body which can then allow physical healing to take place.

By holding the highest vibration possible for the individual, this allows them to access their own inner healer.

ainehughes.ie

“Medical Intuition intuitively reads a client’s metaphysical and physical body to find the root cause...”

Wellness Through Innovative Therapies

HOLISTIC HEALING AT HOLISPHERE.

Kasia Sobczyk interviewed by Celia Silva

Holisphere, founded by Kasia Sobczyk, MSc in Professional Hyperbaric Medicine, is a holistic therapy clinic located in Navan, Co. Meath. The clinic offers a wide range of treatments including Reiki, Indian Head Massage, Reflexology, Lymphatic Drainage Massage, Molecular Hydrogen Therapy, and cuttingedge Hyperbaric Chamber Therapy. Kasia’s mission is to improve the quality of life for her clients by providing holistic therapies tailored to their individual needs.

Hyperbaric Chamber Therapy at Holisphere involves breathing 100% oxygen in a pressurized environment to enhance oxygen delivery to tissues, promoting overall wellness and relaxation. This non-invasive therapy saturates the body with oxygen, which penetrates red blood cells and increases its concentration in plasma, the lymphatic system, and cerebrospinal fluid.

“Combining Reflexology and Molecular Hydrogen Therapy maximizes therapeutic benefits in a single session”

Molecular Hydrogen Therapy delivers hydrogen molecules to support immune function, hydration, memory, lung health, faster recovery, and better sleep, while reducing chronic fatigue. It also protects cells and improves skin health, benefiting a range of conditions related to the brain, heart, skin, joints, and more.

Holisphere’s combination of Reflexology and Molecular Hydrogen Therapy offers a powerful duo that works both energetically and therapeutically to benefit the body. This pairing saves time and money by combining both therapies into one session, while providing enhanced results that support the body’s natural processes and help release toxins. It’s an effective way to achieve balance and improve overall health and well-being.

Holisphere’s treatments cater to a wide range of needs, from simple relaxation and wellness boosts to providing support for more serious health conditions or those undergoing medical treatments.

In the future, Kasia hopes to train others in hyperbaric therapy, expand treatment availability in Ireland with more chambers, and make therapies more affordable while continuing her own education with expert support. Her passion is inspiring, and after experiencing her treatments, we look forward to seeing her vision grow.

holisphereclinics.com

office@luisne.ie

Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT)

UNLOCK YOUR POTENTIAL.

Sarah Jane Carey in conversation with Paul Congdon

Have you ever felt stuck in patterns that hold you back, unsure how to break free? The key to lasting change lies in your subconscious mind—where 95% of your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors originate. Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) is a powerful method designed to access this hidden potential and create profound, lasting change. We had a huge pleasure to sit down with Sarah Jane Carey to discuss this wonderful modality. Developed by world-renowned therapist Marisa Peer, RTT is a unique blend of hypnotherapy, neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and psychotherapy. Unlike traditional talk therapy, which can take years, RTT works by identifying and reprogramming deeply rooted beliefs—often formed in childhood—that shape our actions and emotions. By uncovering the subconscious blocks that keep you stuck, RTT helps you move forward with clarity and confidence, often in just a few sessions.

Sarah Jane Carey is a dedicated RTT therapist, Psych-K practitioner, and life coach who has helped countless clients overcome fears, emotional roadblocks, and limiting beliefs. With years of experience as an executive coach and HR consultant across different countries and cultures, she realized that true transformation happens at the subconscious level. Through her own journey of self-discovery, Sarah experienced firsthand the life-changing effects of RTT, which led her to share this groundbreaking approach with others.

Sarah works with clients in Dublin, Bray, and online, helping people worldwide tap into their subconscious power to create a more fulfilled, empowered life. If you’re ready to break free from limitations, explore RTT with Sarah today. For more details or to book a session, visit athrútherapy.eu

“RTT gets to the root cause of emotional blocks and rewires limiting beliefs.”

Mastering Discernment in Spinology

THE ART OF VERTEBRAILLE.

by Enrique Borreda Lopez

Discernment, the ability to make insightful judgments and perceive subtle distinctions, is fundamental in spinology. This skill enables practitioners to identify and address spinal occlusions—misalignments that disrupt the body’s innate communication pathways.

