Getting Started on Fasting....

**Talk on Fasting this Sunday at West Cork Hotel in Skibbereen, West Cork 

After my posts yesterday….I had quite a few questions and inquiries about fasting. So, I wanted to take a bit of time to answer the most important thing about getting on the road to better health; how to get started fasting.

Fasting, by the way, is one of my top 3 ways of all time, that have changed my life over the years and I highly recommend it to anyone. My other two are Oil pulling (extensive use of essential oils for healing inside and out) and deciding to be completely natural in my health & healing approach to all our physical, emotional, spiritual and energetic needs (read no drugs, no Night Shades & no chemicals).

My own personal journey with fasting started out officially in 2001 – when I embarked on a 72 hour water/herbal tea fast after doing 30 days intensive detox diet. I felt terrific after that initial experience and it was a game changer for me.

Since then, I consider fasting an integral part of any healthy lifestyle, weight loss, healing, cleansing, detox approach to eating, because our gut flora needs periods of food, feasting and fasting. That's right, you 'need' and benefit from periods of no food and have actually a digestive system geared for it.

It really is this simple.

So now, back to the topic at hand – how does one get started fasting?

Of course, the easiest and best way to get started is to pick a day and then just jump in! That’s basically what I did – I woke up one morning, said ‘enough of this’ and decided to fast again. I took in water, herbal teas, lemon juice and maple syrup, mainly, in those days.

However, you can also prepare yourself a little bit by doing several mini-fasts of 24 hours, then 48 hours, 72 hours and so forth. I’ve done those as well. Pre-planning Mondays for example, each week to give your system a break and only drink juices, smoothies, herbal teas or even water also works.

Remember, water (chemical free) is great!!! It is the single most nourishing liquid on this planet and yes, I have done water fasts….last year we did 30 days parasite cleanse on water (apparently the only real way to get rid of the nastiest ones). Grueling – but again, another huge shift for me, and something I am pleased to have done. 

Have I mentioned I did my Masters thesis for Exercise & Nutrition Science on the study of water?  (don't get me started on water LOL). We need water far more then we need food, that should tell you something really important right there - water heals, clears, cleans and shifts energy.  

To get started on your fast – follow these steps:

1. Pick a day but don’t over plan it, or make it that Tuesday, 3 weeks from tomorrow. Really, just jump in, where you are, with what you’ve got going on right now.

2. Pick up a couple of fasting helpers….I wish I knew all the little things that make fasting so much easier, years ago. I did it anyway, but now it’s that much better with my Rebel Juices (fermented probiotic drinks), immune boosting, detoxing and nourishing Herbal Tea Blends and Rebel Foods Tinctures.

3. Think about a goal/aim/purpose or reason why you need to fast and have that as an incentive. It could be something material such as a new iPad or a goal for your job, health, relationship, weight loss, writing – the lists are endless. Fasting heals inflammation rapidly by the way.

4. Get a journal and do some writing while you fast or have a project ready such as closets to be cleaned, an office to be sorted or something to keep you busy – you will have time & energy to do things like never before.

5. Fasting has a unique Spiritual element that can only be compared to being One with Nature, walking with gods and opening up inwardly like never before. Be prepared to get to know yourself on a whole new level. 

And that’s about it! The important thing here – is to fast while you are living your life, going on a ‘retreat’ from the world sounds lovely, but hardly practical. So carry on with your normal activities – we exercise, work, and do all the things that we normally do while fasting – only with a little more focus! LOL

Lastly, make no apologies for choosing to detox, heal and move forward with your life (I don’t feel the need to tell everyone I am fasting) nor do I explain my reasons if people comment in a negative way.  

I’m doing what I need to do. Moving right along….

April  

I was so impressed with fasting - I wrote a book about it! The Pagan Diet is about my life changing experiences 

Feeling A Little Stuck? 2014 - A Year for Change…..Class & Course Dates

Energy Blocks

I just realized something really important – I am having a hard time thinking about, moving and gearing up for 2014. It’s as if this next year is either not coming (it is! LOL) or there is a huge energy block surfacing for me. 

I can’t seem to get dates in my mind or anything….it’s as if  a door is closed and needs to be pushed (or kicked) open. Yet I love this feeling right now because that is what I am cleansing, clearing and fasting for!

