Spiritual Lessons in Small Packages

I’ve spent the past week or so taking care of baby ducks – it has been both an eye opener and a challenge. Trying to perceive their needs, to tune in with them and to keep pace with their growth is really something else….

Sort of other-worldly in fact.

Today in particular I have been sensing these other dimensions quite a bit and not only around the ducks. There is an aura around some animals that isn’t quite earth bound – yet it is very grounded in some other ways.

It’s as if there are animals who are here on the planet to do great things. Just in the same way some humans have missions, purposes and destinies that will take them on amazing journeys throughout their lives.

But….back to these little ducks. Each one as they hatched were quite different in the way they took to getting their feet on the ground so to speak. The first one was moving around immediately and was very lively whereas the second and third ones were very laid back and took awhile to adjust.

The second duckling also had splayed legs as if his hips were out of joint, which sometimes happens in fowl. In nature they often don’t make it and in a commercial barnyard they are culled. Yet, this is a simple thing to mend….

In fact, after checking around we decided to use sticking plasters with cotton padding as a sort of splint to keep his legs together at the normal width for a few hours - to see if this would help support him better.

It worked and he got the bandages off himself once he was able to walk around normally (have I mentioned yet that I am in complete awe of nature?).

Then there is the last little one of this particular clutch of eggs….he/she doesn’t even look like the rest, doesn’t sound like them and of course is doing everything his own way (and on his own time! LOL). This one we’ve had to remind to eat/drink as well as to protect him from the bigger ones.

 So…..what’s this got to do with anything you might be thinking? Well, I should back up here. I ended up with these 4 eggs because I took them away from my mother duck after some had hatched and been killed by the other birds.

Barnyard life can be cruel for the youngest ones – especially anyone without the protection of a strong group. The geese have their babies and do just fine because the gander steps in and protects everyone, even sitting on the nest when needed.

Ducks tend to be a little different. So, I put these eggs in an incubator for what we guessed was the remaining time until hatching and we hoped for the best. But, just hoping was only half the story – I did my research and proceeded to do everything in my power to ensure these eggs hatched out.

And they did. Now – in phase 2, I am doing everything in my power to ensure these little ducklings survive (so far, so good) including sitting with them, talking to them, walking with them, making their food and bringing them things I think they might like (such as grass, bugs and worms….Yumm!).

The story only gets really interesting when I mention that the entire family take it in turns to care for these animals. Including setting the alarm clock every 2 hours during the nights they were hatching (the incubator can dry out quickly) to keep them hydrated.

In lots of ways I thought that all the fasting I have done over these years taught me discipline, commitment and fostered a fierce level of determination. But, right now I am seeing these (spiritual lessons) and more taken to a whole new level.

Learning to care for these baby ducks, allowing them to communicate their needs to me as well as trusting in the incredible power of life has seen me let other things (what’s really important anymore?) take a back seat.

The will to survive….The power of life…..This force is inside of each of us and it is like nothing else in the Universe. It is worth protecting.

April

1st baby duck hatching from it's shell

10 Ways to Get Back in Your Body

For the most part not everyone knows what any of this work of the body, mind and spirit is all about. Just exactly what are the reasons behind thinking our thoughts and feeling the way we do about the world we live in? 

Many of us are just naturally drawn to vibrations of higher consciousness, are seekers and have been asking the right questions for quite some time. These actions are the forces that pull us onto higher ground and often sustain us as we navigate our way through the rough terrain. However, the reason why we seek, the justification for the deeper questions has always been that we are pushed out of spaces and places where we belong. 

Yet, how many would really understand that they have been pushed out of their bodies through some of the very same actions that they repetitively do each and every day? What sort of pattern have we found ourselves in that would create such a thing as to internally separate us body from mind from soul?

But, alas that is exactly how things are in this world and we, those of us who are searching for something better and much more - must pull back from ways and means of self depletion and sabotage (which can arrive from any direction). 

I have heard it said that today's children spend more time out of their bodies than in them and that this is just the way things are. Of course this thinking is flawed, if you are spending time out of your body, instead of seeking ways to get better acquainted with it then you are leaving yourself wide open for harm. 

Our bodies are the temples of god/soul/spirit/self (insert your own word here) and this is our only home. Any space or place that we are pushed out of creates a place of darkness, filled up with energy that doesn't belong and on a physical level becomes a potential inflammation. 

I have long said that if you are not living in your body, then someone/something else is. Once you move out of a space a vacuum is created and some other vibration will take up residence. Making changes and taking back your body is vital and will be life changing. 

Some of the ways that I have found effective to re-gaining ground in the body/mind/spirit are;

1.  Master Cleanses and Detox

The best, fastest and easiest way to gain ground quickly into my body, mind and soul is through doing these Master Cleanses which pull out the toxins that create negativity, stress and fear within my body. This takes time and effort, but is so gentle that I keep coming back to these methods time and again.