Central to this practice is Vertebraille, a specialized technique where spinologists use their fingertips to palpate muscles adjacent to the vertebrae, assessing tension and responsiveness. Through dedicated practice, they attune to the body’s natural corrective signals, particularly the stretch reflex mechanism, which alerts the central nervous system to joint misalignments and prompts corrective actions.

“Mastering Vertebraille requires a harmonious blend of anatomical knowledge, tactile practice, and perseverance.”

When a vertebra is misaligned, specific muscles engage to reposition it, while opposing muscles are antagonists. Spinologists, through refined palpation skills, detect these subtle muscular tensions. Sensory receptors in their fingers transmit this information to the practitioner’s brain, where it’s processed to discern the presence and nature of spinal occlusions.

Mastering Vertebraille requires a harmonious blend of anatomical knowledge, tactile practice, and perseverance. In daily sessions, spinologists continually refine their discernment abilities, engaging in this evaluative process thousands of times, enhancing their proficiency and effectiveness.

Beyond its manual application, spinology encompasses a philosophical dimension that emphasizes the body’s intrinsic wisdom and self-regulating capabilities. Practitioners are encouraged to apply discernment not only in their hands-on techniques but also in their cognitive processes, fostering a holistic understanding of human potential and well-being.

In essence, discernment in spinology is a multifaceted skill integrating sensory acuity, intellectual insight, and a deep appreciation for the body’s innate potential to maintain harmony and balance.

Certified Spinologist since 1981 spinologia.eu

Enrique Borreda Lopez

A Journey Through Loss to Renewal ‘REGROWTH’

by Niamh Fox

The poem below was born from my journey through hair loss—a process that felt unpredictable, uncontrollable, and relentless. Each strand lost felt like losing pieces of myself, stirring a grief I hadn’t expected. Simple joys, like feeling the wind in my hair, turned into moments of dread.

I wrestled with guilt, knowing my health was otherwise fine, and feared I would sound superficial. However, silence only deepened the sadness. For years, I had tied my identity to external markers: appearance, success, and other people’s perceptions. Losing so much of my hair all at once forced me to question: Who am I without it?

This poem reflects how yoga, particularly the practice of Aparigraha (non-attachment), helped shift my perspective. Letting go of control and surrendering to unpredictability created space for growth and, ultimately, acceptance of what is.

A yoga instructor recently reminded me of Buddha’s analogy of the two darts: the first represents life’s inevitable challenges; the second, the suffering we create through our reactions. I realised I couldn’t control the first dart, but I could avoid throwing the second.

This journey has taught me that growth isn’t always about reinvention but a return to the essence of who we are beneath the facades and distractions— an authentic self.

‘Regrowth’ is a message of renewal and the resilience of the human spirit to blossom again through life’s cycles.

“Letting go of control and surrendering to unpredictability created space for growth and, ultimately, acceptance of what is.”

Regrowth

Through tangled strands and empty spaces, I lost what I thought defined my graces. Each falling thread, a dreaded fear, An echo of grief, heavy, raw and near.

I watched my reflection, uncertain, bare. Who am I now with less to wear?

I searched for strength in silent places, Beyond the surface, past the traces.

But in letting go, I foundNot void, but soil, not loss, but ground. Where roots could deepen unseen worth, Beyond the surface, a silent rebirth.

Yoga taught my breath to mend, A quiet teacher, a timeless friend.

Aparigraha, soft refrain; Release the fight, let go of pain.

Two darts, one strikes, I carelessly throw another. The wounds we weave in shadowed cover.

In wind and loss and threadbare sky, New shoots push through, the spirit tries.

I shed an old self, found the seed. Of something deeper, raw and freed. Not a rebirth, but a returnTo the sparks within that always burned.

So if you grieve, if change feels near, Let tears fall soft, unmask the fear.

For what seems lost, may yet renew, The truest, wildest, part of you.

Functional Medicine

FIND THE OPTIMAL HEALING LIFESTYLE FOR YOU.

by Alison McEvoy

Functional Medicine (FM) is a model of healthcare which looks into how and why illnesses occur, seeking root causes.

Founded by Dr Jeffrey Bland, originally a professor of Biochemistry, Functional Medicine seeks to personalise healthcare by combining the use of traditional scientific methods (blood testing, medical analysis etc.) research and specific lifestyle and nutrition interventions tailored to the individual in question.