So what am I doing to combat this energy block? I am Closing Energy Leaks© of course, exercising, fasting and pushing myself in every way that I can think of to get that ‘onwards and upwards’ feeling back again. 

But today has been a difficult day, even the weather outside is nasty – it’s wet, windy and wild out there, with the air kicking up soggy leaves and blowing them around. The kind of day where you run from one building to the other, shielding your face from the sting of the rain and every trip outside has you standing next to the stove for half an hour.

A day for change.

If you are also ready for something better, something deeper and more then you feel your life is bringing you right now – perhaps it’s time to unblock 2014 for yourself! Plan to come out to one of my Winter classes to get your life back on track and discover a deeper spiritual connection.

January Rebel Foods Cookery Class Sunday 12 January 2014 – simple healthy meals & breads for winter €35 11am to 3pm or finish, Leap, West Cork

Energy Class – session 2 (anyone can join at any time) Working Through the Energy Blocks €10 each evening Tuesdays at 7pm Leap, West Cork starts 14th January 2014 runs for 6 or 7 weeks.

Fasting & Detox for Health, Healing or Weight Loss – Eat Like a Pagan 9th January 7pm €20 – includes tastings of detox juices, cleasing teas and fermented juices – Eat Like A Pagan© book on sale on the night 

Closing Energy Leaks© full day intensive workshop for those who work with energy healing, hands on healing, light workers, therapists etc. – Health & Safety of the Energy Worker €90 includes lunch, snacks – please do not bring food due to the energy work being done on this day.  Sunday 10am to 4:30pm (includes book) 26th January 2014 

to reserve your place please book directly with April on 087 2361616 or email info@aprildanann.com 

Looking forward to working with you in 2014! 

April

From little Acorns great things grow!

Activation of the DNA? Pineal Gland Adjustments? Initiation into what was that…?– Be Careful Out There

Something has taken over – diverted our attention away from what is important and real in life. Just observing all that has gone on these last weeks with the pomp and ceremony of a group of people who do not contribute all that much (read AT ALL) to our spiritual consciousness….

People appear to have such short memories – so many have died, been hurt, abused, destroyed on every level for centuries – yet this was all swept away, omitted and otherwise not brought up - for the sake of …. What?

A few carefully chosen words, clever marketing (very clever) and something else – taking place behind the scenes – initiation into the upper levels of power, along with the others in the ‘know’.

Quite something to see, eh? An elevation, shift, a change and a handing over of power is taking place in the world.

So, when you are invited to come and participate in some of these courses, talks, workshops and ceremonies that use words such as those above to describe the expected activities --- it has you intrigued right?

And of course, once your attention is absorbed, well, then these words can then take on an almost mystical quality. Surely the words alone will somehow magic you into a new sphere of consciousness and then your life will change into all that you have ever dreamed of….

I digress here. I don’t know if your life will change or not. Perhaps, it was on the edge of something new anyway (aren’t we all on the edge these days?) and an activation, initiation, or adjustment may or may not have had any affect.

However, after years and years (I won’t tell you how many) of being in this field, in one way or another, there is one thing I have learned worth repeating to whomever will listen;

If someone is offering to adjust you or your body’s internal workings, to activate you or initiate you into anything to do with your own personal higher levels of consciousness – walk away (or run).

What is more….if anyone is offering, mentioning, itching to get their hands on your DNA (and I know they are, because this has been such a buzz phrase for a while) – do not under any circumstances allow the cells in your body to be hacked into.

By Anyone. Ever.

If you want to be adjusted, altered, shifted, changed, initiated, healed and otherwise moved onto higher ground – well, this is a condition of higher consciousness and takes place from the inside of our bodies, working it’s way out.

These are pure spiritual experiences, which are brought about through our own seeking, exercise, diet changes, detox, cleansing, clean water, life force enhancing herbs, nature Herself and spiritual pursuits.

Your body is more than capable of accomplishing each of these energetic shifts all on it’s own – without any outside interference from anyone. In actual fact, to have anyone else involved in your spiritual experience, would be like taking on an energetic imprint from them.

Or, wearing another energy field, that doesn’t belong to you, it won’t fit and it will pull you down.

April

Marigold

Top 5 Ways to Unblock Energy

Top 5 Ways to Unblock Energy

My mission over these past few days that I have been following my July Master Cleanse has been to focus on areas of blocked and resistant energy. I have been listening, talking to and working with my body but focused on mainly my heart area as that feels to be the key to all of this.