2.  Pure diet

This is a long term strategy of day by day raising my vibration from the inside out using organic, clean foods which are unprocessed, home cooked and nourishing. Of course there are certain groups of foods that I do not consume, but that is another post!

3. Clean water

Water is the fundamental element that our bodies cannot do without and which transports consciousness throughout our bodies - cell to cell. This water must be unaltered, directly from the earth and free of chemicals. I cannot stress this enough.

4. Exercise

Any form of movement as physical activity is grounding and helps to keep me centered. I love how I feel after any exercise and often use it in short bursts to boost creativity or to help work through some issue. 

5. Using herbs as medicine

Herbs are the intended medicine for our bodies as they do not interfere with delicate body functions or processes and leave us cleanly having only assisted or supported the body through an illness or change. And they are safe to use for many different reasons especially as teas in water, uplifting and aligning us with nature and higher consciousness. 

6. Nature (walking, hiking etc.)

Getting outside into nature or just walking around the block is all about connecting with the earth, feet onto the ground and coming back into our natural environment. I walk when I need to think or feel out of sorts (ungrounded) and just to feel apart of the earth's cycles and rhythms. 

7. Ceremony and Ritual

For far too long I was removed from any form of ritual or ceremony and had felt that it was not that necessary in my life. Over these years of walking the path however, especially since having my children, I have come back to these as formal rites that connect my physical being to nature or the overall bigger picture and my part in it. Besides, as part of The Pagan Diet, celebration and following the path of the sun is a key element to living a full life!

8. Removing negative situations

By this I mean removing myself from situations and relationships that serve to pull me down or distract me from my own personal goals. My family and my dreams or the things I want to achieve in this life come first for me and I do not feel comfortable when something interferes with this. As well, when our attention is taken away from the things that matter - the result is stress, worry and fear. These are not welcome on the path and must be dealt with for the impostors that they are. 

9. Closing Energy Leaks(c)

Years ago I developed this energy technique mainly as a means of healing my own energy field but also to gain additional insight into what was happening within and how these energetic patterns were affecting my body, mind and soul. Since then I have taught this to thousands and I continue to see its' many benefits daily. 

10. Following your dreams

This might be the method of gaining ground that takes into account each of the above, as your dreams are all that you really have and are a living part of you within your imagination. I dream a lot and would consider myself a 'dreamer' - at times they are all that I have been able to hold onto and have kept me going through the rough patches. Never, ever, give up on a dream. 

~~~

When you are able to put into practice as much as possible each of these on a daily basis and being to break down the old patterns that have held you back - you will gain ground back into your precious body. The secret here is that everything that is important takes place in the body, with you in it, this is  home.

Have a lovely day,

April

Such is Life

It is now more than 2 weeks ago since I started and then 10 days later finished my Master Cleanse and of course, each day I am taking stock of how I feel, what has changed and the things that I am doing differently. The one thing that stands out the most for me at this moment is the fact that I am still so very careful of how much I am eating.

I do not want to feel that 'overfull' feeling in my stomach again, it is unpleasant for me and always has been. Small light meals, most of the time suit me better, I feel better, I function more efficiently and my digestion is smoother. My gut is working better (yet again) this time around and I really can feel the difference between before and after this cleanse.

I could feel the same things for each of these detoxes as time has gone by, but this time, as I said before, is just different. So, now I am ready to resume my usual routine of a form of intermittent fasting that I have been doing for awhile - at home here we call it our Pagan Diet because we follow the seasons and festivals throughout the year with food days, fast days and feast days. 

What it consists of is fasting with water, herbal teas and lemon etc for 18 to 24 hours a couple times a week and timing my workouts to coincide with the fasting. Then on the other days I eat as I would normally, mostly vegetarian with some goat's milk in my dandelion coffee. I find that this lifestyle helps me to keep my energy up, burn fat and build muscle - and to be honest I have never felt better mentally either. 

All of this week I have been building back up to my usual routine of free weights, yoga, cardio and anything else that I feel compelled to do - with my shoulder back better than it was before and my body feeling lean and strong. Tomorrow I will be back into a few hours of fasting during the day to allow my system to clear out and continue with the healing work it has been doing all along.

And why do I do it you may ask? Because it is the only way that I have found that works. Over my many years walking this earth searching for answers to gut issues, detoxing, candida overgrowth and you name it - not one single thing, method, product, food, diet, etc that I have tried ever worked to bring back my energy levels, my full and complete health and most importantly - bring my life back.

When you are 'living' on the inside (in your gut, tissues and your heart) then you will be living on the outside and that means doing, having and being the person you were meant to be. Doing the things that you came here to do and having the kind of life that you want to have.

Nothing less will do - so if you are not yet living your life fully (and not many of us are) perhaps it is time to re-build life from the inside, because it will change things on the outside. Try it and see. 

Have a sunny, warm 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