We spoke to Eoin Roe recently, practitioner of FM in West Cork, from his clinic ‘Roe Health’. Eoin began his career as a chiropractor, dealing with musculoskeletal issues. It was his genuine desire to help each individual he came across that led him further afield;

“My background is chiropractic. It’s very much a diagnostic thing in it’s own right...largely I was dealing with people coming in with pain. Early on in my career I thought I was going to be able to fix everything and that’s just not the case. I came across different and difficult cases and I wanted to help them… So I had to go and get some more skills. I was lucky to stumble across Functional medicine which was still a relatively new modality at the time.”

Eoin has a special interest in autoimmune conditions, neuroinflammation and vestibular issues and works with clients to manage and change the progression of these conditions.

Diagnosing auto-immune conditions can be tricky, explains Eoin.

Auto-immune symptoms can flare up and then go into remission, leaving people bewildered and unsure of what they are experiencing. This could go on for a decade or more before a full diagnosis like hashimoto thyroiditis, coeliac disease or arthritis is made. Helping clients with strange symptoms and normal blood work to track down autoimmune markers can lead to early identification and reduce long term damage to their system. Vestibular issues affect a persons balance causing dizziness or vertigo and people with neuroflammation struggle with mental health issues that start with an infection or concussion.

These are complex cases and Eoin keeps abreast of research and findings in order to be able to offer the most up to date information;

“At its core functional medicine is about understanding physiological function and then backing that up with evidence from blood tests, physical neurological testing, history and research and then translating that to the patient. Ultimately, I am trying to teach people how to become more resilient and how to manage their health. If you have a chronic health condition, diet, nutrition and lifestyle choices have a huge impact.”

”Empowering clients to understand why they feel the way they do and giving them guidance on how to improve their symptoms gives them a great sense of control. In order to help people with these problems you need to have the best possible understanding of the web of

issues that are affecting that individual. In my experience it is focusing on very simple things that have the biggest impact but without the understanding of what you are dealing with first that can be very ineffectual.”

Eoin emphasises balance when it comes to health and getting the foundations of health in place for people struggling with specific health issues;

“It’s really the basic things that matter. You have to eat a diet that is healthy for you. You need social and emotional supports around you...you need to be doing some form of exercise. Those are the big areas that are really important.”

Eoin and his wife Amanda are both healing practitioners and are passionate about the health of the human body and mind. Once Eoin commits to work on a case he is dedicated to supporting that individual by working with the greatest and most complex healing system in existence – the human body itself;

“There is no computer system that is more complex than your body. You are the most complex, amazing biological machine… It’s astounding how the body can heal itself” – with the right understanding and supports.”

Eoin offers free 15 minute consultations available from his website. Check it out below:

Roehealth.ie

“There is no computer system that is more complex than your body.”

“Artificial light...is the imbalanced junk food of the visual world.”

Light Is the Missing Link

NANO-NUTRIENTS AND HEALTH

by Sarah Doheny

There is a prevailing belief that only plants create energy from sunlight and that us humans must rely on food to meet our energy requirements, this is a misconception, and a costly one at that. Most people are familiar with macro and micro nutrients, and as a qualified nutritionist I learned all about them, but what I want to share about today, is a concept I call Nano Nutrients.

You see, there is much more to our health than food, yes good nutrition is essential, but what is perhaps more fundamental for health are wavelengths of light in the nanometer range. The sun is the source of all life on earth and we have forgotten the role it plays in our health. Sunlight is composed of different wavelengths each playing a distinct role in supporting biological processes that contribute to overall health and prevent disease.

Most people are familiar with Vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, which is produced in the skin through exposure to UVB light frequencies, but did you know

ultraviolet light is also essential for human photosynthesis? That’s right, humans can create cellular energy from sunlight, you probably know that plants use chlorophyll to carry out photosynthesis, but us humans on the other hand, use melanin, which requires light to be activated.

With humans spending an estimated 93% of their time indoors, most people are chronically deficient in these vital wavelengths of light. Just as a poor diet leads to malnutrition, inadequate light exposure can cause light malnutrition - a deficiency or imbalance in the light frequencies our bodies desperately need. Natural, full-spectrum sunlight is like whole foods, balanced and nourishing, while artificial light, devoid of red and infrared wavelengths and overloaded with blue, is the imbalanced junk food of the visual world.