Today is only day 3 of the 10 days but it appears to have hit me like a brick wall or perhaps I am the one who has hit the wall. And I think that this just might be the wall that I have to break down or get over somehow.

Tonight I am feeling tired, but not tired (like it comes from some other place), heavy in my heart and just now as I was tuning in to exactly what I was experiencing, it is as if there is an echo or an emptiness. I have found the block that I was after – so now what to do about it?

Of course, a cleanse is all about cleaning out areas, tissues, organs and cells at the deepest levels to remove toxins, reduce inflammation and generally restore harmony to the body. I know that this cleanse will do the work that needs to be done here – I am only required to support it.

I have been doing a few things to encourage the energy to move as I am an old hand at this (smile), however, this is deeper than I have ever gone before and I guess each successive Master Cleanse will be like this from now on. I have days, weeks and months of fasting under my belt and no two times have been alike.

This time around I am doing the following 5 things mainly to open up this blocked energy and get at the underlying pattern;

Cleanse

The physical act of cleansing on its own pushes the toxins to the surface creating movement in any area of stagnant energy. Sort of like an osmosis – water flows and pulls out embedded poisons and clears the debris. Any time spent cleaning the body inside and out is worthwhile leaving you feeling refreshed and renewed afterwards.

Music

I love music and all kinds of music –  this is often the first thing that I do with my day – listen to some music, usually loud and upbeat. These past few days I have been listening for all sorts of tunes from country to rock to classical –  and I have found that this has helped to open something that was tightly closed. Perhaps that is the magic of music, the notes and harmonies work with our body on several levels at the same time; it can penetrate where other things cannot.

Movement/Dance

Any form of physical activity, movement, exercise and especially dance takes us into and connects us with our innate energy flow. Energy can become erratic, spiked, congested and many other things – movement works to re-align the energy field, smoothing out the configuration and allowing structure or shape to be more defined. This should be a gentle process when necessary and dance can be a great way to encourage re-patterning within the energy matrix. Dancing brings us back to self – to put it simply, where there is more self arriving, there is little room for blocks. I always feel better when dancing or exercising and I try to do this often, having small children helps as they love to dance!

Nature

Nature is all about grounding, connecting and feeling apart of something grander, bigger than ourselves. When we are out in nature with the intention of making these connections, repair can take place to reverse the damage of blocked and resistant energy. When we are blocked in any way, we have interrupted these energetic ties to our own world and can lose our bearings quite easily. Using nature as part of our overall healing process brings us back into this level of awareness which then serves to help dislodge the block.  These past few days I have been walking, working in the garden and taking pictures when possible, spending time outside.

Creative Work (writing, art)

