This morning, a young goldfinch flew into our glass door. She landed dazed on the deck. I picked her up, holding her, waiting for her to find her strength again. It took a little while, but she found it, and promptly flew back to her nest.
What a gift to have a few quite moments with a goldfinch in my hands.
Tags: goldfinch
It’s obvious about smoke. Thicker things trick me- today I’ll practice imagining it all as smoke- my stuff, my ideas, my cats, my partner, and my feelings. I’ll keep my hands out of their business, and see where the wisdom of the wind takes them.
Tags: smoke
by Kara DiGiovanna
After awhile you learn the subtle difference
Between holding a hand and chaining a soul.
And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning
And company doesn’t mean security.
And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts
And presents aren’t promises.
And you begin to accept your defeats
With your head up and your eyes ahead
With the grace of a woman or man
Not with the grief of a child.
And you learn to build your roads on today
Because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans
And futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.
And after awhile you learn
That even sunshine burns if you ask too much.
So you plant your own garden and decorate you own soul
Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn
That you really can endure
That you really are strong
That you really do have worth.
And you learn…
And you learn…
With every failure
You learn.
Tags: Kara DiGiovanna
Prior to going to massage school, I never gave the notion of awareness much thought. I sat in groups the first few days of school- feeling like a mainstream red neck in a mob of new age weirdos. They were flexible and mellow, sitting cross-legged on the floor, eyes closed, “following their breath” as directed by the serene teacher – I wanted to run for the door, but I had already paid my tuition.
I became “one of them”- slowly, not even noticing it. I catch myself now, explaining that awareness really is the key to health and wellness. What is this “awareness” stuff anyway?
Imagine an intersection with a four way stop- and none of the cars stop because none of the drivers noticed the signs. We’re generally agreed that awareness of the road is an obvious and good thing. How about awareness of ourselves? How would self-awareness benefit health?
It takes some effort to pay attention to our deeper self in a society that demands so much of our attention. Even reading this blog takes your attention from yourself and places it “out there”. With your attention directed out, away from your own voice, your own visions and feelings, it is likely that you will miss the signs or messages your body is sending you. If you miss too many signs, your health could become something like the pile up at the way intersection mentioned earlier.
The idea of personal awareness serving your health is that you could notice the smaller messages, respond appropriately, return to balance and continue on with your healthy life. This could be as simple as having a glass water because you noticed your were thirsty. Or going to bed a little early since you feel tired, going for a walk when you feel fidgety, taking a deep breath, adding or subtracting a certain food based on how your digestion responds to it.
Awareness is simply noticing how you really feel based on your attention to yourself. Do you need to be or do something special in order to become aware of yourself? No. It’s just a decision to notice yourself, to turn your attention away from other people, other things, other distractions, and toward yourself. It’s the simplicity of taking a breath and wondering, “how am I doing right now?” And waiting for the answer.
Tags: awareness, breath, massage school
Wondering about an herb, but don’t have your 20 pounds of reference books with you? There is a great website available- and it’s free! Henriette’s Herbal. Make a free account and you can search for anything. This is a very comprehensive site- don’t get lost!
Tags: Herbs
1. Lavender, Lavendula officinalis Essential Oil.
What it is- this is a very concentrated oil from the lavender plant. Because essential oils are so concentrated, only 1or 2 drops are needed for great results. Never take essential oils internally.
What to use it for- bee stings, insect bites- put 1 drop directly on the area to relieve sting and itch. To support sleep- put 1 drop on a tissue and keep near your pillow while you sleep. For minor sunburns, place 1-2 drops directly on the affected area to relieve pain.
2. Homeopathic Arnica
What it is- the “energetic footprint” of the Arnica montana plant. Homeopathic remedies do not contain any of the original source material. This fact makes Homeopathy weird, and its validity questioned by many; however, these remedies are also very safe.
What to use it for- take 1-2 pellets for pain from trauma or to help relieve jet lag. Strange but true!
3. Homeopathic Hypericum
What it is- the “energetic footprint” of St. John’s wort. See Homeopathic Arnica for more about homeopathic remedies.
What to use it for- Nerve pain- shooting nerve pain from sciatica or toothache.
4. Rescue Remedy
What it is- a combination of flower essences, formulated by Dr. Edward Bach, the “Father” of Flower Essences. A Flower Essence is a liquid “imprint” of the energy of a certain flower.
What to use it for- Any emotional shock or trauma- take a couple of drops under the tongue. Rescue remedy helps calm the mind and emotions at the onset of trauma, or traumatic news. It also works great for animals. I give it to my cats after they have a fight or come home with an injury of any type- I put a drop or 2 on the crown of their head to help calm them down.
5. Chamomile Tea
What it is- tea made from German Chamomile, Matricaria recutita, flowers.
What to use it for- supports digestion, so have a cup after a big meal or to calm digestion from minor irritation. Steep and cool a tea bag and place on tired, dry, red, irritated eyes. Have a cup of Chamomile tea before to support a sound sleep.
Product Sources:
Homeopathic Arnica and Hypericum
Tags: arnica, chamomile, lavender, rescue remedy
Tweak your neck lately? I did. It gave me the opportunity to try out a cell salt combination for muscle pain. I have used this simple formula a few times for myself and friends- and works more often than not.
In a small glass of warm water mix 10 tablets of Mag Phos (6X) and 5 tablets of Calc Phos (6X). Take a small sip and it swish around your mouth for 20-30 seconds. Repeat every 10-15 minutes for an hour or two. The pain subsides at different intervals depending on the individual and the severity of the pain. I have seen it work for sciatica, acute neck spasm and acute back spasm.
If you try this remedy, I’d love to hear how it works for you!
Tags: calc phos, Cell Salts, mag phos, muscle pain, pain, spasm