Almost half of the frequencies emitted by sunlight consist of red and infrared light. These essential wavelengths play a crucial role in cellular energy production, reducing inflammation,

and enhancing blood flow - key factors for efficient nutrient transport and detoxification. Other wavelengths also contribute to overall health, supporting processes such as neurotransmitter synthesis and ATP production.

To reclaim your health, energy and vitality, start treating sunlight as an essential nutrient. Without adequate exposure, especially in the morning, our circadian rhythms, hormonal balance and energy production suffers. So, step outside first thing in the morning, take ‘light breaks’ during the day, prioritize natural light exposure and limit artificial light, especially after sunset. Just as we strive to avoid unhealthy food, we must also be mindful of our light diet, ensuring we get the right balance of Nano Nutrients without any toxicities or deficiencies.

naturallynourished.eu

Angel Whispers

Mary Ivers

Psychic

New Retreat In Laragh

THE DEERSTONE.

by Paul Congdon

It’s one of my favourite places in Ireland, and it holds a unique and special energy signature. The land here is sacred.

Every time I enter Roundwood and mosey on to Laragh and Glendalough, I get a feeling of timelessness—that it remains unfazed by the outside world.

The area is home to the Glendalough Hermitage and the Glendalough Sanctuary, two very sweet retreat spaces. And now, there’s a new kid on the block: The Deerstone.

I had the pleasure of a weekend stay with them a while back, staying in one of their Shepherd’s huts. As you leave Roundwood, it’s on the way to Laragh, on the left-hand side.

As you enter The Deerstone, you can sense the attention to detail. It has the feel of a dream come true for the owners, like someone has truly dreamt this into being for us.

And the founders, Kevin Nowlan and

“A welcoming environment where all feel safe and supported”

Kirsty Foynes, most certainly have. This place has a serenity and a quiet welcome, inviting you to slow down to its pace and come into land.

We were shown to our hut and given a basic tour, along with a quick lesson on how to run our own hot tub on the deck—fancy some stargazing?

The hut is compact and luxurious at the same time, with everything in its right place. Some homemade granola and tasty provisions for breakfast greeted us upon awakening from a very comfortable night’s sleep.

Now to explore this land—we found saunas dotted throughout, which were very easy to operate, along with cold showers and cold plunges right outside. I don’t need to tell you, but sauna culture has swept our nation, and here, it’s done very well.

Let the heat and cold exposure activate your stress response, which then leads to your relaxation response, bringing your

nervous system back into tune.

I loved the cosy, open-fired honesty bar, complete with books, games, and blankets. Help yourself to a glass of vino, a beer, or a cup of herbal tea, and cosy up by the open fire—outdoors and indoors at the same time.

For all the yogis out there, they have a very special circular yoga space with such a peaceful vibe, surrounded by nature. It’s the perfect space for hosting a workshop or a corporate team-building day.

The venue itself can sleep 42 guests (21 ensuite bedrooms) in a combination of huts, guest rooms, and eco-cottages. The Deerstone has it all, and you’re in a truly blessed area, ideal for walks—but you may not want to leave. It’s truly a testament to its founders, and we can’t wait to go back.

thedeerstone.ie

Oasis of Calm in Drogheda

TIME TO RELAX.

Drogheda Holistic Centre is a boutique wellness space offering a peaceful retreat for those seeking relaxation, healing, and balance. Renowned for its dedication to holistic well-being, the centre has earned a strong reputation for excellence in massage therapy, bodywork, and energy healing—all within a welcoming and inclusive environment. As an LGBTQ+ ally, Drogheda Holistic Centre ensures that people of all backgrounds, races, and beliefs feel safe, respected, and supported.

With a diverse range of therapies, the centre caters to various needs—whether for pain relief, stress reduction, or deep relaxation. Their expert therapists provide treatments like deep tissue and sports massage, Indian head massage, reflexology, reiki, aromatherapy, and pregnancy massage, among others. Every treatment is designed to promote overall wellbeing, making it a go-to destination for those looking to unwind and heal.

For those seeking professional training, Drogheda Holistic Centre offers certified massage courses through Aloha Pono Training and Healing Massage School in Ashbourne,

guiding students in mastering the art of healing touch.

A highlight of the therapies offered is Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage—a deeply restorative practice that works on a physical, emotional, and spiritual level. Using fluid, wave-like movements, this traditional Hawaiian technique fosters deep relaxation and energy flow, providing a transformative experience.