I do many things that might be considered creative, I write, I love to cook, bake and create with food,  we grow herbs for my teas and keep a large garden. And even though it would not be something that I would show to others, I enjoy painting, colouring or using pastels. When I am working on an art piece I approach it in the exact same way I would a reading on someone – my body, mind and spirit go into a new realm and something just flows. In this instance it would be colours, textures and shapes giving voice to feelings and thoughts.

~~~

These are some of the ways and means that I have been using to find these blocks in my system and then to uproot them and hopefully begin the process of removal. I am not naïve enough to think that this will happen all in a day or even during this cleanse. Often these energy blocks have existed for lifetimes and will take careful effort to dissolve, however, this is all part of the journey that I am on and I am pleased to have come so far. 

Let's see what tomorrow brings,

April

The Devil Made Me Do It....

At times it can seem like an uphill battle - this walking the talk or trying to live consciously. However, losing weight, making changes to your diet and lifestyle is not so very different from any other forms of self-betterment. You desire something more for yourself, your body translates that into greater awareness and then the universe aligns to enable you to create the experiences that will bring the wave to you.

It all sounds easy enough...so why is this so difficult? There is one area that not many of us are talking about, perhaps because it has appeared to be the domain of religions and those too fearful to even comprehend these bigger concepts. This is the thing/creature/energy force or whatever 'it' is that we would know as the devil.

To me this is an energy entity that can take over certain situations, buildings, land and even people - to create a pocket of very low vibration. One way to recognize this is when you experience something that has a complete lack of consciousness. The devil is the lowest form of being totally lacking in any glimmer of awareness.

When this energy is around (it never announces itself), it manages to create an atmosphere of confusion, hopelessness and fear. Of course this dark cloud serves one main purpose and that is to keep you in a downward cycle away from love, cheer, joy and hope. Your life then becomes a struggle played out throughout excess weight, poor lifestyle and food, addictions, finances, relationship issues; which is ultimately over the ownership of the soul.

The 'devil' will do anything to pull you down into the depths of despair and keep you there as this is where it lives. It is the worst form of darkness known to humankind - complete and utter lack of conscious perception. Zero consciousness.

At this point you may be wondering, just why is consciousness so important and what is it exactly? Well to me, it is all about being awake - the physical act of waking up inside and out, as if we had been far away from here and are now come back. 

But not only that - yes you wake up and see or become aware of the way things are around you, but then the lights go on and you also see things for what they truly are (comprehension and understanding) and then act upon this new level of knowledge.

So, consciousness arrives in at least two parts - you wake up, the light goes on and then you must act or take steps to change your life because things are different under this new energy. In this way, consciousness is a resource or energy force all on its own - as this is the immeasurable substance field that has eluded science for decades. 

What this has to do with the concept of the devil is quite simple - lowest consciousness begets more life forms just like itself. All of these function to stand in the way of those who are seeking something more,  higher levels of awareness with the understanding that they deserve better in life. 

The way out of this lowest state of being of course is to cleanse, detox and otherwise unplug from things that give this 'devil' life. For me this has translated into removing the radio, television, stepping away from certain relationships and of course taking exquisite care of my body. 

You can do this, if you want your life back, you must reclaim your body too because this is where your soul lives, when you allow consciousness to develop and grow, joy, freedom, clarity and hope blossoms. It's all in the water....

Have a conscious day,

April

Final Day of My Mini Cleanse

And of course 3 days into anything and I am only just starting to get into the grove! LOL But, this has been a very productive 3 days and continues to be with my mind feeling relaxed and clear. I must say that I really like this feeling of heightened perception and clarity about life and the tasks I set out to do.

One of them has been to make some changes to my website (which is soon to be replaced) and focus on this blog. I am actually enjoying this process of creating and the things that I am learning about the internet, coding and using these tools. All great stuff.

Physically over the last 2 days I was a little tired at times and then it would shift and I would feel a surge of energy. Now today it is all energy and I feel as if I am flying. Usually by day 3 of any cleanse or fast the adjustment period is over and you will feel fabulous. 

My husband is doing this with me and had been sand blasting at work which always bothers his lungs, he was in pain each time he coughed or sneezed, this has also now shifted and his lungs feel clear again. 

I am actually thinking of doing another 3 days at the end of next week before I have to decide on when I will do my  July 10 day Master Cleanse. We'll see how this goes as I have lots of cooking to do (: in the next few days and that might be a challenge as I would like to be able to taste test everything (a few times!).

Enjoy your Saturday,

April

A large moth outside our house, that survived the rain storm!

2nd Day

Yesterday was  a normal fasting day, however because I felt that I was working through something deeper at a spiritual level I decided to extend my fasting to 3 days this week and see if I could get this energy moving a bit better.