A review from Celia:

“During my session, I melted into the beautiful massage technique and felt an unexplainable flow of loving energy being channeled through the healer. I was so impressed with the power of this ancient Hawaiian therapy that I immediately booked another session for myself and my daughter.”

With its dedication to holistic wellness and its welcoming approach, Drogheda Holistic Centre stands as a sanctuary for those seeking true relaxation and healing.

droghedaholisticcentre.ie

Aileen Durkan in conversation with Celia Silva

injuiceportugal cleanse

MY BREAK FROM FOOD.

by Paul Congdon

“Nestled in a secluded valley with an abundance of quartz crystal naturally embedded in the Earth, Moinhos Velhos is, in equal parts, beautiful, energising, and regenerative.”

As I searched the internet for a retreat with a difference, the above sentence caught my eye. I wanted a healthy vibe but not super strict or spartan—essentially some fasting and yoga to cleanse my body and digestion. Fasting and its benefits have become almost mainstream, with most people trying at least the intermittent method, and many becoming familiar with terms such as autophagy and ketosis.

Autophagy: a process in which the body removes and recycles damaged or dysfunctional cells and components, especially during times of stress or fasting, to support overall health and regeneration.

Ketosis: A metabolic state where the body shifts to burning fat for energy instead of carbohydrates, which typically occurs when carbohydrate intake is low or during fasting periods.

After a bit more research, I finally settled on Moinhos Velhos, located in the Algarve, about an hour from Faro airport by car. It is a 7- or 10-day juice cleanse, with 3 juices a day and a clear broth in the evening—so a supercharged, vitamin-rich liquid diet. We arrived on a Saturday

afternoon, and straight away, the peaceful vibe soothed our energy fields. After checking into our couples’ cabin, complete with a nice deck and 2 bathrooms (very handy when detoxing), we headed up for the evening broth, which felt tasty and nourishing, and started to get acquainted with the other participants—a very easygoing and pleasant bunch, like-minded souls on a common vibe.

There was a mixture of excitement and fear as people wondered how they would be without solid food for the next 7 days, but also that feeling of, at last, I’m taking a break from all the input we receive, both food and information-wise. So, peace, quiet, and healing beckoned. A typical day at the retreat begins with a yoga class at 8 am for 2 hours. Don’t panic, it’s gentle and filled with plenty of meditation and calming breathwork, so it’s open to all levels. Then, at 10 am, it’s juice time, with fresh orange juice mixed with psyllium husk to soothe and heal your digestive tract and help with the hunger pangs. Plus, your main juice—I usually went for a green one to start the day. It feels so good to nourish yourself and also allow your body to take a much-needed break at the same time.

Next juice is at 12 noon, then 4 pm, with the broth at 7 pm. In between, time can be taken up with treatments and

massages. I tried the reiki with Simone and an amazing massage with Randy—Chi Nei Tsang, an abdominal massage from the Taoist tradition. There are also plenty of opportunities to rest and read by the fire, or the outdoor pool, and the sauna (which I’m a big fan of) is so good when you’re detoxing. In the evening, there are workshops. A life-purpose one with Richard stood out for me, and some Yoga Nidra on our first night (which I am also a big fan of).

This place is really special, and the main team—Richard, Karen, and Chris—feel like family and look after everyone so well. Some of the nutritional and sustainable talks were pretty cool too, and my inspiration to cook more healthy meals when I got back was really fired up and hasn’t left me since. We felt great at the end, and food tastes so delicious when you return to eating—almost orgasmic.

I would recommend it big time. If you feel like retreating from the world and giving your body a super boost, then this is the place. I will definitely be back for more, and Celia, my lady, had a life-changing experience. Don’t wait, book it now.

moinhos-velhos.com

“I wanted a healthy vibe but not super strict or spartan”

Positive Nights presents…

Snatam Kaur

RDS , DUBLIN

APRIL 8TH 2025

7.30 PM

Tickets available from positivelife.ie/events

the pendulum summit

RAISING CONSCIOUSNESS IN IRELAND.

by Paul Congdon

We host events in Ireland, and I love when I get to kick back and attend one—always something to learn, watching how others host.

I have been attending the Pendulum Summit almost every year since 2016 when I brought my sister to see Tony Robbins. We had our picture taken with the big man and looked like little Irish elves next to him. I always remember his opening line on arriving on stage to the mostly corporate Irish crowd. He asked us to imagine Ireland winning the World Cup of whatever our favorite sport was and to show him how we would celebrate. The crowd loved it—dancing and jumping to their feet. He had transformed the room.

I watched him and sensed that he had this gift a long way back, perhaps in previous lifetimes, as his shamanic powers shapeshifted the energy of the room into a powerhouse of positivity. As you can hear, I was impressed.

Since then, I have learned so much from this event, and I am frankly (excuse the pun) in awe of how well-organized it is. There is such a diverse range of speakers covering all the topics you could imagine. The networking opportunities are fab too, with about three breaks over the day, simple and tasty food, and a chance to meet and greet some really cool people.

It’s run by Frankie Sheehan and Norma Sheehan, a husband-and-wife team, with such a deft hand and a

tremendous lack of ego that you would have no clue they organized it if you bumped into them at the event. My feeling is that they have contributed massively to a shift in consciousness in Ireland.

The selection of speakers always feels very timely, and over the years I have seen Joe Dispenza, Joe Vitale, John Gray, Colin Farrell, Richard Branson, John Cleese, Andre Agassi, Ruby Wax, Wim Hof, Jack Canfield, Lisa Nichols, and Jo Malone. I could go on, but as you can see, it’s pretty eclectic. The themes are always universal—human endeavor, courage, sporting achievements and heroes, and how this all applies back to life, your life purpose, and career.

“It’s humans telling humans: Hey, we got this, and we see you.”

It’s held in January each year at the Convention Centre and is such a welcome motivation and boost for the year ahead.

This year, the headliner was Andre Agassi, and as I attended on the second day, one of the talks that stood out for me was Lollie Mancey on AI—how it’s going to look in the next 30 years or so and how we can best navigate it ethically, in harmony with humanity.

The talks vary from 15 to 30 to 45-minute interviews, and everyone has something truly special to say. Whether they are highprofile or not, it’s humans telling humans: Hey, we got this, and we see you. As you listen to these empowering talks, you feel fired up, like you can take on anything that comes your way—to imagine and achieve.

One year, about three years ago, I had a thought as I watched Síle Seoige host the event: Hey, I’d like to host something here one day and be on this stage. Not really considering the possibility, fast forward a year later, and I was asked to host an event and interview Prem Rawat at the Convention Centre. It only dawned on me as I walked out onto the stage to introduce the event that I had hatched this vision while sitting in my seat at Pendulum.

I believe the collective power of us coming together every year like this sets the stage for a rising of like minds and hearts and that the Pendulum Summit has been a major player in powering dreams and empowering people to believe in themselves. Hats off to all the team behind Pendulum and to Frankie and Norma. May it long continue.

Tickets for next year’s event are on sale now: pendulumsummit.com

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“Halfway through the course I had this moment of ‘this is what I need to do’.”

a compliment to health

REFLEXOLOGY @ THE HEALTH HUB

by Alison McEvoy

“People are really waking up to the benefit of complimentary therapies” says Maureen Fynes, founder of, teacher and practitioner at, Health Hub in Loughrea, East Galway.

Maureen is preaching to the converted where I’m concerned, having loved reflexology from the very first touch in my early teens. Since then it has seen me through stressful times, pregnancy and post-partum, but, listening to Maureen, I feel a renewed awe for this simple yet profound complimentary therapy.

Reflexology is underpinned by the understanding that each part of the foot corresponds to a part of the body. Our whole body is mapped onto our feet and can be tended to from this safe, simple yet powerful distance. Reflexology is a potent stress reliever in my personal experience and never fails to ease my aches, lighten my mood and make me feel deeply relaxed and at home in my body. There is something about working on the feet that both grounds and elevates.

While working at what had become a challenging corporate job, and being mother to two young children, Maureen began studying reflexology in 2012;

“From that first weekend I was there I was hooked...there was so much depth to

it. That you could have this whole holistic treatment by just touching the feet was amazing to me… Halfway through the course I had this moment of ‘this is what I need to do’.”

In 2020 Maureen moved from a practice room in her basement to her own purpose built, integrated wellness centre known as ‘Health Hub’ on the Main Street in Loughrea. Today, it is full of practitioners offering all manner of holistic practices and classes. Maureen also teaches reflexology and post-graduate courses from her Health Hub.