I was quite productive yesterday - however still feeling very tired by late last night and I realize it all has to do with old patterns of thinking around being out in the world or being even a part of this world. The ways that I used to function and see others doing now in an effort to get themselves ahead in some way, are not of interest to me.

I just know that there is always a better way to move forward and I am finding it. 

Of course my thinking about food is very similar - in my new book The Pagan Diet(c) -- I talk about my food, fast and feast lifestyle but I also relate what the word pagan means to me and how it affects my life. One of the things that is important is how the food we eat is prepared - I do not want it to be processed in any way or touched by machines or anyone else for that matter.

Food contains energy - living food and living water - that is what we must seek out, not the dead stuff that comes in plastic packages or the heavy water pouring out of the taps. Once food has been processed in any manner - it is as if the life has been sucked out of it leaving it without an energetic food print.

I know that not a lot of people are even thinking about this because they continue to buy it, eat it and support the entire industry that dreams up more and more of this stuff. If you were to take just one day and refuse anything processed, find some well water and drink/cook with it, eat organic, exercise and see how you might feel the very next day. Even better - look at how you feel 48 hours later (it takes that long for absorption to occur).

I think if just might change your thinking and your thoughts can change your life...

Just Saying,

April

Summer Solstice

Today is the longest day of the year, mid summer, the summer solstice and a new moon - quite a powerful line-up as usual for this season. Traditionally fires would be lit, parties and festivals (in Scandinavia they still celebrate with a national holiday) held and general festivities all around. Being in touch with the changing seasons is actually quite important and unfortunately nearly forgotten.

The inside of your body, especially the gut and digestive tract undergoes similar or the same yearly alterations as the seasons move on. It can grow thinner during the fall and winter and thicker with higher levels of organisms during spring and summer. All of nature is and should be reflected back from the inside out.

When this is not the case, we run into a host of problems not only with our digestion, but with health and life overall. To lose touch with nature and her wonders is to distance ourselves from our essence and indeed does lead to illness and depression.

There are many ways to take steps towards getting back in touch with your body, mind and spirit - some of the most basic ones being removing sugar, alcohol, caffeine and other drugs that over stimulate the adrenal glands and deplete the body's nutrient resources. Other ways might be to get outside and walk with purpose - listen, smell, watch and allow nature to surround your senses taking her into you. 

You are not the separate being that you feel to be - you are one with the earth. Isn't it time to get back into your wonderful body, find yourself and take back your inner wisdom and power?

Yesterday in the herb garden my daughter was giving me a lesson on talking to the plants - she  informed me that if I wanted to talk to them, I had to lean over, close my eyes and listen. It was that simple. 

And all of life is that simple. Happy Mid Summer!

April

Rocket and salad leaves in pots outside my door - ready to party!

** Introduction to Top Bar Bee Keeping this Sunday afternoon 24 June in Leap, West Cork

Ring Max Danann on 087 3284762 for details

Post Cleanse - 10 Days

I have been finished the cleanse for 10 days now and I remember when I first started doing these I was always looking for information and reading up on other people's experiences after they had finished the 10 days. What happens to their bodies post the 10 day clean up, there seemed to be little written about it.

So, I thought that I will keep you up to date on how I am doing afterwards. For the most part I still feel pretty good, I love my food and I am eating plenty. I do get full faster and I am craving more greens and raw salad type of things. I also have only gained about 2 lbs back so far. And I feel better in myself because I am lighter and leaner. Less body fat to contend with.

The fact that there is less body fat is the important point and the key to all of this work and effort. The fat stores toxins and this is what is melted off when you do a Master Cleanse. In effect then, each time that a cleanse is completed for the full 10 days, your body is cleaner and therefore leaner. 

When there are toxins (to a great degree) the body fat will be gained back - thus the yo-yo effect of dieting. Do not start a diet unless you plan on detoxing along with it. Otherwise, it just won't work. And work is another key word here - my body just seems to work better after each cleanse. 

Right now it feels as if this is having a cumulative effect - each cleanse I feel better and my body remains leaner, working more efficiently afterwards. Kind of like climbing steps, with each one bringing you closer to your goals. 

My shoulder is still excellent and my level of flexibility is far better than it was, my bowel is great, my digestion is moving well. So physically things have stepped up a little and I am amazed that something so simple can accomplish so much in only a few days! The important thing here though is to eat better afterwards and to keep doing them throughout the year.

My dreams are back full force from a very different place (showing me that I have reached into new areas inside of myself) and I am dreaming a few times each night again. I also find it easier to visualize so my mind and my imagination is also working better. 

All in all - not bad for a few days effort! Well, off to pull some weeds in the garden - have a lovely day everyone and don't forget to buy some organic veg and fruit at your farmers market. 