What struck me about Maureen was the way she combines a strong business head with a heart-felt love of complimentary therapies. This is something she passes on to her fortunate students from the get go.

As part of the NRRI, the National Register of Reflexologists (Ireland), Maureen shares their goal to ensure reflexology gains the full professional status it deserves;

“I place a very strong emphasis on teaching people how to start, run, own and develop a holistic practice. When my students are finished they are ready to hit the ground running… Over 90percent of students go on to set up actual practices and businesses.”

The NNRI have been active as a

professional body since 1998, regulating the practice of reflexology as a complementary therapy through qualified registered members and accredited schools. They currently have eight registered schools and over 700 registered, active members. Reflexology is such a beloved therapy, it’s not hard to see why it would have a host of dedicated volunteers striving to ensure standards of excellence in its practice.

Maureen’s accredited reflexology diploma starts this April and includes certification in anatomy & physiology, foundations of nutrition, hand reflexology and infant and child reflexology. It is a program of training for you as an individual, a wellness practitioner and a budding business owner;

“Reflexology has the ability to create incredible positive change on a physical and emotional level but combined with nutritional training and the importance of resting and managing stress, this programme is a game changer.”

Nationalreflexology.ie Mfwellness.ie Thehealthhubloughrea.ie

Sanctury Room

redemption thoughtfulness and

LUNAR NODES IN PISCES/VIRGO.

by Mariana Saad

In January 2025, the North Node entered compassionate Pisces, and the South Node entered analytical Virgo for the first time since 2007. They’ll remain in these signs until the summer of 2026.

The North Node signifies hunger and increase, while the South Node represents escape and/or release. The lunar nodes are the two points where the Moon’s orbit around Earth intersects with the ecliptic (the path of the Sun from our perspective on Earth)—and where eclipses occur whenever New or Full Moons occur near these points. When the lunar nodes shift signs, old doors close, guiding us toward new goals. Like any astrological event, the shifting of the nodes can contribute to our redemption and healing. The ancients saw the Lunar Nodes as the head and tail of a dragon, with the South Node offering opportunities for spiritual growth in our lives. These Nodes are viewed as challenging points in our charts, so our personal and collective evolution through them is rarely comfortable.

The North Node in Pisces over the next 18 months might lead to increased compassion, imagination, creativity, open-mindedness, and intuition in the Pisces part of our chart. However, it can also lead to loosened boundaries and increased escapism tendencies and illusions. With this in mind, try to double-check all the details before you make commitments.

If well integrated into consciousness, the South Node in Virgo could help us manage our overthinking while remaining rational and analytical. It can lead to a decrease in anxious thoughts and obsessions in the Virgo part of our chart. Healthy Virgo energy can also help us identify what is not working and make adjustments. It keeps us vigilant, meticulous, thoughtful, and conscientious. However, remain cautious of any criticism toward yourself or others.

During the upcoming Eclipses in Virgo and Pisces between now and 2026, we will explore the themes of faith versus doubt, imagination and pragmatism, deconstruction, and redemption. For the next year and a half, reflect on how we heal and restore while remaining grounded in the reality of life.

In your chart, look for the Pisces and Virgo houses; this is where the Nodal transit can affect you. If you tend to be in control, caught in analytical thinking and the anxiety of perfectionism, this transit might bring some surrender and magic into your life. If you are someone existing in enchantment and excessive trust, this Nodal shift might anchor you in resilience and Earth medicine.

Some reflective questions as we head into Eclipse season:

- Are your daily routines healthy?

- How can you be flexible in your approach to life?

- How can you combine pragmatism and flow?

- How can you plan dreamy outcomes?

- How can you teach hope and doubt within you to coexist?

Are you ready for the upcoming eclipses?

• Lunar eclipse near the South Node in Virgo: March 13th, 2025

• Solar eclipse near the North Node in Aries: March 29th, 2025, closing the theme of Aries/Libra

• Lunar eclipse near the North Node in Pisces: September 7th, 2025

• Solar eclipse near the South Node in Virgo: September 21st, 2025

Happy Eclipse Season!

Mariana is a Dublin-based astrologer offering one-to-one chart readings and personal astrology forecasts online through Zoom. Learn more about her at

marianasaadastrology.com @mariana_saad_astrology

“Reflection on how we heal and restore while remaining grounded in life’s reality is key.”