April

Carry On.....

From yesterday, my thoughts have continued along the same lines about our habit in society of using food as a reward and withholding food as a punishment. It is quite an interesting concept actually. When I think about it for any length of time, I keep coming back to the same main issues. 

Might this practice or belief system have more to do with the usual control theme around food? Once again plunging us back into 'just who is in control' of our food, eating, diet, nutrition and lifestyle anyway? 

What has changed for us as a society during the past 100 or so years? And who has changed it? Exactly what is behind this shift into consumption of not only more and more food but also goods. Everything is disposable - nothing is meant to last or built to last. And nothing follows on with that pattern more than the food we are expected to put into our bodies.

When we eat rubbish we feel and look like rubbish. That is no big secret. It is plain enough to see and most of us can relate to feeling like that a day or two after eating poorly. However, when we choose to fill up on rubbish, we are not providing our bodies with enough nutrition to function, heal, re-build and repair  properly. This means that any normal body processes cannot be carried out effectively because of the lack of vitamins, minerals and building materials.

Just like our throw away society, nothing is built to last or even meant to last - continue to feed yourself poorly, leaving your body without the building blocks necessary to maintain healthy tissues, organs and function and you have a throw away body. 

So, now what? Can we just discard parts and pieces of our bodies and  carry on with this lifestyle even when we know full well that eating and living this way creates a body that is not built to last? And if our bodies are not built to last - how soon will they start to break down?

It doesn't take very long at all for your body to breakdown when day after day you are not providing it with the right fuel to keep muscles, tissues and organs working in a healthy way. How can you expect to have good levels of energy when the minerals and vitamins that give you energy are missing from your diet? 

In other words, you are living in a disposable body, except if you throw it away, where will you get another one? Perhaps the best change to have come about from this recession has been the re-think of how we had been living, eating, working and going about our disposable lives. 

It is time to take things a step further and really make a difference in your own eating and approach to food. Food is for life. Your body is the single most important structure you will ever build. How you go about this involves choosing materials that will stand up to wear and tear and generally work with you.

A healthy body starts within. 

April

Crime and Punishment

Today has brought with it new energy - I had every intention of fasting today but decided to switch things around and fasted yesterday instead. I just had a feeling that today would be important in other ways - that I was not aware of yet. So, we planned a little celebration of sorts and that is what we are doing - end of cleanse party.

I often find that we do not take celebration as seriously as we did at one time and especially when we were children it was very important to us. Special times of the year and special meals were all important - whereas now as adults these times can be looked at as a chore and extra work. 

Along with celebration comes ceremony - equally lost and downgraded in our society however far more important than even the celebration itself. How much has been lost inside of us the further we move away from these rituals and special times throughout the year?

What has happened in its place is a year long party where we eat, drink and abuse ourselves with poor food choices, alcohol and lack of exercise - (because we are eating the wrong foods) and generally acting, shopping and living as if it is Christmas every day. 

Just because you can go into the big supermarkets and buy any thing you want at any time - does not mean that you should or that it is the right time or even the right kind of food for your body. There is so much rubbish on the shelves, it is available ALL of the time and you are expected to buy it, eat it and then try to live a healthy life. 

This is part of the biggest lie ever perpetuated on humans on earth. You simply cannot eat this way and remain healthy, slim and in control of your life. For the most part our diets should be simple, based on local vegetables and fruit with a little meat and fish. Anything more on a regular basis (sugar, alcohol, highly processed packaged 'foods') should not enter into this equation at all. 

The operative word here is control - someone, something else controls your diet, your eating and ultimately your health. I don't know about you but I really love taking back control of my life and I do this through the way that I eat and live. 

It is that simple. Food, Fast and Feast at the appropriate times throughout the year - for my health and overall well-being. 

Something to think about. 

April

Keep Focused on Your Goals

This past couple of weeks have been a series of endings for me, I have finally finished some large projects that I was working on and it feels kind of strange! Almost as if those projects (or the fact that they were not complete) had been holding something (me!) in one place and now that they are done, I am either left hanging or in free fall.

I like to think that now I am free to move on to start other projects, but also it's now important to evaluate exactly what was learned from the work that has been done already. I guess what I am trying to say here is that I am going over these past few days, weeks, months and years in my mind and re-visiting all the ways that I have changed and grown. 

I am certainly in a very differently place now than when I started fasting, detoxing and cleansing regularly. And exactly how have things changed for me? Well, perhaps the easiest way to describe some of these changes is that I have accessed old energy within myself and pulled up to the surface deeper patterns to be worked on and altered.

And it's all good! This is not a negative or troublesome thing at all. What I feel like right now is more together, more present and better grounded than I have ever felt. I also feel healthier and stronger physically while my mind is sharper and clearer with more focus and determination. Not bad of a year intensive of detox, cleansing and fasting.

I am now a few days post Master Cleanse and looking forward to jumping back into my Intermittent Fasting schedule with my workouts. I have been exercising and building back up to my free weights after my shoulder healed and I feel stronger than before. I actually have a greater range of motion in my shoulder (it has been restricted for years due to other frozen shoulder inflammations) now and can do more and move better. 

I am very pleased with the results of the last MC and would highly recommend this method to anyone for any reason, even if there isn't a reason, it can never hurt to cleanse and shed a layer of toxins. 

So, new goals, new projects and a new focus - watch this space!

Have a wonderful (sunny!) day,

April

Transition Day 11

This morning I was up early to have my glass of juice and savor the sweet feeling of another successful 10 Day Master Cleanse. Today will be a day of liquids that are richer and nutritious to bring the digestive system out of detox mode and back to work after the break. 

I am feeling very well health wise and perhaps even better mentally than I have in a while. Maybe the very last time I felt such a sense of accomplishment was when I completed the 40 Day MC, however I was tempted to say when I gave birth to my daughter at home in a free birth! I don't know why (right now anyway) I feel so strongly that this time I achieved something particularly wonderful, but it does certainly feel that way.

So, I am done, at least the cleanse part and I will drink juices today and start some veggies/stew tomorrow with some soft foods. Easy going enough on a very clean gut. My intuition has been telling me that much of what was removed from my system during this past few days was plastic, it was certainly very dark and very toxic and I am glad to be rid of it.

Whenever I do these detoxes (Master Cleanse and others) it tends to be like a walk through an unlit path, alone, into a  dark forest with only your senses to guide you. So when you come out the other side into the light again it is as if you have arrived into a part of heaven.

Its amazing what a sense of power within yourself can do and its equally disturbing how easily we are left defeated, run down, pushed and pulled out of ourselves by life. Doing things like this to lift up above that darkness is truly worth every minute!

Have a lovely day,

April

Day 10 - We Did It!

Here we are, at Day 10 - just 24 hours to go until tomorrow morning when we begin to transition our diets back to normal. I just did my last salt water flush, I drank my last senna tea yesterday evening so my system feels squeaky clean and renewed.

I am looking forward to some food again - but..... I would say in comparison to any other cleanses or fasts that I have done, this was by far the easiest. It might be that I am just getting used to it but I don't think so. As I know many other people who find it extremely difficult to complete subsequent cleanses after the first one, it is quite a challenge to do these again and again several times a year. No, I think that this is different. I am different, my level of discipline has improved along with my ability to focus and concentrate on achieving a goal.

And that I would put down to doing these cleanses and following an Intermittent Fasting lifestyle. So, it comes full circle here; the more I do this (2-4 times a year) the easier it has become because I am less toxic, more disciplined, more grounded and certain about what I am trying to achieve. 

The one key word that I have mentioned here so far is discipline. For most of my life that was a nasty negative word which meant fear, harm, worry, stress and pain. Of course it was always associated with keeping us in line as children and not anything near what it is meant to be about - which is following a set of guidelines to strengthen/improve/heal your body, mind and spirit. 

Oh, how far we have come from the truth into dark and murky waters that do not teach children anything about life, health, living, coping and achievement in the world we have created for ourselves. There are gentler ways to raise children, there are gentler ways to heal and support ourselves - finding them and applying them is key to a healthy body, a strong mind and a powerful spirit.

In the past I would have done nearly anything to lose excess weight, I would have given anything to feel and be well when I had cancer, I would have taken anything years ago to make me 'better'. When all along it is ends up being something so very simple, mundane and as ordinary as clean water and herbs that grow in the fields and I am well and truly in glowing health and at a healthy weight that has been easy to maintain.

My stats for this week - I started at 10 stone 2 lbs, I am now 9 stone 6 lbs - total loss of 10 pounds so far. I expect a couple more pounds will come off during this next few days as well then it will even out as some water weight is gained back. I did not do this to lose weight, however, as toxins are stored in the fat this is part of the overall process to loosen up the debris. 

Yesterday I had a slight headache and knew that I was in the last big detox cycle before this MC was finished, I was tired last night, and there were times I did not feel grounded and needed to go outside and walk around. However it was a busy day for me with lots going on so that might have had something to do with it. My shoulder is better, my cold is better, and I am certain that I have learned a few more things about myself. 

I will keep writing this blog - if you would like to know how I am doing, keep checking back here to read about my adventures in nutrition, fasting, cleanses and abundant health. See you tomorrow for transition!

Have a wonderful day,

April